We The Kings

Florida Pop-Punker’s, We The Kings, have finally woven their melodic tunes through our speakers and into the top 40 on the Australian charts with their smash hit ‘Check Yes, Juliet’. Sean Frazer caught up with vocalist Travis Clark to discuss their recent success in Australia, their upcoming tour down under in August and his opinion on Australian women.

How are things in the states at the moment - how’s the current tour?
We’re currently doing a tour of a few Six Flags theme parks over here in the states; it’s been really different and cool.
The new record Sunshine State of Mind is set to be released on the 22^nd of July in Australia, what can you tell me about it?
This has been our most focused record to date. We have put a lot of time and new ideas into this one. The record is already out here in the states and has been received really well with some great reviews. It’s going to be interesting to see the reaction from the rest of the globe once it has hit everywhere; I’m really looking forward to it.

After listening to just the first two songs on the record, it’s quite clear that the album is a lot more pop orientated than previous records. Was this a decision or did you guys just flow into the poppier style?
I’ve always been someone who has had a real need to write contagious tunes. We love writing catchy songs and most catchy songs revolve around that poppy influence. The sound of the record is just our development as musicians and our love for melodic hooks.

 
Would you say much has changed for you guys since the release of Smile Kid to now?
Our schedule has gotten a lot busier since then; touring, recording, writing etc. We are at such a busy and growing part of our life right now, and I can tell you that we love every minute of it. I wake up each day and tell myself I’ve got the best job in the world! We’re really happy with where we are now and where we plan to go, we don’t take anything for granted.

Something I find amazing is the fact that ‘Check Yes, Juliet’ was released on your self-titled record in 2007 but has only just received mainstream airplay over here this year. Was it the bands decision to release this song as your first Australian single?
That song really kicked things off for us at the early stages of the band which was why the band decided to have it as our first single release in Australia. It was written quite a few years ago and I still believe it is one of the best songs I’ve ever written. It’s quite funny, a friend of mine moved to Sydney and got in contact with me to say that she’s hearing it daily on the radio stations over there and she’s getting sick of hearing it! [laughs] We’re really pleased with the success it’s had in Oz. It was originally on our self-titled record. When we were asked what single we’d like to release in Australia, the band decided on that one.

The last time you guys were here ‘Check Yes, Juliet’ hadn’t peaked on the charts in Australia just yet. There must be quite an amount of anticipation returning to a successful first single.
Yeah, it’s going to be interesting to actually get to see how well it has been doing over there in Australia for us. We are really looking forward to this tour down under. Not only is it going to be great playing in Australia, but we get to play with some good friends of ours, You Me At Six!

It’s not the first time you guys have toured with You Me At Six, both bands must be well acquainted with each other by now.
Those guys are really good friends of ours and are an awesome bunch of musicians as well. We have toured with them before and have always had an awesome time. They’re just like us – which is why we get along so well- we all just love to party and have fun!

How do you guys like playing in Australia?
Dude, we love it out there! The girls are beautiful and the people are REALLY nice. But, seriously… the girls are really beautiful over there! [laughs] When we were out there last for our Soundwave run, it was really surreal, people knew us and would greet us wherever we went. Although I have to admit, we were a little shy with our surfing skills when we were in Australia last time. We found a secluded beach to do our surfing, away from the skilled and ripped dudes! [laughs]