YUNGBLUD: I HAVEN'T SLEPT IN 8 YEARS

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1:21saints and sinners unexpected laughs and unspoken truths good times, hard times and of course, family always family so pull up a chair and join us at Fremont Avenue a world premiere play only at Arena Stage performances start October 8th tickets at arenastage.org

1:45Hello everyone, my name is Jamie Lang and this is Great Company

1:54Hello. Hello. You all right? I feel good. How do you feel? I'm good. Who are you? Oh, do I need to introduce myself? Yes. All right. Come on, intro yourself. I'm Jamie Lang. Well done. I'm the host of the podcast. Yeah. And you are? Your producer. You're my producer, Jemima. What are we doing today, Jamie? Yeah, we should probably chat about what we're doing today. So we are interviewing someone today for our show, Great Company. Yeah, that name. We went through lots of different names, right, didn't we? Some of them are awful. But we settled on Great Company because this is what this show is about.

2:34I have always learned from other people and I've always loved being in other people's company. And I think actually in this world where we are so connected, we become disconnected. and actually I want to go back to just spending time with people and learning from people understanding people and that's what this show is about it's about great company and what I'm hoping is that the lovely listener is going to come on this journey with me this is about them this is the podcast where they can listen to and escape for that half an hour those 40 minutes that hour and a half depending on how much you cut and edit.

3:13But that's what it is. And I really think what we crave in life is great company. And this is what this podcast is. And we thought we'd begin the episodes by discussing who we have on the show together. A little peek behind the curtain of what goes on before the guest arrives. We thought it'd be a better idea than me just talking into the microphone, but actually talking to you, my producer. Yeah. Because you help prepare every episode. Yeah. And you can hear the things that Jamie wants to ask and is not allowed to ask. Today's episode, we have the musician, Phenomenon. Phenomenomenon. Phenomenomenon.

3:49Youngblood. Such an exciting guest. Wow. So, Youngblood's real name is Dominic Richard Harrison. Do I call him Dom? I think Dom, not Dominic. Okay. Or do I call him Youngblood? Young, for short. Young. God, we're old. Oh, no. I'm not old. I'm young. He's 26. He's an English singer-songwriter. He's born in Doncaster. He's been surrounded by music his entire life. He struggles with insomnia. Yeah. Do you think you'll have anything in common with him? Yeah, I think I will. What? I think we both, I'm guessing here, but I think we both strive to be the center of attention because we think it validates us.

4:30And we think that if we get outside love from other people, then it will probably fill a hole inside of us that we're missing. that was deep that was really deep well who's going to be the centre of attention in this episode then definitely not me good well done okay so if I speak too much you just give me that look alright yeah I will okay are you ready for this yeah I feel like you're ready for this I think I'm ready you ready yeah episode one great company here we go with young blood

5:01it does sound good in here doesn't it yeah it sounds like like honey ethereal like we're on a different planet I don't know what ethereal means I don't either but it sounded good Hello I'm Youngblood and I'm great good company great fuck hello I'm young fuck my ass it's great it's great right great company great yeah great company like the great wall of China great okay fair fair hello I'm Youngblood and I'm great company I promise I read that you have trouble sleeping as well yeah complete insomniac complete? yeah fully just like terrible at it terrible at sleeping honestly I actually get a bit stressed out it gets to 10 o 'clock sat like watching the telly watching the box or whatever and I'm like oh shit I've got to go to bed soon and I get in bed and I'm like and then it just like all starts going but what is it you're thinking about because you're overthinking or you're thinking about sleeping or what is it overthinking sometimes I'm just anxious I don't know why but then sometimes I'm just like stressed about something or sometimes I'm just weirdly excited.

6:09So you get that as well? You know, like Christmas, I was the worst Christmas sleeper. You know what I mean? I'm like, oh, I'm going to hear me dad like put down a stocking in a minute. And I'm like, you know what I mean? Or whatever. But I remember the first time I didn't really sleep. I was in Brighton. We were playing a festival called the Great Escape Festival. And we apparently like when you're in a band and me and me drummer, me guitar player, we literally just lived in a squat in South London. and we were like people might see us here tomorrow so we've really got to nail it and we just weirdly randomly stayed at this dude's house and me and my guitar player was sleeping on a sofa and the thing about my guitar player is he breathes he's like this really deeply in bed he's like and he would do it every like three minutes and it kept me up all night and I haven't slept since Brighton honestly I've not slept since Brighton so every time I go back to Brighton I'm like you motherfucker I hate this place what year was that?

7:04probably like 2016 shut up honestly that's why I wear eyeliner because if I take it off you actually see like the weather the what do you call it? crambazzled you see the crambazzled you see me crambazzled as fuck if you take this off man I had this as well I just got I got married and leading up to my wedding the same thing I had one night where I didn't sleep and then I was like well I'm not going to sleep again and then the next night and the next night and it's a It's a sketchy thing when you get into that mindset where you start to think, oh, I got bed going. Because bed should be a place which you're excited about, right?

7:37Yeah, 100%. And then it's just like getting out of bed in the morning when I've actually fallen asleep is really hard. Going to bed. It's like, you know when you're trying to get up, bed feels amazing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just like warm and just like, yeah. But like when you go to bed, it's like, oh, no. But you have so much energy, man. Yeah, too much. So much. Too much. It's great. Yeah, it's funny. Your energy is, dude, I want to say your energy is fantastic. Oh, thank you. And I'm sure your team must feel the same thing. I don't know, man. I run them ragged. What is the difference between Youngblood and Dominic?

8:15Fucking hell. That's the question. That is the question, right. And how, and, and. I such, you're good, you. Dude, I listen. Fucking hell. I got to pay you for doing me therapy. Do you know what? Fuck, I'm fucking good at this. I hope you are. I'm like, it's like flowing. I think. No, because it's because I look, you know, for me, I think we all live like it's people. Someone once said to me, right, that we have like four different personalities. One, one with our family, one with our partner, one with our friends and one with by ourself. A hundred percent. And you, Youngblood and Dominic are obviously the same person, but they're separate.

8:49One's more volumed up. 100 % like because it's like I needed to protect myself. Why? Because I hated myself. I grew up my whole life like feeling, waking up with pain in my stomach, hating myself. So I was like, how can I create something that I love and want to be? I almost like created a caricature to become like a superhero. hero like I don't know like fucking spider-man or some shit in my head I was like I don't just want to sing I don't just want to blah blah I want to create something that I can put on that makes me feel powerful and people can connect to that make them feel powerful it was literally just like I that's why I've always said young blood isn't me I've always said it's each and every one of those people because you come to the gig you put on the socks you paint the nails you get the heart tattoos you find a community of people that are exactly like you and you can forget about everything for two hours and that was why what it was and now what's crazy is like now it's caught up with me a little bit because you don't think you don't expect for it to kind of get as big as it is and then you get into a point where people start to not believe it because it's not real I was like well it isn't it's literally it was a it was a character that was built to make me feel like I could belong on this planet.

10:15I don't know why that makes you feel emotional. It's crazy. Yeah, that makes me feel like really emotional for some reason. It is fucking emotional. Because it's really childlike as well because it's your superhero. And then the superhero you're putting on your cape. 100 % because it's just like I felt I am ordinary. I am an ordinary dude who fucking likes a cup of tea with one sugar in it and fucking like is really anxious and doesn't fucking like cinnamon. You know what I mean? But when I'm fucking Youngblood, I'm like can walk out on stage in front of 35 ,000 people and be like, yo, it's fucking going to be all right.

10:54And then while I'm telling them that, I'm telling myself that because it never fucking, pain doesn't stop. We all know that. It doesn't fucking end. It just doesn't for every one of us. It's not like in a way that it's like, every one of us goes through shit. And it's just like, I want that to be by people's side forever. And I think what I've realized is like going into our next album is like people will leave this community. People come and go, people outgrow it. People like, oh, it was great when I was 15, but now I don't know anymore. And it's kind of used to worry me, but I'm like, I'm going to be here forever.

11:29So when you want to come back, when you want to leave, when you want to vibe out, when you don't, it's cool like I kind of had to really come to terms with that being like every album is a is a personal thing and I think I kind of really went into a thing where I was trying to cater for everybody and when you're trying to cater for five million people it's like fucking hell you can't do it so I just kind of had to say to myself like especially this next album that's coming that I'm making at the minute Dominic is really bleeding into it really you know I mean it's kind of got to the point where I'm like okay like because you're becoming more your organics yeah I've just kind of I've kind of gone on a mental journey where I've learned a lot I've been kicked I've been scratched I've been scarred I've also been loved and I've also met I don't know 200 300 400 thousand people and heard their stories and kind of realized that you know what like it'll be all right because I have a lot of faith in humanity even though the world's pretty fucked right now when I meet these people I'm like there's something there's some fucking hope here because you're almost then starting to accept yourself and you're going like I can actually lean into Dominic now and just actually it's okay and you're comfortable but it's a trip because it's scary it's the most scary because I'm like oh well people fell in love with the character if I like change it or morph it or drop it a little bit I'm like fuck like well my biggest fear is abandonment you know I mean from everything a snap padlock don't leave me don't leave me and I think kind of that's why I love Bowie and I turn to Bowie a lot because that was I think even though it might not have seemed intentional Bowie's career was like whatever 60 years long and he changed every fucking two years and became something new and I don't know if that was because he didn't fucking know who he was the whole time like I'm talking about and he had to put on these, create these superheroes.

13:31You know what I mean? It's all a trip. But do you know, it's so funny. The more, when you were that seven year old kid, that naivety that you have. Oh my God, it's the best thing ever. Because you're not worried. You don't have anything to lose. And then when you get to your position now, which is you're globally famous. Yeah, it's crazy. Your albums are number one. You know, you're selling out everywhere. You have so much more to lose. 100%. And then for someone with the fear of abandonment, that pressure is almost so great because you're like, shit, what happens if this now goes? Yeah, it's crazy.

14:03And the worst shit is like, I used to like your stuff. It's like, oh, it's the worst thing ever. It's like, I used to like your shit. I'm like, it's literally just like, blood. I'm like, oh, fuck. I'm like, what do I say to that? Like, I'll make something for you. Yeah, I'm like, what do you want? What do you want? What can I give you? you want a jazz album sick one two two I'm like whatever do you know what I mean I'm like literally it's like fucking crazy to do that you want a jazz album I'm just like what do you want it's like oh shit you used to be an emo but now you work in accounts at a fucking law firm sick what are you like swing okay you know what I mean it's fucking mental but then like then you realise like all you gotta do is get back to the naive and just be like, I'm fucking doing this.

14:56Fuck you. I'm doing it because it's for me, right? Yeah. It's not actually, because then you start, when you start doing things for other people, that's when the creativity is ruined because you're not being your true authentic self. Everything. Everything. When you start doing something for other people, you're lying. Completely. You know what I mean? It's just literally just like, even if a little bit, 2 % lie, the fucking people can smell it. And I think that's why Youngblood broke through in the first place because it was so fucking unhinged. Like, I remember like, everyone was like, really?

15:20Do you want to do this? We put out parents and the line is like, like my daddy put a gun to my head said, if you kiss a boy, I'm going to shoot you dead. So I tied him up with gaffer tape, locked him in the shed, then went out to the garden, fucked my best friend. And Interscope, a crazy label, like you cannot release that, that you cannot release that. You're literally talking about gun violence and tying up your dad in the name of love. And I'm like, yeah. And we put it out and it was fucking huge. Is that like two times platinum? Is it true? It was a resemblance of an older generation. It was just like, it was like every, it put the words in every young queer kid's mouth.

16:02It's like, you're not literally going to like do that, but it's like, take the fucking power back. It's what you want to do. Yeah, take the power back. It's just like, get with it because it's going to happen. And it did, you know what I mean? It was cool, man. It was cool to be a part of a movement around artists like Lil Pete, Mac Miller, Billie Eilish. Mac Miller, man. You know what I mean? Like a generation, like when you look back on it, I don't think you can really look at it now because you don't feel like you're a part of something. But it was like the Pistols and the Clash and a young movement across the country.

16:37It's like Billy and Lil Nas X and Lil Peep and Mac Miller handling America. And then like we were trying to hold it down over here. You know what I mean? It was cool. It was cool to just kind of have this shift.

16:52Are you quite trusting? Too trusting, actually. Really? Yeah, I get bitten a lot. Because I really fuck with people. In what way? I just love meeting people. Honestly, I'll have a conversation with anyone. The other day, my taxi driver, I brought him into the studio. Honestly, I got a taxi driver from the station. I was like, do you want to come in? Because he started talking about you too. I was like, come and have a cup of tea. And they were there for six hours. What? Yeah, in Leeds, just there for six hours. So I'm talking about U2 and everything. And that came in the studio and my band's like, what the fuck?

17:29Why are you doing this? Why is this like old Leeds United fan sat down in the studio? I'm like, nice guy in here. I love that because there's something you, because I see this like with all your fans that you have, right? Because your fans are so dedicated to you. and I see it you know I see it in you know Louis Theroux documentary I see it when you talk about on social media or you know in your music you're so obsessed with your fans and because we I honestly think it's a British thing for some reason yeah no it really is but there's a different but also in a British thing there's something like when people are so dedicated and wanting to know people whether it's like getting the taxi driver out people want to think oh there's another alternative to that there's something more oh is he doing that just because oh he wants to look like he's one of the people and stuff like that and it's negative but actually with you it's not.

18:18You generally just want, you just like these people and want to connect with them. I just love meeting people. I think it's quite a northern thing as well to like say hello to everyone you meet. I remember first moving down to London, I was on the tube and I'm like, how you doing? All right. And someone's like, fuck off. I'm like, oh, like, you know what I mean? I was quite naive. I was like me just coming down to London at 15, like, how you doing mate? All right. And everyone's like, what the fuck are you talking to me for? You know what I mean? But I always loved people and I always kind of, when I grew up, I always spent a lot of time in my imagination because I felt quite lonely where I was from because I just look like this and it wasn't really like, I don't know, it wasn't really accepted where I was from.

18:56So it was a bit rough. This is Doncaster. Yeah, Doncaster. So I really wanted to meet people. I just loved hearing people's stories from like, whatever. And I loved music and I loved talking to people. I just wanted to, I think like, again, like talking about my sleep pattern I don't like having quiet quiet in my head I've like I'm really bright person but then it kind of like can turn dark quite quickly so I like to meet people because I don't know I love like vibing off people's energy and then um I don't know I think people do find it quite a lot me quite a lot and disingenuous you know I mean I think people find me quite a lot and I think that's why a lot of people I'm a little bit like Marmite me you know I mean people absolutely love it or hate it and I think if you're gonna like my music you've got to kind of like me and I'm quite a lot to deal with sometimes you know I mean do you find that tricky though because look we just met just now and I think we're similar in lots of ways relating myself to Youngblood Straight Away we are similar we are we are like madheads yeah like I want to talk about ADHD and things like that and just the energy but I'm sensitive I'm so sensitive so sensitive right and so that must be tricky because in my life I I'm desperate for people to love me and want me and accept me and all those things but that's impossible to do yeah it's horrible and yours is even more so because you're a musician it's you really want people to like but of course you're going to have people who do think you're a mom but how do you deal with that because that's a tricky thing I've I really get affected by things you know I mean I'm really like I'm caught an empath I think right I'm really empathetic or whatever you call it I feel empathy a lot I'm like if I see someone's down in the room I want to be like yo and like try and bring them up because I feel I kind of take on everyone's energy in the room I think that's kind of why like really the most probably one of the the most fundamental reasons why I think we've got to where we got to because I was really good at vibing with people you know I mean I was really good at being like oh you don't seem all right what's going on or oh you seem really happy I would love to talk about that because I'm having a rubbish day today and I think it's hard because it it's like I've got thicker skin and I've kind of like more so that now than ever like I'm hitting 27 next and I'm kind of like oh I'm starting to kind of not care as much anymore but I've said I've not cared for years and it's been a complete front and it's been a complete or not a lie because it's just like whoa and and the internet can make up the truth like everything you read on the internet is true yeah of course it is you know I mean and then you like you don't want to stoop to a level where you got to defend yourself but like when people leave shit you read it you know that you know I mean it's like oh well that sucks or like one of your favorite like people's like oh that fucking young blood what a wanker and you're like oh fuck all right fair i'm down i mean i get it you know i mean i get i'm loud and a bit mental but i'm like oh shit fair i know exactly you just want to meet everyone and be like yo yeah honestly honestly like brother i i can i tell you some shit though i've been in pubs and i've actively actively sort out people who have like I can see someone like laughing at me in a pub and I've actively tried to meet them and there's a mental...

22:37Because you want to gain... Yeah I want to... So basically there was a stag do in we were in Lisbon right and we were playing a gig in Lisbon and we had a day off and I was sat in a square and there was a stag do at the side of me. It's usually like lads who I don't know if they're into me you know what I mean because I'm into like the makeup and like whatever and I'm like I can hear him so I go sit down and I'm like what's happening lads and they're all just like oh like full-on shit themselves and I was like they could have battered me man they were like 10 tons and I'm just like kidding makeup and I sit down next to them you were there remember and I was just like what's happening lads and we just started talking and we just got kept getting a bit more drunk and you know I'm saying there's nothing more funny than like a fucking really pissed up accountant after like 10 drinks who's like completely hates you but then he starts to turn over and say listen mate I thought you're a fucking wanker to be honest but like my girlfriend really likes you and you're actually alright you know and I'm like I was like you know exactly I really thought you were just a fucking wanker you know and I'm just my girlfriend is always like my sister thinks you and he's like looking at me and I'm kind of just like you have to just take that shit and you're like oh fucking well sick man and then we became It's funny though that we just take it It's funny Oh that's alright thank you Cheers man And then I was like alright lads well I hope you have a great night tonight we're playing tomorrow night do you want to come and they were like really I was like yeah man and we got them tickets to it and they fucking loved it didn't they they loved the show and they texted Adam me manager and were like that was fucking sick and I was just like, I actively go out of my way to be like, all right, if I notice someone is kind of trying to hate on it or trying to blah, blah, blah, it's because they don't understand it.

24:27Like Youngblood has always just been about love and like bringing people together. And I know I look a bit fucking like a rascal or like I don't fucking shower, but I do. I really smell really good. You know what I mean? How long did, because it's brave of you to say that because it's very, you know, 27 in the least patronising way is still really young. And for you to be able to admit that you used to say that you didn't care, and now be able to say, look, I did care. Yeah. I did care about all those things, but I pretended that I didn't. It took me way longer to admit that, not only to myself, but to other people.

25:03But I just think you can't, if you tell the truth and just completely wear your heart on your sleeve, and you get through after 20 years or some shit, you'll be all right, I think. But can I ask a personal question as well? because it's one of these things where from what I can gauge from and where I said our similarities are is that we're easily led. We really want to impress. We're desperate to reach a certain place at a young age because we want to get validation from our parents or we're searching for something. We've got this fear of abandonment. So for me, that led me when I did this reality show, right?

25:37Which was just like not a great idea for lots of reasons. I liked it. Yeah, it was good. It was a great show. I grew up on that shit. I was like, man. It was a great show. Yeah. But I took a, I mean, it's not my interview, but I took a shortcut into an industry that I wanted to be into. And then when you take a shortcut, you have a long way around. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel you. But I got some sort of fame and nowhere near the fame that you had. But it led me down a path, which is like I started drinking way too much and started getting, you know, into that sort of area of things, which wasn't a good situation.

26:09You have this crazy fame. Like, how did you control yourself or didn't you control yourself? or do you have you learned to control yourself now yes now it was food i really don't like i've really not like my body for a long time i really kind of would go on like weird food binges which i've actually never talked about on a thing before which is weird uh but i've kind of just kind of came to terms with that like would just kind of like just go like you know i'm saying i don't really want to say it but like i'll go around it you know i'll be real with you right out. Okay. So when I was, when I was 16, 17 years old, I was a rugby player.

26:50I loved it more than anything. It's everything that I wanted to do. 17 years old, I was on tour in Italy. I had this dream of I was going to do it. And I did my ACL ligament. Fair, bro. I've done an ACL too. I did my ACL, couldn't play rugby again. But I was still eating the same diet that I was when I was playing rugby. My mum used to say to me, you look really stocky. I was like, wow, I look great, whatever. It was back in the day when there was just photos that you developed. She took a photo of me on holiday whatever, I got them developed and I saw what I looked like and I suddenly saw, I was like stocky, I was overweight and I had immediate shame and I never had that before and then for a period I had a strange weird thing and I I never wanted to admit that It's so weird, I agree it's like when I look back on it I drink, I like beer I always have done but it was the food thing and what I would do after I ate the food that was like oh but you don't you really watch the documentaries and you think the blah blah blah it's not me yeah it's never gonna be me and then it kind of hits you and it's just like I've I've never excessively drunk I've never excessively done drugs I just not been into it you know I mean like because I've got ADHD I've like I've kind of been you know I mean I've not been into it I mean me me dad's mum out of the whole family stuff died of alcoholism wow we basically lost the business we lost the house and uh she she kind of just couldn't like 18 months later she died which was crazy so it kind of scared me off i was like no i've seen my grandma literally deteriorate so i was like that's not my story i'm gonna kind of part of young blood is like there is an answer and it's like not been you know i mean not been alone and like come together find friends you don't need to turn to these things because i know it gets rough and I know depression's hard and I know anxiety is hard I know the world is but if you turn to your friends online that's all I want to do with young girls like turn to these people here in a chat you can talk about it all from a real perspective because people have problems with therapy sometimes I go to therapy I think it's great but people don't like it so like I just want to be like yo find each other and then why do you become nervous about talking about the food thing why because I don't know because I've not done it yet I've not kind of like it's like Even this morning, I was like putting on an outfit.

29:08I'm like, I don't like, I've really not liked my body for some weird reason. It's a weird, weird thing that I've. So many people have that. You know what I mean? It's a weird, it is a weird, weird vibe. Yeah, because it's that self-hatred towards yourself. You just don't feel like you look good enough. Yeah. I don't know what the vibe is. And some people would look at you and say, what a good looking, charming, amazing guy. And they would be crazy. But it's so funny. Like it's, it's like, we'll do whole shoots that'll just never come out. because I'm like, I hate my body. And everyone's like, what are you talking about?

29:39And I'm just like, no, it's not coming out. And I'll freak out and shit. There's like so, in there, there's so many videos that just never come out because I'm like, oh, I don't like the way I look there. I don't like the, don't know, you know what I mean? It's like. Man, I applaud you for being vulnerable. Well done, man. But then there's also that thing about like, I just think if you wear your art on your sleeve, as I was saying earlier, like, I just want to do that because I think like, if I do that, then it's like, I don't know how, like people are going to love it or not, but at least when it kind of the curtain falls at the end of my fucking life, I'm like, I was really true about everything.

30:12And I was really like honest about everything with everyone because I think the worst thing that you can be called as an entertainer is a liar or as an artist is a liar. And I've been called that and I fucking hate it. And I'm not. Do you find it tricky getting close to people? And let me just explain this. So like you like to connect with everyone, but do you stop yourself getting really close to people because that becomes too intimate and then you're scared of people finding out. You almost thinking to yourself, maybe I'm not good enough, so I don't want them to find out exactly who I am. So you almost spread yourself too thin across lots of people.

30:50It's kind of funny. I get really close to people really quick, but then don't necessarily let them like really in. You know what I mean? Why? Why do you stop them? I don't know. It's just kind of like, because I think, I think what, like my kind of crew friendship group is really tight. Like it's, it's the fucking best thing in the world with us because I've just done this with me mates. You know what I mean? Like starting from the beginning, like we just looked into an iPhone and just did it with me friends. Like everything we make is like when we get 2 ,000 kids to fucking Washington Square in New York.

31:29My best mate is like sat negotiating with the NYPD being like, honestly, it'll be fine. I promise or whatever. It's just us. So I think I really feel like I need to protect that. and kind of in the past I've let people into it that have really kind of skewed the balance, you know what I mean, or let their opinion in. I really kind of, in the past, I've listened to people too much. I think it's because of a deep rooted insecurity that I'm not good enough, you know what I mean? Or like, I'm like, fucking hell, how did I get here to do that? And I kind of listen to too many people sometimes, but then I figure it out.

32:10real quick and I snapped back into it but kind of weird like that I like let if I meet someone I'm like muse out on them hard you know I mean I'm like oh whoa I like that vibe for a little bit and I like that vibe and then kind of like especially my like last album cycle a lot of people a lot of cooks got into the part you know I mean and I was like oh whoa our first album we were like 17 and that's so young 17 we were making it released at about 18 or 19 right Like, you're just doing what you want. No one cared in the UK. No one wanted to sign us. No one wanted to write about us. No one even wanted to come see us play.

32:47It was like, oh, shit. Like, we were literally, like, about to just stop. And we went to America, and then whatever, it started happening. But no, but to say, what started happening? It was like a film. We went to America. We snuck in, basically, with guitar cases. We were like, why are you bringing those in, sir? I'm like, oh, just, like, what a write. on the hotel or whatever. I was like completely like lied and we got like all our drum kit and whatever trying to get into America because my manager had set up a meeting in New York. It was like the last resort basically. Like the UK didn't want to have anything to do with it.

33:25We were kind of big weirdly in the Netherlands. Do you know what I mean? It was kind of just like, I was like sick, all right, if this fails, I'll just move to the Netherlands, become like Youngblood Von, young Von Blood you know what I mean or something and then how niche I mean bro they're always first man the Dutch don't give a fuck they're cool as fuck they are cool yeah they are great style as well don't give a shit bro like if you got a Dutch festival people are fucking wasted at like 11am I'm like wow honestly they're like yeah man let's fucking go crazy and and we're just fucking basically we're either it was two options nail America or this really small meeting, but in my head I'm like, we're in New York, wow, it's all going to happen, or go back and become the Netherlands' biggest rock star.

34:16You know what I'm saying? That was the choice, right? We get to New York. I take this guy with me called Emmett Power and he's Irish, right? And he's like, this is amazing. It's fucking mental, right? I really give you every detail. If it's too long, we can cut it out. But anyway. Give me every detail. I won't ever know. So Emmett Power is this Irish guy who is literally probably like, he's moved from a farm to London and basically got a job with me management, right? And he can literally like wangle you into anywhere. I'm telling you, like we could go to, I don't know, the craziest party in Mayfair and we stink a damp because we're living in a squat and he'll get us in.

34:52You know what I mean? I'll be like, pretend we're like Pete Dockett, his sixth cousin once removed and like we're in. You know what I mean? Or whatever. So we get to New York. I'm writing in a recording studio inside a Universal building because that's where one producer we managed, manager knew 10 years ago was like going to give me a shot. And he, and he pretends to be my drummer because when you go into Universal, you get these like passes, right? You get these like 12 hour passes that's got a stop sign on it that after 12 hours, it says stop and you're not allowed in anymore because you've got to show in past security at the desk.

35:23And he pretends to be my drummer, rides the elevator up and down all day. He's like, Roy, you heard of this young blood kid? Yeah. He's blowing up in England. He's going to be the next fucking Smiths, I'm telling you. To every A &R. You know what the music industry is like? Everyone starts fucking talking. Because it's all bollocks, though. Like, I've got 6 ,000 followers on Instagram. I'm writing in a fucking studio. And everyone starts talking and chatting shit. Being like, oh, yeah, I'm keep... Have you heard this young blood kid? I've heard that name somewhere. Then it reaches the West Coast.

35:53Like, the East Coast starts talking to the West Coast. My manager starts getting calls from, like, A &Rs in, like, fucking L.A. being like, yo, we want to fly him down for a showcase. So we've got to New York, taking this meeting with it, like this mediocre meeting. And then three days later in Los Angeles, we have a showcase at like fucking school night because a radio DJ had heard about us and wants to book us on his night. We get to the school night. We're in the fucking toilets because there's no dressing room. I'm in like the men's loo, like the audience coming in, like the A &R's coming and having a piss.

36:27He's like, I'm coming to see you. and I'm like, all right, lads. You know what I mean? You're sat in the fucking bog, just like stressed out, nervous as fucks. I'm like, Eminem, lose yourself shit. Like, this is it. Throw up in the toilet. My guitar player's Scottish. He's like, oh, it's a fuck on, man. We'll just go out there and fucking do it. And I'm like, I'm just like, all right, fuck it. Go outside, play a gig, probably like the craziest gig of our fucking career, right? Do the thing. And then the man's toilet after it is like the fucking seventies. Everyone's trying to get back there being like, yo, we'll fucking give you a record deal.

37:02And we're in the mat, like the dude's loo. Just like, what the fuck is going on? And then two days later, we signed a record deal in America. And they wouldn't let me leave until I signed it. To Interscope Records. It was like fucking mental. And then nothing happened for six months. Because it's like, don't matter if you get signed. And everyone's so funny. That's funny how you read everything you're going for. You're going for, you're going for. and then suddenly you get it and it's like it's like yeah cool alright cool here's some money how much did they give you we went to America with 60 quid we came back with 800 grand but that's all to give you and you're beholden to it a lot of people think you get signed to a record label and then they're just fucking it's done it's literally not it's like right there's your money you gotta show some results or we'll drop you and it's literally like oh fuck but what we did is like I just basically like went around the whole building that week shook everyone's hand and was like listen I want to fucking do anything I'll do anything like what like tell me like I'll fucking do it I have an idea this is what I want to do this is how I want to like promote it this is what I want to talk about in my music I want to talk about because like the UK really wouldn't sign us because I was like really political and like everyone's like that's never I remember someone being like that's never gonna get played on radio one someone said that to me because I was like being political some manager I remember I'm not gonna out but but they were like, that's never going to get played on Radio 1.

38:27It's too dangerous. You know what I mean? But they didn't understand what was happening within a generation. My generation in the wake of Brexit were like, were being more vocal and being a lot more. And it's like everything when that happens, art reflects whatever's going on in the world. And I was like, I want to talk about this. I want to blah, blah, blah. And that's partly why I signed Interscope because Interscope had Eminem and Lady Gaga and Dr. Dre at NWA. way they were famous for their Marilyn Manson before he was a cunt like they you know I mean there was literally just like famous for just anyone who wanted to make like do something crazy and the one person I met was like I made really good friends with the international department I was like please just send me over the world like just I was like I don't care about videos I don't care because that money is basically like here you go that's just it we're giving you that and If it works, great.

39:21We're going to take 80 % of every hundred quid you earn until you pay it back or it's a bad investment. So that's what they do for you. And then it's literally just like, I just made friends with the international department. I was like, please, can we use the money to just send me around the world? Just so I can like go and play some gigs, go and meet some people, like do anything. And that's how young would start. Because you could feel it. You knew if you had the money to go around the world, you could connect with these people. I just was like, if you put me in a room with 50 people, Like there might be five kids there who I need to meet.

39:54And that was it. And that's how Youngblood kind of started.

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41:36Are you good at taking compliments? No. I kind of do this. Oh, cheers, man. But you're good at taking criticism Which is strange I'm great here I'm like I'm like I'm like I'm like I'm like I take that on board But in the comments Are you fucking kidding me It's fully just like I like you Like someone But I love what you're wearing I'm like Oh yeah sick You too Don't talk to me about it You look better than me You know what I mean I'll be like Someone's like Oh I like your shoes I'm like Oh sick man's suit I like yours too Take it back You know what I mean I need to give you compliments Because you really You are So we record lots of these episodes Right and this is you we are so excited for you to come in here because we were so excited to have you on the show that we want to release this is our first one that we want to release because not only the artist that you are but the individual that you are the what you stand for and how you help communities you really need to know that about dude don't you're you're you're it's as you say you're a sick individual oh thank you you really are man yeah but you you but you but the more you you should really know that about yourself.

42:38Thank you. Yeah, look, even now, I get freaked out. I'm like, ah, thanks. Because your music, your energy, your love of people touches people around the world. That is unbelievable. You're doing things that no one else in this world is doing. Yeah, it's cool. It's freaking amazing. It is amazing. It's beautiful to be a part of. And as I said, like, I think as we kind of, like, I can feel you, like, you're such a good presenter. You're, like, drawing the interview to an end. I'm like, you're, like, literally just, like, going, just, like, I'm looking at the time. I'm like, I could have another two hours with you.

43:07I'll fucking talk all day, whatever, like, editor's problem, innit? But I think what's exciting is, like, after everything we've built, we're going to launch this festival because it's like... Blood fest. A blood fest because I want it. It's a world. It's literally a world that I want to be like, we dreamt of a world. I dreamt of creating something, and now I'm literally going to make it. It's going to be like Youngblood world, and, like, I wanted to create something that was, like, cheap because festivals are so expensive and what's create something that was all about like community and friendship we've had this mad idea like yesterday i'm gonna have a make a friend tent there's gonna be a tent with nothing in it that if you're in that tent you want someone to approach you and be like hi i'm dom where are you from you know i mean i was like because i love meeting people so i was like here's a make a friend tent we're taking the holy arms pub in camden to the site and we're just gonna make it just like i wanted somewhere like wow that's amazing People can truly be themselves.

44:06Like for one day a year, you can be who you are. And with the things with gigs is you don't know when someone's going to come back. But the thing about this, it's going to be a constant. So you know that at least one day in 2025, 2024, 2026, 2027, 2028, or however long it runs for, you can go back and like be who you are and bring your parents and bring you, like, I want it to be like a vibe for everyone. Because if your parents are struggling with who you are, Why don't you come here and you'll see a mass of 30 ,000 people who are just like me and maybe get it a little bit more. Imagine the stories from the tent.

44:39People getting married. That's what I'm saying, bro. That's what I want. I want people to be like, we got married in the Make-A-Friend tent. Or I found my best mate of 20 years in the Make-A-Friend tent. I don't know. We started a business together. We started a clothing line together. We started to think. When did you first have this idea for Bloodfest? When was it? Probably last year. I have pretty radical ideas and then suddenly you want to do it I was literally like we're going to do it and I'm like we're literally doing it it's like I don't want to do I call my management I'm like cancel the tours we're not doing another tour we're going to bring everyone to one place and we're going to make it magic and we're going to make it like insane and everyone's like you're insane yeah everyone's like you are mad and then it's kind of like it's become harder because getting artists is the hardest thing in the world because because they're busy because people are busy like we've got an idea to have an icon slot, which basically like an older artist who's an icon will come and play the 7.30 slot.

45:37So like everything that kind of is, we're paying homage to what the community has kind of come from. Like who are you hoping for? So I spoke to The Cure, which was mental, but Robert can't do it. Look at the nods. I spoke to The Cure, but he can't do it this year. So I'm trying to get him for 25, touch of wood, Robert. And then I spoke to I spoke to Blondie which was sick but she's not touring It's amazing that you can just Oh which is mental yeah I've got an email from Robert Smith which is mad and like I want Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins but everyone's on tour to be honest I approached it a little bit late but like what was sick is I love a punk band called The Damned do you know The Damned?

46:19No You don't know The Damned maybe like this was a selfish one for me this is the first year the reason why I got the white streak in my hair is because of this punk band called The Damned so I'm going to have them be the first icon slot at 7 o 'clock but I got artists like Little Yachty I got artists like new artists like Lola Young who are like Jasmine Bean it's going to be cool man, it's going to be like new gen and you're just building it, this is the first year you're just building it and I wanted it to really be about the community because I was like, if The Cure came the first year it might take a little bit of the thunder away to be honest I'd be a bit like, I'd be like fuck my set, I'm going to see Robert Smith at the front, it's like Youngblood didn't show up for his set, he's watching The Cure because you do these, when you do these amazing like pop-up festivals people go wild.

47:02Yeah, they go mental. I've seen, what is the one where, the famous one you had that you were standing on like a truck, you were standing on. Brazil. Yeah, man. That was. That was mental. How many people were there? I would say 1500, which was crazy. It was, it was mental. It's like Latin America was mad. I have never seen my security guard scared. My security guard's like, artist cunt you've ever met. I'm talking like on that tour, he got a tattoo on the back of his head, like a black heart on the back of his head. And didn't flinch, he was laughing like crazy. And I have never seen him go, we got to go.

47:34I'm like, I'm at my house, right? We're going to Argentina for a festival. And I'm leaving my house and I'm like, you know what? I've had an idea. And everyone's like, shit. Here we go again. I mean, we should play a free gig tomorrow for the kids who couldn't afford the festival. And everyone's like, fucking hell, all right. So we get on the phone to the Argentinian label and I'm like, how many tickets do you think we could do realistically? and I was like, let's be safe. Let's go with 500. I'm like, all right, cool, sick. That'd be cool. Before I'm at EFRO airport, I put on my story. Here's the location.

48:08I land at eight in the morning. Here's the location. Sorry, I burped. Sorry, it's coffee. Here's the location. Meet me there for a free show. On a plane, 12 hours. Don't know what the fuck's happening. land holy fucking shit there's a thousand kids outside the venue there and apparently Kev and my security guards had a call been like there's 1500 kids outside there at the airport and I'm like what the fuck we've never been here before get to the airport scramble through the fucking airport like this is fucking mental just like literally just like I'm grabbing you like literally just like trying to move through and I love it because I'm like give me a cuddle and everyone's like fuck because I just sprint and everyone's like fucking hell and there's like the police there and shit get to the thing get in a van go to the hotel wash me winky because i've been on a fucking flight for 12 hours of course honestly i really like to smell nice you know i mean i was like vibing and then um get in a van there's about four four or five thousand kids outside this venue but they've only allowed because it's an outdoor venue and it's that kind of gated so they only let four four or five hundred people inside the venue so there's five thousand people outside this gate which is like raw time fences so you can see through it and then we're playing in this place and halfway through the gig they start to break down the gate like i'm talking like metal bars been broken open fucking like storm the castle shit and my security guard like we have this thing because i really on gigs i think in covid's wake a lot of young people didn't go to gigs so they're not used to been shoved around and our gigs get pretty like on the floor get pretty jumpy so a lot of the front row like if you were kind of like 12 and covid you're 15 16 17 now and then it goes back to like 50 at the seats but like the front row's like whatever and there's then there's the lads who are like 22 23 24 like being quite aggressive in the middle so i always have my security guard have an eye on security and we have this thing it's like there's a problem someone's fainted but I'm dealing with it and then it's like you've got to stop the show really so one arm up so one arm up it's like he's like he's sick man you can't you can like spot him a mile off he's like one arm up I've got a problem someone's passed out but I'm dealing with it keep the show going because I'm just on stage like singing and I'll just clock him if he's like that and then if two arms up he's like you've got to stop the show walk off stage you've got an issue like someone's had a seizure or someone's like hurt himself so someone's fainted and we've got to clear the people so So not only did he do this, he's like, he's like, got to fucking go.

50:50We got to fucking go. And I've never seen him frightened. Like normally he's like really calm being like, he's like toured with Green Day and Oasis and like seen it all. You know what I mean? And he's fully just like, he's like, we have to go. And I'm just kind of like, yeah, man. Yeah. One more song. He's like, we have to fucking go. And I'm like, oh shit. So we get off stage. They put us into this little fucking port cabin, which is fucking roasting. I've taken my pants off because I'm so hot it's fucking Argentina in summer so I'm just kind of in my underwear just like in me fucking creepers like fucking like sweaty like fucking hell what's happening what's happening and then they find the porter cabin and everyone's like and I'm just egging I'm like yo come in here come in here signing whatever and my management's like Adam's like getting fucking mad at me he's like fucking hell what are you doing and I'm like I'm just fucking talking to people and then like they start to come there then we get out get in a van chase us down the road and then they get on motorbikes and they're on fucking mopeds like through the fucking van window I'm like what the fuck like Latin America and you've never seen anything like it you've never felt love like it it's just like whoa it's like holy shit it's fucking amazing oh man I do want to say that blood fest was on the 11th of August as well on the 11th of August oh you're a legend for that 100 % we're gonna leave all the links in the description below so if you want to go and check it out get tickets go and do it don't freaking miss it go and get tickets to Bloodfest because it's going to be insane and then you could be like I went to the first ever Bloodfest when it's going for years.

52:19You gotta come. Matt, I swear to God I'll be there. It's going to be insane. But dude, I do want to, before we get into the, and it's in Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes Bowl. Milton Keynes Bowl. Which is crazy. I swear like I saw Green Day and like there's a famous gig of Bowie there. So it's like iconic venue. I still heard that you like, you got expelled for mooning a teacher. Paul and mooning a teacher, yeah. Not great. Miss Amel, maths teacher, 65. year old woman not proud of it but everyone was like go on dom go on dom go on dom go on dom i was like nah man i can't i can't never was like go on fucking do it i was like all right and fuck it no it wasn't just like a thing it was like knocked on the window took my ass out and pressed it against the window and then and then and i remember being in chemistry and a fucking deputy had knocked on the door i was like harrison oh no he didn't even say my name he's like knocked on the door i was like you know what you've done come with me didn't even say my name I was like, fuck.

53:12Walked into the office. And this is the thing with me. I'm a bit naughty, but people either loved me or hated me. My whole life. Like, my history teacher loved me. My drama teacher loved me. My maths teacher hated me. Because you have that charm. Because I have the thing or the whatever. I was like, I had to kind of like, all right, fucking that thing. Always. Because I think I was playing Youngblood before I even fucking knew what it was to kind of like, like be in my imagination. I said I grew up in my imagination. Yeah, I see you were playing that. Like, never face reality. So I was like always fucking like happy or whatever.

53:43And then the deputy head takes me into his office. I really fancied his daughter actually. And his daughter fancied me. So it wasn't great. So he's sat there and he's like, do you want to tell me what you've done? And I'm just like, I can't, you know, and you just can't stop laughing. And then he starts to laugh and he's trying to be like, we've got to suspend you. I'm like, sir, you're laughing. Why are you suspending me? Like you're laughing. It's like a bit of fun. I didn't really mean to do it. And he's like, and then he got angry. He's like, she's a 65-year-old woman. And I'm like, oh. And he's like, do you know if you did this in public, you'll be arrested?

54:20I was like, yeah. I was like, fair. And then it kind of dawned on me. Walked out to the thing, and I had a Sony Ericsson flip phone. And I felt it ringing. I was like, it's me mom. Fuck. Didn't pick it up. Wrong again. Didn't pick it up. Wrong again. I was like, fuck. Picked up the phone. It was like, she was a 65-year-old woman. I've just had the fucking school on the phone. How fucking could you wait till your dad finds out? Fucking mama. And then I went home and my dad kind of found it. I went to work with my dad for three days. My dad was like, come on then. Because I feel like that's, because you're always breaking these rules, right?

54:54You're kind of like this sort of rebel in a way. Yeah, it was just like my maths teacher didn't like me. It was like, whatever. And I just was like, come. But I fucking love this story. I loved history and I loved music and I loved drama. And like my music teacher was sick. And it was Miss McElindon. She always used to find me skiving maths. I love how you named them. It's so great. Skiving maths in the fucking piano room. And I'd be like, oh, Miss, don't tell. And she'd be like, didn't see anything. I want to ask this quickly, just last thing, because, you know, you've had these hard times, really hard times, and you're so honest and vulnerable about it.

55:28You know, you talk about, you know, your single hatred, I think, which is about sexual abuse. Yeah, yeah, yeah. From a doctor when you were seven years old. Seven years old. Which is insane. Crazy. And you talk about that. You know, you've been open about your mental health and the fact that you, you know, you thought about suicide. Yeah. And I think you sort of attempted it. A hundred percent. You know, what do you say to the kids out there who look up to you, who love you, who see those struggles that you're going through and maybe they're experiencing that? Because the world is tough at the moment.

56:00Yeah. What do you say to them to keep going, to keep pushing through, to not go down that road? I think the thing about it is this whole community has been about that. Like, it's been about fighting back and finding it within yourself to fight back. Like, I literally looked down the camera and was like, if you're going through anything like that, it will get better. It just will. If you actually give it a chance to. There's like, the thing about, the only reason why I wanted to bring this together is because there is fucking light. there is so much light in every one of us no matter how irrelevant or how judged or how small you feel I've felt tiny my whole life you know what I'm saying and then like I turned to young blood before anyone knew what it was and all it's about with this is it's about community and if you are out there and feeling like that no matter like the biggest thing what I always laugh about is a lot of people say like oh I can't be a young blood fan I don't look like that I don't look like it's Like that is, that is so wrong because like, I just look like this because I want to look like this.

57:05If you want to look like whatever, that's the point of Youngblood. You know what I mean? It's got spikes on and it's got eyeliner and it's got a safety pin in its ear, but that's just me. If you want to like wear a chicken suit, wear a chicken suit or you want to come in like, you know what I mean? Like Lyle and Scott shirt, or you want to come in like, I don't know, like a Marks and Spencer's blouse or whatever. You know what I mean? Whatever you want to do. That's the point about it. And I think like it's just a community to belong and it's got soundtrack for the music and you can come and be in Youngblood even if you don't want to listen to the music or you can.

57:37It's kind of just like it's I just want to build a community more than. And show it gets better. And show it gets better and just show that like you don't have to go. You don't have to do it alone. like you might meet someone in the street tomorrow that would change your whole trajectory of your life but you're looking down to look look up and that's the whole point of young but it's like that's why i want to do a make a friend tent man i that advice don't look down look up yeah it's just like literally if you are looking down on the ground you are not seeing the person opposite you that's literally just like yo i feel like you too but i i i looked up 10 minutes ago to look up because you just missed me.

58:23You know what I mean? It's just like, that's the vibe, in my opinion. We like to end on eight questions. Are you ready for this? Love it. Is it quick fire, Alan? Quick fire, you can make it long. It's totally up to you. I'm down. Okay, what's a saying or phrase that always makes you smile or cheers you up? Oh, fucking hell. A saying or phrase. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

58:46Fuck that up, didn't I like that? What's the best compliment anyone's ever given you? Oh, wow. Fucking, you're a good cook. I'm like, wow, sick. What are you cooking, mate? Fucking cock-a-van. Or like steak and chips or something. What scares you most about yourself?

59:13My head at one in the morning. When you need to sleep. Yeah. When was the last time you cried and why? When was the last time I cried? Fucking hell. Probably like three days ago, sleep deprivation. What's something you can't let go of? Skittles. Sour ones, the green ones. Fucking great. Beautiful. What's something that you'd be embarrassed for people to know you like or want? Justin Bieber. Fucking love the Biebs. I love, man. Love the Bebs. His first movie was the greatest. Fucking love him. When that Purpose album came out, I was like, wow. Honestly, I even loved him in school. Everyone's like, fucking Justin Bieber.

59:59It's for girls. I'm like, no. You don't know Justin. Fucking get it. But you don't know Justin like I do. Fucking watching that documentary in purple, I was like, whoa. Legend. What turns you off? What turns me off? Oh, fucking hell. Bad smells, man. fucking ain't bad smells. My house is like, my house is a den of candles. Honestly. It's like a fire hazard. It's a full on. Everyone's like, yo, this is not great. Fucking like, it's a bit like a perfume shop. Like each room's got a different vibe and then it like accumulates in the hall and I was like, fucking hell. What turns you on? Turns me on.

1:00:38Good smells. Rock hard. I'm joking. What do you like most about yourself? Oh, fuck.

1:00:50me me at energy yeah it's great even though it's a fucking nightmare it's not dude you raised that it's fucking great two bonus ones favourite swear word fuck I know you've seen Olivia Colman it's a beautiful word I'm like fucking legend I feel you honestly I feel you you go Colman okay last question from me that kid yes with his imagination yes feeling alone yes would he be proud yeah I think he would I hope so of course he would yeah I fucking hope I'm not going to get heady about it yeah fucking sick man I'm going to rock and roll about this dope thank you so much that was so sick what a great guy great guy great guy I mean you sit in front of the mic You open up and it's pretty incredible what people speak about when they have a microphone in front of them and you kind of feel really easy with one another.

1:01:54I've also never met anyone who's made you look low energy. He's hyper. High energy. Were you that high energy when you were the same age? Yeah, I think so. Because you're knocking on quite a lot more years. Yeah, I'm knocking on that door. Not that door. You're knocking on death's door. I'm knocking on death's door at the moment. No, you're about nine years older than him. So when you were nine? I was really high energy. I think he feels sometimes that he has to be that character. And that's why he talked about being the character of Youngblood. I think actually his natural state is much calmer.

1:02:30But he feels like he has to bring that energy all the time, which from my experience is pretty exhausting. And Youngblood's blood fest? Amazing. Are you going to go? We're all going to go. The whole team's going to go. That'll be really fun. It's going to be great. Will there be candy kittens? Yes, there will. If you want any details as well, all of the details are in the show description. So it's just below where you're listening to this podcast. What a great guy. Absolutely loved the episode. Hey, who do we have on next week? We have the lovely and wonderful Jo Brand. Fantastic. Really get on well with Jo Brand.

1:03:04She's incredibly generous and kind throughout my entire career. She is on next week and I can't wait for that. Enjoyed that? I loved that. Okay. listen if you like the episode please go and follow us on social media great company podcast and also get in touch we really would like to hear from you just slide into our DMs and let us know what you thought of the episode and also if you can please follow us that would make a huge difference for people finding the podcast and loving it thank you so much for listening we love you guys have a great day and this was great company

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