You Me At Six are back and raring to go

It wasn't easy, but You Me At Six have a new album, and they mean business. Josh Franceschi explains all.

[dropcap]Y[/dropcap]ou Me At Six frontman Josh Franceschi wastes no time in outing the difficult conception of his band’s sixth outing, the aptly titled, ‘VI’.

“We didn’t write a song as a band for the best part of two and a half to three years, and that killed the creativity,” he explains.

It hasn’t been that long since 2017’s ‘Night People’, but the frontman was raring to go right after the record’s January release.

Focusing on rekindling their love for what they do, the five-piece hunkered down in various studios, only surfacing to pop to the pub and eat.

By doing so, they reignited what they loved about the band to begin with; hanging out with their mates and cracking out tunes that represent who they are as opposed to who they thought they should be.

[dropcap]Y[/dropcap]ou Me At Six frontman Josh Franceschi wastes no time in outing the difficult conception of his band’s sixth outing, the aptly titled, ‘VI’.

“We didn’t write a song as a band for the best part of two and a half to three years, and that killed the creativity,” he explains.

It hasn’t been that long since 2017’s ‘Night People’, but the frontman was raring to go right after the record’s January release.

Focusing on rekindling their love for what they do, the five-piece hunkered down in various studios, only surfacing to pop to the pub and eat.

“There’s a documentary called The Defiant Ones, about Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine. I was watching that when we were back in the studio, and that was just the perfect way of articulating everything I’ve been feeling for the last year and a half,” Josh considers.

[sc name="pull" text="We needed to mix it up"]

For various reasons, ‘Night People’ failed to launch whatever it was that You Me At Six had in mind, but with ‘VI’ there’s the chance for the band to resurrect themselves.

Starting with Max Heyler and Dan Flint tinkering away on their laptops building electronically rather than their usual studio-based method, it’s resulted in a sound that feels fresh, especially when compared to its predecessor.

The fact that the band are here at all is a testament to their love for what they do, and their want to be the best they can. After all, a surprisingly small number of bands manage to reach the sixth album.

And so here You Me At Six are. A sixth album due out, the release of two new tracks (‘Fast Forward’ and ‘3 AM’), and they are eager to start this new chapter with a fresh appreciation for not only what they’ve achieved, but also what they’re capable of.

“I’ve seen it with people that are carrying the flag and killing it, [they] are people that can motivate themselves when it’s good and when it’s bad. That would be my main criticism of myself over the last eighteen months,” he freely admits. “I found it very difficult to motivate to be in You Me At Six, whereas I think when you get that hunger back in you… it’s a very powerful thing.” [sc name="stopper"]

Taken from the July issue of Dork. Order a copy here. You Me At Six’s album ‘VI’ is out 5th October.