The Kayas 'I Have Been Waiting' - Review

www.rhythm-and-booze.co.uk

Midlands based band The Kayas first formed back in 2007 and since then have been busy honing their craft with a number of high profile jaunts around the UK, earning a loyal fanbase along the way. The band are currently holed up in the famous Sawmill studios (Oasis recorded Definitely Maybe and The Stone Roses tweaked Fools Gold in there!!!) recording their much anticipated debut album.

The band have already received plaudits from the likes of Bonehead (Oasis), Aziz Ibrahim (Ian Brown) and dramatist Willy Russell among others and having listened to this single a number of times it’s easy to hear why.

The John Cornfield produced (Stone Roses, Supergrass, Cast, Bluetones, etc) I Have Been Waiting is the first taster of the album to be unveiled and as appetizers go it’s pretty damn tasty. The single is a rousing indie anthem featuring a contagious chiming guitar riff, a massive vocal hook and just the right amount of swagger to have you hitting the repeat button over and over again. The B-side, Gotta Get Out is more of the same, if not better, the track is an energetic rush of bolshy vocals, strutting guitar and heaps of prime time Oasis like attitude that the Gallaghers can only dream about these days.

I’m something of a harsh critic when it comes to classic sounding indie rock or modern day Brit-pop, but I’ve got to say that it’s hard to criticise The Kayas, the two tracks on offer here are simply brilliant, catchy indie rockers that’ll have you dusting down that parker, polishing the moped and demanding for a mop top haircut from your local barbers.

Apparently guitar music is dead but if that’s true no ones told The Kayas and they’re breathing new life into that corpse grabbing by the hand and taking him on the ride of his life.

Rhythm & Booze Rating 9

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Classic Rock Magazine - Track of the Day

www.classicrockmagazine.com

Midlands band The Kayas have just released their debut single. They provide the latest Track Of The Day. Check out all Tracks Of The Day here.

The band were only formed in 2007 and feature Ad Edwards (vocals/guitar), Duane Williams (guitar), Philie Jones (bass) and Tomos Jarvis. Possessed of a style and attitude that marks them as an energetic band to watch out for, they play Wrexham Central Station on July 6.

Currently, the band are working on their debut album with producer John Cornfield at Sawmills Studio in Cornwall.

The aforementioned single, I Have Been Waiting, was released at the start of June.

The Kayas pioneer revolutionary new technology to reach the masses....

http://www.musicmuso.com

Seven years ago, Lilly Allen and Arctic Monkeys became household names on the back of using the social networking site MySpace to bring their music to a wider audience. Now a fresh generation of artists are using new technologies to get their music out there and British indie band, The Kayas, are set to be first band in the world to use revolutionary new technology that enables consumers to scan and download their music using special barcodes.

The barcodes will appear on the screen during their television adverts and music videos and can be scanned using mobile phones.

QR Coding is a special matrix barcode, readable by QR barcode readers and camera phones, which appears as a square pattern on a white background and the encoded information can be text, URL or other data.

QR coding has just started to be used by brands to get more information from consumers or enter a competition but The Kayas are the first to use it for fans to access a free download of their music.

The code will appear in the band’s video for their debut single ‘I Have Been Waiting’ and in television adverts on MTV, MTV Rocks, MTV Hits, VH1, NME and SCUZZ. When prospective fans scan the barcode direct from their screens they will be directed to an iTunes link where they will be given a link to the freely downloadable B side track ‘Gotta Get Out’.

For the first time in music industry history a band are using QR codes on their music videos and MTV adverts so that prospective fans can download free tracks the second they hear it.

QR coding is still in its infancy but The Kayas hope that being the first artists to embrace this new digital technology will mean that music fans will be able to respond to their tracks instantly and that this will build their already impressive fan base.

“We are the first band to make it possible to download music directly from our music videos and adverts and that this will open a dialogue with a whole new audience who as well as getting the free download will also be able to automatically join up with our Facebook fan page and Twitter feed,” says Ad Edwards front man of The Kayas

“It's simple. Fans watch the video or advert, use the barcode scanner on their phones and can be listening to our music on their phones or MP3 players moments later. It’s about embracing the new digital world and taking advantage of emerging technology to increase downloads and sales.”

“Nowadays music fans want more from bands,” add Concept Television Studios “If your music is good then people will always want more of it, but in a busy music market with lots of bands jostling for position they have to find out about you first. Today people want more than just visual and audio stimulation - they want the band to feel engaged with them and part of their lives. Music fans want things now – they don’t want to wait until they’re next in the shops or in front of their computer at home. Whether they are watching the ad at home, at a friend’s house or on a big screen showing music TV at a bar, they can scan the code to their phone, download the free track and be listening to our music within minutes.”

New Music: The Kayas

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When a press release begins by telling you a band are liked by Bonehead from Oasis, they might as well have put up a huge white flag saying ‘we’re shit’. But, amazingly, The Kayas survive this misstep, and have produced a debut single – I Have Been Waiting – that’s got energy, and a delivery that’s halfway between Liam Gallagher and Johnny Rotten. It’s out June 27th, and an album should follow.

STOP PRESS - Exclusive interview with The Kayas....

http://www.musicmuso.com

Musicmuso.com were invited to interview a great band who have a firm belief in 'proper' good old fashioned song writing, recording and performance.

Enjoy....

The name of your band is quite different, what's the origin of that name? Have you changed the band's name before?

A. The name of The Kayas come from Ad's cousin Kaya, who was named after a Bob Marley record. The band name has never changed since it started. It is pronounced 'kayas' rhyming with 'higher'.

Please list the name, age and respective instrument of each band member.

Ad Edwards (22) Lead Vocal/Guitar, Tomos Jarvis (21) Drums, Philie Jones (23) Bass, Duane Williams (23) Guitar

What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?

A. We would say our genre of music is a mix between Brit/Pop and Punk/Rock. We all have different personal influences but as a band: Oasis, Arctic Monkeys & Sex Pistols.

How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?

A. We all knew eachother from school. Even though we were in different years we all had the same love for music and occasionally met up in the music room and had a jam. Ad first met Jarv in the middle of a fight with him which somehow ended up with Jarv being the drummer and had there first rehearsal the week after.

When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?

A. The band was formed in early 2007 starting off with Ad and Jarv, but Duane and Philie didn't join until 2010.

Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organisations?

A. Yes, we were signed to Abblet Music Ltd at the beginning of the year. We have a great team behind us who we are working closely with.

I see that you are recording at the legendary Sawmills Studio in Cornwall, which greats who have recorded there (of which there have been many) do you most liken yourself to and why?

A. Oasis are a massive influence on us and to record at the Sawmills where Definitely Maybe was born was brilliant. We watched dvds and videos Oasis released which featured The Sawmills and always had a passion to go there.

What can you tell me about your instruments? (are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever's available?) What made you choose the instruments you have now? Was it cost or was it a style/model/brand/color preference?

A. Well Jarv has a full endorsement with Premier Drums so he is contracted to play on a Premier kit. Ad likes Line 6 equipment and uses a Fender Stratocaster USA. Philie uses a Laney bass rig with an active Ibanez bass guitar. Duane still uses his Noel Gallagher signature guitar his mum bought him for Christmas when he was a kid. Duane also has Liam Gallaghers Microphone that Liam gave him at Heaton Park and also has Liams tambourine he gave him at Wembley the week after. He also uses a Marshall rig with a Line 6 POD XT Live pedal.

Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?

A. We have played lots of great venues touring with more established acts. Our favourite venue was probably Islington Academy. Our least favourite venue is probably The Frog in Chester. We are on the main stage at Osfest Music Festival on Sunday 29th May which we are looking forward too. We are announcing a full UK tour very soon.

Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?

A. We have loads of songs literally hundreds, its difficult to pick a song, trying to pick the debut single was a nightmare, it could have been any of them. We dont do any covers, would be a laugh though. Ad once performed God Save The Queen at Party in the Park with Aziz Ibrahim (Stone Roses/Ian Brown)and his band at that time Total Chaos.

What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?

A. The songs are about real things about real people and real life situations. The lyrics are very cultured and have references to
relationships, drugs, alcohol and quite a few about Ad's drive to wanting to succeed in the music biz.The songs will always change
slightly as we progress, new inspiration creates new songs. Ad writes few songs a month but always as good as the last. Letting the songs come naturally is the best, the harder you try the harder it is.

Could you briefly describe your music-making process?

A. Ad will write the song on Acoustic guitar, show the lads who will literally just start jamming along. Within 30mins we have a full song pretty much. We will then rehearse that song as well as 2 or 3 other new ones at a time and perfect the arrangements and structure over a few weeks.

What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?

A. We try to rehearse 5 days a week, we normally start at 12 midday and finish around 5pm. Our rehearsals are quite full on and we get the best out of them. We do argue a lot until the song sounds right. Then we all love each other and listen back :)

How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?

A. Well we definitely understand our formula of making the songs, it comes naturally. Listening back to old recordings you can definitely hear the progression. The new songs have matured as well as Ad's vocals and guitars which is locked with the accents of the drum patterns. The bass is locked to the drums and the two guitars blend nicely together to give us that signature sound.

What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

A. We got signed with a small label who told us what we wanted to hear, we made our debut album and then before releasing it they backed out financially which then left us with an album but no promotion. Our dreams of a debut album was to go to number 1 but this wasnt going to happen at that time. We believe it was fate, Ad has wrote so many more great songs as an angry young man trying to break out, if we would of made it at that time then he perhaps would not of wrote those songs in that frame of mind.

What's your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune? How will you know when you’ve ‘made it’?

A. To be honest, its not the fame and the fortune, its the big gigs, stadiums that we want, obviously fame and fortune would come with that we would say. Actually.. we want the lot :)

What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?

A. Practice makes perfect, watch out for the sharks, always believe in yourself and most importantly, Enjoy It!

Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?

A. We would like to thank all our family and friends for supporting us and a big thank you to our close friend Dennis for financially backing us and believing in us. Thanks mate :)

Any last words?

A. AV IT!!

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you The Kayas.....

http://www.musicmuso.com

Please take a minute out of your busy schedules to check the video for the debut single from a fab new act called The Kayas. Harking back to Oasis, Blur and the golden age of Britpop, and with a firm belief in 'proper' good old fashioned song writing, recording and performance, the Kayas come through with a unique sound that looks to provide a refreshing alternative to much over-processed contemporary chart music (something we are all sick and tired of....) Enjoy !!

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RHYTHM AND BOOZE - May 10 2011

www.rhythm-and-booze.co.uk

The Kayas, I Have Been Waiting, Released 6th June

‘You know when you hear a track and you can’t quite put a finger on where you’ve heard it before, the sign of a great song’ Jim Gellatly

Breaking out of the Midlands with the style, swagger and attitude so lacking in these times The Kayas are a band destined for bigger and brighter things, with no better introduction than the new single ‘I Have Been Waiting’. The hotly-anticipated release of their debut single ‘I Have Been Waiting’, released on 6th June, was produced by John Cornfield (The Stone Roses, Supergrass, Cast, The Bluetones) and is a summer anthem waiting in the wings; a song so engaging it will have you pressing replay time and time again. A captivating track of sublime quality and infuriating catchiness, ’I Have Been Waiting’ is a song for the here and now. Formed at the back end of 2007 The Kayas are a band who have been defining their sound whilst blazing a trail across the length and breadth of the UK, supporting several established acts and earning a loyal legion of followers along the way. Currently recording their debut album at the famous Sawmill Studios in Cornwall, where Oasis recorded their classic debut ‘Definitely Maybe’ and The Stone Roses fine tuned ‘Fools Gold’, and with encouraging endorsements from Bonehead (Oasis) to Aziz Ibrahim (Ian Brown), and even songwriter’s and dramatists Tim Firth and Willy Russell, this is a band on the rise and ready to breathe life back into the UK music scene.

FAME RECOMMENDS: THE KAYAS DEBUT SINGLE 'I HAVE BEEN WAITING'

www.famemagazine.co.uk

The hotly-anticipated release of their debut single 'I Have Been Waiting', released on 6th June, was produced by John Cornfield (The Stone Roses, Supergrass, Cast, The Bluetones) and is a summer anthem waiting in the wings; a song so engaging it will have you pressing replay time and time again.

A captivating track of sublime quality and infuriating catchiness, 'I Have Been Waiting' is a song for the here and now.

Formed at the back end of 2007 The Kayas are a band who have been defining their sound whilst blazing a trail across the length and breadth of the UK, supporting several established acts and earning a loyal legion of followers along the way.

Currently recording their debut album at the famous Sawmill Studios in Cornwall, where Oasis recorded their classic debut 'Definitely Maybe' and The Stone Roses fine tuned 'Fools Gold', and with encouraging endorsements from Bonehead (Oasis) to Aziz Ibrahim (Ian Brown), and even songwriter's and dramatists Tim Firth and Willy Russell, this is a band on the rise and ready to breathe life back into the UK music scene.

WHEN BLACKCAT MET THE KAYAS

www.blackcatpresentations.co.uk

About a week ago, BlackCat had the opportunity to go down to sunny Cornwall to visit The Sawmills studio courtesy of The Kayas. This was a rare chance to visit the most famous residential recording studio in the UK, and witness the best, soon to be very famous, band in the UK record a classic first album.

For those of you that have never heard of The Sawmills, it can only be described as superb. Set on its own creek near Fowey, it is only accessible by boat, and for those who are brave, by walking down a railway line. All the bands gear has to be taken in by boat, and for once, BlackCat was glad that we didn't have to do the get in !!

The studio itself has such a good vibe, and has been responsible for albums by New Model Army, The Verve, Oasis, and now The Kayas.

The Kayas are a four piece Indie/Rock band who are set to take 2011 by storm. They are one of the top live acts to be breaking out of the Midlands in recent years, and watching them record was an unforgettable experience.

At the time of writing this, The Kayas have just left the studio after completing 7 tracks for the album. They are due to return in June to finish off the album. In the mean time, the bands first single "I Have Been Waiting" is released on 6th June, and everyone at BlackCat cant wait to hear more from this great band.