Channel 4 Information has spoken to acclaimed singer Yungblud about his new music competition ‘Bludfest’, which affords low cost, and even free, tickets to folks from all backgrounds.
The Doncaster-born rock star says he needs to take music to folks throughout the UK, not simply in London.
To his followers, Yungblud is the voice of Gen-Z, the face of pop-punk, a world famous person however an area movie star.
We spoke to him at The Hawley Arms in London, a pub synonymous with stars like Amy Winehouse and plenty of extra. And it’s his native.
We requested one in every of Doncaster’s most well-known sons concerning the lack of alternatives for the subsequent era of Yungbluds, after Channel 4 Information completely uncovered that the humanities are nonetheless disproportionately based mostly in London.
Minnie Stephenson: I really feel like this pub is your non secular dwelling.
Yungblud: I like it right here. I believe it was like one of many first locations I discovered after I got here to London, so I haven’t actually left. I misplaced my contact with my hometown as a result of it didn’t have sufficient alternative to uplift me as a lot because it did down right here. So lots of people initially in my profession didn’t know I used to be from Doncaster, they thought I used to be from London, particularly in America on the radio they’ll be like ‘oh, you’re from London?’ And I’m like, ‘no.’
Minnie Stephenson: The accent received’t offer you away?
Yungblud: No. I’m considering internationally it doesn’t matter. As a result of I sound British, don’t I?
I believe the factor about [Doncaster] is you be part of a band. You play the identical 4 venues. And you’ll’t play them on a regular basis if you wish to type of get to greater locations. And there’s clearly The Dome, however while you’re in a younger band, you may’t go from like 200 to love 3,000, you recognize? I believe there’s not loads of in-between, not loads of alternative to develop.
A brand new house for music
Yungblud is beginning his personal competition this summer time for the lots in Milton Keynes with cheaper tickets, after the rock star discovered the competition circuit had simply change into too costly for followers.
Yungblud: I really feel prefer it’s acquired actually company and actually sterile and actually privileged. I believe I used to be in America and we performed Coachella and it was £800 for a ticket. And it made me really feel sick. We’ve labored with Tickets for Good to have the ability to present free tickets for folks of low earnings, as a result of I genuinely imagine the entire level of this competition is to set a precedent that music is for everyone.
I genuinely imagine arts can’t be reduce from faculties as a lot. And humanities can’t be reduce from universities as a lot. I imagine music ought to be for everybody. Reality. It ought to be for completely everybody, or at the least accessible to everybody. Since you might have the f****** subsequent Morrissey, you possibly can have the subsequent f****** Bowie, you possibly can have the subsequent factor. And if they’ll’t get entry to an instrument or entry to a spot to precise themselves, it’s f*****.
Grappling with psychological well being
Minnie Stephenson: Now you have been identified with ADHD comparatively younger in comparison with some folks. There’s clearly since been this explosion and consciousness round it. I simply puzzled, has that been comforting for you?
Yungblud: I believe what’s been superb is like there was a groundswell of a motion inside younger folks, from sexuality to psychological well being to gender, like whether or not you prefer it or not. And it was unbelievable to be part of that. After I was younger, it was not like that, you recognize what I’m saying? It was identical to, ‘that child’s a lunatic.’
Notable cameos
In one in every of his new music movies, Ozzy Osbourne makes a cameo in Yungblood’s aptly named track ‘The Funeral.’
Minnie Stephenson: How did Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne working you over in your music video come about? Was that your inventive place?
Yungblud: I simply despatched a message to Kelly [Osbourne] being like, ‘do you fancy being in my music video? I need you to run me over.’ She’s like, ‘I’m going to be in Iowa rehearsing with Sid [Wilson], however I simply spoke to my mum and pa, and I believe they’re up for it.’ And I used to be I used to be like ‘shut the f*** up.’
