Foundational British indie acts The Kooks and Hard-Fi have been returning to the music world! More importantly, they’re engaging audiences with their innovative styles while inducing a wave of nostalgia for the 2000s. Luke Pritchard, lead singer of The Kooks, is revisiting the vibrant pop melodies that defined their early work, while Richard Archer, frontman for Hard-Fi, draws inspiration from past experiences as he prepares to unveil new material. Both acts are currently in preparation for extensive summer and fall tours that should reawaken the fire of their ardently loyal fan bases.
UK rock band The Kooks first burst onto the international music scene in 2006 with their debut record Inside In/Inside Out. It went on to sell a staggering 1.5 million copies, becoming the year’s fifth best-selling record. Their catchy hits, such as “She Moves In Her Own Way,” quickly secured their place in the hearts of fans. In their first year, Hard-Fi toured nearly 300 days. From there, they easily gained a reputation for raucous, feel-good, energy-filled performances and songs such as “Hard To Beat” that became everyday anthems.
Yet by 2006, guitar bands had taken over the British music charts. More than just a passing trend, seven of the UK’s ten best-selling new albums last year had this sound. The Kooks and Hard-Fi were just two of these titans, joined by near contemporaries like The Arctic Monkeys. To put it plainly, their contributions to the sound of the decade literally helped define our generation’s musical experience.
Their recent album from this past spring, “Never/Know,” was an effort to distill much of that spirit into the band’s modern day sound. In this project, Pritchard reflects on the breathless pop sound that characterized their initial success. As he prepares for the band’s biggest arena tour to date, Pritchard expresses enthusiasm about reconnecting with fans through familiar melodies.
“No, I’ve done a lot of work on that,” – Luke Pritchard
Aside from their new music, it’s a similar story with both bands in looking ahead to live performances. Hard-Fi could be looking at headlining the O2 Arena for the first time. They’re expecting a young, eclectic mix, 45% of the crowd under the age of 24. This older demographic shows the removed, enduring influence of the band’s music, proving itself ever-relevant to the up-and-coming youth.
Richard Archer has been busy crafting new material inspired by a unique source: a CD-Rom containing old demos sent to him by an ex-girlfriend last year. This visit down memory lane is inspiring his creative process right now as he’s getting ready to drop his next full-length album. Archer’s commitment to innovation and creative approach demonstrate his understanding of the power of having a clear brand.
“I don’t see the point in being just another indie band,” – Richard Archer
Both The Kooks and Hard-Fi have reached critical and commercial success during their careers but have faced their considerable struggles. Archer, for his part, is frank about how the band’s relationship with UK music press – NME in particular – became frosty but wouldn’t melt in their mouths.
“We were never the best friends with the NME,” – Richard Archer
Pritchard provides valuable perspective on the cutthroat music industry in which the growing band found themselves. He expresses that bands were chosen over others that deserved more preferential treatment, and bands who were chosen were unjustly underrepresented.
“There were two or three anointed bands and the rest of us were cast out,” – Luke Pritchard
Even with these obstacles, both of these musicians are still fierce advocates for pursuing the art that you love and recognizing how vital audience engagement is. They have created choruses that fans can easily sing along to, ensuring that their shows are filled with energy and connection.
Pritchard humorously reflects on how criticism can affect artists deeply, stating:
“They’re criticising something you’ve sweated blood and tears over,” – Richard Archer
As they approach new tours and record releases, both bands sound more energetic and focused. The Kooks’ return to their pop roots and Hard-Fi’s creative worldliness both point to bright futures ahead for each of these bands.
Leave a Reply