Tennyson King
He describes his music as rock and roll infused with earthy roots and blues, laced with psychedelic ear candy. Canada’s Tennyson King spoke to Off the Leash about his current tour, his musical influences and his guitar, ahead of his Darwin debut.
I love this description of your music – it’s like all the best kind of music rolled into one! Can you tell us a little bit about the musical inï¬uences that have shaped this sound?
At the time of writing and trying to find the sound for the last album I was listening to artists like Velvet Underground, Bon Iver, M. Warde, Tim Buckley and Shakey Graves. They all ended up being big influences.
Can you tell us a bit about where you are from in Canada?
I grew up in the ‘burbs, in a city called Mississauga, which is about 45 minutes away from the big city Toronto, Ontario. Though like many Ontario folk, I spent a lot of time going up north to stay at our cottage in the forest by the lake.
This guitar that you’re holding in the press shot – it’s just beautiful. Are you particular about your guitars?
That guitar is definitely my baby. It’s a 1957 Epiphone Zephyr, one of the first batch of guitars made in Kalamazoo, Michigan when Gibson started the Epiphone plant. I've had my guitar tech at MJS Custom Pickups put in two beautiful hand wound pickups for me that articulate the style of playing for my music. So yeah, I guess you can say I'm just a little bit particular with my guitars. The Epiphone is my go-to tour guitar for sure.
You’ve been touring Australia on and off since January, has there been a highlight?
There have been many highlights on this tour! My van breaking down and being stuck in Airlie Beach for a week, playing the Yackandandah Folk Festival, and that crazy 15 hour ferry ride to Tasmania. I could write a whole page just about the amazing experiences I've had, but really what's been most amazing is just the wonderful people I've met through playing music and travelling.
What kind of show can audiences expect from you at the Railway Club?
I'm stoked to play at the Railway Club, it'll be my first time at the venue and in Darwin. I'll be playing solo so it'll be a nice cosy intimate vibe but still definitely lots of energy. Everyone there will hear more about my adventures in Australia paired with some storytelling tunes.
Thu 7 Oct | 7pm | Railway Club | $10 | $15 door | darwinrailwayclub.org
