Imagine a kaleidoscope of different coloured paints drying on a large effervescent artwork, you can see it all there, only it’s not quite ready. That’s what it was like for Sydney psych-rock band Kimono Drag Queens and their debut album 'Songs of Worship'. It’s taken the seven-piece two years to record but as of November 6th the album’s six tracks, which were produced by Phan Sjarif at Parliament Studios, will be unleashed unto the world.
Since their formation in 2016, in between a handful of East Coast Australian tours, the band have released a string of singles, three of which; ‘Hunters’, ‘Wild Animals’ and ‘Willy’s World’ all feature on the record. So far, the music they’ve shared has represented their hive mind approach to songwriting - there are elements of modern psych (think King Gizzard, Here Lies Man), 60s rock, Tuareg music (Tinariwen, Bombino), and ambient folk.
Having signed to Copper Feast Records, the band sold out of their first release of vinyl pre-sales in 48 hours, which is clear evidence that the appetite for other-worldly psychedelic adventuring from Australia is greater than ever.
Kimono Drag Queens are: Harry Webber - vocals, guitar. Kellie Banyai - vocals, keys. Will Coleman - vocals, guitar. Zeppelin Hamilton - guitar. Amy Yoshiko - percussion. Billy Minett - drums. William Wood - bass guitar.