“It’s the kind of thing that most musicians dream of,” frontman of Manilla Times, Jack McKelvey discusses playing Glastonbury festival.
Manilla Times at Glastonbury Festival
Being the UK’s biggest festival where you’ll be performing alongside artists like Coldplay and Dua Lipa, it’s no surprise that every band is fighting for a spot at Glastonbury year on year. In a backstage tent half an hour before Manilla Times set, on the Mandala Stage Jack begins, “It is really the best feeling in the world, to be honest. It is surreal. It’s taking a bit of getting used to but it’s amazing and it’s not really sunk in yet. I’d imagine after we play it will.”
McKelvey continues to describe his band’s music and lyrics, “I guess we’re not trying to reinvent the wheel too much. We just want to make sure our music is energetic and lively and fun. A lot of the lyrics are inspired by general things that we see or experience. Nothing’s too personal really. If I see a situation or if I hear some talk or whatever, I try and write songs that are based on themes that I discover in various places.” He also illustrates what the groups gripping live shows consist of, “In terms of our set, we just try and keep it as energetic as possible and that’s the real thing that we enjoy, to keep the sound loud and the songs fast and to make sure everyone’s bouncing around and having a good time.”
Manilla Times consists of three other members, Jase Watkins (Guitar), Ollie Neave (Bass) and Sean Wheldon (Drums). Jack moved across to Manchester where he met the rest of the band, after growing up in a small town in Ireland. “Where I’m from there’s not really a rock or an Indie scene,” McKelvey depicts his home in comparison to Manchester. “I would say in Ireland, the Irish people are very supportive whereas in England it takes a little bit more to get people on your side. But then you get people who really love your music in England and in Manchester you can get 200 or 300 people into a gig and it’s not that big a deal. To try and sell 300 tickets in my little town, it’d be a nightmare really.”
Recently the band’s upcoming single ‘Mona Lisa’ was debuted on BBC Radio Wales as well as, XS Manchester. McKelvey draws a timeline of the song’s creation, “the process for ‘Mona Lisa’ was we went into the studio with our producer and we had another song that we’d done. Whilst the other song was being recorded, myself and Jase were fleshing out an idea we had for a new tune. The first line was just inspired by a gig we put up in Paris and then we tried to keep the ideas and the themes around it elusive. It came about pretty quickly. The lyrics came around in about an hour in the canteen of the studio and we recorded it the next day.”
Awaiting his bands set, Jack declared he was most excited to perform ‘Third Time Lucky,’ their most streamed song. “It’s a song that most of our fans enjoy and the one that goes off the most.” He continues with a grin, “Funny enough when we recorded it, we didn’t think it would be as popular as it has been. Now that’s the song that a lot of people know us by.”
McKelvey is enthusiastic, sharing the bands exciting future. “We can tease ‘Mona Lisa’ which will be out on the 12th of July and we will be announcing a big Manchester show in the next few weeks.”
Nearing closer to Manilla Times first Glastonbury performance, McKelvey shares a memory from one of their early shows. “We played a gig in a place called Retro in Manchester and the only people who watched us were the other band on after us and our bass player’s girlfriend. We always sort of talk about that and it’s kind of funny now we’ve played to 300 people in Paris, we sold out The Deaf Institute and we’re going to play Glastonbury in half an hour.”
“That gig’s still one that we talk about more than the other ones, really” he laughs remembering how far they have come.
Pre-save ’Mona Lisa’: https://bfan.link/mona-lisa-MT
Manilla Times on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manillatimes/
