Get to know Melbourne punks Vermont ahead of their debut EP

Vermont are fairly new kids on the scene but they’ve already made quite the impact. The Melbourne four-piece have a penchant for writing meaty, grunge-inflected rock songs.

They’ve cut their teeth touring with a slew of genre heavy-hitters like Stuck Out, Stepson, Pridelands, Rumours, Reside, The Comfort, and Foxblood and now they’re gearing up to release their debut EP, a self-titled offering out Friday, March 27th.

We’ve already had a taste of what’s to come with previously released single ‘Ruin’, and a brand spanking new cut ‘Solace’.

‘Solace’ is a call to arms for all those that have dealt with the oft-crushing feeling of anxiety. The track harks back to the heart-on-sleeve confessional songwriting of Taking Back Sunday. Gleaming guitars carry Joshua Swanwick’s emotionally-charged vocals, all culminating in that bellowing chorus.

“‘Solace’ is a glimpse into an anxiety-driven sleepless night, and the act of putting walls up and faking a smile during the day to avoid confronting the demons that cause anxieties,” the band explained in a statement.

To celebrate the release of ‘Solace’ and the bands forthcoming EP, we sent through a couple burning get to know questions. Check out what they had to say below.

Watch: Vermont – ‘Solace’

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1. How did your artist name come about?

So, this is a little bit of an interesting story behind this. We were incredibly stuck for names and we knew we didn’t want something incredibly cheesy as a name so we did what any sane person would do… we headed to Google Maps. We searched the map and came across the suburb of “Vermont” and it just stuck. Mind you, we all live nowhere near the area but it just had a certain ring to the name.

2. How would you describe your music to your grandma?

It is always a tough one to describe to the elderly what our music is, but we think our go-to answer is usually something along the line of “imagine The Beatles but with a lot more noise”. In our words, it just easier to say the devil’s music and they usually get the picture.

3. Tell us about a few of your tracks; their titles and what they’re about?

‘Ruin’ is a song that describes growing up and becoming a person that you don’t necessarily want to be, constantly causing an inner battle between who you are, who you want to be and who everyone else thinks you are.

‘Solace’ describes how anxiety can be similar to living in a toxic relationship that you can’t seem to pull yourself out of. And just how in those types of relationships you want everyone to think that things are great, but in actual fact they are far direr than you let on.

4. What do you love about your hometown?

Well, what is there to say about the Westside of Melbourne. The reputation of Werribee is usually enough to describe our feelings towards this area. But if it wasn’t for this hometown, we wouldn’t have been able to form the band with the members we have currently.

5. Career highlight so far?

It would probably be playing the sold-out show at Cherry Bar mid-2019 supporting Reside along with Loose End and Placeholder. It was an awesome night surrounded by friends and family, bevs and good tunes!

6. Fave non-music hobby?

For most of the boys, it would have to be sports. Most of us play soccer and have a deep love for the game except Curt, he is more of an AFL guy but he goes for North Melbourne so make what you will of that. Some of us also enjoy a bit of gaming in our downtime like FIFA or Rocket League.

7. What’s on your dream rider?

Honestly, I don’t think we have even thought that far ahead. I would think that as long as there was good pizza, bevs and unlimited Sour Patch Kids then we’re all good!

8. Dream music collaboration?

Good question! I reckon if we got to work with the boys from Boston Manor, Trophy Eyes or The Story So Far that would be sick. Just having one of them do a guest appearance on one of our tracks would be incredible. We would definitely be having a fanboy moment if that ever happened.

9. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully, in the next 10 years, we will be playing shows all around the world to sold-out rooms! We have big ambitions and hopes that with hard work and the right amount of luck that we will get there.

10. What’s your go-to karaoke song?

‘Untouched’ by The Veronicas. There is just no other contender.