Next Wave #681: VANT

Searing rock 'n' roll with a social conscious...

Could Mattie Vant, a tousled axeman from the North East, lead the next wave of politically active, socially conscious rockstars?

“Spreading the message of peace and love used to be part and parcel of being in a band,” he says. “Now it’s something people associate with hippies, the ’60s and unachievable fantasy things. It’s a stale brand… We need to change that.”

His band, a fiery quartet notoriously unafraid of giving it fair welly onstage, tackle all the big issues. ‘Parking Lot’ is an unblinking exploration of sexual assault on US college campuses. ‘Birth Certificate’ is a timely reflection on the anachronism of nation states in an age of mass migration: “You know we have these borders / Built by ancient kings / But the names they chose / Don’t mean a fucking thing”. Another cracker, ‘Do You Know Me?’, chronicles the dispiriting slog of modern wage slavery: “I get this feeling that I’m all alone / A suit, a headset and a telephone / I’m alcoholic cos it numbs the pain / Everyone I know tends to feel the same.”

For sheer brass balls the standout has to be ‘The Answer’, a storming critique of military intervention in Syria. At its heart, the immortal couplet: “You’re from England? / Well, hello there my brother / Keep sucking my dick while my friend fucks your momma.”

“We wrote that when the US and UK were on the verge of sending the bombers in,” Vant explains. “The song is about how at the end of the day England is still America’s little bitch.” Does Vant worry his foul mouth will undermine the message? Does he fuck.

“It’s supposed to be offensive, it’s supposed to prick your ears up. It’s such a horrific subject you can’t address it without shock factor. Hitting people over the head with the message isn’t how you change opinions. A bit of humour goes a long way.” We ask if, given the opportunity to perform in front of world leaders, he’d do what Squeeze did to the Prime Minister back in January and call him out live on TV. “Nah. Much as I think Cameron – and Trump – are utter fucking c*nts, it’s not my place to say that. I don’t think it’s a positive way of dealing with things. Don’t make somebody an object of hate or blame. That’s the easy escape. You’re not making a positive impact. If you can show an enlightened alternative that’s how you win the day.”

WHERE: London
WHAT: Frenetic grunge pop with plenty to say for itself
GET 3 SONGS: ‘The Answer’, ‘Parasite’, ‘Birth Certificate’

FACT: Mattie Vant’s first ever performance onstage was aged eight, impersonating Elvis in an amateur revue at summer camp.

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Words: Andy Hill
Photography: Samuel Bradley
Styling: Justin Hamilton

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