DJ Interviews: Vernons Future

Hey there all here's my interview with Vernons Future as we all sat down to speak on their musical beginnings. 

How'd you get started in music?

As a band we formed at college in Liverpool in the 80s, inspired by the likes of The Teardrop Explodes and Echo & the Bunnymen. It was a brilliant time for UK indie music (that’s ‘indie’ as a specific genre, rather than just meaning ‘independent’) - an incredible explosion of creativity. Probably the roots of most of us actually picking up an instrument was punk and post-punk…?

Who are your inspirations or influences?

Wow, tough one this, but here’s a few: the aforementioned Teardrops and Bunnymen, XTC, The Hold Steady, LCD Soundsystem, The B52s, The Clash, Happy Mondays, Fleet Foxes, Voka Gentle, The Howl and The Hum…

What advice would offer aspiring performers?

Without wishing to sound like a fortune cookie - be true to yourself and don’t be afraid. Be persistent too, be in it for the long haul. In a group, try to be democratic and inclusive.

How do you set yourselves apart from other bands or singers?

I’m not really sure that we’ve ever thought about this too much. I think we just try to do our thing, and if we’re happy with it then it works for us!

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

With recordings we’ve been focusing on singles, with our latest Holy Joe just released, and we should have a couple more later in the year. Maybe a second album at some point too…? 

We’re desperate to get playing live again and now have our first post lockdown gig lined up - it’s at The Spice of Life, Soho, London on Sunday 29 August. If you’re anywhere in the area, we’d love show you a Vernons party!

And a short bio:

Vernons Future are a UK indie band from Oxford and London with their own distinctive twist on the poppier end of the indie spectrum.

VF were born as The Vernons in Liverpool back in the 80’s and played hundreds of gigs leading up to the release of album Smithdown Road on Probe Plus (home to Half Man Half Biscuit) at the start of 1990.

After an almost imperceptible pause of around 25 years(!), with band members having been spread across the world, VF were rebooted. Simon the singer had moved back to the UK and linked up again with Andy, Jon and Tom (guitar, keys and drums - all based in north London now) and Hoop (Simon H) on bass.

Recent singles have picked up plenty of airplay, including on BBC Introducing, as well as across the UK and around the world.

Special thanks to them for this interview & I wish them luck in their music so until then I'll catch you on The Flipside! stay awesome & rock n roll!