Mên An Tol by Cuan Roche
WHO?
Mên An Tol are Robert Wiseman, Felix Knox, Max Silvey, Tom Stevens and me, Bill Jefferson
WHERE?
We’re from all over the country but all met through living and working at a pub in Camberwell, south east London. Some of us live there now but we’re all based in south east London.
WHEN?
I think I would have been about 12 or 13 my parents got a guitar for a Christmas and birthday present. It was a red Fender Strat copy called a Mustang and it was the coolest thing ever.
WHY?
For Mên An Tol it’s a combination of alt guitar music and trad folk. The folk side is more present in the vibe though, people-music and sing along songs rather than finger in the ear trad revivalist stuff.
Big songs and bands from The La’s and The Cranberries through to The Pogues, The Waterboys and a bunch of trad Celtic music make up the sound.
PAST?
We’ve all been in other bands which I think has really helped us become what we are so quickly. We all speak the same musical language. All of our backgrounds are fucking around in loud practice rooms.
PRESENT?
I always think that’s down to other people, but I recently saw ‘ancient sounds and modern soul’ which was about right.
FUTURE?
Just to play live as much as possible. Keep writing and getting in front of audiences. Forming a real connection with people.
HOW?
Mên An Tol’s current single Not Ideal was written in about half an hour, just fell out the sky pretty much fully formed. It’s become a crowd favourite live without even releasing it, so to have it out is exciting. And to have Carlos from Fontaines DC produce it and play on it is a trip, he definitely elevated it to the next level.
DID YOU KNOW?
We just played Valkhof Festival in the Netherlands where we saw a guy performing and crowd surfing dressed as giant slice of bread to happy hardcore at about 5pm. People were losing it, it was great.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Not Ideal has just come out and we’re off doing some European festivals. Then our EP This Land comes out 26th September coinciding with a UK tour with Cardinals which we’re all buzzing for.
