The Special Ks

The Special Ks

The Special Ks are a five-piece electro-pop band from Brighton. The group takes its name from lead singer Howard Kaye’s surname rather than the cereal brand. The line-up also includes Darren, Mat, Al and Gan.

Background and sound

The band emerges from Brighton, a city associated with acts such as The Kooks and Rizzle Kicks. Their music is described as strong electro-pop with a live, high-energy approach and no backing tracks. Their sound is compared to Friendly Fires and Fenech Soler.

Releases and media use

The Special Ks first gain support from NME for an early release and play a national tour. Their music appears in television programmes including E4’s Made in Chelsea and MTV’s Punk’d, and they also work on music placements and event appearances with brands including Coca-Cola and MTV. They perform at a showcase for Coca-Cola during the London 2012 Olympics and plan to issue tracks from their debut album BOA across 2012.

Live work and collaborations

The band supports Jessie J and also opens for Fenech Soler, Metronomy, Casio Kids and The Jezebels. Metronomy praise the group’s ability to build an atmosphere and get crowds going. The Special Ks also play the Great Escape, perform at Jamie Oliver’s The Big Feastival, and draw sell-out audiences in Brighton and London at venues including The Barfly, The Bowery and Abbey Road Studios.

Other activity

The Special Ks tour colleges and schools across the UK and maintain a strong presence on Twitter and Facebook. They attend events linked to live and emerging talent, including the Digital Music Awards, the Music and Sound Awards and the Deezer launch. Chase and Status describe them as having great songs and being an exciting band.