Neu Get To Know… Mên An Tol
Heartening folk-rock which puts connection at its core.
Hello and welcome back to DIY’s introducing feature, Get To Know… which aims to get you a little bit closer to the buzziest acts that have been catching our eye as of late, and working out what makes them tick.
Pulling as much from The Verve as they do The Pogues, South London five piece Mên An Tol are part of a new guard of bands breathing fresh life into beloved folk traditions, crafting bittersweet anthems that invoke a back-to-basics embrace of community and connection. The musical equivalent of ducking into a cosy pub to shelter from the rain, their brand of life-affirming indie has already earned them a residency at Camden’s iconic Dublin Castle and pricked up the ears of Fontaines DC. Ahead of the release of their second EP, ‘This Land’, we caught up with frontman Bill Jefferson to hear more about his musical roots, Cornish inspirations, karaoke overkill, and more…
Describe your music to us in non-musical terms.
It’s uplifting, relatable and can slot next to all the best bands.
What were the first songs/albums you developed an obsession for (and why)?
I think it shows how impressionable you are as a kid, because I loved ‘The Bends’ by Radiohead and ‘1975’ - particularly ‘The Kesh Jig’ - by The Bothy Band. As to why, I guess it’s because they’re both great records; my parents have good taste.
Your work draws on elements of trad and folk music, but equally taps into the anthemic indie sensibilities of the ‘00s/2010s. How did this particular sonic palette emerge?
We do come from slightly different musical backgrounds, but really we all love guitar music that delivers a good song. I grew up playing in trad folk sessions in pubs in Cornwall, so I guess the two just fused together. The idea that folk songs are just singalongable songs seems obvious really. I think we all surprised each other a bit when we met and shared the same musical DNA though - you don’t meet someone who loves Nic Jones or The Waterboys everyday.
“I think you subconsciously write the songs you want to hear, and I think we’re in need of a bit of positivity and understanding right now.”
— Bill Jefferson
The name Mên An Tol comes from a formation of Cornish standing stones; your debut EP is entitled ‘The Country’, and its follow-up will be ‘This Land’. Can you tell us a bit about how notions of place or regional/national identity figure in your work?
Regarding the name, one answer is that it just sounds cool for a folk-rock band. The other is that, I guess, it’s a symbol from the past, and a part of human history we’ve lost: [the idea of] being once more connected to each other, maybe a oneness of all people. The titles for the songs and their content was never really planned. As they kept coming it became more apparent there was a theme. But it’s just what came out: I think you subconsciously write the songs you want to hear, and I think we’re in need of a bit of positivity and understanding right now.
Your recent single ‘Not Ideal’ was produced by Fontaines DC’s Carlos O’Connell. How did this collaboration come about? What was it about his ideas or vision for the track that drew you to him?
He came and watched us play at one of our residency gigs at The Dublin Castle in Camden, and we got chatting after. We went for a pint and it turned out we had a lot in common and I instantly felt that doing something together would work. It was really fascinating to watch him at work in the studio trying things we’d never think of doing. He has a very accurate ear and really knows how to bring out the emotion of a song through delivery and sound.
What’s your worst musical habit?
Probably karaoke - everyone I know is sick of ‘Dirty Old Town’ at this point.
Finally, DIY are coming round for dinner - what are you making?
Something Indian - my uncle used to work a lot fitting Indian restaurants and learnt a lot from the chefs and owners, and it’s kinda been passed on. You’re bringing the beers though.
‘This Land’ is out on 26th September.
Records, etc at
Mên An Tol - Regional Music
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