This page is reserved for the inside cover advert.
CONTENTS
FEATURES 6 We have details on the sold-out tour and lots more to satisfy any Muse fan.
9 Info on the upcoming album and news on the future tour dates for the Canadian band.
18 We interview one of the biggest British bands. Find out what to expect from the Welsh rockers in the coming year and why they are still so influential.
NEWS 22 An in-depth analysis of all the biggest tours throughout the country. Info on the upcoming, nationwide indie tours and all of the details on who is storming the country right now.
26 All of the best selling global albums get an in-depth look along with our thoughts on what to look out for.
30 If you were wondering who has topped the charts, then wonder no more. Read on to discover everything you need to know about the charts and who is dominating them.
EXCLUSIVES 34 Exclusive discounts on Reading tickets this year and details on the headliners and line-ups. Make this summer something to remember by joining thousands of fans in one of the greatest music festivals in the world.
40 An exclusive interview with the front-man of one of the biggest new indie bands in the country. We visited the Londoner to find out everything you need to know about his music and his personal life. 3
UP AND COMERS 72 New artist from North London.
86 Advanced soloing theory with professor Franc.
40
In a world of rags to riches and heroically overcoming childhood trauma, Noire do not appear to fit in.
I
t’s an early summer morning when I walk up to front man of Noire’s Ant Mann’s west London home. Noire is one of the biggest new indie bands in Britain. Contrary to the typical rockstar playhouse, it is a more modest, albeit well developed home decorated with family photos and traditional artwork. “Welcome” Mann greets with a genuine smile and sincerity as I entire his current place of residence. We sit down on Christopher Guy chairs and I spy a Da Vinci in the living room. “Well, you’re a lot more sophisticated than the musicians I’m used to” I blurt out without self control. Mann smiles and replies, “Thank you very much”. He is dressed in a signature black leather jacket accompanied by a plain shirt and a well fitting pair of jeans. “Unfortunately, I had a great childhood” he continues. “I have no dramatic story of overcoming hardship or poverty. I never had an abusive father or an alcoholic mother; in fact I still visit my parents every fortnight and they are both highly educated with successful jobs in the city.” As is Mann himself for that matter, with a first from Durham along with being educated in private schools throughout his childhood.
“Who do you take inspiration from with your song writing?” “Some of the songs are auto-biographical, others are stories based around characters I have created. Our biggest hit, ‘Shimmering Mirage of Broken Dreams’ is an unrequited love song inspired by my own feelings. I’ve never revealed who it is about however. Most of my songs are unhappy and possibly even a little depressing, but I’m actually a really happy guy. Musically, I take inspiration from many bands, The Beatles, obviously, have had a huge influence on my life, as have The Rolling Stones. My indie style derives from the Smiths specifically, along with other greats such as Radiohead and, more recently, Arcade Fire.”
"They are incredibly loyal. It is extremely flattering whenever they come and say hello on the street for a picture or an autograph. Fred got ambushed by a group of teenage girls the other night; I've never seen him look so terrified. Of course they treat us well. They are a huge support, obviously. We owe them everything." "Do they have a name yet?" "Not that I am aware of. Are we supposed to come up with a name? Are they? I genuinely have no idea how these things happen." "Are you finding that you are all being recognised more often?" "Yes", he replies spontaneously. "It was exciting for all of us at first however it starts to become a little awkward and embarrassing after a while."
“Some of the songs are auto-biographical, others are stories based around characters I have created.”
“I first wanted to ask you about your name” I sate, “Is that your real name or rather a clever stage name?” Ant Mann chuckles and responds, “That must be the question I get asked most! It’s real, however my full name is actually Antanas Mann - it’s Lithuanian. My friends always used to shorten in to ‘Ant’ though. You can imagine what the boys at school made of it.” “And now onto your music” I continue. “How long have you been musical?” “I first learnt to play the guitar when I was five years old and took up the piano about six months later. I was also fortunate to come from a family of great singers. I used to sing the lyrics to the Beatles before I could talk! When I was about seven or eight, I fell in love with the music of the Smiths and from that point on, I was all about indie.” “How did the group form?” I ask. “We met at Uni” he replies. “Except for Fred the Bassist, he and I go way back; more than decade. I have been writing songs for years and I played them for Fred once and he was like, “we gotta get a band together and play this stuff!” We both went to Durham together soon after and eventually met Kira and Evie.”
"Do you have any other passions besides music?" I ask, expecting the answer to be something as extreme and dramatic as skydiving or cross country skiing. "I am very interested in sport, like many others. I run cross country and have a season ticket at Chelsea. Apart from that I am also a very passionate reader. My preferred genre being thrillers." "Right" I reply, surprised by such a normal and unassuming answer. "How have your fans been treating you? What is your relationship like with them?" I continue. Without hesitating he instantly replies,
Changing the topic, I ask Mann, "Do the four of you still have a close relationship?" "Of course. I don't know how anyone could keep doing this if they didn't. We have a great deal of respect for one another."
“And the name, Noire. Where did that come from?” “In all honesty, it was just the best of bad choices. We could never come up with a name and so eventually just settled with that. We also considered ‘Nostalgia’ and ‘Babylon’, but we decided that they were ultimately too cliche.” “So what’s next for Noire?”, I finally ask. “We’re going on tour around Europe” he answers modestly. “And after that, Who knows?”