This Bank Holiday weekend, the likes of Twenty One Pilots, Foo Fighters, PVRIS, The Distillers and more will descend on Reading & Leeds for one of the biggest events of the music calendar. Taking their place amongst the buzz are Hot Milk, and Han and Jim are looking forward to catching up with some old pals…
Hello guys! How are you doing?
Jim: We are currently in the studio writing some lil tunes, and over-hydrating because Han has been for like five wees in the last hour, so I guess our bodies and minds are currently OK!!!
Have you enjoyed 2019 so far? What’ve been your highlights?
Han: It’s July, right?? No idea how we are here already, this year feels to have gone so fast but yeah this year has been one of surprises and highs but also personal lows, but that’s life init. We are focusing on what the future holds and also remembering the good times and generally speaking, enjoying the ride of life. I think for me my best moments this year have been ones where I have felt the most love and happiness from those around me. For some reason when we were coming back from a show the other night, and we were all cuddled in the van sleeping that was one of my most content moments haha. But OBVIOUSLY, the amazing people and bands we’ve met this year have added a sprinkling of glitterati to our lives.
Have you guys been travelling for festivals much this summer already? Any particular faves? Any disasters?
Jim: Yeah we have been doing a fair few already, Slam Dunk, Download, The Great Escape and more so we’re well seasoned with a quick load-in and load out now! I think for us we loved Slamdunk personally just because I think that was the first time we could see how the EP had connected, but it was my first ever Download experience this year too and to have that tent full for us was INSANE!!! No major disasters as of yet apart from this weird curse that keeps happening during our last song Awful Ever After, my guitar ALWAYS breaks. It’s a ghost, maybe.
What was the last festival you went to as a music fan, not because you were playing?
Han: You’re gonna laugh, Creamfields hahaha. I love a bit of house every now and then!!! I have a very broad music taste and love a party so you can find me at everything from Download to Beatherder.
How would you rate your camping skills out of ten?
Jim: Big fat zero, mate. Bricks and mortar for us thanks we’ve had too many tent disasters between us to even delve into the tent life again. We aren’t very good at survival in the elements!
Who are you most looking forward to seeing at Reading & Leeds this year?
Han: A fair few on our day, Machine Gun Kelly who I’ve never seen before! Be good to catch up with the Faim guys, and I wanna see Yungblud. I put on his first ever London show in a 100 cap room, so it’s been cool to see him grow since then and hopefully see him smash the main stage.
Which of the headliners is your fave?
Jim: Foos coz they’re just a legendary solid rock n roll band in a world that’s forgotten what rock n roll is. We respect them so much, and we’re super grateful for them taking out us four idiots on the road with them. They’ve gotta be our faves, really!!!
Who would you like to see top the bill in 2020?
Han: I mean I’d love to see Bring Me headline Reading & Leeds, I think it’d be really important for UK rock music, and I think they’ve more than earned their stripes, but I think next year it’s gotta be someone like The Strokes?? Surely!
Do you have anything special planned for your set, like new material or a flashy stage set up? Do you have it all worked out yet?
Jim: You’re gonna get a sparkly energetic Hot Milk show, just like we always do. When we come to play a show, we fuckin play a show and for R&L we’re just gonna do our thing, unapologetically.
What else have you got coming up this year?
Han: We’ve got some stadium shows with Foos before Reading & Leeds but after we’re gonna stay busy and keep touring all throughout the back end of the year. We’re also gonna try and find time to write in the middle of all of that somewhere and record the next record. WE LOVE BEING BUSY!! Also, I gotta move house at some point too, fuck.
Taken from the September issue of Upset. Reading & Leeds takes place from 23rd-25th August.
