Interview with King Cherry | Rock, Fur Babies and Vampires
In this interview with King Cherry, we will see how they bring a fresh spark to rock music, blending the gritty spirit of ’90s grunge with modern edge. While you might catch hints of Stone Temple Pilots or Alice in Chains in their DNA, they’re doing their own thing entirely. Their new single “The Last Bite” shows exactly what they’re about – hard-hitting riffs and catchy hooks that feel both familiar and totally new. They’re not trying to reinvent rock, they’re just making it with its their own style, and it works!
Introduction: Who is behind the release “The Last Bite”?
King Cherry keeps pushing forward with singles like “Coo Coo” and “Low Life,” but their latest track “The Last Bite” takes them back to what made them exciting in the first place. It’s got that raw energy of their early days mixed with everything they’ve learned since – classic rock muscle with modern attitude.
"We like vampires, so we write a song about vampires… We have crazy exes, we write songs about crazy exes. Pretty much it! "
Full Interview
In this interview with King Cherry, we dive into the heart of their rock journey with Rachel, one of the driving forces behind the band. She shares insights into their creative process, discusses how their music has evolved, and reflects on their experiences in the rock scene. Let’s kick off our conversation with King Cherry!
Formation and Influences
Let’s start from the beginning. How did King Cherry come together? Can you share the story of how the band was formed and the journey that led you to create music together?
I flew to LA a couple of years back to see Hollywood Gods N’ Monsters, which was the band that Bee was in, and which I eventually joined. A couple of years down the road, Brian and I decided that we really missed original music and felt like it was a big piece missing in our lives. So, we decided to start our own project. We handpicked Marshall as our lead guitarist (who lives in Texas and flies in for each and every show, by the way) and Arturo Sosa as the drummer, as he also played in HGNM… it required no second thought. And here we are!
Your music draws inspiration from the ’90s and early 2000s rock scene. Which bands or artists have influenced your sound, and how do these influences shape your songwriting and creative process?
I would say our biggest influences are bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Marilyn Manson, Orgy…..honestly just 90s hard rock in general. In my opinion there is just no music like it but we also walk a fine line of trying not to sound too outdated….So that’s really the creative process, is picking out the elements we love about these bands so much but trying to inject it with the modern elements that keep people interested. As for the lyrical content, it’s all over the place. For example, we like vampires, so we write a song about vampires….we have crazy exes, we write songs about crazy exes. Pretty much it!
Debut Single,”Coo Coo” and Latest Single, “The Last Bite”
Your debut single, “Coo Coo,” has been well-received. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this track and what it represents for the band?
We wanted something light hearted, tongue-in-cheek, relatable, but heavy hitting. I mean the opening riff of the song is like the perfect introduction for a band, the tones and the heaviness of it just instantly grabs ears. I think it represents just the kind of band we are, we don’t take ourselves too seriously in a lot of ways, but we are very serious about our musicianship and our professionalism.
Your latest single, “The Last Bite,” was just released. What inspired this song, and how does it differ from your previous work?
Bee and I shaped this song after the 80s/90s cult vampire movies we love so much, like The Hunger and Lost Boys. We listened to their soundtracks in particular and crafted a song that we think would fit perfectly in a modern day reboot of one of them. I think it actually is pretty different than our previous work in the sense that I do think it is sonically more modern in a lot of ways. I would say this song shapes the direction we want to go in as a band for the next chapter of our career. It defines us really really well I think, musically and aesthetically.
What creative processes did you explore for “The Last Bite,” and what do you hope listeners take away from it?
Like I said, a lot of studying soundtracks of our favourite vampy movies and shows. We are both huge True Blood freaks (and Vampire Diaries, but Bee wouldn’t want me to tell you that…) so we wanted to imagine the directors of those shows/movies hearing this and wanting it for their own. I hope listeners just find it a fun, sexy track to jam out to all year round as opposed to JUST Halloween time….but then again, Halloween is all year for us.
Songwriting and Production
Your music captures a raw and energetic essence. What inspires your lyrics and musical themes, and how do you approach the songwriting process as a band?
We’re not inspired by anything in particular to be honest, just whatever draws our attention on that day. We’re in the middle of writing a song right now from a creepy yet loving stalker’s point of view. Do any of us have experience with that? No. Is it something we find interesting and scary? Yes. So, we write about it! But, that’s not to say there aren’t times that we DO write about things we feel/experience, like “Low Life” for example….just listen to the lyrics of that and you’ll know what I mean!
Live Performances and Audience Reception
You’ve performed at various venues, including your debut live show at The Rebel Lounge. How would you describe the experience of bringing your music to live audiences, and what do you enjoy most about performing?
Bringing the music to life in front of our supporters is the best part of this. Live shows are the best feeling ever, for fans AND performers. And I’m a huge fan girl of my favourite musicians, so I get both sides. I think the world seems so dark and gloomy nowadays, especially watching the news, so to be able to see people forget about their worries, connect with each other, and have fun with us for an hour or so is just magic. Every single time we book a show we all get so stoked and start counting down the days because that really is what we cherish most as a band.
Fans seem to connect strongly with your energy. What has been the most meaningful or surprising feedback you’ve received from your audience?
I hope so! I think every single one of us makes a very active effort with literally befriending and personally connecting with every fan possible. We have people that started out as casual fans, and now they’re coming over to our house for Thanksgiving dinner and birthday celebrations. We like making them feel special because they make us feel that was every single day.
Community Engagement
Beyond your music, you’ve been involved in community initiatives, like supporting Adopt A Dog Pet Rescue. Can you tell us more about these efforts and why they are important to the band?
Besides music, animal rescue has been my passion since I was born. I’ve been a vet tech, an adoptions counsellor, a foster coordinator, and everything in between. I absolutely love it. It has been my literal fantasy to tie in my music career and my animal rescue career, and when we started King Cherry, I thought, “this is it”. Our first show, we raised well over $2,000 for a local rescue that I got one of my three dogs at. For our Christmas show, we will be giving away free signed posters to anyone that brings pet food or a pet toy. In the near future, I want to make a pet specific merch line with proceeds going to local rescues. I have a lot of big dreams on how we can do more and more for these fur babies, I’m excited to see what else we come up with in the future.
Future Plans
With several singles released and live shows under your belt, what can fans expect next from King Cherry? Are there any upcoming projects or tours that you’re excited about?
Well, we have a music video for “The Last Bite” set to begin production very soon. We’re booking local shows like crazy, and as of this week, just found out we’ll be heading to Las Vegas on November 22nd for a gig….and of course we have some LA shows in the works as well as a spring time East Coast run. We are keeping busy and I want to rip all my hair out but like, in a really good way!!
Personal Insights and Advice for New Artists
As a band that has quickly made a mark in the rock scene, what advice would you give to emerging artists trying to establish themselves in the music industry?
Network, network, network….even when your social battery may be running low (which mine often does….I’m a big homebody), get out there and shake hands. You literally never know who you will meet on a random Saturday and it is so important to get involved in your local music scene. Show support to others, and they’ll show that support right back. It’s a rough industry, we all need to help each other and lift eachother up, not tear eachother down. Invest in your network and your friendships and I think you’ll get to where you wanna be pretty quickly. Oh, and unfortunately lazy days don’t exist if you want to run a band, so also invest in a lot of Red Bull.
Final Thoughts
Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with your fans or anything you hope listeners take away from your music and performances?
First of all, just thank you to anyone who is even interested in reading this, because that is the coolest thing in the world to us. We are thrilled that people are liking what we’re doing, because we are having so much fun, even in the stressful times. But, come out and see us at a show get to know us because we 100% want to get to know all of you!! Our music is all about expressing yourself and just having fun…we hope people forget about their worries for a little bit and just headbang to some King Cherry. It helps.
Conclusion
Haven’t you listened to King Cherry – The Last Bite yet? If not, you can find it in our Rock Playlist.
