English lads Futures have had a highly successful year despite being unsigned until Mercury Records finally had them sign the dotted line. They’ve headlined Slam Dunk, supported Kids In Glass Houses, released their debut mini-album The Holiday and have headlined their own UK Tour. Katie Wright speaks to front man (vocals/guitar) Ant West about it all – past, present and future – before their gig at Newcastle’s O2 Academy.

How has 2010 been for you?

It’s been really amazing so far.

It’s been really busy, you’ve only been touring as Futures for a year though.

Yeah we started the band in August last year and then played our first gig in September (the bands first gig sold out) so to come this far in a year is pretty cool.

You decided to release your debut mini-album The Holiday free with an issue of Rock Sound Magazine. That issue became the biggest selling copy of the magazine for two years. Did you expect anything like that to happen?

Nah, we didn’t think it would. We thought it was an amazing idea, it was really initiative but we didn’t expect that response and neither did the magazine.

What did it mean for the band to have something like that happen, for the album to be so well received when you were still unsigned and just about to headline Slam Dunk?

It was a great idea cause that was instantly like 25,000 copies of the album out there and people had it to listen to. It was a big stepping stone for us really to get into peoples stereos.

Is there a general concept running through the album or is each song different in terms of ideas and inspiration?

The general thing is positivity, and over coming anything really like relationships or everyday stuff so the songs are different but the general idea is keeping positive.

You headlined the Kerrang! Stage at Slam Dunk and you did support slots with Kids In Glass Houses this year, how beneficial were these to the band and have you managed to reach a much wider audience through the events than you would of if you hadn’t of had that opportunity?

Yeah definitely, Slam Dunk was a real turning point for us. We had still played less than 50 gigs as a band where as some bands have to do a lot more and a lot more tours to get to where they are. For us it was like, what we’ve done with Rock Sound obviously worked. It was crazy being offered to headline it and actually playing there. KIGH helped us get to more people too.

You were then signed by Mercury Records, is that more beneficial than the tours or was it more important has that been in terms of support, stability and finance?

Yeah it’s more beneficial in a way because being signed to Mercury opens so many doors.

What have they helped you with so far?

They’re a big label and part of Universal so they have money to help us out with different things like tours.

You’re bringing out your new full length album next year, is that going to be similar to The Holiday and keep to what made you famous in the first place or are you experimenting and stepping out of the box?

Yeah next summer, it definitely has a different feel to it, it’s got sort of the same concept running through it but the actual music I think is a step up from The Holiday. We’ve listened to different music and got more influences this time. It sounds a bit more grown up.

Are you playing any of your new material tonight?

Yeah, we’re playing two new tracks. One is called Oxygen and we just recorded it a couple of weeks ago which is going to be out as a single on November 22nd and then another song Island in the Sea.

Which song do you prefer to play live?

This tour it’s been weird because it used to be The Boy Who Cried Wolf which is the obvious one ’cause the crowd always sing-a-long. This tour though it’s been a song called Thank You which has just been wild at every gig, people sing-a-long and we didn’t expect it. We used to never play it because it was kind of a bit boring to play but now that the crowd is into it it’s amazing.

My favourites Sals Paradise

That one is definitely a top three.

If you could share the stage with one act, who would it be?

Coldplay.

Really?! Why?

They’re my favourite band it’d have to be them.

What’s been your favourite moment of 2010 and because it’s been such a busy 12 months have you had time to thoroughly enjoy it?

Yeah it has been really busy, with everything stepping up. Being in the studio was amazing and recording with Jason Perry from ‘A’ he’s amazing so doing that was awesome. This tours been a whirlwind as well.

You’ve sold out a lot of shows?

Nearly every night

Were you expecting that?

Not at all it was so weird because some of the towns we haven’t even played before. Like three months ago we played in Southampton to 50 people and then we played the other day and there was 300 and it was sold out. It’s great.

What have you got lined up for next year?

We’re going to be doing the album.

Have you finished writing it?

Yeah it’s all done, we’re going to Australia to record it.

Why Australia?

It’ll be really hot.. there’s also an amazing studio there.

Doing it in style then. What about Leeds and Reading? Are they a possibility?

Yeah we’re trying to work that out for next year, definitely. It feels like it’s going in that direction.

Would you consider doing Slam Dunk again?

Yeah I guess but there’s a lot of politics involved in festivals with what you can and can’t do and stuff like that but we’d love to it’s amazing.

For more on Futures visit their MySpace – www.myspace.com/futures