Bio

Royal Falcon are an Auckland-based five piece band, making music akin to a murderous spree. Their raucous psychedelic country songwriting merges dark narrative and creeping dynamics with an explosive guitar assault to create something quite intense.

Founding members Dan Pilkington and Gareth Hays have long-standing connections to Maternal Records and are heavily schooled in the primal rock outpourings of that label. The earliest Royal Falcon songs were formulated during destructive alcohol binges by these two, which perversely proved fruitful to their songwriting process. Armed by late 2007 with a solid catalogue of songs, Pilkington and Hays decided to expand operations and Royal Falcon was born:

Perry Hooper is renowned for his musical virtue, equally at ease playing dub, funk or blues guitar. Hooper has a transcendent affinity for the Royal Falcon, and his searing leads breathe extra life into the songs.

Kyla Dyresen is a classically trained pianist slumming it in a rock band, her rich intuitive melodies flesh out the bones of the songs and add a lushness of sound.

Heath King is the swinging dynamo that makes this bird fly. King is a proficient percussionist and demonstrates an array of styles, but relishes the Falcon’s call to keep it simple and solid.

With a fiercely raw self-titled EP already under their belt, Royal Falcon have an eye on the prize and an ear on the police scanner with the release of their debut album 'Royal Falcon Ruined My Life'. Engineered and produced by Hooper at Zone1 Studios, and mastered by Flying Nun stalwart Tex Houston (The 3D's, The Subliminals), the new songs build on past momentum, while displaying a clear evolution in sound - including flourishes of trombone by musical wayfarer Rob Simpson.

Equally apt to play an acoustic set, Royal Falcon can be found on occasion taking their music to the street, busking for small change to gracious passersby. The point is not to get rich, rather the ever-industrious band reinvest their takings in beer to stimulate more songwriting sessions. They deserve to be huge.

Band Members:
Heath King (drums, vocals)
Perry Hooper (guitar)
Gareth Hays (bass)
Jared Greenwood (guitar, backing vocals)
Robert Simpson (trombone, harmonica, percussion)

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