In the queue with King Krule’s hardcore fans

A flood of baggy fits and rollie smoke fills the streets of Hammersmith. It can only mean one thing: King Krule is back in town.

On Monday 9^th October, the 29-year-old cult songwriter (and unlikely style icon) born Archy Marshall played the first of two gigs at London’s Eventim Apollo, following three months of touring his new album Space Heavy across the US and Canada. Opening with Perfecto Miserable and encoring with fan favourite Out Getting Ribs, the set emphasised both the tenderness of Marshall’s songwriting and the ruggedness of his South London drawl.

Although seemingly unbothered about compromising for commercial appeal, Marshall’s audience just seems to get bigger and more dedicated. And so just before he hit the stage, THE FACE headed down to meet the hardcore fans lining up outside the Apollo just as the doors were about to open.

The following morning, Krule claimed the Apollo shows could be his last in the English capital. ​“Last show in London for a thousand years tonight,” Krule wrote on his Insta stories. ​“May never play this metropolis ever again!” Hopefully he’s just having us on.

Luize, 21 (@luize.raz) and Jasmine, 21 (@jasmine_venice)

What’s your favourite King Krule song?

L: I’m a sucker for Baby Blue. Also, (Don’t Let The Dragon) Draag on – that one is sexy. I can’t decide.

J: I also love Seaforth. The beach in the music video inspired my dress choice today.

Does King Krule influence your style?

L: I remember seeing a shoot of his in Vogue, which was London street style vibes. I like to play with variations of that. If you look around you’ll see the energy here is inspired by the angstyness.

J: He isn’t on my Pinterest board, let’s just say that. He is a style icon though.

What made you both fall in love with King Krule?

J: Personally, it was deep connecting sad teenager music. Not in a cringey way, it just made me feel something nice. It’s the echoey sound, music that makes you feel floaty. I’m a big fan of that.

What type of cigarettes do you think he smokes?

L: I reckon it used to be the cheap shit, like Sterling. He’s rich and funky now so who knows? Probably still a shit rollie actually.

J: I recently had some funky flavoured cigarettes from Kazakhstan. There was this chocolate flavoured one that looked like a cigarillo. If there was a buffet of cigarettes I think that’s what he’d go for.

Gabe, 19 (@theghostofgabe)

What’s your favourite King Krule song?

Half Man Half Shark. I like the noisiness of it.

Would you say that he is a style icon?

Yeah, fuck it why not? He’s really influenced everyone here. Everyone’s rocking mullets, Carhartt, carpenter jeans. It’s great.

If you were going to take King Krule out somewhere, where would it be?

I’d say something cringe like the Windmill in Brixton. I think one of his band mates will be playing there soon actually.

If you could give King Krule a message, what would it be?

Keep rocking on in the free world.

Nina, 19 (@11.02077)

What’s your favourite King Krule song?

Probably Thames Water. It was the first song I discovered by him when I was around 14. [I have] a lot of memories connected to it and I love the crazy drum section at the end.

Do you know any pointless facts or stories about him?

My friend works at a pub in Deptford and he came in last year with a little cactus. He talked to all of my friends.

If you could take King Krule somewhere, where would it be?

I would take him to San Francisco, where I’m from, and show him all of my favourite spots.

If you could give him a message, what would it be?

Keep doing what you’re doing bro, I love your music.

Toby, 19 (@e5exenjoyer)

What’s your favourite King Krule song?

Probably Baby Blue. Honestly, I just love his voice, it’s really uniquely raspy.

What do you think about when you listen to his music?

A few good memories of friends and I chilling in Sheffield on a cliff top. They’ve all gone off to uni now.

If you were going to take King Krule out for the day, where would you go?

Probably to the pub where I’m from in Surrey. Shout out to The Blue Anchor.

Alfie, 20 (@alfie_walker._)

Do you have any pointless facts or stories about King Krule?

My friend’s boyfriend lives with his drummer, if that counts?

What made you fall in love with King Krule?

It’s an amalgamation of all of my favourite music that spans the last 50 years. It’s like the ​‘70s punk of The Clash with the thumping bass, the London Jazz scene… everything I like all at once.

What do you think about when you listen to his music?

King Krule for me is the soundtrack of South London. I’m from Woolwich, Arsenal and for me, not growing up listening to grime or drill, the fact that someone from South is making the music that he makes is so sick to me.

Does King Krule influence your style?

He used to a little bit, when The Ooz came out and he wore flannel shirts I was browsing for those shirts. He’s started wearing proto mod outfits, the loafers with white socks and the suits – like what he did in the David Letterman show. My dad was a mod and I think the style is really cool.

If you could give King Krule a message what would it be?

Let’s hangout bro. I’m from South, you’re from South, let’s make a song together. I want to hear you get as punky as it gets and see how far you can push it.

Jenny, 22 (@jennymendyy) and El, 20 (@elbowkneees)

What made you fall in love with King Krule?

E: His interviews where he is just super chill and zen but what everything he says has such meaning behind it.

What comes to mind when you listen to him?

E: Emotion. The way he sings has power that can evoke so much feeling when you listen to him.

J: Sometimes it’s a person, but it’s also music for me to chill out to.

If you could take King Krule on holiday, where would you go?

E: Amsterdam.

J: Me too!

Yvette, 25 (@yvetteyspaghetti_)

What’s your favourite King Krule song?

Probably Baby Blue. I know it’s one of his most popular but it’s what got me into him. I dated this guy a few years ago and he really loves King Krule.

How does it feel coming to the show without him now?

I’m probably going to message him after to be honest.

Would you say that King Krule is a style icon?

Yes.

How would you describe his style?

I would say scrawny white boy at work.

A message for King Krule?

Definitely not the scrawny white boy comment. I wouldn’t know what to say, I guess hey and I love you!

Byron, 23

What’s your favourite King Krule song?

Seagirl off the new album. The reverb makes me feel like I’m sinking into my seat.

What made you fall in love with King Krule?

His aesthetic and love for ​‘50s nostalgia. His music is a very safe open space to feel, it’s been a great thing for me.

If you were going to take King Krule out, where would you take him?

A therapist’s office, we all need it.

Naya, 22 (@nayatoum) and Jamie, 20 (@natt_jamie)

What do you both think about when you listen to King Krule’s music?

N: It makes me think of summer 2016, it was a fucking really good summer spent listening to him.

J: Existential crisis.

Would you say that he’s a style icon?

J: Absolutely. When someone else is wearing it, it isn’t King Krule, but when he does it, I get it.

N: He’s kind of gritty but also polished at the same time.

What do you think King Krule orders from an Indian takeaway?

J: Saag paneer.

N: Tikka masala.

A message for King Krule?

J: Fancy a pint?

N: Keep doing what you’re doing King.

Jacob, 22 (@jawcobo)

What’s your favourite King Krule album?

The live one – You Heat Me Up, You Cool Me Down. It got me hooked. It wasn’t until I heard the live stuff that I really related. I think he delivers and conveys an emotion and rawness that can’t be grasped in studio albums.

What made you fall in love with King Krule?

His energy and how electric he is. He’s indescribable, doing jazz, rock, electronic… a mashup of things at the same time that really works. He conveys a really concrete aura that can’t be compared to other artists.

If you could give King Krule a message, what would it be?

Keep on going man. I think you have the potential to be a legend and really important in music history.

Would you say that King Krule is a style icon?

I wouldn’t say so.

If you were going to take King Krule somewhere, where would it be?

I would take him back home to Madrid to all of my bars. My friends are all big fans of him too so we’d have a really good night there.

Hugo, 23 (@hugojevans)

Do you have any fun facts or stories about King Krule?

When I saw him in June, my mate went over and asked for a photo and he went: ​“for fuck’s sake”. He seems like a nice enough guy with beautiful music, though.

How long have you been a fan for?

Years and years. Lockdown and that, you had to listen with the lights off you know.

Do you think about anything in particular when you’re listening to his music?

When I was living back in Camden, I’d finish work and walk home being all sad and thinking no one understands me. That kind of crap.

Would you say that King Krule is a style icon?

Yeah, I think he’s cool as fuck. I think he has a relaxed style but he’s a handsome bugger too.

If you met King Krule, do you think you guys would be mates?

Nah, not a chance. I think he’s too cool for me.