Nearly four years after the release of their sophomore album ‘You Said It’, Leeds quartet KOYO are back with the double release of ‘La Cucaracha’ and ‘Mechanical Bull’ on August 2nd. This marks the beginning of a series of releases leading up to their third studio album, ‘Onism’, set to drop this autumn.
Kicking off their double release and opening the album is the electrifying ‘La Cucaracha’. Described by KOYO 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, ‘La Cucaracha’ captures KOYO’s sound at its most raw and powerful.
Following the explosive energy of ‘La Cucaracha’, KOYO also unleash ‘Mechanical Bull’. After battling a creative block post their second album, lead singer Huw Edwards and Jacob Price (sampling, synthesisers) finally nailed the vision for their new album, sparking a wave of creativity that birthed ‘Mechanical Bull’. This track leans into the journey of growing up, shifting dreams, and valuing stability, health and wellbeing over youthful rock star fantasies. 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.
Of the single, they said “It’s hard enough keeping your head above water in this life and there’s value in simply staying afloat. On the one hand you don’t wanna let go of that spark, that boyhood dream and become another cog in the machine but on the other hand if you’re not careful you can fall into the trap of putting all your value in the rockstar dream. If you’re simply riding the mechanical bull, staying alive and keeping your ducks in a row then hats off to you for that. Not all of us wanna be the Instagram influencer!”
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, 6 Music, Radio X and Absolute Radio.
During lockdown, KOYO focused on their third studio album, ‘Onism’. With the album written, the band recently unveiled two taster tracks and a crowdfunder to raise the funds to complete mixing, mastering, manufacturing and marketing for the upcoming project. While their self-titled debut was a wild ride of boundless creativity and their second album, ‘You Said It’, was more refined and focused, KOYO faced an identity crisis for their next project. 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. 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.
‘La Cucaracha’ and ‘Mechanical Bull’ will be available across all streaming platforms from August 2nd. KOYO’s third studio album ‘Onism’ is set to be released Autumn 2024.
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