Tag Archives: uk indie rock

TMN Sits Down With Matty From The 1975 [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]

The 1975
Sex

There are few bands that we’ve seen in our blogging careers hit a trajectory that The 1975 has. In just a very brief year and a half, this Manchester based quartet has gone from bedroom recordings to major label pushes. We recently sat down with front man Matty at the Marquis in Denver, Colorado. See what he had to say about early punk influences, Thai food and John Hughes films.

TMN: Welcome to Colorado! This is your first time here, correct?

Matty: This is my first time here in Colorado.

TMN: How’s the tour going so far? Are the states treating you well?

Matty: Really good. America is kinda of like, it’s amazing for us. Do you want me to expand on that?

TMN: Sure. Go ahead.

Matty: It’s an amazing place to go out on tour as a band. Geographically, it’s awe inspiring.

TMN: Have you found that crowds over here differ from those in Europe? How has the reception been so far?

Matty: We haven’t had a bad show! There’s been some great surprises like, fucking…well, not even surprises because last time we were there…Milwaukee. So much fun up there. So much fun in so many places. Philadelphia, man. Philadelphia is like playing Manchester for us. It really is. It was a better show in Philadelphia than it was for our homecoming show in Manchester. So, it’s amazing really, how it translates.

They don’t differ that much. They don’t really differ. I think that if you’re playing good music in South Hampton or New York City, people are going to react the same. I think people are slightly more open minded, people are very supportive of the idea of creativity being monetized. American people have a very good mentality, and it creates a really comfortable environment to be an artist. People like that. They think you’re fucking cool if you’re in a band, especially if you’re in a British band. So, it makes our accent, and our demeanor hold a lot of currency, in middle America.

TMN: You guys have had a rather accelerated path to where you are today, taking the blogosphere by storm. Has there been one moment in particular that’s made you stand back and say, “holy shit, I can’t believe that just happened.”

There’s been so many moments where I’ve tried to. It’s really hard to explain what this year has been like for us because it’s not been in drips in drabs; it’s not been two week and tour then go home and see your Mum. It’s been fucking non-stop since the second it started. We went on tour in January, properly, and haven’t been home since. I went home for two days, in the midst of moving out of the house I used to live in for twelve years. Then fucked off for another six months. So, you’re never really provided with an environment to be retrospective or have true hindsight because you’re always in the moment.

Maybe I could find ten minutes in between coming off stage and talking to you, but I don’t. But then when you leave I go eat, then I gotta do a show…you know? It’s really difficult to take yourself to the place to be like “Fuck, what happened?.”

I’m scared about slowing down, man. I’m scared about stopping because I’ve been in a different city, every single day for a year.

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[TMN EXCLUSIVE] The 1975 – Chocolate (Song Art + Quote)

The 1975
Chocolate

There are only a few bands that have come along and captivated the blogosphere with each and every release. Yes, UK indie rockers The 1975 have graced your ears on this blog again and again, which is why it’s easy to understand why these quickly rising phenoms are taking the US by storm. America’s collective affinity lies in their catchy hooks, infectious lyrics, and admirable pop structure

With their self-titled debut album hitting record stores in only a few days, The 1975 have given us a sneak peak at the artwork for one of our favorite tracks of the summer, “Chocolate”. Channeling stories of small town trouble into roof-raising guitar pop, The 1975’s deeply personal narratives unfold like a scene in a movie. Cutting through the weed haze, “Chocolate” has become the song that defines the young Manchester band – a rhythmically brilliant call-to-arms that becomes impossible to get out your head after just one listen.

Speaking to us about the song, front-man Matty explains:

Chocolate tells the story of our relationships with the governing authorities of our small town. Smoking weed, smoking anything I suppose, boredom and what ensues when both parties challenge one another. It’s a love letter to boredom, limited opportunities of expressing yourself and embracing and understanding the make up of where you’re from. Musically and structurally it is the blueprint of our output, but I’d need an entire book to discuss that in detail

Pre-order The 1975’s debut here, and if you’re still on the fence about whether or not you should pick it up (which you shouldn’t be), click here and listen to it in full before you purchase.

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