Leeds Conservatoire Alumni KOYO have gifted fans with an explosive double release in singles ‘La Cucaracha’ and ‘Mechanical Bull’, the opening two tracks from their upcoming third album Onism, to be released on 1 November, nearly four years after the release of their sophomore album ‘You Said It’.
KOYO’s latest release is a thanks to all who donated to Onism’s Kickstarter campaign. The new album promises to be a just reward for those who have waited nearly four years for KOYO to return, following in the same vein of KOYO’s signature melding of alternative, psychedelic and progressive rock.
“An immediacy and visceral impact that will turn your head on first listen” PROG Magazine
“Their character, their identity is very much their own. A gem of a group” CLASSIC ROCK
“An explosive live phenomenon, their gritty take on psychedelia has a character, an identity all of its own” CLASH
The new album didn’t come easy for KOYO. Like many up-and-coming artists, the pandemic stalled all momentum, but hit the four-piece worse when a bout of writer’s block kicked in. Once the world reopened, KOYO felt as if they were back at the start again, but after hosting an open mic and jam session at Leeds’ Piglove Brewery, inspired by the people they connected with, the band started to get their mojo back.
Ditching their egos, they reconnected with the childlike enthusiasm that made them start the band in the first place, channelling the raw, unfiltered energy of their debut into this new creation.
As the memories of COVID-19 fade, KOYO’s third album is written and recorded. To fund the final steps, the band launched a successful Kickstarter campaign, further boosting their morale with the aim of raising enough money to see the record through to completion. Delivering shredding riffs, heavy drum solos, and an undeniable passion for their craft, KOYO considers this their favourite project to date, hoping it resonates with listeners and reignites the energy that initially captivated their fans.
“Before going into this album we had a bit of an identity crisis. We didn’t know which direction we wanted to go,” KOYO noted. “Our first album was just off the wall – no rules, boundless creativity. Our second album was more refined, stripped back and focused. When we first started writing we had songs that leaned even more into where we were going with our second album. But sometimes you have to try things to realise they’re not for you! It was the long way round, but this helped us realise that we just want to do the opposite and get back to what made us excited about music in the first place!”
Kicking off their double release and opening the album is the electrifying ‘La Cucaracha’, described by the band as “The cockroach; the riff that never ends. Our anthem for determination, persistence, longevity, endurance, being a survivor!” This near-instrumental track is the perfect introduction to their latest project, bursting with the progressive,psychedelic, riff-driven rock ‘n’ roll energy they are known for.
Following this explosive start, Onism quickly launches into ‘Mechanical Bull’; the creative spark that saw lead singer Huw Edwards and Jacob Price (sampling, synthesisers) rid themselves of their creative block. With crunchy riffs and a deep bass line reminiscent of Red Hot Chili Peppers, ‘Mechanical Bull’ emerges as a progressive rock anthem, seamlessly blending psychedelic elements with a modern twist that distinctly screams KOYO.
Formed by alumni of Leeds Conservatoire, KOYO is a dynamic 4-piece rock band made up of Huw Edwards (lead vocals, guitar), Jacob Price (sampling, synthesisers), Layth Ibrahim (bass) and Tom Higham (drums).
Known for their powerful live performances, they opened the BBC Introducing Stage at the Reading and Leeds festivals and played at major events like Rockaway Beach, Live at Leeds, and Download Festival.
Their self-titled debut album received rave reviews and made year-end top album lists in Classic Rock, PROG, and Louder Than War magazines. Returning to the studio with producer Mike Horner (Hot Chip, Franz Ferdinand), they released the single ‘Before’ and their critically acclaimed second album, You Said It, which maintained media support and gained new fans, with airplay on BBC Radio Leeds, Amazing Radio, BBC Radio6 Music, Radio X and Absolute Radio.
