Latitude 2015 Oscar talks Latitude, says Portishead’s set was the “best thing I’ve ever seen at a festival”

Yesterday (18th July) at Latitude, Oscar played one of the Lake Stage’s most in-demand sets, converting curious onlookers and prompting mass singalongs.

Speaking after the set, the North Londoner says the reaction was “really encouraging.”

“We got put on a really good slot, time-wise. The music carries well from that stage, too. And there were loads of people gathering. And there was a front row of teenage girls and boys who were really into it and screaming the lyrics - which was great. That’s kind of the first time it’s happened,” he says.

“I got told that a lot of people’s dads were into it. I got the whole spectrum. And that’s what I really love. I want the music to include everybody - that’s what music’s about, for me. The festival dads are on board.”

Plenty of festival dads wound up watching Portishead headlining the Obelisk Arena last night. Their set was defined by a Thom Yorke guest spot and a jolting political message - David Cameron with laser eyes, coupled with messages saying “five more years”.

Oscar says Portishead’s show “might have been the best thing I’ve ever seen at a festival” - “I was definitely in the right place for that music - emotionally, physically. I was ready. It was really emotional. ‘Machine Gun’ went deep. Their visuals were on point. I feel like that kind of political message was done in such an artistic and effortless way. Portishead are one of very few artists who can get away with that,” he says.

“For my generation to do that, it looks a bit like they’re trying to be The Clash. It’s not ingrained, in that sense, because we’re the second generation after the apocalypse that the Tories left.”

Oscar’s ‘Beautiful Words’ EP is out now.