British five-piece You Me At Six are showing no signs of stopping their ascent to claiming the pop-punk thrown. Years of relentless touring and three records culminated in the release of their fourth, and most successful album yet, Cavalier Youth and since its release in January things for the band have amped up tenfold.

Speaking about the band’s incredible success guitarist Chris Miller told us that “it all went a bit crazy really, the album went to number one in the UK, so that was awesome, we did a UK tour, we’ve done loads and loads of festivals all summer, and now we’re gearing up to come back to Australia. The shows in the UK and overseas are starting to get a bit bigger and it looks like the album has had a really positive reaction.”

After a string of festival appearances that will see You Me At Six playing stages right across Europe, lead guitarist Chris and co. will be heading back Down Under, for the fifth time since 2010, and the second this year.

“It’s just like a touring holiday really, it’s awesome, the weather and all the people are lovely. It’s just nice to travel so far away from home and people still want to come to your shows and cheer you, it blows my mind how music can travel so far across the globe and still react with people.”

The boys are fresh off a stellar night at the 2014 Kerrang! Awards where they came out on top in two categories. They beat the likes of Bring Me The Horizon and Iron Maiden to be crowned ‘Best British Band’, for the third time, as well as picking up ‘Best Single’ for their track ‘Fresh Start Fever’. They were also nominated for ‘Best Album’, ‘Best Live Band’, and rhythm guitarist Max Helyer also found himself nominated for ‘Hottest Male’. Not bad for a band that almost called it quits five years ago.

This time around it was the cohesive nature of their laid back approach the band took to recording the album that has helped it reach the success it has in its first six months- surpassing their previous albums in first week sales and reaching number one on the UK Charts.

“This time there was really no qualms or problems with recording, we all had a really great time. It was probably one of the best experiences we have had as a band.” Explains Chris.

“We did it in LA again (as with 2011’s Sinners Never Sleep). Previously on other records we all lived in our own apartments and so we’d all been separated, whereas this time we all lived in one massive house together. We lived in a mansion in the Hollywood Hills with a pool, it made it a really social atmosphere between us. Then recording with Neal Avron was amazing, he is a super laid back guy but he’ll work you really really hard. He actually had a studio in his back garden, so we did the drums at one studio and then did everything else in his studio. We’d always go around for dinner with his family, and we’d go out and do activities so it was a nice family atmosphere.”

This experience resulted in the band creating what they believe to be their best record to date. “We are still just as proud of the album now as we were when we first wrote the songs or recorded the songs or put the ideas together, we are all really really happy with it and to be honest, I don’t think we’d change anything about it. I think it’s done everything we wanted it to do.”

“We are still just as proud of the album now as we were when we first wrote the songs”

There is always a sense of urgency and excitement that spreads throughout a fanbase when the prospect of a new album arises. What will the new sound be? Which will be the favourite track? This excitement isn’t lost on the band either. Especially for You Me At Six who had spent the better part of two years touring off their previous release.

“It’s always refreshing, its almost like playing in a new band really, even though you’re in the same band but playing new songs. It switches it up and it’s really exciting because you’re used to playing the same bunch of songs hundreds and hundreds of times so when you get a new selection it’s great. It makes it tempting just to play the new stuff but obviously you have to try and rein yourself in and play the old stuff as well.”

Luckily for Chris and the rest of his band mates, their loyal, global fanbase have taken strongly to the band’s new sound. Where their last release moved between a number of different musical styles, Cavalier Youth seems more sure of itself and its direction, and the band are enjoying taking this new sound to as many stages as possible.

Last here in January touring with Paramore, You Me At Six were treated to sold out venues and a weeklong heat wave, but not even that could stop their return. They’ll be hitting the road for a five show run this September, bringing Sydney locals Tonight Alive along for the ride. The pair toured the States at the end of last year, but You Me At Six are excited to be on the road with them in their home country.

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“We’re bringing out Tonight Alive, your fellow Aussies, so that’ll be fun. We always love touring with those guys. We’ve known them for years now, and we are really really good friends. There’s a lot of drinking going on and a lot of having fun. And it’ll be nice to tour with them in their home country, we’ve never done that before.” Says Chris.

For some it may be hard to believe that You Me At Six have been doing this for 10 years. After forming in 2004, releasing two EPs before their first record in 2008 and jetting off around the world soon after, it has been a long journey.

“Time always does fly by but then you look back on it and you realise how much you’ve actually done. It’s a weird one because while you’re doing it, it feels like nothing and then we look back and we think about the amount of times we have gone on tour and been to different countries.”

Speaking about the surreal feeling of the band being a decade old, Chris explains “It’s crazy when you think we are all still 23-25, when you say oh we are going back to Australia for the fifth time, well I’m only 24 so how is that even possible? Many people haven’t even had the chance to visit these places once in their life, yet we have had the privilege to do that.”

“We were just a bunch of dumb sixteen year olds and we have managed to get this far”

Starting out so young may have been the best decision for You Me At Six. Now, in a genre that is becoming increasingly saturated with similar acts, the band has managed to carve out their own corner of the scene.

“To be honest, we were just a bunch of dumb sixteen year olds and we have managed to get this far, I’m not really sure how it happened but I just think we were really lucky in that the time that we started and the songs that we were writing there was a real gap for a band like us. We really appreciate being able to do it for this long and keep it going. We are able to earn a living from something that we love doing. We made our hobbies into a job.”

It seems the skies the limit for these British pop-punk lads. They’ve toured the world multiple times, played some of the biggest festivals on the global calendar, even provided the soundtrack to a rollercoaster and got their single in FIFA 14, so what is next? Well for Chris it might just be the movie business.

“If we could use a song for anything it would be a movie trailer or be on the sound track or the end credits to a film. That would definitely be one that I’d want. I’d probably pick something like “Room To Breathe”, or one of the heavier tracks, and have it in something like Transformers. Yeah, something like the Transformers soundtrack would be really cool.”

You Me At Six Australian Tour Dates

FRIDAY 5 SEPTEMBER BRISBANE, EATONS HILL HOTEL – Licensed All Ages
SATURDAY 6 SEPTEMBER SYDNEY, UNSW ROUNDHOUSE – Licensed All Ages
TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER MELBOURNE, THE HI-FI – Under 18
WEDNESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER MELBOURNE, THE HI-FI – 18+
THURSDAY 11 SEPTEMBER ADELAIDE, HQ – Licensed All Ages

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