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The Kooks frontman said he his keen to be back in Perth to share music off the band’s upcoming album that is “the best thing we’ve done in so long”.
Luke Pritchard, who makes up the band along with Hugh Harris, is currently Down Under on The Kooks’ biggest Australian tour since their return to our shores after a sold-out run in 2022 celebrating the 15th anniversary of their debut album Inside In/Inside Out.
They will play to Perth fans on Thursday night at Red Hill Auditorium where the rock stars are set to pump out classics like Naive, Seaside and She Moves in Her Own Way as well as new material.
The band is set to release their most accomplished album to date, Never/Know on May 9 following the January release of its lead track of the same name.
Ahead of their Perth show, Pritchard sat down with The West on a Zoom call from London to chat about the new music and thoughts on Australia.
“It always feels like home when we get (to Australia) and I’m excited to share some new music,” he said.
“I just always say I wish it wasn’t so far away, we’d be there much more, there is an amazing mix of culture, it’s so close to Asia and everything but it’s so English.”
With Perth the last stop on their Aussie leg, the artist — who turned 40 on Sunday — said he might have time to squeeze in a beach trip where he could learn to surf — you never know.
“The beach is cool, I have to wear a lot of sunscreen, I’ve never really cracked the beach, I go to the beach, but I’m kinda the guy just in the shade,” he said.
“Sand isn’t really my friend, maybe I’ll learn how to surf.”
In terms of music, the father of two said the band was in “a really cool space” with “good chemistry”.
“It really feels like a new chapter right now with a whole new energy,” he said.
“We made a new album and I think it’s the best thing we’ve done in so long.”
The 11-track offering, self-produced by Pritchard, was born out of a mission to reconnect with The Kooks’ original creative drive.
“It’s not about going back to the first album’s sound, but to the roots of our influences and asking, ‘What is the identity of this band?’” he said.
The album started as a solo project by Pritchard who began by creating a series of demos, before asking the rest of the band to join him in the studio.
The result: A body of work featuring music Pritchard wanted to listen to while venturing into fresh, uncharted territory.
After their Aussie shows, Pritchard said he will work on “stepping it up and trying some new things” like playing in locations and venues they are yet to light up.
One new thing he has in the bag though is mentoring young artists.
With an encyclopedia of experience behind him, Pritchard wants to help younger people deal with the struggles of the industry and provide inspiration.
“Not everyone is equipped for doing what I do and I think I wasn’t and I didn’t have many strong role models when I was growing up, my dad died when I was kid and in the music industry there was very little help for anxious teenagers who were quite shy and then all of a sudden get really famous,” he said.
Before The Kooks take the stage in Perth, Pritchard thanked his fans for standing by them all these years.
“We deeply appreciate it and we have a long standing relationship with you guys and it’s not lost on us and we can’t wait to see you, it’s gonna be great and I hope you like the new music, lets party.”
The Kooks frontman said he his keen to be back in Perth to share music off the band’s upcoming album that is “the best thing we’ve done in so long”.
Luke Pritchard, who makes up the band along with Hugh Harris, is currently Down Under on The Kooks’ biggest Australian tour since their return to our shores after a sold-out run in 2022 celebrating the 15th anniversary of their debut album Inside In/Inside Out.
They will play to Perth fans on Thursday night at Red Hill Auditorium where the rock stars are set to pump out classics like Naive, Seaside and She Moves in Her Own Way as well as new material.
The band is set to release their most accomplished album to date, Never/Know on May 9 following the January release of its lead track of the same name.
Ahead of their Perth show, Pritchard sat down with The West on a Zoom call from London to chat about the new music and thoughts on Australia.
“It always feels like home when we get (to Australia) and I’m excited to share some new music,” he said.
“I just always say I wish it wasn’t so far away, we’d be there much more, there is an amazing mix of culture, it’s so close to Asia and everything but it’s so English.”
With Perth the last stop on their Aussie leg, the artist — who turned 40 on Sunday — said he might have time to squeeze in a beach trip where he could learn to surf — you never know.
“The beach is cool, I have to wear a lot of sunscreen, I’ve never really cracked the beach, I go to the beach, but I’m kinda the guy just in the shade,” he said.
“Sand isn’t really my friend, maybe I’ll learn how to surf.”
In terms of music, the father of two said the band was in “a really cool space” with “good chemistry”.
“It really feels like a new chapter right now with a whole new energy,” he said.
“We made a new album and I think it’s the best thing we’ve done in so long.”
The 11-track offering, self-produced by Pritchard, was born out of a mission to reconnect with The Kooks’ original creative drive.
“It’s not about going back to the first album’s sound, but to the roots of our influences and asking, ‘What is the identity of this band?’” he said.
The album started as a solo project by Pritchard who began by creating a series of demos, before asking the rest of the band to join him in the studio.
The result: A body of work featuring music Pritchard wanted to listen to while venturing into fresh, uncharted territory.
After their Aussie shows, Pritchard said he will work on “stepping it up and trying some new things” like playing in locations and venues they are yet to light up.
One new thing he has in the bag though is mentoring young artists.
With an encyclopedia of experience behind him, Pritchard wants to help younger people deal with the struggles of the industry and provide inspiration.
“Not everyone is equipped for doing what I do and I think I wasn’t and I didn’t have many strong role models when I was growing up, my dad died when I was kid and in the music industry there was very little help for anxious teenagers who were quite shy and then all of a sudden get really famous,” he said.
Before The Kooks take the stage in Perth, Pritchard thanked his fans for standing by them all these years.
“We deeply appreciate it and we have a long standing relationship with you guys and it’s not lost on us and we can’t wait to see you, it’s gonna be great and I hope you like the new music, lets party.”
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