In partnership with TOPMAN
TOPMAN ON TOUR WITH NME kicks off in Nottingham next week (March 14), bringing Peace, Fickle Friends, Clean Cut Kid, Devlin and Will Joseph Cook to student unions across England and Scotland. We caught up with the latter to find out how he’s feeling about the tour and get the lowdown on his debut album.
How are you feeling about heading out on TOPMAN ON TOUR WITH NME?
Will Joseph Cook: “I’m really looking forward to it. We’re going to be playing a few places I’ve never played before, and it’ll be good to go back to Leeds.”
Is there anywhere new you’re particularly excited about playing?
“Sheffield I’m excited about. Just because of all the bands that have come from there. I like playing places that have that kind of musical pride.”
Peace, Clean Cut Kid, Fickle Friends and Devlin are on the tour. Are you a big fan of those artists?
“Yeah, they’re great. I saw Peace at Concorde 2 in Brighton a few years ago so I’m really excited to be playing with them. It might be a bit weird. I might have a little fanboy moment when I meet them.”
These gigs are for students. How does that change the show?
“I just got off tour with Sundara Karma a couple of weeks ago and on those dates we played a couple of shows at universities. We played Leeds SU and Nottingham SU and they went off. I think it does make a difference because it tends to be a room of people who know each other and are friends, rather than loads of strangers.”
You’re debut album ‘Sweet Dreamer’ is out next month. Excited?
“Yeah! I haven’t actually listened to it lately. I’m trying not to. I spent all day listening to it when we were mastering it, then I listened to it again about a week later, but I haven’t since then. I want to have a break from it so when it comes out it feels new and exciting to me as well. Also if I listen to it now I’ll hear loads of things I want to change and that’s annoying.”
You worked with Jack Steadman from Bombay Bicycle Club on the record. How did that come about?
“We worked on a song called ‘Plastic’ together. I was thinking about producers I thought would be good for it and I thought of Bombay because it’s got that indie-dance crossover they did on their last album. It went really well so we ended up doing four songs together. His studio is amazing – it’s so serene and tranquil.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M7AFZxTqpM
Catch TOPMAN ON TOUR WITH NME in the following places:
Tue March 14
Featuring: Peace, Clean Cut Kid, Will Joseph Cook
Nottingham Trent University
Fri March 17
Featuring: Fickle Friends
University Of Strathclyde, Glasgow
Sat March 18
Featuring: Fickle Friends, Will Joseph Cook
Hull University
Wed March 22
Featuring: Peace, Will Joseph Cook
Leeds University Union
Thu March 23
Featuring: Devlin, Fickle Friends, Will Joseph Cook
University Of East Anglia, Norwich
Fri March 24
Featuring: Peace, Fickle Friends, Will Joseph Cook
Sheffield University
Sat March 25
Featuring: Huw Stephens
University Of Kent, Canterbury
Wed March 29
Featuring: Devlin, Paris Youth Culture
Gorilla, Manchester
Thu March 30
Featuring: Devlin, Bay Rays
O2 Academy Newcastle
Fri March 31
Featuring: Devlin, Fickle Friends
Loughborough University
As well as having the chance to attend the shows, we want students to help us cover the tour too. One student from every city that TOPMAN ON TOUR WITH NME NME visits will have their Guide To Uni Life published on NME.COM.
Then, one of these students will win the ultimate prize where they will get the opportunity to shadow an NME journalist at the gig at their uni, before reviewing the night. They’ll be able to ask our reporter questions about reviewing and how to make it as a music journalist and get valuable tips and advice on their craft. They’ll also get to see their review appear in NME’s coverage of the tour.
For the chance to write for NME, go to NME.COM/topmanontour and tell us what’s great about your uni.