Studio CarryOnHarry : The vibrant indie pop ensemble, Rocket Kings, is back with their eagerly awaited sophomore album, ‘Paving The Way,’ featuring 12 original tracks that promise to be a delightful musical journey. The band has unveiled the album with a fun-filled video for the title track, providing a taste of what listeners can expect.

Formed in 2016, Rocket Kings comprises five talented musicians: Dave Stewart (ukulele, vocals), Bex Crossland (vocals, ukulele), David Heath (drums), Jess Tuthill (ukulele, vocals), and Yoshiko Nakayama (bass). United by their passion for music, the band exudes infectious positivity through their upbeat, original pop-rock compositions. With three ukuleles in their lineup, along with bass and drums, Rocket Kings have redefined ukepop, offering a unique sound that’s unlike anything else.

‘Paving the Way’ was recorded, engineered, mixed, and mastered at Creative Control Studio in Bracknell by Josh McCrohan, who has played a pivotal role in shaping Rocket Kings’ sound. Dave Stewart produced the album in collaboration with McCrohan, a seasoned producer known for his work with renowned artists like Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull, Echo & The Bunnymen, Squeeze, Paul Young, and Fairport Convention, among others.

Dave Stewart, a core member of the band, shared his excitement about the album, saying, “We are really excited to share this album with people. It is chock full of Rocket Kings signature sounds and, as with our first album, these 12 songs are laden with top tunes and harmonies. The overall sound is perhaps a little more rocky this time around, and we regularly use overdrive and phaser pedals. We even have trumpet on a couple of tracks.”

One of the notable aspects of ‘Paving the Way’ is the collaborative approach to song arrangements, reflecting the band’s growth and cohesion. Stewart added, “The song arrangements were more collaborative this time around, partly because we feel like we are all playing better than ever as a band and we feed off each other with creative ideas. Also partly because the band found themselves with time to meet up just after Covid without gigs to practice for. Amongst other things, there are songs about space (a regular theme for the band), yellow birds, missing museums, faithful dogs, tall tales and the Berlin Wall.”

‘Paving the Way’ is a follow-up to Rocket Kings’ 2021 album ‘Everyday Adventures,’ and it showcases the band’s diverse musical influences, ranging from Teenage Fanclub, Lou Reed, and The Kinks to The Wedding Present, Status Quo, and The La’s. The band recently treated fans to a series of demos from 2016, titled ‘Intense Whirlwind.’

The album ‘Paving the Way’ is now available digitally and on limited edition vinyl and CD via Bandcamp. Fans can also stream the album on popular platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

Album Tracklist:

1. Fading Star
2. She’s Going to Mars
3. Damn Tired
4. The Yellow Bird of Fortune
5. Far From Home
6. Dream Undream
7. Paving the Way
8. We’ve Really Got a Good Thing Going
9. Say it with a Smile
10. Tall Tale Teller
11. The Time of Our Lives
12. The Ballad of Caroline and Walter

CREDITS
All songs written by Dave Stewart except ‘Damn Tired’ and ‘Say it with a Smile’, which were written by Jess Tuthill
Recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Josh McCrohan at Creative Control Studio in Bracknell
Produced by Dave Stewart and Josh McCrohan
Bex Crossland sang, played the ukulele, piano and tambourine.
Greg Forys played bass.
David Heath played the drums.
Dave Stewart sang, played the ukulele, shaker and tambourine.
Jess Tuthill sang and played the ukulele.
Richard Vanryne played trumpet on ‘The Yellow Bird of Fortune’ and ‘Say it with a Smile’.
The choir on ‘The Time of Our Lives’: Ben Ash, Nicola Blair, Jude Brindley, Dawn Challis, Chris Clements, Anna Freshwater, James Gildersleve, Jason Helmore, Ruth Horbury, Alison Hull, Jane Jones, Stella Murphy, Barbara O’Donovan, Frances Osang, Zoe Robinson, Helen Savidge, Chris Taylor, Jayne Tricker, Alan Turner.
Front cover photo by Liz Pearmain