"They're essentially a snapshot of the present..."
It’s safe to say the past year has been extraordinary for Mên-an-Tol. The London-based five-piece is set to release their second EP, 'This Land', on September 26th through ADA Music, just six months after their debut EP, 'The Country', in March. They have performed at Glastonbury, shared stages with artists like Yannis and the Yaw, Miles Kane, and The Libertines, held a residency at Camden's Dublin Castle, recorded a session for BBC Radio 6 Music's Steve Lamacq, collaborated with Fontaines D.C.'s Carlos O’Connell, and completed their first performances in mainland Europe. Overall, it’s been a noteworthy year for a band that began performing just two years ago. A discussion with vocalist and guitarist Bill Jefferson provides more insight into the essence of Mên-an-Tol. Regarding their 2025 releases, Bill states, "All the songs come from a similar era, you know. It’s not like we worked on one and then switched to the next. We just had a wealth of songs, and they represent two sides of the same coin. They’re somewhat a snapshot of the moment."
Bill, who grew up in Cornwall, began playing acoustic guitar and performing traditional Cornish songs in local pubs, along with Irish and Scottish tunes at an early age. “They were quite relaxed about contributions to music. My parents would be in the pub, and I’d go down with my acoustic guitar and join in,” he recalls. The band’s name is pronounced as it is spelled. Mên-an-Tol refers to a Neolithic standing stone site in Cornwall. Its purpose remains uncertain, but one stone is particularly notable; a circular holed upright stone. One legend suggests it promotes fertility. “I just recently discovered a picture of my mum passing through it from years ago,” Bill laughs. The band includes Felix Know (mandolin), Max Silvey (bass), Tom Stevens (drums), and Robert Wiseman (guitar), who all met in a pub in Camberwell, Southeast London. “I still live there with Robert, above the pub. Felix was working in the kitchen, and Tom served behind the bar for a while. Max, the bassist, hasn’t worked there, but he was a close friend of Felix’s when I first met him. We still sometimes write and rehearse together there as a band.”
Their bond was solidified through a conversation with mandolinist Felix Knot. “I got to talking with Felix one day there about music in general. I mentioned a folk guitarist named Nic Jones, not to be confused with Mick Jones from The Clash! As I talked, Felix was like, 'Yeah, that’s one of my favorite albums.' I had never come across anyone who knew of him, let alone that it was among their favorites. We hit it off immediately and started jamming together with the mandolin. The others just sort of joined in. We hadn’t been practicing long before we took on any gigs we could find, like at The Old Dispensary, which is basically an open mic night in Camberwell. It happened so fast that we felt we had something decent, but it wasn’t like we spent years refining a sound; it just clicked.”
Their second EP, 'This Land', revolves around a theme of optimism, especially in folk music. “For us, the folk aspect is more about the soul of the music, akin to folk music being the music of the people,” he explains. “We aimed to write songs that are for and about people. The folk element, for me, is that people can sing along and connect with it. This EP is just an extension of that, I suppose. They’re songs that, hopefully, people can relate to. They stem from an authentic place, honest songs offering a bit of escapism, not necessarily from something negative, but rather a musical escaping into a world of optimism. The title, 'This Land', is perhaps a somewhat political statement, though I’m not particularly into political music. I don’t want to mix the two, but subconsciously, it has come off as somewhat political. The main lyric is about unity and how this country can be a good place. Many post-punk bands can be quite grim, whereas I think together we are stronger, and we can feel pride in this country, including all people.”
This sense of optimism is central in the communal title track, highlighting the unity of people from various backgrounds. “I recognize things are tough, but there's no progress in just dwelling on the negativity. I believe you must look toward a brighter future and have faith to see it. The melody of that song is derived from the Scottish tune 'Wild Mountain Thyme'. There’s a part in it, 'and we’ll go together,' which reflects that sentiment. I think it’s likely a Jacob
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It’s safe to say that the past year has been extraordinary for Mên-an-Tol. The London-based five-member band will release their second EP, titled ‘This Land,’ on September 26th.