Certified maniac Donald Trump was sworn in as President of the USA, despotic leader Kim Jong-un threatened a nuclear war, and former household hero Bill Cosby was outed as a sexual predator: 2017 was a very dark year.

It was in this dystopian world (with a working title of Dismal Imaginary Place deemed too depressing) that Carnivorous Plant Society’s sophomore album The New King was born, simultaneously aspirational and pragmatically nihilistic. With fables penned by bandleader Finn Scholes and read by his father Jeff, Finn reveals his warped genius in three ways; lyrically, through his rich compositional tactics and with his ear-wrenching instrumental virtuosity. 

To be released on 16 March, The New King brings together the extraordinary talents of five of Auckland’s most talented musicians, with special guests Don McGlashan, Lawrence Arabia & Tiny Ruins.

Finn says the album is a response to the enthusiastic and sometimes drunk punters who tell him after gigs that the one thing his band needs is a singer.

“Unfortunately, not being a singer myself this has meant I've had to call on many favours to get this to happen. Fortunately, I'm friends with some of New Zealand's top vocalists and can bargain with my trumpet and keyboard skills.”

“The fables are in the style of my favourite fable maker: Aesop. Aesop lived in a tough time (round 500 BC), he was also a slave, so I (like many young people, slaves to the baby boomers)  feel some incredibly vague similarities. The fables comment on modern day life with the use of animals as characters, often reflecting on dark sides of human nature. The fables and the title of the album reflect the problems of the world today and the hope that perhaps one day a giant dog / sea serpent will take over.”

The first single ‘Car Dance’ is out now, with Tiny Ruins (Hollie Fullbrook) lending her vocal talents for the track.

“I lived with four members of Carnivorous Plant Society for three years. We would all be working on our various musical projects under the big pitcher plants hanging above the lounge table,” says Fullbrook.

“It has been a wonderful thing to see them move from one eclectic field of sound to the next. It always fills me with so much joy seeing them play, and so of course I leapt at the chance to sing on this most beautiful song - ‘Car Dance’ - a classic Finn Scholes brain-gem.”

“Car Dance came to me while sitting in traffic,” says Finn. “I noticed that when two cars switch lanes it kind of looks like they're dancing. This dance combined with the struggles of being stuck in traffic brought to me fantasies of escape. I knew right away that Hollie's voice would be perfect for the tune because it has a child like quality that reminds me of a kid stuck in the back of a car with dreams of freedom. The second half of the piece is supposed to represent the happy place these children would escape to should they achieve their dreams.”

Carnivorous Plant Society will take The New King on the road following the release beginning with an appearance at Titirangi Music Festival.

Carnivorous Plant Society - The New King Tour

23 March, Titirangi Music Festival - tickets at Eventbrite

30 + 31 March, Waiheke Jazz Festival - tickets at iTicket

6 April Napier - Sitting Room Session, contact jamie@macphails.co.nz for tickets

7 April, Moon, Wellington - tickets at undertheradar.co.nz

13 April, Tuning Fork, Auckland (with Eb & Sparrow) - tickets from ticketmaster.co.nz

14 April, Butter Factory, Whangarei - free show!

15 April, Leigh Sawmill - tickets at undertheradar.co.nz

Get all tour information at carnivorousplantsociety.com