Behind the music - Crown The King

Dublin band Crown The King have released their new single, Reel To Reel. We asked them the BIG questions . . .

Formed in 2020, the band consists of Daniel Gannon on vocals, Seán Hodson and Alan Shiels on guitars, Eanna Brown on bass, and Jamie Doran on drums.

Last May, they travelled to a 15th-century castle in the Irish countryside to write and record Reel To Reel, which tells "the story of a friend who is dealing with emotional turmoil but is attempting to carry on as if everything is okay".

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"The recording process for Reel To Reel was entirely different from every track we've done so far." says Jamie Doran. "The space we recorded in was so unique that we literally had to stomp around shouting to find the spot in the castle with the best acoustics for each part of the recording process.

"For drums, we ended up in a tiny landing at the top of the stairs, with a sound so big that we used a microphone on the floor below. There was a winding stone stairway that offered some of the best natural distortion and reverb on a snare I've ever heard. It was a rewarding experiment in sound".

Crown The King play The Workman's Club, Dublin on 25 November and The Oh Yeah Centre, Belfast on 26 November alongside Belfast’s Harley and The Wolf.

Tell us three things about yourself . . .

We wrote and recorded our new single in a 15th century castle in Kilkenny. Our second ever show was in The 3Olympia. We once shot three music videos in one day.

How would you describe your music?

Thematically, most of our material is about self-reflection and lived experience. Musically, we’ve been compared to bands like State Champs and Mayday Parade, lots of big guitars and sing-along moments. The new single Reel to Reel shows a slightly different side to our sound though with a more textural alternative/emo sound accented by pop elements.

Who are your musical inspirations?

Our music is really inspired by 2000’s/2010’s pop punk, bands like Blink 182, The Wonder Years and Four Year Strong, but we also have a diverse taste between the five of us and we all bring elements of that to the table.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

Jamie: Metallica and Tenacious D in Marlay Park with my Dad, school friends and some of my uncles. Great gig.

Dan: I went to see Westlife in February 2005. It was a brilliant gig.

Eanna: My mother brought me to a few Westlife gigs when I was a kid, but my first proper gig experience was seeing Muse in Marlay Park in 2008. Still one of my all-time favourite gigs.

Sean: I’m pretty sure my first proper gig was probably one of the Blast gigs that used to happen in Radio City next to Busaras in Dublin back in the day.

Alan: The first gig I remember Tenacious D in the RDS in 2006.

What was the first record you ever bought?

Dan: My first album was Infinity on High by Fall Out Boy, it kickstarted my Emo phase.

Eanna: A compilation of Thin Lizzy’s greatest hits. Nowadays my music taste is a lot more varied but it really influenced what I listened to growing up so I still go back to it every now and then.

Sean: I bought Samantha Mumba’s debut album when I was about ten years old, still a classic pop album.

Jamie: Mine was Gorillaz self-titled album with the jeep on the cover.

Alan: Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavoured Water by Limp Bizkit, and Hotshot by Shaggy, both in one go.

What’s your favourite song right now? *

Eanna: Sooner by Goalkeeper, off their recently released album. Very catchy tune from some very sound lads!

Sean: Right now, it’s a toss-up between Karma from the new Taylor Swift album and Worst Case Scenario by Loveless, I’ve had them on repeat a lot recently.

Jamie: Golden Gate by The Midnight, it's the best album opener I've heard in a long time.

Alan: My most listened to recently is probably a toss-up between Low Tide by the Wonder Years or Super Freaky Girl by Nicki Minaj.

Favourite lyric of all time?

Jamie: "Cause I swear I'd burn this city down to show you the light" from Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year by Fall Out Boy. Who doesn't love a ridiculous romantic gesture?

Eanna: "It’s not about forcing happiness, it’s about not letting sadness win" - taken from Local Man Ruins Everything by The Wonder Years. A very important line to remember, especially in the context of everything the world has been though over the past two years plus.

Sean: Not to be copying Eanna, but mine is a Wonder Years lyric too "I just want to know I did all I could with what I was given" from Just Want To Sell Out My Funeral. I feel like it really sums it all up and is all we all really want at the end of the day.

Dan: "I’ve been moving mountains that I once had to climb" from the Neck Deep song Gold Steps. I feel like that motto has helped me in life overcoming fears.

Alan: Also going with the Wonder Years here. "This goddamn machine, hungry and heartless, my whole generation got lost in the margins, we put our fate in you, you turned a profit, now we're drowning here under the waves" from Cigarettes and Saints.

If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Jamie: Oof, that's a tough ask, maybe Los Angeles by The Midnight.

Eanna: Wow, this is a tough one! If I had to pick, I’d choose The Hell Song by Sum 41.

Dan: Probably Man On The Moon by R.E.M. When I was kid it was like one of the first songs I fell in love with, and I still listen to it a lot.

Sean: I don’t think I could do it, but gun to my head maybe Chasing Kites by iamamiwhoami.

Alan: I feel like I'll just have to pick at random here so going to stick with The Wonder Years and say Came Out Swinging.

Where can people find your music/more information?

Our music is available on all major streaming platforms and we’re on all the big socials networks, we’re @crownthekingire on most of them. We also have a website.

Behind the music - Crown The King

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