Following on from the rapturous response for their recent offerings 'yoko' and 'lowlights & batteries' these last few months, Irish outfit kleio are back once again to deliver their uplifting new single 'four'.
Bringing back more of that fresh and dynamic indie-rock aesthetic they have been earning a reputation for, 'four' makes for a dazzling return to form for them. With its rich and shimmering atmosphere set to some captivating vocals throughout, they continue their ascent as one of the more exciting names on the rise right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first and only instrument I fell in love with was guitar. I tried drums and couldn’t fathom how people actually know how to play that instrument, I taught myself a bit of piano during covid but haven’t gone back to it since. I think Alex is the more versatile instrumentally he plays almost everything with strings.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
It took up until the age of about 14 before I realised the music my parents liked was actually really good. So I was unwittingly raised on U2 and Oasis. My mother owned Costello Music by The Fratellis so that was always played growing up and continues to be one of my favourite albums of all time.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I think the first album I owned was Robbie Williams, and it wasn’t even one of the classic Robbie Williams albums, I just became obsessed with Bodies off of Reality Killed The Video Star so for Christmas Santa got me the entire album. That album became my soundtrack of 2010.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
I think if you offered me any song I’d be putting my name on Don’t Look Back In Anger by Oasis. I think it’s one of the great singalong songs of all time. Imagine playing that in a packed out stadium with thousands of people singing it back, I think that’d be incredible. We try to write songs that are anthemic that’d suit a live performance so if I wrote Don’t Look Back In Anger I’d be delighted.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I don’t really it usually starts with a guitar line or lyric that I've thought of in the most inconvenient location, that I then have to remember until I get back to my guitar and flesh it out. I like to leave the song for a while after it’s written, without recording it or anything for reference and if I go back to it and still remember how it goes I think it’s a good song. I bring it to the band then when I have the bones of it to flesh out everything else.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
We’re huge fans of both Wunderhorse and Royel Otis at the moment. Really excited for the Wunderhorse album. It’s nice being a music fan at the moment, it looks like every band I like are releasing an album or going on tour or both. I say The Royston Club recently, seeing Catfish and the Bottlemen in August and The Last Dinner Party in October, so I have a lot of homework to do before those gigs but I’m really excited for them.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Personally I’d love to support The Killers, I’ve seen them live once and it was immense, one of my favourite gigs ever so to be able to support a band like that would be incredible, free tickets to watch them afterwards would be a bonus.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I think the most rewarding part of being a musician is playing the songs we’ve created out of thin air to crowds who are really enjoying it. I’m not sure there’s a better feeling than finishing a gig that the audience has really enjoyed.
And what is the most frustrating part?
It’s a really slow haul, for all the highs there are most definitely lows when it comes to music. We have stagnated in the past and wondered where we are going music wise and it was really frustrating. At the moment though we’re delighted we’re having a lot of fun, finally putting music out and it seems to be getting well received so we couldn’t be happier.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
I think the best advice we’ve received is to keep going with it, progress might be slow at the start but it’s steady and looking back now we’re a lot further along as a band than we were a year ago, It’s hard to see the progress when you’re in the midst of it but it’s most definitely there. Obviously we’re not quite where we want to be yet but I’m confident in our work rate as a group to continue to pull ourselves to bigger and better things.
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kleio's new single 'four' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.