Scottish alt-rock outfit The Van T’s return to form with their blistering new single Seeing Stars, a fuzz-laden ode to self-preservation, out via 7 West Music now – LISTEN HERE. The new single appears on Spotify’s New Music Friday, The Rock List, Alt.Rocked and All New Rock.
Serving as a precursor to their upcoming EP and the quartet’s first release with Glasgow-based 7 West Music, Seeing Stars strikes through apathy with hazy, riff-driven sanguine. Charmingly caustic and self-assured, The Van T’s manifest the pursuit of happiness into a soaring dreamscape, enlightened by effected vocal harmonies, gutsy grooves alongside persevering percussion and lyrics that speak to existential becoming.
Speaking on Seeing Stars inception, Hannah Van Thompson explains “So, I wrote ‘Seeing Stars’ off the back of an ongoing battle with mental health issues. After a year-long slump I started off with the lyrics ‘I want to believe in something inside me’. It started off as words on paper and grew arms and legs until eventually I had a song. I’m happy with the way the music itself resonates a sense of growth in strength. I wanted the song to be punchy and bright, it sort of reflects the way I want to progress in getting better. I hope those who have the same issues can relate to this song.”
She continues “At the start of the song it states, “I’m the King of Queens” for a slight tongue-in-cheek, like “Yass Queen”…”On yourself” for getting back out there. Personally, I try not to take myself too seriously, I stop worrying about things as much and what others perceive of me. “Seeing stars again” is a slight nod to being out of that dark place and overcoming demons. I so hope the song can be enjoyed and danced to, with everything that’s going on in society and across the globe. These are trying times and I know the band are excited to get playing this live again.”
Rapidly rising through the ranks of Glasgow’s music scene due to their unrelenting live shows and twisted take on an alt rock sound, The Van T’s have held their own on support slots with Foo Fighters, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Wolf Alice, Clean Cut Kid, Sunflower Bean and many more. The band have also made their presence known at a number of notable UK festivals. First appearing at Scotland’s renowned T In The Park in 2015, the band returned to headline the BBC Introducing Stage at the festival’s last incarnation in 2017 and have since played at Y Not, Truck, TRNSMT, Great Escape, Live At Leeds, Stag & Dagger and Electric Fields to name a few. In 2018, The Van T’s were selected for Festival Republic’s ReBalance initiative and went on to wow Community Festival that summer.
Responsible for facemelting tracks such as ‘Blood Orange’, ‘Control’ and ‘Fresh Meat’ that gained impressive support from BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC 6 Music, DIY, Clash, Consequence Of Sound, The Line Of Best Fit, Dork and Noisey, The Van T’s are twin sisters Hannah and Chloe Van Thompson (vocals, guitar), Joanne Forbes (bass) and Shaun Hood (drums).
Seeing Stars was produced by Margo Bloom at Hermitage Studios and was mixed by Jamie Holmes (of The Lapelles).