Kingdom Makes It Okay to Shed 'Tears in the Club' on His Debut Album: Interview

Going to a club is typically seen as a celebration, whether you're turning up for a friend's milestone birthday or want to let loose from the stress-filled work week. But there is a shadowy corner in the club that not many choose to explore, and Kingdom is bringing that gloomier side to our party experience to the light. The electronic-R&B producer (whose real name is Ezra Rubin) is basking in the Feb. 24 release of his debut full-length album Tears in the Club, which flip-flops between both sides. It radiates just as brightly as those sparklers on V.I.P. champagne bottles while also sinking deep into our dark thoughts just as that last cocktail that spins your intoxication into overdrive.

The yin and yang of being in a club reflects Kingdom's move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles a few years ago. “There’s been a bunch of storms and I get to pretend that I live in Seattle or New York," he tells me over the phone. "The sunshine gets a little monotonous sometimes, so I’m actually enjoying the moody weather." He likens the album's songs to colors when I revealed they create hazy, dreamlike visions in my head while I listen. “What Is Love” featuring SZA is pink, while “Each and Every Day” and the title track are shades of blue. The soulless "Haunted Gate" gets black, while "Breathless" is a vibrant red. Fans will be able to experience these colors when Kingdom hits the road this month for a few release parties.

"We’re doing ones in Boston, Chicago and New York. Then in April I’m doing international dates," he says. "I’m playing Sónar festival in Hong Kong on April 1, which I’m really excited about. I’ll be doing a bunch of different shows in Europe after that." Read on for my Q&A with Kingdom about digging a little deeper with emotions for Tears in the Club.