The King of Mars (TKOM) formed in 2015 as a traditional four-piece rock band and has since evolved into a larger group with synths, auxiliary percussion, and a horn section. Their sound shakes the foundation of traditional rock music by encompassing Jazz, Funk, and Soul musicality alongside insightful lyricism.
TKOM consistently performs at many popular Chicago venues. In 2017, they ventured off and successfully completed their first tour where TKOM gained fans along the East Coast and throughout the South and Midwest. The band recently released Bleach and Aspirin. We caught up with the band in a recent interview:
So how has your latest album/EP gone so far with fans then?
Our first EP, Cookie Cutter Dreams, was very well received by fans on streaming sites and physical CD’s. Our latest album, Bleach and Aspirin, is out now!
Tell us something about the release no one knows?
The last song on the album, Against Me, went through three completely different versions and two sets of lyrics. Most of the fans don’t think about how long of a process songwriting can take because they only hear the final product. I wrote the first version of Against Me in 2013 and now it’s finally finished in 2018, so that song took about 5 years to finish.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
I’d love to work with Earl Sweatshirt on a new song. I’ve always wanted to work with a rapper and he has one of the most creative lyrical styles in today’s music. I mostly listen to rap and hip hop so I’ve always wanted to make music that more closely resembles the music I listen to on a daily basis.
How has your single Tigress been received?
Our latest single, Tigress, was very well received! In terms of streaming statistics, Tigress is already performing better than our previous releases, so it seems to be a fan favorite already. It’s also one of the most fun songs to play live and fans seem to really enjoy it at our live shows.
Can you tell us about the meaning behind the track?
The general meaning behind Tigress is a lot of aggression directed towards certain people I’ve met who base their lives around blind judgments and prejudices. The artwork depicts one of these people as a tiger ready to devour anyone who doesn’t fit their impossible standards and beliefs.
What venue are you most looking forward to playing the most, and why?
We’re headed to Michigan in November. One of my favorite venues there is Old Dog Tavern in Kalamazoo. I love that place so much because it has a huge stage, (that actually fits all of us), and a super fun atmosphere with a game room in the back of the bar. And their sound team is top notch as well. It’s not easy to do live sound for a band with all the members we have, but they do a great job there.