VERMONT // The Kids Aren’t Alright

Vermont’s latest EP, Mature Minds For Overzealous Kids, proves good things really do come to those who wait.

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The Melburnians dropped their last EP back in 2020, and followed it with a string of singles, leaving us desperate to see what else they had up their sleeves.

We were lucky enough to give the record a spin before its release and chat to frontman Joshua Swanwick about how it all came together.

Hysteria: Mature Minds For Overzealous Kids is such a standout title. Is there a story behind it?

Joshua: We tried to base it on albums we listened to when we were younger. Pop-punk ones where the album title had a bit more to it. We wanted something a bit more playful.

You’ve mentioned the EP was a year in the making. Tell us how it came together and why taking that time was so important for you all.

We had just released a track when COVID hit. We were hoping to play off it and do more, but then with everything that happened with the world, we couldn’t. We had the time to sit down, so we focused on refining our sound. We took a step back and looked at what we could do better. We then wrote all the tracks, went over them several times and tried to hone in on the sound.

Listening to the EP, we thought it was lyrically very introspective, drawing on human experiences and growing up. So, what inspired it?

It wasn’t so much inspired by things from childhood, but instead things we all go through. I think a lot of those experiences have been highlighted over the past few years, especially for myself. A lot of conflict, relationship-type stuff and how you deal with it. You often deal with a lot on your own, and I think COVID definitely highlighted that.

My reasoning behind songs does not have to be the same for someone else. I’d love for people to sit down, listen to the lyrics and pick and decide what the song will mean to them.
[ Joshua Swanwick, Vermont ]

What was it like working with Sam Bassal? 

It was great! The music projects he’s been part of these last few years have been incredible. He’s got such a solid music mind and so many ideas. We have wanted to work with him for a long time. We’ve been trying to set it up for a few years, even before we got to this EP. But being in Ocean Grove, he’s a pretty busy dude.

With COVID, he had that break, so we jumped on it. He had heaps of ideas. We went in with everything, and he broke it all down, took the best parts, and worked through them. Then he added his flair, and that’s what we ended up with.

Imagine you could tour with any artist or band, dead or alive. Who are you picking?

At the moment, Bring Me The Horizon. They were a big thing for all of us growing up, and that hasn’t changed. Their music has changed, but their influence on bands like us hasn’t.  Touring or working with a band like them would be massive. 

What do you want listeners to take away from the EP?

My reasoning behind songs does not have to be the same for someone else. I’d love for people to sit down, listen to the lyrics and pick and decide what the song will mean to them. We try to write music that other people can relate to. And even if they’re not going through the same things, it might mean something specific to them and help them get through.

What’s next?

We’re hoping to play as many shows as possible. We’ve never been out of Victoria. We want to go interstate and play with as many bands / get in front of as many people as we can. COVID took shows away from us, and we’re loving having them back, so we want to do as many as possible.

Purchase and stream here.