AK & THE RED KITES - 'PROVERBIAL STORM' - THE DEBUT EP

‘PROVERBIAL STORM’

THE DEBUT EP

JUNE 28

AK & The Red Kites are pleased to unveil the exciting, uplifting and hook drenched debut EP ‘Proverbial Storm’ available to pre-order for June 28 release on CD and all digital platforms direct HERE. A modern rock band with a retro infused vibe, the band weighs in with big riffs and vast melodic soundscapes with the cornerstone of this new exciting venture in frontman/guitarist Andrew Knightley rising from the ashes of his previous blues rock band Trident Waters.

Having eloped from the city life to the Chiltern Hills UK during the global pandemic, Andrew began writing songs that would shape the EP to come. “I wrote most of my new music looking out the window onto the woods and the Red Kites are always circling overhead. I felt a connection, that they were part of my inspiration, as they glided across the sky crying and going about their business. I wanted to honour that sense of freedom and protection that they have provided me with. AK & The Red Kites is a direct reference to my creative process and where I am now as a person.” The accompanying new single ‘Wolf Moon’ (video courtesy of Very Metal Art) mirrors this vision with howling vocals, biting guitars and sweeping, searing, haunting visuals.

Opening with the previously released dark and brooding “Devil’s Stomp”, which would not be out of place on a hit dramatic TV show such as ‘Yellowstone’ or Marvel’s ‘The Punisher’, the 6 track collection showcases Knightleys eclectic range as a songwriter and musician; ranging from full on high tempo hard rockers to panoramic swamp vibes with incursions into country and delta blues rock territory in the vein of Rival Sons, Ritchie Kotzen and ZZ Top. Andrew muses, “I’ve put a lot of who I am and where I’ve been into the songs and have laid it all on the table. It’s 100% song driven as I’ve grown and wanted to come away from focusing on the guitar to allow myself to be more vulnerable in my writing. ‘Stronger’ is an example of that about not backing down, taking whatever comes to you and dealing with it in a positive way as you’ll feel like you just won a world title by the end.” Delving further, “The title track ‘Proverbial Storm’ can be taken as a relationship song where you feel you don’t match up to expectations with anyone, in any situation, but you have to remain true to yourself. It’s also a respectful nod to my past and welcoming what’s to come in the future.”

Working with multi-platinum award winning producer Mike Krompass (Everybody Loves An Outlaw, Steven Tyler) and recording at his state-of-the-art studio Base Culture has brought out what Andrew believes to be his best work to date. “There’s the delta-blues influences with hand claps in ‘Baby Don’t Love Me’ and foot stomps but there’s a far more contemporary sound to the guitars across the whole and we really focused on my vocal delivery taking precedence which I hadn’t done as much of in the past. We worked quickly and directly from the demos, layering on top aiming to make the biggest sound we could without losing sight of the song as that’s most important.” Adding to the expansiveness, mastering duties were expertly handled by Glenn Thomas of ItuneAudio (Kenny Aronoff, Billy Sheehan) and Justin Shturtz of Sterling Sound (Shinedown, 10 Years).

With this first offering AK & The Red Kites is now perched ready to soar throughout the rest of the year and beyond. “Ultimately I want the listener to interpret for themselves and take away what they choose from the EP…that it can relate to their own lives or help them out in a moment and to enjoy it as this is just the beginning. I can’t wait to get out and play these songs live and there’s a lot more to come yet!”