We talk to Boston Manor about chart success and Nottingham memories

So first of all, how are the first week sales going? 

Well yeah, we'll find out in a couple of hours - the fact that we've had a chance to chart at all is quite extraordinary really for a band of our size. It's not something that we ever really expected. 

What will you do to celebrate? Anything fun?

It's funny cause it's been a bit of a whirlwind these past six weeks - cause we went to Australia, came back, and we had one day off and then we went straight into this promo tour where we've been doing these in-store shows and signings. Then we only have about four days off and then our actual tour starts again. So I think all we'll be doing is having a rest really!

Even if it doesn't make the Top 40, then I’m already so proud of this record and I'm so proud of all the hard work that's gone into it - not just by us, but our wider team. We've got some really great people that have worked on this project with us and really put everything into it, and apparently we've already sold more records this week than all of our previous records combined!

So with Sundiver out, we have a continuation of your last album Datura; to me these are thematically entwined with the latter being about dealing with personal issues and the new release being about change... What are they to you?

I'm really proud of both of them, you know? They are counterpart records in that sense... we kind of see these as one record, but decided to split them up into two. Partly because we wanted to be quite authentic and it to reflect the journey that we were on.

It's also not a record that I want to beat people over the head with personal experiences, because I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And I want people to go on that journey with the record if they can themselves.

However, it is still quite personal for sure, it's quite uncomfortable for me in a lot of senses. I'm not somebody that's ever written super literally or been overly comfortable with what I'm talking about, but I do think there is merit in it and I think I strive to be as real as possible in in the writing. A lot of it comes out quite naturally.

What influenced the new album? 

I guess it's just that music is more interesting to me now than it used to be, on the whole, and I think streaming and everything from video games to just popular culture at large; people now have a broader taste than they used to.

When I think about where we fit into the musical landscape, I think much more about the sonic aesthetic of our work. So, when there is a Harrier feature, that might seem quite random to people because we sound so different to them, but there's like a real aesthetic thread that runs between the two bands; and I feel like Morningstar has that as well, it's calling on influences from Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill.

Let's say there are some fans who haven't really listened to the new album yet... what would you say is the reason that they should go and have a listen to it? 

Well, to sound completely immodest for a moment, I think it's our best record. Quite confidently I would say that a lot more has gone into it than any other record. I think it's the most realised vision that we've had.

It’s not just the next logical step on from Datura, there's a lot of GLUE in there, there's a lot of welcome to the neighbourhood in there, as well as stuff we’ve never done before. It’s a bit of a love letter to the guitar and that was a big chunk of the work, getting that sound right. But it's quite a modern album, and it's inspired by old music.

You have a show coming up at Rock City - could I ask you about any previous experiences playing in Nottingham?

I remember the first time we played - in fact, the first show we ever played on our first tour date there was in an old fruit and veg warehouse. JT Soar I think it was called? We did a split with our friend’s band and we did like a four-day tour in the UK. That was fun!

We also played the Beta Lounge at Rock City when it was called the Red Room and also The Bodega. Although the stage was like when they build a stage in assembly at school! One of the halves slipped away when a kid stage dived off it and I got stuck down there; I was completely fine but it was a very funny memory.

There's quite a reputation here in Nottingham for having quite crazy crowds – did you experience that?

Yeah, definitely. It's always been good to us, we've been there loads of times - from being a DIY band to now, it has a good scene there. People always give it their all and we've always had fun.

So what can you tell us about the show to bring more fans down to see it?

Well, it's the biggest show that we've ever done. You know we've got actual production and it's our longest set we've ever played. We're also bringing Trophy Eyes down who are an incredible band, as well as Split Chain who are a wicked new band. So it's a really, really tight package and I’m so stoked that we managed to put it together. A bonus is that Rock City is the first stop on this tour so it's going to be very exciting.

@bstnmnr

Boston Manor perform at Rock City on 18th September 2024.