The Special K’s are a five-piece electro-pop group from Brighton, consisting of Howard Kaye (vocals), Darren Watts (keys), Mat Griffiths (guitar), Tom Gandolfo ‘Gan’ (bass) and Alex Pott ‘Al’ (drums).  They released their debut single, Crystal Fields, in October last year, which is a great track, and they are often compared to Fenech Soler and Friendly Fires, which you can understand once you have heard the track. This band is one to watch and here I have interviewed them to get to know them a little better and find out what else they have planned…

How did The Special K’s start?

Mat: We all moved to Brighton to form a band and just sort of bumped into each other along the way! Darren and Howard starting playing open mic nights and then we got the full band together and started gigging.

Which artists have influenced your music?

M: We would all have to admit that we’re massive Phoenix fans, other bands we’re into are Fenech Soler, Metronomy – who we’ve been lucky enough to play with.

You have released your debut single, Crystal Fields, not too long ago. What’s the song about and what inspired you too write it?

M: An interesting story actually! A white tail spider bit Howard when he was travelling in Australia, the bite opens up every now and then and makes him delirious, the song is about his state of mind when the bite bleeds.

What do you have planned next? Another single, EP, album?

M: We’re currently playing a lot of schools and gigs, actually on our way to Cambridge now to play with CasioKids. We’re then heading off to France for 5 days and then back to a UK tour. In April we’re releasing a new track called Evil Woman. We filmed the music video a couple of days ago we’re really excited about it!

You will be touring around schools in the UK in March, what else do you have planned for the year so far?

M: Yes yes yes! Loads of schools and gigs. The rest of the year we will be syncing on TV programs and releasing our album.

Out of anywhere in the world where would you most like to perform?

M: We’d love to tour the US.

Where do you wish to be in 5 years’ time?

M: The Special K’s greatest hits album

If you could be any famous person in the world, who would you be?

Howard: Jay-Z
Gan: Kim Jong Un
Darren: Lionel Messe
M: Jamiroquai

Which band most inspired you when you were younger?

H: The Beatles
A: Limp Bizkit
G: Nirvana
D: The Beatles
M: Blink 182

If you were on a deserted island and could have only one album, what would it be?

H: Phoenix Wolgang Amadeus
A: Menos El Oso – Minus The Bear
G: Saul Williams – Saul Wiliams
D: Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder
M: John Mayer – Continuum

Have a listen to their debut track, Crystal Fields…