Interview: Angelic Rebellion With Kula Shaker
Written by Lindsey V. Britt / Photos by Dutch Doscher
Psychedelic-Rock band Kula Shaker has released their latest single “Charge of the Light Brigade” following up their seventh album Natural Magick released last year. They have recently toured with Ocean Colour Scene, while working on their eighth album.
What’s the story behind your new song “Charge of the Light Brigade”?
Musically it’s quite straightforward: acoustic drums, fuzz bass, harpsichord, dollops of Space Echo and then some. Lyrically, it’s a different spin on the traditional meaning of the Light Brigade. Rather than refer to an infamous military blunder of the Crimean War (the last one, not this current one) involving the senseless slaughter of young cavalry officers by a deluded, bloodthirsty ruling class of entitled idiots, (which obviously could never happen these days), instead, we describe the exact opposite: an angelic rebellion, a cavalry charge of ancient magic, poets and ’light workers’, rising up to destroy the blood drinkers with spiritual love and funky fuzz bass.
Your music video for “Charge of the Light Brigade” features Vegetarian Vampires, where did that idea come from?
We were just being daft. Obviously vegetarian vampires don’t exist. They would die without at least some sort of consensual blood donor.
You’ve just finished touring the UK with Ocean Colour Scene, what was your favorite tour stop?
They’ve all been great but Manchester and Liverpool were stand-out shows. We invited California’s own Lance Gordon ‘The Mad Alchemist’ to come over and illuminate the gigs with his mind-melting acid-bright liquid light show, and there were quite a few occasions where I looked up and the whole audience were staring, wide eyed and open mouthed. Some of them were even drooling.
You’re playing festivals this summer with some incredible lineups, are you excited to be traveling around to different countries?
We like playing shows but not the travelling. Modern airports are so hellish. Especially during the summer. Pretty soon, only rich s.o.b’s with private jets will be able to fly. No one else will even want to.
I’ve been told you might be playing in The States soon, is there a city over here you’d like to play at?
Fingers crossed it looks like we’re sailing over in September. It will be good to play all those places in-between the coasts too.
I heard you’re working on your eighth studio album, how is it going so far?
It’s going very well, thank you. It’s perhaps more live sounding; a bit more conceptual and jammy than Natural Magick, but we haven’t abandoned the 3 minute song entirely.
How do you think your music has evolved over the years?
We walk a high wire between very clever and very stupid.
Have your musical influences changed since starting the band?
Well, we come across new music, new albums, and we’re constantly absorbing stuff; but the formative impressions, I mean, the music you start off playing, that's the stuff that imprints your life. ‘The first cut is the deepest’ so to speak. For me it was a kids TV show called Magic Roundabout.
I was reading the comments on your recent music videos and Instagram posts, a lot of them were from fans who have followed you since the beginning, what is it like knowing you have such a loyal fanbase?
We have the best fans in the world. They are all very special.
Is there a name for your fanbase? If not, what would it be?
The European fan magazine is called StrangeFolk, which is perfect.
Do you have a dream collaboration?
I’d be happy just making tea for the Travelling Wilburys.
With the band being categorized as Psychedelic-Rock, has there ever been a moment that you felt like you were psychic?
I totally knew you were going to ask me that.
Lastly, do you have a recommendation? This can be absolutely anything.
‘Believe nothing you hear and only half that you see’ Edgar Allan POE.
“Charge of the Light Brigade” is available now along with the rest of Kula Shaker’s discography on the streaming service of your choosing.
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