British indie-rock favourites The Kooks are back with their most accomplished album to date. Never/Know is out on 9th May via Virgin Music Group, the band’s new global distribution partner. Never/Know is both a return to the band’s trademark, anthemic songwriting, and a celebration of their taste in timeless, classic records. Pre-order here.
The band marked the album announcement with a throwback Indie Club Night at Notting Hill Arts Club last night, where fans and media enjoyed an intimate set featuring mostly new material
News of the album coincides with the release of the effortlessly infectious and groove-driven single, Never Know – listen here – alongside a brand new, lyric video – see here. The single sets the tone for the album, showcasing the band’s reputation as one of the genre’s strongest songwriters. The track’s meaning is a universal one; the innocence behind the chorus’ mantra (“you never know, never know, never know”) captures the excitement of a newly discovered romance.
Speaking about the single, frontman and songwriter Luke Pritchard said, “It’s a love song about a cute meet with someone unpredictable. I like the idea of it being played in a convertible on a road trip somewhere ridiculous. Because really, you never know”.
The 11-track offering, self-produced by Pritchard*, was born out of a mission to reconnect with The Kooks’ original creative drive. Speaking about the album’s impetus, Pritchard said “It’s not about going back to the first album’s sound, but to the roots of our influences and asking, ‘What is the identity of this band?’
“The whole thing was to just forget that the past had happened,” he says. But to truly move forward, they had to reflect: “What kind of music do we want to make, and how do we make it feel natural?”
The result is an album that encapsulates the magic of the band’s culturally pivotal debut while venturing into fresh, uncharted territory for The Kooks. From the lush female backing vocals on ‘Sunny Baby’, to the title track’s Motown-inspired four-to-the-floor kick pattern, the record is full of surprises. At its core though, it’s an album dedicated to well-crafted pop-rock songwriting.
Known for a sound which defined indie in the 2000s, the band has navigated an ever-evolving musical landscape and managed to resonate with a whole new generation of fans. In fact, 45% of The Kooks’ current core audience is made up of 18-24 year olds, and with over 7 million monthly listeners on Spotify today, it’s clear the quality of their songcraft continues to make an impact across the board.
Never/Know puts on show some of Pritchard’s most simple, yet expressive lyrics to-date. The songs are filled with witty one-liners and endearing nicknames for his children and loved ones, which resonate on the surface, yet carry a deeper, more personal significance.
Sonically, an intoxicating cover of Paul McCartney and Wings’ ‘Arrow Through Me’ is the clearest indication of the band’s influence, while the album’s closer, the moody ‘Talk About It’ puts on show an appreciation for classic soul.
The album started as a solo endeavour by Pritchard who began by creating a series of demos, before inviting the rest of the band to join him in the studio. He and guitarist Hugh Harris rekindled the collaborative spirit that defined the band’s early, most spontaneous work. Harris said, “At the heart of it, we both want the same thing, and that’s very powerful.”
About The Kooks
The Kooks, whose 2006 debut sold over 2 million copies, have unexpectedly found themselves beloved by a new generation. While their original fans remain, they’ve layered on a fervent Gen Z following, headlining festivals and selling out shows worldwide. Social media has made them a generations’ new favourite band again, introducing their unmistakable Brit-pop joy to fresh ears. Their debut was a defining moment for indie music in the 2000s, their first releases set the sound of a moment in time. There are few songs as defining of the 2000s as ‘Naïve’, but the band were never a one-hit wonder – their follow-up record, Konk, hit number one as one of four top 10 albums. The Kooks never stopped evolving, transitioning from indie rock to synthpop and krautrock influences. Over time, they’ve integrated wide-ranging inspirations—Harris’ love of soul and opera, alongside Pritchard’s classic influences like Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones.
