Kero Kero Bonito Shares Royally Good Single "The Princess and the Clock"

Written by Gianna Cicchetti

Graphic by Rebekah Witt



British indie-pop trio Kero Kero Bonito is back with a new EP this April, the follow-up to 2019’s Civilisation I EP. The band gave us a taste of the upcoming Civilisation II with a new single, “The Princess and the Clock.” With this EP, the band tells “self-manufactured myths,” and this track introduces that concept well.

Right off the bat, the track feels reminiscent of the days of old. The imagery surrounding the track is medieval, and the lyrics carry this theme. The song itself sounds nostalgic as well, as the beat sounds so gentle and familiar, like the background music of a cozy video game from the 2000s. Though the song takes some turns along the way, that feeling of being transported into a different world for 4 minutes remains throughout. 

The song tells the story of a princess who wants to explore the world, but she ends up getting kidnapped and crowned as queen. As the chorus describes, the princess paints her days away in her chamber, dreaming of flying away. This all ceases when she wakes up in a completely new place, and though she is queen in this strange new town, “her brushstrokes never disappeared.” The theme of wanting an escape is so pertinent right now with the pandemic raging on, and this story plays right into that. At the very end, it is revealed that the once unticking clock in the princess’ chamber has started ticking again once the princess has left. The “eternal childhood” discussed in the chorus has come to an end for the princess, which is unfortunately how reality works. The song is a reminder that time is something that can’t be avoided forever.

This song is such a fun listen! Every KKB song is bound to get stuck in your head due to the catchy beats and Sarah Bonito’s unique vocals, and “The Princess and the Clock” is no different. Bonito’s vocals are so gentle and bright at the same time, and it’s hard not to enjoy listening to what she brings to the table, especially during this song. The sonic twists the song takes as the story progresses were well done and definitely took me by surprise. Things start getting louder and develop past the 8-bit sound as soon as the titular Princess wakes up in her new domain. There is also an epic synth introduction after the bridge, which pushes that video-game feel even more. Overall, it feels like a perfect introduction to the EP!

Along with the single, the band released a great animated music video that tells the song's story. “The Princess and the Clock” is guaranteed to get people excited about the new EP from Kero Kero Bonito, to be released on April 21 via Polyvinyl. If this single is your first exposure to the band, definitely check out their previous projects as they carry similar energy!