.

.

.

Interview with
DARREN HOLDEN
from
THE HIGH KINGS

(20th June 2024)

Interview with Dave Bruce

.

.

The High Kings are headed for a return visit to Australia just over a year since your highly successful tour in 2023 what do you put the success in Australia down to?
Darren Holden: I think the public had been waiting for us to play Australia for years. We’ve literally had thousands of messages and offers since the bands inception. It was worth the wait. An incredible tour. 

How did the band come together? Is there someone who is a “driving force”, or do you all make decisions together?
Darren Holden: We all knew each other from various other bands down through the years and always wanted to work together. Timing finally played a part in us getting together in 2008. I guess it might be myself who may be the driving force. I write most of our music and get everyone together for recording sessions and social media videos etc. I think every band needs that person who sets it all up. 

How would you personally describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
Darren Holden: I would say we bridge the gap between old and new folk. We are aware of the roots of this genre and while we respectfully sing the old classics, I write songs based on that style and make sure to utilise modern recording techniques. I love harmonies too so that’s a huge part of our sound.
From our debut album with EMI we hit the ground running. It reached Number 2 on the Billboard charts in America and its success showed us that people were into what we were doing. I think it’s the storytelling aspect that draws folk fans to us. There are fun songs, sad songs, and everything in between. We sing about real experiences.

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
Darren Holden: Bruce Springsteen. A powerhouse performer who sings about real life stories and seems to each and every fibre of your soul. He’s ageless and timeless. If I could write one song like him, I’d be well pleased.

.

.

Your latest album ‘The Road Not Taken’ was released in 2023! Describe its origin and evolution.
Darren Holden: It all sparked from a conversation I had with our manager during the first lockdown in 2020. My biggest concern was would we be able to come out of that dark time with something to show for it. I wanted it to be special and he suggested we open up opportunities for collaborations and so the word got around the Irish music industry and we were inundated with ideas. We recorded the album over 2 years, and it was a true labour of love. It reached Number 1 in Ireland, Number 2 in the USA, 3 in the UK.

There are some great collaborations on the album including The Script, Kodaline, Picture This, Sharon Corr, legendary ‘Journey’ frontman Steve Perry and more. How did this come about?
Darren Holden: It’s like I was just saying, we opened the door to working with other artists for the first time and what happened was unprecedented. Those artists you’ve mentioned are all favourites and friends of ours. I’ve known Sharon Corr for years, she’s the best. I’m so happy The Corrs are back, one of the great Irish bands of our time. Glen & Danny from The Script are absolutely amazing people. So talented. Glen produced a lot of the songs on the album, and he knew Steve Perry well, so Steve heard me singing one of the songs, The Streets of Kinsale, and called Glen to ask if I’d mind him singing on it with me.
Eh…hello!! I’m a massive fan of Steve’s and Journey. It was an honour. He’s the greatest. 

What are you looking forward to this time around and what can the new fans expect?
Darren Holden: I loved being down there with you all last year. The people we worked with on sound, lighting etc were all phenomenal and very laid back. The atmosphere was perfect. The shows this time round will feature all the big songs along with some brand-new tunes and new versions of some Irish classics. It’s going to be a party!!

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
Darren Holden: Elvis. Just the most important artist of the last century. He was the quintessential rock star who had it all. That voice could sing any style of music and he will never be forgotten. Interestingly his family tree was traced to County Carlow in Ireland, so that explains it! 

.

.

What long-term aspirations do you have as a music artist?
Darren Holden: To continue to tour, record and perform at the very highest level. As a songwriter, I’m always intrigued by who I could potentially write with. I’m just now finishing a new song that I’ve written with Andrew Farriss from INXS who is one of the nicest and most talented guys ever. Australian rock royalty. A super person. 

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
Darren Holden: The reaction we get, particularly from the original songs! To hear an audience sing words you’ve written back to you at the top of their voices is a priceless feeling. One of the highlights was recently writing a new anthem for Notre Dame college football university in South Bend Indiana. It’s already becoming a staple in ND folklore, and we were invited to the campus to perform 2 shows last month. I get chills thinking about it. Such an enormous honour.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Western Stars, Bruce Springsteen 
Artist – Elvis Presley
Movie – Halloween
Place to visit – New York 
Venue to play – Royal Albert Hall
Food – Chinese
Drink – Guinness 
Person in History – Elvis

.

.

THE HIGH KINGS
JUNE 2024
Australian Tour Dates

Friday 21st June – BRISBANE, The Tivoli
Saturday 22nd June – SYDNEY, Enmore Theatre
Sunday 23rd June – CANBERRA, Southern Cross Club
June 28th June – MELBOURNE, The Forum
Saturday 29th June – ADELAIDE, The Gov
Sunday 30th June – PERTH, Astor Theatre

TICKETS: HERE

.

Follow THE HIGH KINGS
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Spotify

.

.

Press Release 23rd November 2023 (below) HERE

THE HIGH KINGS
“The Road Not Taken’”
June 2024
Australian Tour

.

.

AMNPLIFY – DB