Here it is guys. Youth Killed Ithave finally revealed their sophomore record ‘What’s So Great, Britain?’. The latter is indeed out since October 5th via Rude Records!
What’s So Great, Britain?: The music video is a metaphor for having an idealistic view of what ‘Great Britain’ is and then being forced to realise that maybe not everything you think and know, is necessarily true. It’s about coming to terms with it, learning and changing your worldview accordingly. We were all graced to be born on this planet together and no border or names of countries will ever change the fact that we all live side by side, shoulder to shoulder, no matter what gender you are, what country you come from, or what religion you believe in. We need to be better at understanding and supporting one another, especially in these times of strife and uncertainty.Headbutt: The song was written about toxic masculinity and how males are pressured into feeling like they always have to "one up" each other. In the video we wanted to portray different types of males and how sometimes you don’t realise just how toxic your actions can come across to other people. It’s time to be more socially aware and realise that people love the real you not someone you think you need to be. Life’s not a competition it’s a path that we all take together so let’s help not hurt each other along the way.Where Did I Go Wrong?: This was the first song we released from the record. It’s about feeling lost and wondering when that happened, feeling like age has caught up with you and how maybe it’s time to settle and get a ‘real job’. It’s so easy to compare ourselves and end up, especially thanks to social media, feeling like it’s a big competition.Great British Summer: It’s about the fact everyone is so miserable in the winter and when it’s raining/cold. My next door neighbour constantly moans about everything when he’s not outside watering his flowers so he as well as all of us need some Vitamin D.We're pretty sure that like 99% of Britain suffers from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). During the long winter months we pine for a bit of sun to cheer us all up. Don't worry you're not alone, thats why we wanted to write this song. Though it may be dark and gloomy now, in a few months time we'll all be complaining about the heatwave again.The Getaway: I was reacquainted with a friend of mine at from our school years. We were working on a building site together and he was telling me how he was getting along and what situation he was in. He always had big plans at school and now life had been shackling him down. I could relate on so many levels, it’s hard to keep a dream alive when you have to also progress in society and make sure you are “stable”. When we were speaking on our lunch break, a lot of other workers joined in the conversation and we established that we all work for the little wins/dreams we had when we were young. The holidays. The nice car, the house by the seaside. All these things everybody wants but in reality can’t achieve because of the unachievable dreams and disproportion of wealth in this country.0121: This is a letter from me to everyone who has ever told me to stop doing what I love. It’s to everyone who thinks just because I haven’t made it “famous” that I should “get my ideas in check”. I don’t do music for fame or fortune. I do it because I love it. It’s a ghost I will never give up because as a man it helps me say things which I otherwise wouldn’t be able to. I love what I do and am aware it may make me strange or different but I never fit in any way. Why start now?What You’re Thinking: We received a couple strange reviews for our last album. They weren’t really attacking the music as a such they were attacking me. Stereotyping me as some sort of ultimate “Lad” who has no respect for anything. It took me by surprise as these people had never met or spoken to me before. From then it didn’t matter what the truth was as their opinion had been made. But to be honest, I’ve never been one to give a fuck either.Already Dead: Working around lost of people from different backgrounds in my job, I’ve noticed that everyone is stuck in this dense and damaging stereotype of first world problems. It’s a satiric view of the moans and groans I hear by my colleagues/friends daily. There are literally children in Syria who are scared for their life surrounded by constant danger and “Jon’s” worried about his iPhone not having a scratch free screen.No Money, No Monday: Every self-employed person's day-to-day life. Chasing clients for money they owe you for the work you’ve done and they still haven’t paid. As someone starting out you often work for nothing or very little and it’s damaging. Get paid what you deserve and don’t let people take the piss with this “work for experience” bollocks. No Money? Fine, I won't be turning up on Monday then.Peaceful House: A song was written about living with someone you love and how challenging it can be. It puts relationships to the test and really pushes you both to your limits. Little quirks you used to enjoy and laugh at becoming serious ammunition and the environment becomes toxic. A lot of people today live in a house share or are renting with a partner and it’s a constant battle to hold one together when there is so much outsider influence with social media nowadays.This Sounds Cliché: The song was written about a break up which had no real conclusion. A lot of things were ultimately left unsaid and as a result, communication broke down. The song is about just how hard it can be nowadays, especially for young couples, to hold together relationships with the influence of social media and temptation. We think that values moving forward and evolving is positive but, as humans, we must not lose the ability to communicate face to face.On My Own: This is the rawest and most real thing I’ve ever written. My partner left and my world just spun out. Time froze and I didn’t even tell anyone for 3 days. I was sitting in my bedroom finding it hard to breathe and saw no way out. I picked up the only thing in the room I felt could sooth it and It was my acoustic guitar. The vocal take was done in a horrible state. But still, to this day I never edited it or re-took it. It was too raw and real and I wanted that to come across.It’s hard for men, women are superior creatures to us. They understand and know things we take years to learn. They have a knowledge, emotional depth, and understanding that we are yet to grasp. To admit that is to acknowledge your flaws as a male and to realise it’s great to feel. It’s what makes us human. It’s what makes life this rollercoaster we all want that front row seat for. Never be ashamed to show how you feel and you’ll find that people (especially other men) will surround you with positivity and a welcome embrace. We all feel it, we aren’t these bulletproof emotionless beings your fathers told you to be.
Picture: Ray Roberts
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