Yungblud tells us about BLUDFEST 2 and new double album

Yungblud has spoken to NME concerning the second version of BLUDFEST for 2025, and bold plans for his incoming “fucking bonkers” double album. Try our full interview under.

Returning to The Nationwide Bowl in Milton Keynes on Saturday June 21, the genre-defying competition – which is curated and headlined by Yungblud (actual identify Dominic Harrison) – introduced its line-up final week and options the likes of Chase Atlantic, Denzel Curry and Blackbear alongside latest NME Cowl stars Rachel Chinouriri and Peach PRC.

This comes after the massively profitable debut version of BLUDFEST, which came about this summer time (August 11), the place the Doncaster punk star was joined by the likes of Lil Yachty, Tender Play and Nessa Barrett. Punk legends The Damned carried out within the ‘Icon Slot’, which Yungblud revealed can be introduced “very quickly” for 2025.

Alongside two levels, this yr’s BLUDFEST performed host to a pop-up model of iconic Camden pub The Hawley Arms, free photobooths and the ‘Make A Good friend’ tent, realising Yungblud’s ambition to make this an annual celebration of neighborhood, range and way of life that seeks to “break away from conventional boundaries in music.”

“That day closely impacted my life as an individual, and the place I need to go subsequent, artistically,” Harrison instructed NME, revealing he nonetheless hasn’t come down from the gravity of the competition. “The truth that everybody got here collectively, out of the only real purpose of believing in one thing mutual – and it grew to become a lot fucking greater than us – blew my thoughts.”

“Probably the most lovely factor about Yungblud is the neighborhood itself,” he continued. “BLUDFEST is a motion – I believe it’s the primary generational motion in an extended fucking time. It began as this younger, indignant, fucking lovely act of riot, and it’s become this place of acceptance, love and unity. Rise up in itself is performing within the identify of affection, particularly on this planet proper now.”

He added: “My mouth was caught from smiling, assembly folks and saying howdy. As quickly as I walked out and noticed that view, I simply went, ‘What has this turn into? Holy shit.’ Actually, I actually wanted to cease myself from crying or getting emotional. If I used to be good at portray, I’d paint an image of [the view from the stage], as a result of it’s simply a lot color, life and fucking unity. I really feel actually fortunate, as a result of not many individuals get to see that shit.”

Harrison stated that the spectacle of taking part in to 30,000 folks on the iconic venue – simply because the likes of David Bowie, Inexperienced Day and Queen had earlier than him – wasn’t misplaced on him, but it surely was about excess of reputation.

“I can sit right here and be all fucking ‘rockstar’ about it, however we’re doing it for the precise causes – I believe that was one of the best triumph of the day,” he instructed us. “We had an thought to place a flagpole within the floor and say, ‘I consider the competition market is saturated, out of contact and rancid’ – and we fucking did it.

“The best factor about Yungblud is that this fucking neighborhood observe me – and one another – into the entire unknown, within the spirit of constructing a distinction. It’s gonna be a competition for the following fucking 100 years. This can be a standpoint, and it’s a second.”

Try our full interview under, the place Harrison instructed us concerning the announcement of the ‘Icon Slot’, plans for a brand new occasion area in London, after we can count on to BLUDFEST to go worldwide, and progress on his new album.

NME: Hiya Dom. As soon as once more, the BLUDFEST line-up brings collectively such a various, defiant vary of artists – how did you go about curating this one?

Yungblud: “I’ve received all my pals on it, and it’s going to be fucking biblical. Chase Atlantic and I as soon as shared a tour bus on Warped Tour [2018] collectively. I’ve simply watched their rise, as they’ve watched mine. We have been taking part in to 150 children a day, sharing a tour bus when it was damp. Now, ought to we go and play a fucking stadium collectively? Let’s do it! I believe Chase are fucking dope, they’re particular person, unusual, loopy and unhealthy.

“[Blackbear], I’ve identified eternally. I’ve received a track with Denzel Curry. Rachel [Chinouriri] is a fucking badass, man. Lola Younger crammed that area for us final yr, and now she’s blowing up. There’s so many unimaginable, thrilling feminine artists on the market. Peach [PRC] and Rachel coming collectively goes to be mind-blowing.

“I believe we now have a loopy line-up that’s inclusive, genre-defiant – once more – but it surely’s received the identical fucking feeling. It’s received the identical vitality. After I have a look at the poster, that is smart. It feels [like a] new era, it feels younger and thrilling.”

What an ideal alternative to convey out Blackbear and carry out your 2019 track [with Marshmello] ‘Tongue Tied’ collectively…

“We’ve by no means carried out it collectively. So me and Bear have been like, ‘We fucking in all probability ought to try this, shouldn’t we?’”

Deliver Me The Horizon as soon as instructed NME it was a “nightmare” after they tried to curate a multi-genre line-up at All Factors East in 2019. How do you pull it off – are music followers extra open-minded these days?

“I believe Deliver Me The Horizon are one of the best metallic band underneath 40-years-old, actually, on this planet. Once they push the style, they push it ahead, they experiment of their subject. Oli [Sykes, frontman] is considered one of my greatest pals and a mentor to me, and it’s been inspiring how he pushes his fucking style to totally different locations.

“With Yungblud, I’ve at all times been genreless from the start. I’ve executed pop, rap, metallic, rock, regardless of the fuck I need to do underneath this umbrella. I gown the best way I gown, I put my make-up on, and I fucking love rock ‘n’ roll music. Rock music is my ardour, my ambition, however David Bowie was huge to me, and he was utterly genreless. He was at all times a cultivator, and actually concerned with artwork and tradition in the identical approach that I’m.

“I learnt that from him after which embodied it myself. It really works as a result of it’s all about my neighborhood. Everybody’s optimistic, everybody’s down to seek out one thing new, everybody’s all the way down to be shocked. I’ve stated that from the start: I don’t give a fuck, I’m gonna attempt my greatest, and I’m gonna fucking make shit that I believe is cool within the second.”

When will the artist taking part in the ‘Icon Slot’ be introduced for BLUDFEST Yr 2?

“Don’t you are worried, that’s the artist we’re holding on to. We wished to return robust out the gates with the youngsters. I’ve already locked within the ‘Icon Slot’ for 2026 too as a result of we couldn’t make it occur this yr. However this yr, I’m speaking to 3 people who find themselves all the way down to do it, we’re actually within the closing levels.”

A number of days after BLUDFEST this yr, you got here out with The Offspring in Switzerland, who’ve since instructed us they “want they may have Yungblud at each present”. Have you ever tapped them up for a possible ‘Icon Slot’?

“I tapped them up about it – they’re positively down, they need to do it [in the future]. They’re not on BLUDFEST this yr, however there’s a identify – simply as fucking related [as them] – who’s.”

There have been points this yr with extraordinarily lengthy queues and another logistical issues – have you ever hashed that out with the organisers for 2025?

“100 per cent. We’ve got taken issues into our personal arms much more, as a result of I used to be backstage, fucking screaming at folks. One dimension for artists doesn’t match all, that’s why I put this competition on within the first place. My fanbase flip up early. The individuals who have been placing on the occasion weren’t ready for that, they have been used to folks filtering in all through the day.

“I used to be on the cellphone to Milton Keynes police, being like, ‘You’ve received to fucking open extra gates!’ Greatest present of my life, and I’m fucking giving it – just like the fowl from EastEnders, within the pub – screaming at folks! I’m very a lot answerable for this competition this yr – much more. As a result of we did it as soon as, all of the fuckers on the high [now] consider that we will truly do it.”

Are there any additions to the competition web site this yr?

“We’ve added one other stage, so there’ll be three levels this yr. Rachel’s going to headline it – she’s a fucking legend.”

When can we count on BLUDFEST to occur exterior of the UK?

“2026. It’s taking place. Confirmed. BLUDFEST worldwide is coming, 2026.”

You additionally launched your new clothes firm B.R.A.T. (BEAUTIFULLY ROMANTICISED ACCIDENTALLY TRAUMATISED) this yr – are there any plans to include that into the competition?

“We’ve got huge plans for the corporate subsequent yr. I’ve purchased an area in London that I’m going to show right into a music venue. We’re going to have a espresso store, promote BludBeer, have a music venue downstairs. Don’t fear, B.R.A.T. Clothes is simply getting began… it’s actually going to be a bodily place all yr spherical.

“After BLUDFEST [2024], I wanted to complete the following album, take a while out to determine what I need to do. However there’s a brand new album coming subsequent yr. There’s going to be a fucking constructing in London for folks to return hand around in, after which BLUDFEST ’26 – it’s gonna be the most important two years that we’ve ever had. We’re simply pulling again the fucking slingshot proper now.”

Charli XCX stole your thunder there with the entire ‘Brat’ factor…

“I fucking adore it, man. We registered the [company] in 2019! It’s such a sick phrase, and it’s within the mainstream and I fuck with Charli XCX. I fuck with that new album. Nice fucking minds…”

Did the “mild” you noticed first-hand at BLUDFEST 2024 encourage the trajectory of the brand new album, which you instructed us was “optimistic” and “flips the narrative” away from the darkness?

“The brand new album centres across the thought of self-love and self-reclamation that enables folks to really feel seen, and emit this mild. You may be seen for who you actually are, irrespective of the place you’re from or what you consider. It’s been on the centre of this tradition for the reason that starting of it. Whoever you’re, you’re fucking welcome right here, so long as you’re fucking loving. That’s what I wanted to put in writing an album about.

“Lots of people have had a number of opinions about me, and I might deceive you once I stated I wouldn’t give a fuck. However for the primary time in my life, I believe I’m beginning to truly like myself. I’ve at all times written from a interval of hatred in the direction of myself. I made a fucking rock opera double album that has no limitations in the direction of creativeness.”

Cling on – a double album?

“Yeah, you bought the fucking scoop on that. It seems prefer it’s going to be a double album.”

When the information of Oasis’ reunion tour with Richard Ashcroft landed, the Britpop influences on the album should have hit one other stage…

“It’s a full-on rock album. I’ve experimented, I’ve gone via totally different locations, and I’ve loved it …[but] what did I need to do once I was 9 years outdated? Make an album like that. It’s a homage to British rock ‘n’ roll music.

“Oasis, they’ve the sunshine of their songs. That buzz emits in your chest when these information are performed, and that’s what I wished to inject into this new album. You may fucking bounce about, mosh, throw your beer within the air, however have a look at your greatest mate and say ‘I fucking love you, man.’”

Was the nine-minute opening monitor written with BLUDFEST Yr 2 in thoughts?

“Can I inform you one factor? No person’s fucking prepared for what’s coming. That is the grasp plan. BLUDFEST goes to have new music. It’s going to have a brand new world, a brand new journey to go on. It’s going to be the primary time we play something new within the UK. The album’s fucking bonkers.”

BLUDFEST Yr 2 will happen on Saturday June 21 at The Nationwide Bowl, Milton Keynes. Tickets are on common sale from 10am on Wednesday December 18 and will be available here.