You grew up in Liverpool, UK. Did that influence your musical taste growing up at all?
I suppose, in a way it did, as my parents were a working duo at the time, and were always practising in the back room at home. I think my first album that I became aware of from their collection, was Elvis, Blue Hawaii. In a way I was influenced by the style of lyric writing by the Beatles, having been able to visualise places like Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields, and this style of writing, visualising the actual words, is how I mostly write songs today… My parents were lucky enough to know the Beatles and work with many of the still-known 60’s acts from Liverpool!
Can you remember the first time you sang in front of a crowd? How about your work aboard cruise ships?
I do remember my first ‘GIG’, as such, as a singer. I was a red coat in Blackpool, having survived the audition process, and we had a wonderful Ballroom in the Metropole Hotel on the North Pier. It was a weekend night, my first night on stage, naked (not naked, but) as me, Adam. As a singer, not a character. My manage, Kenny Bee, came up to me and said what do you want to use as your stage name, and BOOM! Adam King was born. I went out and sang ‘All my Loving’, ‘Sealed with a Kiss’ and ‘Show me the way to Amarillo’. That was my first gig proper, as a singer on stage, and I loved it. I still feel the same excitement to to this day.
What influenced your decision to move to Spain?
It wasn’t a hard decision. We had a pub at the time, and I was still gigging regularly. It was when the smoking ban was about to come in in the UK, so we decided to sell up and move to Spain, we already had family here, and we thought it would be good for the kids. I carried on singing as that was my job, with a full schedule and lots of residencies in great venues up and down the coast. I also started on presenting on Radio and ended up creating my own station, and still have my 3 hour swing show going out weekly today, in many countries. Then I decided to make a band, almost 15 years ago.
How did your job as a radio show host come about? What made you decide to focus on swing music on the airwaves?
Well, as I was known for my solo show here in Spain, with many venues, then a few radio stations approached me to do a show . This moved onto me doing the breakfast slot and many other shows remotely, with the help of the internet and my own home studio. I still do several shows today around the world. I have my own 3-hour, weekly swing show as you know, and this basically came about through me singing swing all my life. I love everything about it – the style, the singers, the writers, and the history…
What are some of your essential swing releases for people who are looking to get into the genre?
Just grab any Sinatra classic. Frank invented it in my eyes! Then move onto The Rat Pack. The likes of Robbie Williams and Michael Buble – they all sing the best classics taken from these chaps. You should also move onto the newer stuff like Paul Anka’s Rock Swings, with classic rock tunes swung up, like Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ – it’s superb. My personal favourite to listen too also is the wonderful Tony Bennett. His duets with Lady Gaga are amazing… especially ‘The Lady is a Tramp’. WOW. Here’s a few more for you: Sammy Davies Jnr’s ‘Birth of the blues’, Frank Sinatra’s ‘Almost Like Being in Love’, Bobby Darin’s ‘Mack the Knife,There you go, that should get you started!
Do you think swing has a place in the musical landscape of today? How about on (aliensdontringdoorbells debut) Arrival?
Definitely, I have even said to the guys, lets work out how to rock up ‘Mack the Knife’ as a release, wouldn’t that be awesome…
How has your stage career helped you grow and build as an artist?
Without a doubt, from being characters like Joseph, The Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors, Fagin, and numerous pantomime roles – they all helped me with every aspect of stage work, confidence, my role on stage, how I perform. It really helped with my solo act as well – how to interact with the audience. It’s very hard for some bands as they have only ever done studio work. You need to be out there in front of a live audience; it’s what it’s all about. I’ve been doing it with bands, and solo, for over 30 years, and I still need that nervous wee before going on! I still get stage fright. I think if you didn’t , you’d be just too complacent.
What has been your defining role so far?
I should say a husband and a father! Of course that, but I would say just being me… Getting out on stage with my band and being the best rock ‘n’ roll guy that I can be. It’s for both me and the audience, so we can all have a blinding night, singing, dancing and just having fun, which we all need a little more of nowadays. Hopefully we will be back on stage very very soon. I love the role of being the front man for aliensdontringdoorbells, and being a songwriter and singer, it just what I’ve wanted to be, and have been all my life.
What have been your essential listens for the end of 2020/beginning of 2021?
As always in my household we listen to a variety of music. When I’m alone, its swing and opera, yes opera! I just love the calming feel it creates throughout the villa. I’m getting to be a big fan of Jukebox the Ghost, along side Scouting for Girls. My youngest daughter got me into Summer Salt – check them out if you like the Beach Boys! I have to say, it is very rarely a day goes by that I don’t actually listen to a few track from our own album, Arrival – even though we wrote it, produced it, played it and recorded it. I still bloody love it, so there!
Thank you for spending your time with us, Adam! You can listen to aliensdontringdoorbells’ full length debut album, Arrival, below!