When they named their debut song, “The Story,” twin sisters Paris and Amber Strother and their friend and musical compadre Anita Bias--collectively known as KING--had no idea they were creating a true life musical fairytale, nor could they have anticipated their sound would attract pop icon Prince, who would play a key role in the story of their musical journey.
The group has been gearing up for their album release in 2014, signing with Kobalt Music Group for Label Services and Publishing, and appearing on Avicii’s song “Lay Me Down” with Adam Lambert (produced by Nile Rodgers), and on the “Red Hot + Fela” album, with their rendition of legendary Nigerian bandleader Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s “Go Slow.” They also toured with Laura Mvula, and have been receiving pre-album release buzz in Glamour, Ebony, Essence, Billboard, Los Angeles Daily News, Chicago Sun Times, The Globe & Mail, and more.
In March of 2011, the Los Angeles based R&B trio posted a handmade video for their dreamy tune "The Story" on YouTube. Along with the independent release of their three song debut EP that month, their goal was simply to let their family and friends in on the soul-influenced vibe that they had been developing since they joined forces in 2009. Hours after the release, KING was trending on Twitter, and the music began making rounds through contemporary tastemakers- first championed and shared by Phonte Coleman, rapper/singer of The Foreign Exchange, Grammy winning singer Erykah Badu, and ?uestlove of The Roots. Once “The Story” went viral, it was unstoppable.
Within a month, KING garnered countless new fans—including the one and only Prince, who while surfing the net, discovered the group himself. He then tapped Paris, Amber and Anita to open a show for him just a few months later during his exclusive 2011 run at The Forum in Los Angeles. Prince has since become a mentor and advisor to the girls and has enlisted Kiran Sharma to be their manager.
The vibe and intricate harmonies KING creates—and Paris’ smooth and intricate production—evolved beautifully in their home studio, a product solely of the three women. Paris produces KING’s songs, while Amber and Anita are the primary singers. The three work together on songwriting and vocal arrangements to create their very unique “Electro-Soul” sound. Says Paris, "We are so excited to present to the world the new music we've been developing. It's been a joy to make what we've always wanted to hear, and we're proud to have produced the new album exactly the way we envisioned it." In fact, when Prince first heard the album, he said “don’t change a thing. It’s perfect.” The album features title track “The Story,” and the two other tracks from their initial EP, “Hey” and “Supernatural” (featured as NPR's Song of the Day). The album will also include the ambient romance “In The Meantime.”
Anita, who Paris and Amber affectionately refer to as their “triplet,” adds, “The main thing about our songs is that they spread the kind of love that only comes from being true to who we are. KING is all about us being natural and authentic. We make music that we, music fans, would like to hear. I think what makes us unique is that the three of us have the same tastes, and we all genuinely appreciate and invest in each other’s ideas. I have learned so much from working with Paris and Amber, and I couldn’t fathom the idea of making this music with anybody else.”
JANUARY 2014 15 – London St. Pancras Old Church
