With rich, ambrosial, harmonious blends akin to a scoop of creamy, slow-churned gelato, the sounds of King are a satisfying and savory treat for the ears. Comprised of twin sisters Paris and Amber Strother, along with Los Angeles native Anita Bias, KING skillfully bypasses the human impulse to categorize and package musicians into a singular box by falling somewhere in the utopian realm of nostalgic R&B, futuristic neo-soul and folksy-bluesy jazz.
This unique and original sound propelled the female trio into the spotlight following the 2011 release of The Story, a three-track EP that won over the hearts of many, including Erykah Badu, Questlove, Estelle and the living legend himself, Prince.
In fact, His Purple Majesty was so enamored by King’s sonic soulfulness and magical melodies that he invited the trio to open the final performance of his Welcome 2 America Tour: 21-Night Stand concert residency at the Los Angeles Forum in May 2011. This was particularly surprising, as this slot was typically reserved for more well-known artists like Chaka Khan, Esperanza Spalding and Janelle Monáe.
Having collaborated with the Robert Glasper Experiment on the Grammy-winning album Black Radio, and producing, co-writing and providing background vocals on “Right at the Core” (a beautiful track off Bilal’s recent A Love Surreal), KING is stepping center-stage as the ladies gear up to release their first full-length album in 2013. Lalah Hathaway, a.k.a. @lalahhathaway, recently tweeted, “So ready for the KING record!,” and many fans share her exact sentiments. It sounds like KING is king! — Marissa Wallace
Follow KING at their site, weareking.com, and on Twitter @weareking.
Marissa Wallace is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist who delves into the multifaceted and rich fabric of Black arts and culture. Follow her happenings on Twitter @MarsWall_ for more.
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