Music Essentials: King Krule

Archy Marshall, more commonly known as King Krule, has had a miraculous year as an independent artist. While the London-based musician has been active since 2010 under a number of aliases — Zoo Kid, DJ JD Sports and Edgar The Beatmaker — this year, Krule turned things up a notch. The young singer songwriter presented 6 Feet Beneath the Moon, an honest 15-track LP that was released on his 19th birthday via XL Recordings. Utilizing his haunting vocals over broken jazz notes and droning guitar chords, the album came as an audio interpretation to the pale-faced youngster’s emotive thoughts. While Krule’s music may seem jagged and raw at first listen, the feeling of devoid and solitude can relate to each and everyone of his audiences, providing a comforting soundtrack that’ll guide you through the bleak journeys in the city. Following from his album release saw a collaboration with Mount Kimbie on Cold Spring Fault Less Youth — a heartfelt number that was tandem with an equally compelling music video. While Krule sights his influences from the likes of Gene Vincent and Fela Kuti, one can’t help but hear a reminiscent of a working class Jamie T, or nods at other contemporaries like James Blake and Jamie Woon.

We were lucky to catch King Krule during his New York visit where he played at the courtyard of the iconic ALIFE Sessions. Krule’s Music Essentials is a true reflection of his unassuming character, where Camel cigarettes and Rizla Blue King Slims come as daily necessities, while a driving license and condom ensures all the fun comes with little costs. A basic cell phone and the MACKRULE tape also shows Krule’s disregard for trends and technology, reinforcing his nonchalant personality that’s herald a loyal fan base.