Young Kato are six school friends from Cheltenham that are quickly becoming the biggest thing on the British indie pop music scene.
The band consists of lead vocalist, Tommy Wright, Jack Edwards and Joe Green on guitar, Joe Lever on bass, keyboardist Harry Steele and drummer, Sam Henderson.
Forming in 2011, stepbrothers Jack and Sam brought the group of mates from nearby schools together.
“Effectively it started through failed marriages and we’ve gone from there,” the lads joke.
Starting out as something just for fun, it wasn’t long before the group realised that they were on the cusp of something great.
Six friends destined for great success.
The result of continuous practice and persistence is a euphoric blend of surging, fuzzy guitars, irresistible pop hooks and all-in-it-together chants. It is this combination that has garnered attention on both sweaty basement floors and in influential industry circles.
In just four days Young Kato recorded their debut EP in a shed in Guildford under the guidance Gordon Mills JNR – son of the former manager of both Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck, with the track ‘Drink Dance Play’ quickly becoming an early anthem.
“That was our first ‘jam’ song if you know what I mean, it just came out of youthful, vibrant, colourful songs that we tried to out in the EP.”
A newly recorded version of ‘Drink Dance Play’ was released in September. Produced by Dan Grech-Marguerat, who has previously worked with established artists such as Beck, The Vaccines, Howling Bells, Radiohead and Lana Del Rey, to name but a few.
“It’s the song that everyone loves and gets everyone shouting along to,” Tommy explained.
“It’s the song that would sum our band up in 2 minutes 52 seconds.”
“It’s nice to have a song like that already that everyone gets excited about. It’s almost like it just turned up and fell into our laps.”
“I’m just pleased that guitar music’s back,” Tommy added, “somebody’s clearly given the green light so I’m just glad that it’s happening.”
After a sell-out headline UK tour last year and an unlikely appearance on reality hit TV show, Made In Chelsea, the group have been afforded the time honing their live show on the road.
This week the lads will pay a visit to the emerald isle.
Tickets for their show at The Academy 2 on May 1st can be purchased from Ticketmaster.ie and MCD.ie.
Debut EP, Drink, Dance, Play, can be bought here on iTunes.
For more info check out youngkato.com, or follow all updates on the band’s official Facebook page and Twitter.
We’ll leave you with ‘Help Yourself’ the latest release from the band.
