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King Khan and the Shrines

All hail the king! No, not Elvis. King Khan is here to revive your soul.
By: Gian Erguiza - - June 27th, 2008 - 5:51 pm PST



Bringing back the soul in a big way, King Khan and the Shrines have arrived to revitalize your tired and weak soul. With spaztic but honest vocal styles, funky grooves, and that crazy party attitude, these boys are going to funk things up. We got a chance to ask the ever enthusiastic Mr. King Khan some burning questions about what's really going on in the world of King Khan.

King Khan! A history lesson about how the band began is called for. Can you guys help us out with that please?

In 1999 I spoke to angels and angels spoke to me and we agreed that soul music had to be saved and save everyone. So I devoted my life to procreation and making LOVE MUSIC. I united lost brothers from other mothers and we collectively tried to make a sound supreme. We have been kickin it for 8 years now and finally got invited to spread the good word all over America.

So what is up in the world of King Khan and the Shrines and what are you guys currently up to? cooking anything in the lab?

Currently I have been recording Deerhunter, the demons claws, KKBBQ, Georgiana Starlington and my family at my moon studios here in berlin. I taught a class about rock n roll at the Anne Frank Highschool with the demons claws last week. I try to keep myself as busy as possible.

You recently signed with VICE Records. How did this all come about and how's the relationship coming along so far?

"We all derive from the same black void and sometimes glimmers of light breakthough the darkness and we write songs about those inspirations no matter how tiny they may be."

Well Vice and I go way back.... I wrote for them back when i was 17 years old. I interviewed Jay Reatard back when he was about 16 or 17 for them, Mick Collins and whole bunch of other people I thought deserved the spotlight. BBQ and I interviewed Napalm Death together for them too and that was really funny. That was all happening in Montreal over ten years ago. When I moved to Germany I was really busy with the Shrines and the KKBBQ show and lost touch with them. During this time I became the secret fifth member of the Black Lips and found out that they were being courted by Vice (wow that sounds quite eloquent). Since the Shrines never really put anything out in the states and Vice was into spreading the good word... presto!!!! The deed was done!!! My main thing is to get the music out to as many places as possible and with the help of Vice I think we can reach every nook and cranny in the universe and make all the booties tremble.

Gotta make them booties shake! June is going to be one psyched-out soul of a month, especially with your new release seeing the light of day on the 17th. What can we expect from your latest offering and do you guys have any expectations for the new record?

The next record will be an ear/eye awakening experience as all records should be. I will put out the Moon Studios Vol.1 which is a collection of the recordings I have been making with my friends and family in the past 8 years. By my family I mean the Black Lips, Demons Claws, Georgiana Starlington, my sister and lil brother, my kids. It will make everything clear and shine the light of love bright and strong.

What is the song writing process like for you guys and where do you guys derive from while writing music?

We all derive from the same black void and sometimes glimmers of light breakthough the darkness and we write songs about those inspirations no matter how tiny they may be.

Must be a lot of light shining through onthis project. How important is it to capture the attitude and the sound of King Khan and the Shrines on record and in a live setting?

Music is like prayer to me. If you can lose yerself in the songs than you have the most power and no one can take that away from you, not even a shitty audience. We expect mayhem and anything less would be pointless.

The world is going green. Global warming, as they say, is 'very real.'Are you guys going green or planning to anytime soon?

I go green whenever I can, maybe too green sometimes.

I hear that! In your spare time, what does King Khan fancy and how are the days spent when not writing music nor playing onstage?

I love painting, strolls on the beach, drinking wine and playing with my friends.

What is going on in the mind of King Khan? Seriously, what is going on?

An endless eternal sunset, what else?

I knew it! Your live performances must be a delight. What do you guys shoot for in a live show and what is the best part about playing onstage in front of people?

The best part is watching the immense joy people get from soul music. The best compliments I ever got were from people telling me that they felt great for a whole month after one of my gigs. If you bring enough joy and space to the people than they return with a kingdom.

Mr. King Khan, what is your purpose in this world and what is the meaning of life?

My purpose in this world is to raise the dead and heal the sick. I'm the one, I'm the one. The one they call the seventh son!!!!

Ok? Twelve-piece! Man, it was hard enough to keep together a four-piece! How does it all work and what is the hardest thing about making it all work?

I cook em' good food and keep em' smiling, what more can a man dooooo?

any additional comments or shout-outs?

King Khan and the Shrines loves everybody!!!!!.

Kign Khan, you're the man!



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