In Conversation with Karma’s Puppet
Earlier this week we featured Karma's Puppet and discussed their journey from conception to their new single 'ROT'. We recently spoke in more depth with the musicians behind the music, shedding light on their creative process and their experiences in the world of music.
What initially inspired each of you to pursue music, and how did your individual backgrounds contribute to forming Karma's Puppet?
I guess the shortest answer to this is that every member of the band has their own unique story to tell but as a group we’d either played in previous bands together before or knew each other through the local music community. So when we all came together and started on this journey we had a wide variety of experiences, influences and ideas flowing, which is something that hasn’t changed really.
Karma's Puppet's music has been described as a fusion of various genres. Could you share some of the key musical influences that have shaped your unique sound?
As I say, our influences vary from member to member and we have a pretty liberal attitude to the way we write. Rather than trying to be a certain thing or have a particular “sound” we simply play music that we enjoy playing and enjoy listening to. You can really tell this at the live shows, we’re having an absolute blast up there and just it’s nice not to be tied down to a specific genre or style which allows that mix of influences and preferences to come through.
Your latest single, "ROT," has caught the attention of listeners. Could you delve deeper into the creative process behind this track and what it represents to you as a band?
The driving force behind ROT is really about that frustration of trying to put something together and move forward but encountering multiple hurdles along the way. This song came together at a time that we were able to really focus on those personal struggles and bring it to the surface. Musically, the idea was to achieve a sort of anthemic yet progressive feel which we believe ROT does really well and offer the listener an opportunity for a bit of pit shoving, or a big old sing along… or both!
Band dynamics often evolve over time. How has the evolving lineup of Karma's Puppet affected the band's sound and creative direction?
Finding the right mix of people was integral to moving the band forward. Having every member on the same page and hungry to get out there was a big turning point for us and although it took a bit of time, especially around the whole COVID thing, it meant that once things started to return to normal, we could really get stuck into getting our music out there and the rest as they say was history.
The past couple of years have been challenging for musicians due to the pandemic. How did you maintain your motivation and creativity during lockdowns and restrictions?
The lockdown was tough for sure. But I think the main motivator was the fact that the seeds had already been sewn and we just wanted to keep the momentum going. All the rule changes from one week to the next (although frustrating) did give us some precious opportunities to meet, mostly in smaller groups and work on bits and pieces when the rules allowed. This really paid off actually, because once the lockdown was eventually lifted and live music was allowed to start up again, we were actually in a great position to get out there.
"Sleepless" and "Wake of Vultures" marked your debut as Karma's Puppet. How do you perceive your musical growth since those early releases?
One of the primary areas of growth has come from the way we write songs to appease both the recording and live environment. Songs like Wake of Vultures gave us an insight on how we could utilise some audience interaction as part of the song itself and this was something we started to factor in more as we continued to write. Some of those early releases have naturally evolved too which is why we will be revisiting some of them in the upcoming album, giving them a fresh lease of life.
Songwriting can be a deeply personal process. Can you share some insights into how your band collaboratively approaches creating music?
We use multiple methods to share and build on new ideas. It could be a homemade demo or something as simple as a video or just jamming things out the room and seeing what happens. We generally put the music together first and establish a framework. Then as that process develops, the lyrics and vocal melodies come together alongside that and we just sort of meet in the middle.
Your forthcoming album, "Where The Old Roots Grow," sounds intriguing. Could you provide some hints about the themes and inspirations that will be explored on this record?
Where The Old Roots Grow is a bit of a mixed bag of songs which we’ve had for a while and have become staples of our overall set as well as some more recent additions. Despite this, the album has a real purposeful flow to it which I think is reflective of that overall journey the band has taken so far. The general overall themes of the album are about being grounded and comfortable with who you are and accepting your beliefs and overcoming insecurities.
Being okay with the natural earthly death with no afterlife and the importance of not doing bad things in the name of blind faith. Not blindly following lies that take us down a dark path. Not following the herd… We also have a song about a Serial Killer too.
Participating in Metal 2 The Masses must have been an exciting journey. Could you share a standout memory or experience from that competition?
“However, there can only be one band, that band is KARMA’S PUPPET!” will be forever etched in our skulls ever since Simon Hall uttered those fateful words after an insanely tough final in Chesterfield. But aside from that it was probably those few minutes before going on stage that stick out most. A mix of crippling anxiety, excitement and adrenalin. We were getting the pre-stage pep talk from some of the organisers about bringing our A game and giving 100% etc just before going on, to which I replied “Just Watch This!” then proceeded to walk to the stage dramatically, soon after realising that if we didn’t win, I would have looked really ****ing stupid! But at that point you’re just primed and ready to give everything you have and either go for the win or go down fighting.
Live performances are a significant part of your identity. What do you believe sets your live shows apart and makes them memorable for your audience?
In a word ENERGY! One of the biggest pieces of feedback we get consistently from gigs is how energetic and exciting a KP show is to watch. There’s no real secret to why, we’re just having a ball! One of the things we’ve always been keen on is giving our performance that professional touch so we use intros and interludes etc as part of the show to try and offer that bit of extra something too.
As your fan base grows, what strategies or changes are you implementing to ensure you stay true to your artistic vision while also meeting fans' expectations?
I think it goes back to the approach we’ve always taken which is “anything goes”. We try not to be limited by our genre, but at the same time I think we have developed some real staples which makes KP songs so unique and enjoyable. The grooves, the riff work and those big catchy choruses are all part of those key ingredients which I hope we’ll still be having fun with in years to come.
In the long term, where do you envision Karma's Puppet's music taking you as a band? Any dream collaborations or milestones you're aiming for?
I think it’s fair to say we’re all realists when it comes to the future of the band. The modern music industry is such a difficult nut to crack as it is, but we all have jobs, kids, wives etc too which will always come first. We’d love to see Karma’s Puppet grow as the years go on but wherever we are and whatever we’re doing in 5, 10, 20 years time, as long as we’re having a good time, with good people then that’s the dream. However, if Nuclear Blast want to sign us then we could probably make allowances for that too ;)
Are there any unexpected or surprising influences outside of music that find their way into your creative process?
Did I mention the Serial Killer song?!
... But seriously, nowadays, being in a band is way more than just writing tunes and being a rockstar. You have to be the marketers, content creators, video editors, Promotional artists and so on, so I think a lot of those other influences and particularly our unique and insufferable humour does tend to come out a lot in the non musical stuff we put out there. We’re very big on putting out content. From behind the scenes stuff, to wacky videos and even a mix of TV and film comedy parodies, there’s a lot more to KP than just the music.
Behind-the-scenes stories can be intriguing. Can you share a memorable or humorous moment from your journey as a band?
There’s so many, but for some reason my mind goes to a time we were playing at an undisclosed venue in Yorkshire which for some reason had a toilet located in the cupboard of our shared dressing room… You heard me right, in the cupboard! Although a little strange, our guitarist Matt was not dissuaded and made very good use of this facility… Such good use in fact that the room was pretty much unusable for the remainder of the evening.
Lastly, can you provide some insights into your future plans for Karma's Puppet, whether that be in terms of music releases, touring, or other creative endeavours?
So, following the release of our latest single ’ROT’, next on the agenda is our debut album ‘Where The Old Roots Grow’. We have killer show lined up for the album launch at Manchester’s famous Grand Central on the 15th October, which more or less kicks off a fairly sizable run of shows for the remainder of the year, stopping off at: Northwich, Derby, Macclesfield, Cheltenham, Leicester, Blackpool, Wakefield and Coventry. Following that, 2024 is still being pieced together as we speak so keep an eye on those socials to keep up to date with what’s coming up.
Karma’s Puppet Online
