The Special Ks

Five-piece electro-pop band The Special Ks are the newest act to emerge from Brighton, famous for its eclectic and diverse musical culture. Despite the popular belief that the band was named after the alluring cereal brand, the name was in fact inspired by the lead singer’s surname, Howard Kaye. He joins Darren, Mat, Ryan and Gan to complete the group and become part of the new generation of musicians from the UK. With a memorable sound and personable approach, their emergence into the music industry, with their debut single Crystal Fields which is set for release on October 23rd, can be likened to other breakthrough bands such as Friendly Fires and Fenech Soler both of which have secured huge acclaim in recent months.



All five band members moved to the south of England with hopes of pursuing their love of music, and it was here that Howard (vocals) and Darren (keys) met, and began to produce demos together. Mat (guitar) Gan (bass) and Ryan (drums) shortly joined the band completing the five-strong ensemble that is The Special Ks. Their edgy and unique music goes hand-in-hand with their cool personalities - their likable characters forming the basis of their appeal; essential in the modern-day industry so driven by social media. Keen to connect with their fans, the boys post regular video diaries on their website alongside humorous blogs and pictures, all to keep fans up-to-date with their movements.

The Special Ks recently embarked on a college tour, holding song-writing workshops between performances and generating widespread support from a number of music experts. As well as taking time to enhance their fan base, the band have performed sessions at radio stations across the country, ensuring their music is heard from coast to coast. The Band has also worked alongside fashion brands Reebok, Firetrap and Fly 53, helping them to tap into a broader audience, taking a modern and open-minded approach to distributing their music in ever-changing times.

The Special Ks - Crystal Fields (New single)




With a passion for live-music, The Special Ks represent a love of performance that goes beyond that of many of today’s bands. Unlike others in their genre, The Special Ks make their mark on the industry with the decision to always play entirely live with no backing tracks. Having toured with Fenech Soler & Metronomy, performing what Darren describes as a ‘high-energy stage show’, the band returned to Brighton this year to play The Great Escape festival, where they were met with a packed crowd. Their obvious enthusiasm and love of performing, also took them to Jamie Oliver’s The Big Feastival in central London, where the band impressed Jamie and a host of others with their electrifying set. Jamie joins other celebrity supporters of the band, Johnny Vaughan, Richard Bacon, and Rizzle Kicks (featured on Olly Murs’ upcoming single), who has become good friends with the band and is another example Brighton’s emerging musical talent. ASCAP recently announced The Special Ks as one of their top picks of 2011, proving that the band certainly have a bright future ahead of them.

They offer inventive and original songwriting and pitch-perfect delivery, but as well as possessing a unique raw talent they have the determination and ability to work hard, ensuring that all aspects of their development as a band are professional and up to date – from live tours to an impressive social media forum. The Special Ks prove unforgettable, from their music to their amiable launch into the industry, setting the way for big things to come.


CRYSTAL FIELDS, the DEBUT single from THE SPECIAL KS is released OCTOBER 23rd 2011