KING Lays Claim to the ‘Crown’ and Introduces Next Album ‘New Life’

Indian artist KING blazes a new trail – with seemingly imaginary gunfire – as he stakes claim to the top spot as “India’s quintessential new-age popstar” in “Crown,” the first glimpse of his upcoming album New Life, which releases song by song from September onwards.

Balancing his so-far finessed blend of hip-hop and pop, KING teams up with singer-songwriter Natania Lalwani for “Crown,” which is produced by American producer David Arkwright. While Arkwright’s credits include working with artists ranging from Illenium to Bella Poarch to Aloe Blacc, he – along with songwriter Miranda Glory – also co-wrote KING’s leap for global fame “Maan Meri Jaan (Afterlife)” with Nick Jonas. Arkwright, Glory and Natania are the composing/songwriting team that’s returned to work with KING on “Crown,” which journeys from dark-pop to regal trap and hip-hop with additional guitars from Dan Thomas, who plays drums in KING’s live band.

In the video directed by filmmaker Bijoy Shetty, however, the artist’s guitarist Subhanshu Singh takes his place next to KING as they’re hyped by a collection of dancers. That’s just one among several easter eggs placed throughout the “Crown” video, which starts off with KING pulling out an imaginary gun and firing off as a crowd disperses, before stepping out of a car after seemingly killing off a past alter-ego.

The song closes with KING’s proclamation that “sometimes being late is being right on time,” followed by the reveal of New Life releasing from September onwards. “Crown” appears as the closing track on the nine-track album via Warner Music India. The news of New Life comes even as KING had to cancel his first-ever world tour across U.K., U.S. and Canada starting September due to visa delays “for an important set of the performing crew.” The artist said new dates will be announced soon.

New Life tracklist

1. “Aafat”

2. “Runaway”

3. “Tu Jaana Na Piya”

4. “Good Trip”

5. “Sarkaare”

6. “Legends”

7. “We Are The Ones”

8. “High Hukku”

9. “Crown”