Get To Know Get To Know… Blanketman

Announcing their debut EP ‘National Trust’ today, meet the Manchester-based newbies.

8th December 2020

Hello and welcome to DIY’s introducing feature, Get To Know… getting you a little bit closer to the buzziest new acts that have been catching our eye as of late, and working out what makes them tick.

Recently we’ve met alt-pop newcomers moa moa, lo-fi lovelies SCORS, Atlanta duo Lowertown, rising quintet Children of the State, and now we’re introducing you to Blanketman!

First hopping onto our radar with the jangly joy that was their debut track ‘Taking You With Me’, the newbies have now announced that their debut EP ‘National Trust’ will be arriving on 19th March, and they’re sharing new track ‘Harold’ to give us a little taste of what to expect.

“‘Harold’ is an ode to that crippling fright in the night,” lead guitarist Daniel Hand explains. “To things that don’t go bump, but go ‘aaaargh’. The song spasmed into existence after a series of unsavoury night terrors that prompted to me don my guitar, tune the strings to a level of arse-clenching tension, screw my eyes shut tight and, like a deranged jet-setter randomly spinning a tiny globe in search of the next destination, I slammed a capo onto the neck in a state of near frenzy. I tentatively opened an eye. Fourth fret. I picked up a pen as ideas began to fizz, but thought better of it, had a beer and wrote it later.”

We sent over vocalist Adam Hopper some qs to find out a bit more.

Describe your music to us in the form of a Tinder bio.
I had to google what a tinder bio consisted of and now I’m sad.

What’s your earliest musical memory?
I remember being a young age, maybe around five years old, strapped in the back of a family members pale blue Ford Fiesta (who shall remain unnamed) driving back from Sunday footy with my brother. ‘Hot Love’ by T.Rex was playing full blast from the speakers and the windows were down. When we reached a quiet, long, straight road, said family member began turning the steering wheel left and right erratically along to the beat of the “la la la la la la la” chorus part. A terrifying and exhilarating experience that I still think about whenever I hear that song.

Who were some artists that inspired you when you were just starting out (and why)?
I think the fact that we started out in Manchester has been a big source of inspiration, I think one of the main reasons so many people move to the city is because of its musical heritage. Playing in the same venues as bands such as The Fall, Joy Division and The Smiths is always going to help get the creative juices flowing. The post punk scene in general was a big inspiration for us starting out.

You’re from Manchester! What do you think of the music scene there at the moment?
We are based in Manchester yes. None of us are actually from this great city, but it has become an adopted home for us over the past few years. At this moment in time the scene in Manchester is pretty vibrant and inspiring. I have friends who have lived here most of their lives who agree that the scene is the best its been in a long time. It feels tight knit and familial but at the same time open to all. It is often hard for a city like Manchester, which has such a rich musical history, not to be dismissed as “not as good as it used to be” but I don’t think that’s the case at all. If you think that, you’re not going to enough gigs at The Peer Hat.
My main concern is how the scene will continue when its heart is ripped out by big time developers such as Maryland Securities, who plan to convert Brunswick Mill, home to hundreds of musicians and creatives for decades, into yet more luxury apartments. It happened to our last rehearsal space Marlborough House too earlier this year. Very sad times, nobody that might be able to seems to be doing much about it.

Are there any other artists breaking through at the same time that you take inspiration from?
It’s a hard question as I don’t listen to much new music, I tend to be a little stuck in the past myself. However, The Cool Greenhouse’s debut album is very good, and I know a few of us in the band are really into it. The Lounge Society are great, we’ve played with a couple of times and its inspiring to see them doing as well as they are. I’m also liking Courting at the moment and look forward to playing with them hopefully in the new year…

Who would be your dream collaborator?
A few come to mind, Anton Newcombe would be a great experience I imagine, such an incredible musician and songwriter. Would be amazing to record at his studio in Berlin. He puts out like a song a day at the moment, madness. Also, apparently he’s a good cook too so I wouldn’t mind going for dinner as well.

Musically or otherwise, what are you most looking forward to next year?
The main thing we’re looking forward to, other than putting the debut EP out, is just being able to be a normal band again. Being able to perform live to a proper audience will be the main thing. We have some really nice shows booked in the UK and the continent that we’d really like to be able to play, we’ve not really played anywhere other than Manchester and London (once) so getting out anywhere is going to be big for us – especially now we’ll actually have a substantial amount of material that people have heard.
Personally, I think we’re all looking forward to getting back to some type of normality in our day to day lives, lockdown restrictions are taking a toll on everyone’s mental health. Going to the pub for the first time unrestricted will be joyous, being reunited with friends, leaving the house guilt-free, stuff like that…

If people could take away one thing from your music, what would it be?
If you can dream it, you can do it!

Tags: Blanketman, Features, Interviews, Neu, Get to Know