What separates Bob Vylan from the remainder of at the moment’s punk scene is their unapologetic outspokenness and their lively efforts to stay by this. Whether or not or not it’s the time they known as out Sleaford Mods and IDLES for not talking up on Palestine, or difficult the BBC of their boisterous single, GDP.

Musically and lyrically, the band really feel like nothing else in trendy guitar music. However greater than the rest it’s their steady and unapologetic dedication to make use of their voices as a platform to demand change – on document, at exhibits and in interviews – that really makes them such a breath of contemporary air.

The duo (consisting of frontman Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan) have already made big waves within the scene on the again of 2022’s Bob Vylan Presents The Value Of Life, which managed to snag Kerrang’s album of the yr whereas additionally scooping the inaugural Greatest Different Act gong on the MOBOs – it speaks to their genre-crossing, group uniting message.

A key plank of Bob Vylan’s message has been a brave and refreshing openness and and vulnerability when speaking about troublesome topics – new album Humble As The Solar doubles down on this frankness.

“There are moments [in life],” displays Bobby Vylan. “I suppose, the place all of us really feel considerably hopeless within the face of the whole lot we undergo as human beings.”

All through the album, the duo contact upon themes of psychological well being, social injustice and the struggles of on a regular basis life while additionally providing listeners a glimpse of hope. “Everyone has one thing that in some unspecified time in the future, they thought was going to interrupt them and it didn’t. I feel [the album is] a case of remembering that and bringing that to the forefront,” says Vylan.

With this in thoughts, even with the hardships offered within the album, Humble As The Solar is a mission reflective of private development and is a reminder to these listening to recognise your energy, even at occasions once you really feel your weakest.

Affirmations Of Love

This message is greatest seen in gritty heavy-hitter, Starvation Video games, which is a observe mastered by Kevin Tuffy. “There’s a spoken phrase half with affirmations on the finish of that,” says Vylan. “[I do] affirmations with my daughter within the mirror earlier than I take her to high school. I say, repeat [after me]: ‘I’m Black, I’m lovely. Brown pores and skin is gorgeous, my lips are lovely, and my eyes are lovely. I’m cherished and I really like.’ I do these issues to instil a way of pleasure and self-worth.”

Their newest single, Makes Me Violent, is an mockingly, melodic providing touching upon British politics and psychological well being struggles. In a current Instagram submit, the duo shared extra about this launch and their attachment to being labelled as a band that’s “offended on a regular basis.”

“We’re very hardly ever offended, however there’s additionally anger [in our music] as a result of it’s a sound emotion,” says Vylan. While in some ways their ‘punkness’ has been in a position to ring a bell with a big fanbase, some components of their outspokenness are sometimes misunderstood. “We’re many issues as a band – the identical approach we’re many issues as people. I’m not at all times offended, however generally I’m,” Vylan provides.

Makes Me Violent is the other of what you’d envision. It stands by itself two toes as a sonically written launch with witty tongue-in-cheek lyricism. Outwardly wanting on the band, their cut-throat lyrics, hovering refrain strains, and straight-to-the-point assertiveness are all traits that the band recognise. Regardless of this, their ‘anger’ comes from a spot of ardour. Though it’s a provided that not everybody will perceive their message, Vylan doesn’t let this discourage his work.

“I feel the behavior that individuals have of misconstruing our ardour and seeing it as anger could come from a cultural disconnect, or perhaps the best way I talk isn’t acquainted to them,” he says. “[Makes Me Violent has] bought that battle and spirit. At this level in my life, I feel ‘It’s no matter,’ let [people] assume what they need. It’s not my job to attempt to change their race-based opinions of me,” he provides.

Shine On…

On Humble because the Solar, the band return with a mission that’s simply as anti-establishment as their final, while concurrently playful and empowering. Within the introductory single and title observe Humble because the Solar loops the lyrics, “Shine, Black man, shine.” Reflecting on a time he’s been in a position to unapologetically shine as a Black man in his profession to this point, Vylan says, “That point on the MOBO Awards.”

He continues, “I used to look at it on TV as a child. I bear in mind seeing So Stable Crew accumulate their award – that was highly effective to me as a result of I noticed a Black man speaking about what he was in a position to do, together with this group of different Black women and men who had been from the UK. It made an actual affect on me. So, going up there, and with the ability to stand there realizing that we’ve got achieved this award of onerous work and persistence. That to me, was an apparent second the place I’ve been in a position to shine as a Black man.”

To this point the duo have unleashed blistering singles Makes Me Violent, Starvation Video games, Dream Massive and He’s A Man off the album. The latter is a playful toy on poisonous masculinity. “Being a person can really feel like fairly a lonely existence,” says Vylan. In an age the place suicide is among the largest killers for males beneath the age of fifty within the UK, He’s A Man is a darkish, but candid take a look at the societal pressures of ‘manhood’ and the unhappy actuality of its lack of worth for males’s psychological well being.

Increasing on what it means to be a person in his personal phrases, Vylan says, “The advanced nature of being a person is desirous to be held, coated, cherished and revered, while wanting to look as if you don’t want any of these issues.”

He’s A Man presents itself as a spot to flee and mock the societal pressures and assumptions of manhood. “I’m unsure I achieved it in the best way I wished to, however I wished to supply an alternative choice to what [being] a person is. As a result of there’s extra to it than that,” says Vylan.

Plugging In

Not like their lockdown mission, We Stay Right here, which noticed the duo produce and blend it fully themselves, Humble As The Solar comes as an thrilling new chapter for the duo. Experimenting with collaborations for the primary time, the album is co-produced by Jonny Breakwell and options extra manufacturing from Henri Davies. It additionally sees the band develop their sound, with dwell guitar components from their longtime buddy and studio producer/author Rex Roulette.

Speaking concerning the imaginative and prescient for this mission Vylan tells us, “I wished to do sure issues on this album that I didn’t do with the earlier ones.”

He continues, “For instance, on the subject of the guitars, I often use audio plugins that emulate completely different audio system and cabs. This time round, we bought into the studio and used actual amps and mic’d them up. We even recorded the drums dwell in different-sized rooms, utilizing completely different kits.”

In addition to collaborations, utilizing actual guitars and actual amps on the mission is one other sequence of firsts for the band. With reference to uniting their inventive imaginative and prescient with Breakwell, Vylan tells us, “It was attention-grabbing. He helped me put this complete factor collectively in a approach.”

He continues, “His information of microphones, mic placements, completely different setups for drum kits and the way sure amps will sound was unimaginable. I’ve a sure stage of data of this as a result of I’ve studied it and I’ve created albums earlier than, however working with him enabled me to step away from the music. After I was mixing it and producing it myself, I’d get up at random hours within the morning to work on it. With the ability to have that house and distance allowed me to take a seat with the songs off the document much more. Which enabled me to have a clearer opinion of the album.”

Over time we’ve seen the band captivate and culminate a loyal fanbase. It’s via their distinctive music and engaging charisma that we proceed to see their viewers develop with every passing yr. Stunning many as they booked pageant slots at Boomtown in 2022 and TRNSMT in 2023, all through their work, Bob Vylan proceed to show that their music extends additional than the punk scene.

“With this new album, I would like it to function an entry level for a wider viewers,” says Vylan. Weaving in speckles of grime, punk and drum and bass tendencies, as you make your approach via the tracklist, Humble As The Solar delves into the band’s eclectic palette, while persevering with to serve their OG viewers.

Transferring ahead, in addition to with the discharge of their forthcoming album, Vylan is gearing up for this pageant season. “I’m excited for Primordial. After we beforehand performed there everybody was so form and pleasant,” he says.

“That basically impacts whether or not or not we return. There are a few issues we contemplate earlier than returning to a pageant. Firstly, whether or not the persons are good, and secondly, if the catering is nice. We’re a foody band…”

If the meals is respectable sufficient then, you may catch Bob Vylan this summer season – for those who do you’ll discover an earnest and genuine mission that channels hope and resilience to make a singular and constructive manifesto for the trendy world.

Humble As The Solar is out 5 April on Ghost Theatre