OFFICIAL BIO
Regarded upon his 2006 arrival as a promising beatmaker looming in the shadows of J Dilla, Madlib, waterfalls and Dabrye, Steven Ellison -- known as Flying Lotus -- nullified all comparisons only two years later with Los Angeles. On that album, his first of five for the Warp label, Ellison distilled a uniquely crisp, spasmodic, and heady sound with elements of hip-hop, avant-garde jazz, IDM, and dubstep. While the abovementioned producers fueled Ellison, he had also been excited as a youngster by the '90s West Coast rap classics that combined programming and live instrumentation. His sound continued to develop as he put his own twist on the approach, recording with a crop of jazz musicians including the indispensable likes of bassist Thundercat and strings master Miguel Atwood-Ferguson. This process began with the turbulent 2010 set Cosmogramma and peaked in terms of acclaim in 2014 with You're Dead!, which crashed the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 and spawned the Kendrick Lamar collaboration "Never Catch Me," a Grammy nominee for Best Dance Recording. Ellison devoted a few years to various forms of film work and the operation of his revered Brainfeeder label, and returned in 2019 with Flamagra, his second consecutive album to top Billboard's Dance/Electronic chart.

In a dark kitchen in the middle of a sweaty night in Las Vegas, all 6’4” of Dan Reynolds is hunched over a laptop, slapping beats on the table and crooning lyrics into a tiny microphone. Before long, he and the other three members of indie rock band Imagine Dragons would be playing “It’s Time,” that same laptop-demo-turned-supersized-anthem, from the roof of a parking garage to a wave of thousands of screaming fans. This song title to the single from their 2012 debut KidInaKorner/Interscope release “Continued Silence EP” is an all too apt descriptor of the band’s hard-earned success—but it’s also emblematic of the deep-seated anxiety Reynolds and the rest of the band experienced leaving behind any realistic expectation of a normal job to do the thing they love most.

A third-generation Las Vegas native, Reynolds is no stranger to the adage “the house always wins,” choosing to pave his musical career with a near obsessive work ethic and hundreds of unused demos rather than roll the dice with the first songs that sprung from his mouth. It’s no surprise, then, that he was drawn to guitarist Wayne Sermon, another founding member of Imagine Dragons. Having practically grown up in a recording studio and graduated Berklee College of Music, Wayne had been practicing his guitar through meals and other socially inappropriate situations as long as he could remember; he challenged Dan in a way that was both uncomfortable and exactly what they both needed. When they began writing songs together and recognized something special was happening, Wayne called up his Berklee friend Ben McKee, who promptly dropped out of school with only a few credits left, moving across the country to play bass for the band. This sort of reckless/genius behavior is typical for Ben, who has an uncanny penchant for spicy food and a suitcase full of unbelievable road stories. More recently, the band was joined by drummer Daniel Platzman, another Bostonian schoolmate who seems way too nice to be playing rock and roll until you actually see him in action.

Several tours and three self-released EPs later, Imagine Dragons had made a serious name for itself, particularly in the west coast circuit. Although their songs vary from nearly whimsical and light to brooding and powerful, listeners are drawn to the inherent honesty in the music. The only rule of thumb for the band, it seems, is to write from a true place; the result is songs that literally run the spectrum of human emotion. Attend a concert, and it becomes clear that the live performance of deeply personal songs has a real effect on people. And the band itself is not immune, as demonstrated when Dan literally passed out into the drum set during a finale song, sending cymbals and drum stands crashing while the rest of the band played on until the close.

Great songwriting is bound to be noticed eventually. As proof that the harder you work, the luckier you get, one of those people who noticed was Grammy winning producer Alex da Kid (Eminem, Rihanna). Alex and Dan began collaborating on projects, and soon the band had developed a relationship with Alex and his team. The alchemy resulting from Alex’s hip hop sensibilities and Imagine Dragons’ anthemic rock is nothing short of explosive. The byproduct of this creative collision is “Continued Silence,” a six song in-your-face sonic grenade that breaks musical boundaries and yet is strangely relatable by its improbably diverse audience.

Despite it all, on any given day when they aren’t on the road playing shows, you can still find Imagine Dragons huddled away in a rehearsal room somewhere, banging out song after song in search of the next perfect track. Like most things in Vegas, the band is angled at going big or going bust. For the sake of those who love great music, we hope it’s the former.

'Geranium' EP Available:
http://smarturl.it/GERANIUM

'To Your Arms I'd Run' EP Available:
http://smarturl.it/KJitunes

Forged on a promise to jam once high school studies had finished, Jack told Matt that once he was done with school he’d show up at his house with his guitar and the two of them would make some sweet-ass beats. The pair played a string of shows and house party shows, comprised of mainly covers and cheesy original numbers. Already playing in different bands the two noticed a certain connection with their playing and the decision to form a band was a simple one. 
Over time Jack and Matt soon lost connection with their own bands as their partnership became the focus. Writing a bunch of songs together and playing gigs in their hometown of Fremantle. The only thing missing was the right on stage lineup. 
Trialing multiple lineups, Jack and Matt struggled to find the on the onstage harmony which their song’s deserved. Looking for a versatile bass player to really gel with the song writing core, and a keys player to add texture and a signature sound to the ensemble. It was a tough ask, but after a multitude of members, they finally found what worked. Old friends of Matt, who he once played with in a school jazz band. Declan, to provide tantalising bass lines and Timothy, to provide smooth, smooth keys.
The name King’s Justice comes from lead singer Jack’s beloved TV show, Game of Thrones, and refers to an act carried out by the lord of the land. The name was originally used when Jack and Matt played as a duo and a series of different lineups, and has stood the test of time. 
2014 is an exciting year for King’s Justice, as they’ll see their debut EP go out to the public. Recorded at Fat Shan Studios, the band will launch their EP across regular venues including Mojo’s, The Swan Basement, Ya Ya’s and The Causeway.

Trialing multiple lineups, Jack and Matt struggled to find the on the onstage harmony which their song’s deserved. Looking for a versatile bass player to really gel with the song writing core, and a keys player to add texture and a signature sound to the ensemble. It was a tough ask, but after a multitude of members, they finally found what worked. Old friends of Matt, who he once played with in a school jazz band. Declan, to provide tantalising bass lines and Timothy, to provide smooth, smooth keys.
The name King’s Justice comes from lead singer Jack’s beloved TV show, Game of Thrones, and refers to an act carried out by the lord of the land. The name was originally used when Jack and Matt played as a duo and a series of different lineups, and has stood the test of time. 
2014 is an exciting year for King’s Justice, as they’ll see their debut EP go out to the public. Recorded at Fat Shan Studios, the band will launch their EP across regular venues including Mojo’s, The Swan Basement, Ya Ya’s and The Causeway.


Declan Sinnott is following