Progressive rock band Little King has released the official music video for “Who’s Illegal?”, a standout track from their latest album, “Lente Viviente,” which dropped this past September. Known for their dynamic, melodic, progressive, heavy rock sound, Little King continues to push boundaries with music that is both sonically adventurous and socially conscious.
Frontman and songwriter Ryan Rosoff drew inspiration for “Who’s Illegal?” from his return to Tucson, AZ, where the city’s Presidio San Agustin del Tucson reflects centuries of cultural intersections between Indigenous tribes, Spanish settlers, Mexican heritage, and American expansion. The song asks a timeless question: “After all this time and all the arbitrary assignment of this land to governments and warlords…Who’s Illegal?”
The track fuses suspended chords, melodic bass lines, and shifting time signatures — alternating between 6/8 and 9/8 — to reflect the lyrical tension between division and unity. Filmed across Tucson’s vibrant cityscapes, the video amplifies this narrative, visually underscoring themes of immigration, inclusion, and love.
“Lente Viviente” (Spanish for “Living Lens”) stands as Little King’s most ambitious project to date. Featuring new members Dave Hamilton on bass and Tony Bojorquez on drums, the record delves into themes of memory, identity, aging, addiction, and resilience. Each song unfolds as a “micro-epic,” blending intricate arrangements with concise, emotionally charged storytelling.
“I want people to take a short, mind-blowing journey…like Musical DMT. The dynamic range of this record will push and pull from the first note to the last,” says frontman Ryan Rosoff.
Across its tracks, “Lente Viviente” reveals a sweeping emotional and musical spectrum. “Catch and Release” and “Dawn Villa” revisit childhood and enduring friendship, while “Pass Through Filters” meditates on aging and addiction. “Kindness for Weakness” explores the fragile balance between vulnerability and strength, and “Who’s Illegal?” confronts immigration and identity with bold conviction. Together, these songs create a cohesive journey, complex yet melodic, that invites listeners to think deeply, feel fully, and return again and again for the complete experience.
Since forming in 1997, Little King has steadily evolved through confidence, technical growth, and relentless creativity. Rosoff, a former Creative Writing major and English teacher, has penned over 65 songs, blending literary depth with progressive rock intensity. With influences ranging from Rush, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, Muse, Led Zeppelin, and Night Verses, Little King’s music resonates with fans of both classic and modern rock.
“Lente Viviente” (released Sept 26th) is available on digital platforms at https://show.co/nI24kSK
