After extensively touring their debut album through 14 countries in the last two years, King Of The North are back, touring Australia to celebrate the upcoming release of their new album ‘Get Out Of Your World’.
We chat to KOTN’s singer and guitarist Andrew Higgs about what this Aussie hard rock duo are up to.
Hey guys, thanks for taking the time to chat with Forte Magazine, how are you and what are you up to at the moment?
No worries. We are flat out getting ready for the biggest KOTN tour of all time and the international release of our 2nd album Get Out Of Your World.
You’re upcoming tour ‘Get Out of Your World’ looks huge. What are you looking forward to most?
Yeah it’s a biggy – 23 dates right around OZ, even NT and WA, and then straight to Europe for 30 more shows in 11 countries. I’m really looking forward to just rocking out the new tunes with our awesome new drummer Steve and the new show we’ve got planned.
This will be your second album since 2014. What have you guys been up to since your debut?
Touring! KOTN has played over 500 shows in five years.
Did you approach this second album much differently from the first?
In a way yes, I had a lot more songs with more diversity to choose from, but essentially it contains all the KOTN ingredients with a few pinches of extra flavour.
Playing over 500 shows in five years is sure to be a lot of hard work. What keeps you going when the exhaustion hits?
Any true hard rocker, lover of music, strong character and giver to their fans just keeps going no matter what. It’s the oath you take as a muso.
We hear you’re heading to Europe for the remainder of 2016. What are your plans over there?
Chaos!
Dubbed as one of the future legends of the guitar, what advice do you have for aspiring musicians?
Practice, play hard and above all else have fun!
We can’t but help but ask, but with a band name like yours, are you watchers of Game of Thrones? And how did you feel when the true king of the north (Stark) got beheaded way back in season one?
Yes I love GOT, but it isn’t where the name of the band is from. It’s from a biblical prophecy about the two world powers at the end of days, King Of The South and King Of The North. The latter is prophesied as an unknown adversary rising up against the South (who is the metaphorical current world power) via multiple identities, and when the King Of The North finally reveals itself, they go into battle and it brings about armageddon.
Bit cooler than just ripping off GOT hey? And you need an update with GOT.. The King IN The North is back! Jon Snow the Targaryen… rock on!
Thanks a lot for taking the time to chat. To finish things off, do you have any words of wisdom to share with our readers?
Just want to say thanks to all the fans for supporting us in pre ordering our new album and buying tickets to the upcoming tour. Can’t wait to rock your faces off at all the shows in August and September!
When & Where: The Loft, Warrnambool – August 6, Music Man, Bendigo – September 15 & The Barwon Club, Geelong – September 23