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King Krule

Data updated on 2024-11-21 13:31:19 UTC
King Krule is the primary alias of Archy Marshall, a native Londoner whose peculiar combination of grim if wit-peppered songwriting and volatile baritone vocals drew early comparisons to disparate punk forebears such as Joe Strummer and Shane MacGowan. Marshall was merely a teenager when he was likened to these and other figures who didn't hit their stride until their mid-twenties. It wasn't long before Marshall made his individuality apparent with elements of no wave, punk jazz, dub, and hip-hop gradually permeating his sound -- one further distinguished by his jagged style of rhythm guitar -- and adding color to his poetic gutter narratives. In addition to his mid-teens output as Zoo Kid and a later recording under his birth name, Marshall has released four albums as King Krule: 6 Feet Beneath the Moon (2013), the Mercury Prize-nominated The Ooz (2017), Man Alive! (2020), and Space Heavy (2023).

Originally from Southwark, Marshall was raised by artistic parents. He is the godson of drummer Dave Ruffy (Ruts), and as a youngster regularly saw his uncle Ollie Howard play in a ska band called Top Cats. Marshall was writing and recording before the age of 12, and at 14, in 2008, entered Glastonbury Festival's unsigned artist competition. In 2010, under the name Zoo Kid, he released the digital download-only U.F.O.W.A.V.E. EP, from which two songs -- "Out Getting Ribs" and "Has This Hit" -- were issued on 7" vinyl by the House Anxiety label. Marshall then dubbed himself King Krule, after King Creole, a film starring Elvis Presley, and in 2011 returned with a self-titled EP for the Matador Records-owned True Panther Sounds. The next year, he released a one-off single for Rinse and was longlisted for the BBC Sound of 2013 (won by HAIM).

After he signed a U.K. deal with XL Recordings and performed at Glastonbury, Marshall completed his debut LP, 6 Feet Beneath the Moon. Issued in August 2013 on his 19th birthday, it combined previously released material with new songs highlighted by "Easy Easy," "Baby Blue," and "A Lizard State," and peaked on the U.K. album chart at number 65. It also registered on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., where Marshall continued to be supported by True Panther. He then collaborated with his brother Jack for A New Place 2 Drown, a comparatively fluid and more electronic set of recordings -- issued in December 2015 with a book of poetry, photography, and art -- credited to Archy Marshall rather than King Krule. At this point, Marshall's extracurricular recordings included featured appearances on songs by Mount Kimbie, Ratking, and Trash Talk.

A sequence of disparate previews -- the dreamlike ballad "Czech One," the midtempo rocker "Dum Surfer," and the rumbling "Half Man Half Shark," all featuring saxophone from Ignacio Salvadores -- built anticipation for the October 2017 arrival of The Ooz, the second King Krule album. Greeted with more commercial success and adulation than the debut, the scattered double-LP reached number 23 in the U.K. and number 114 in the U.S., figured prominently in year-end lists from numerous publications, and was up for that year's Mercury Prize. Marshall reappeared in early 2020 with hints about the third King Krule album. Man Alive!, considerably more concise and only slightly less grim than the artist's previous full-lengths, landed that February. Despite the album's title, it wasn't recorded in front of a concert audience. That honor went to 2021's You Heat Me Up to Cool Me Down. Its 17 tracks were culled from tapes of the three shows King Krule actually managed to play before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020.

April 2023 saw the release of "Seaforth," the lead single from his fourth studio long-player, Space Heavy, which appeared later that June. The album, Marshall's fourth as King Krule, was written between 2020 and 2022, literally while commuting between London and Liverpool. Marshall became preoccupied with the notion of "the space between" and expanded that metaphor as the album's overarching theme. He wrote most of the lyrics solo, and composed and recorded music with producer Dilip Harris and his road band. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi

Total plays

752.4 million
Updated on 2024-11-21

Country

United Kingdom

Social media links

Monthly listeners

1,212,100

Followers

883,361

Top Cities

  1. United Kingdom
    34,462 listeners
  2. United States
    30,186 listeners
  3. Australia
    21,508 listeners
  4. Australia
    21,966 listeners
  5. United States
    20,266 listeners

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Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Baby Blue
Baby Blue
64,130,228 3:36 2013-08-24
Easy Easy
Easy Easy
53,856,933 2:50 2013-07-15
Out Getting Ribs
Out Getting Ribs
49,667,610 4:16 2013-08-24
Border Line
Border Line
43,586,455 3:06 2013-08-24
Dum Surfer
Dum Surfer
28,871,606 4:23 2017-09-13
Blue Train Lines
Blue Train Lines
25,516,630 4:10 2017-07-12
Biscuit Town
Biscuit Town
19,355,707 3:42 2017-10-13
Slush Puppy
Slush Puppy
18,023,466 2:43 2017-10-13
A Lizard State
A Lizard State
15,490,524 4:20 2013-08-24
Seaforth
Seaforth
15,067,989 4:06 2023-04-13
Cellular
Cellular
14,132,924 2:59 2020-02-18
Alone, Omen 3
Alone, Omen 3
13,794,652 2:47 2020-02-05
Czech One
Czech One
13,339,767 4:15 2017-08-23
The Noose of Jah City
The Noose of Jah City
12,951,824 4:01 2011-11-07
Logos
Logos
11,263,151 3:50 2017-10-13
363N63
363N63
11,094,297 2:01 2011-11-07
Stoned Again
Stoned Again
10,928,475 3:26 2020-02-21
You Took Your Time (feat. King Krule)
You Took Your Time (feat. King Krule)
10,638,002 5:15 2013-05-22
Ocean Bed
Ocean Bed
10,580,406 3:31 2013-08-24
(Don't Let The Dragon) Draag On
(Don't Let The Dragon) Draag On
10,244,154 2:32 2020-01-14
Neptune Estate
Neptune Estate
9,740,951 5:13 2013-08-24
La Lune
La Lune
9,663,826 4:17 2017-10-13
Emergency Blimp
Emergency Blimp
8,891,080 2:54 2017-10-13
Foreign 2
Foreign 2
8,734,750 3:39 2013-08-24
Bleak Bake
Bleak Bake
8,665,443 2:30 2011-11-07
Lead Existence
Lead Existence
8,399,137 1:11 2011-11-07
Seagirl
Seagirl
8,353,400 3:22 2023-06-09
Has This Hit?
Has This Hit?
7,727,944 4:26 2013-08-24
Cementality
Cementality
7,199,405 3:44 2013-08-24
The Locomotive
The Locomotive
6,798,322 2:52 2017-10-13
Will I Come
Will I Come
6,458,183 1:55 2013-08-24
The Ooz
The Ooz
6,401,455 4:36 2017-10-13
Underclass
Underclass
6,229,513 3:30 2020-02-21
Ceiling
Ceiling
6,197,563 2:56 2013-08-24
Flimsier
Flimsier
6,171,800 3:60 2023-06-06
Thames Water
Thames Water
6,128,344 7:02 2015-12-10
The Krockadile
The Krockadile
6,055,967 4:52 2013-08-24
Lonely Blue
Lonely Blue
5,706,970 4:45 2017-10-13
Bathed In Grey
Bathed In Grey
5,706,545 4:02 2013-08-24
Comet Face
Comet Face
5,642,849 3:14 2020-02-21
Portrait In Black and Blue
Portrait In Black and Blue
5,583,113 2:53 2011-11-07
Empty Stomach Space Cadet
Empty Stomach Space Cadet
5,395,073 2:07 2023-06-09
Bermondsey Bosom (Left)
Bermondsey Bosom (Left)
5,278,224 1:15 2017-10-13
Cadet Limbo
Cadet Limbo
5,240,409 4:53 2017-10-13
Sublunary
Sublunary
5,166,161 2:10 2017-10-13
Half Man Half Shark
Half Man Half Shark
5,045,271 5:02 2017-10-13
Perfecto Miserable
Perfecto Miserable
5,035,757 3:16 2020-02-21
Midnight 01 (Deep Sea Diver)
Midnight 01 (Deep Sea Diver)
5,010,700 3:54 2017-10-13
Seahorse
Seahorse
4,767,800 4:18 2021-05-14
Energy Fleets
Energy Fleets
4,541,629 2:34 2020-02-21
Empty And Silent - feat. King Krule
Empty And Silent - feat. King Krule
4,432,493 6:08 2024-03-13
A Slide In (New Drugs)
A Slide In (New Drugs)
4,346,529 3:06 2017-10-13
If Only It Was Warmth
If Only It Was Warmth
4,229,952 3:18 2023-05-18
Vidual
Vidual
4,156,727 2:20 2017-10-13
Airport Antenatal Airplane
Airport Antenatal Airplane
3,922,124 2:15 2020-02-21
Meter, Pale, Tone (feat. King Krule)
Meter, Pale, Tone (feat. King Krule)
3,731,519 3:34 2013-05-22
Tortoise Of Independency
Tortoise Of Independency
3,697,341 2:07 2023-06-09
Supermarché
Supermarché
3,635,186 2:37 2020-02-21
Rock Bottom - Live
Rock Bottom - Live
3,569,037 5:52 2021-09-10
The Dream
The Dream
3,548,421 1:39 2020-02-21
The Cadet Leaps
The Cadet Leaps
3,544,485 4:21 2017-10-13
Bermondsey Bosom (Right)
Bermondsey Bosom (Right)
3,265,944 1:06 2017-10-13
So Sick Stories
So Sick Stories
3,225,159 4:42 2014-03-18
Slinky
Slinky
3,192,372 2:50 2020-02-21
That Is My Life, That Is Yours
That Is My Life, That Is Yours
2,954,804 3:11 2023-06-09
Pink Shell
Pink Shell
2,928,224 2:15 2023-06-09
Theme for the Cross
Theme for the Cross
2,710,450 4:06 2020-02-21
From The Swamp
From The Swamp
2,690,684 3:03 2023-06-09
Please Complete Thee
Please Complete Thee
2,408,498 4:06 2020-02-21
Time For Slurp
Time For Slurp
2,392,535 1:58 2024-06-20
Flimsy
Flimsy
2,341,266 1:13 2023-06-09
Space Heavy
Space Heavy
2,303,600 3:04 2023-06-09
Hamburgerphobia
Hamburgerphobia
2,282,379 3:19 2023-06-09
Our Vacuum
Our Vacuum
2,141,246 3:22 2023-06-09
Whaleshark
Whaleshark
1,885,179 2:36 2024-06-20
When Vanishing
When Vanishing
1,739,331 3:12 2023-06-09
Boxing (feat. King Krule)
Boxing (feat. King Krule)
1,669,787 3:07 2024-04-05
Out Getting Ribs - Live
Out Getting Ribs - Live
1,632,787 5:53 2021-09-10
Wednesday Overcast
Wednesday Overcast
1,632,707 3:08 2023-06-09
Turtle Neck Man
Turtle Neck Man
1,546,594 1:23 2018-02-13
Stoned Again - Live
Stoned Again - Live
1,545,385 3:20 2021-08-25
Jealous - King Krule Nothing Special Remix
Jealous - King Krule Nothing Special Remix
1,512,897 2:32 2021-03-11
midnight sun - king krule remix
midnight sun - king krule remix
1,231,794 5:04 2022-11-30
It's All Soup Now
It's All Soup Now
1,039,542 4:19 2024-06-20
Easy Easy - Live
Easy Easy - Live
997,034 3:50 2021-09-10
A Slide In (New Drugs) - Live
A Slide In (New Drugs) - Live
944,360 3:30 2021-09-10
Achtung!
Achtung!
897,618 2:58 2024-06-20
The Ooz - Live
The Ooz - Live
867,818 6:54 2021-09-10
Emergency Blimp - Live
Emergency Blimp - Live
837,992 2:59 2021-09-10
Baby Blue - Live
Baby Blue - Live
811,745 5:57 2021-09-10
Hey World!
Hey World!
732,577 15:60 2019-11-01
Slush Puppy - Live
Slush Puppy - Live
678,236 2:45 2021-09-10
Cellular - Live
Cellular - Live
640,316 3:30 2021-09-10
Perfecto Miserable - Live
Perfecto Miserable - Live
605,709 4:10 2021-09-10
Alone, Omen 3 - Live
Alone, Omen 3 - Live
574,062 3:23 2021-09-10
Comet Face - Live
Comet Face - Live
532,389 3:22 2021-09-10
Underclass - Live
Underclass - Live
518,815 4:43 2021-09-10
Half Man Half Shark - Live
Half Man Half Shark - Live
441,010 6:00 2021-09-10
Energy Fleets - Live
Energy Fleets - Live
402,610 2:42 2021-09-10
Please Complete Thee - Live
Please Complete Thee - Live
341,819 4:16 2021-09-10

New releases

SHHHHHHH!
SHHHHHHH!
2024-06-20
[Matador]
Empty And Silent (feat. King Krule)
Empty And Silent (feat. King Krule)
2024-03-13
[Warp Records]
Space Heavy
Space Heavy
2023-06-09
[XL Recordings]
Space Heavy
Space Heavy
2023-06-09
[Matador]
Flimsier
Flimsier
2023-06-06
[XL Recordings]
Flimsier
Flimsier
2023-06-06
[Matador]
If Only It Was Warmth
If Only It Was Warmth
2023-05-18
[XL Recordings]
If Only It Was Warmth
If Only It Was Warmth
2023-05-18
[Matador]
Seaforth
Seaforth
2023-04-13
[XL Recordings]
Seaforth
Seaforth
2023-04-13
[Matador]
midnight sun – sampha & king krule remixes
midnight sun – sampha & king krule remixes
2022-11-30
[ATO Records]
You Heat Me Up, You Cool Me Down
You Heat Me Up, You Cool Me Down
2021-09-10
[True Panther Sounds]
You Heat Me Up, You Cool Me Down
You Heat Me Up, You Cool Me Down
2021-09-10
[XL Recordings]
Stoned Again (Live)
Stoned Again (Live)
2021-08-25
[True Panther Sounds]
Stoned Again (Live)
Stoned Again (Live)
2021-08-25
[XL Recordings]
Seahorse
Seahorse
2021-05-14
[Untitled Recs Limited]
Jealous (King Krule Nothing Special Remix)
Jealous (King Krule Nothing Special Remix)
2021-03-11
[Lex Records]
Man Alive!
Man Alive!
2020-02-21
[XL Recordings]
Man Alive!
Man Alive!
2020-02-21
[True Panther Sounds]
Cellular
Cellular
2020-02-18
[XL Recordings]
Cellular
Cellular
2020-02-18
[True Panther Sounds]
Alone, Omen 3
Alone, Omen 3
2020-02-05
[XL Recordings]
Alone, Omen 3
Alone, Omen 3
2020-02-05
[True Panther Sounds]
(Don't Let The Dragon) Draag On
(Don't Let The Dragon) Draag On
2020-01-14
[XL Recordings]
(Don't Let The Dragon) Draag On
(Don't Let The Dragon) Draag On
2020-01-14
[True Panther Sounds]
Hey World!
Hey World!
2019-11-01
[XL Recordings]
Hey World!
Hey World!
2019-11-01
[True Panther Sounds]
The OOZ
The OOZ
2017-10-13
[XL Recordings]
The OOZ
The OOZ
2017-10-13
[True Panther Sounds]
Dum Surfer
Dum Surfer
2017-09-13
[True Panther Sounds]
Dum Surfer
Dum Surfer
2017-09-13
[XL Recordings]
Czech One
Czech One
2017-08-23
[True Panther Sounds]
Czech One
Czech One
2017-08-23
[XL Recordings]
6 Feet Beneath The Moon
6 Feet Beneath The Moon
2013-08-24
[True Panther Sounds]
6 Feet Beneath the Moon
6 Feet Beneath the Moon
2013-08-24
[XL Recordings]
Easy Easy
Easy Easy
2013-07-16
[True Panther Sounds]
Easy Easy
Easy Easy
2013-07-15
[XL Recordings]
King Krule
King Krule
2011-11-07
[True Panther Sounds]