SOUNDS MINT: A FRESH TAKE ON LONDON LIFE, RAW + UNFILTERED

PHOTOGRAPHY MAX KESSELL - STYLING BENJAMIN WULF - PRODUCTION STOW STUDIO - WORDS MAISIE JANE DANIELS

sounds mint are back with their new EP One Day We’ll Make It Out Of Here, ‘Til Then; - a raw and riotous soundtrack for the priced-out, burnt-out, and still-somehow-dancing.

Tapping into the undercurrent of frustration that pulses through a generation, the London four-piece aren’t just making noise, they’re making it mean something. Their sound is sharp, unfiltered, and chaotically alive. But beneath the punchlines and power chords is something deeper: a real sense of reflection, community, and a quiet question: what if we turned all this noise into noise that matters?

In this exclusive, frontman Kelvin, drummer Rudy, guitarist Rob, and bassist Layla talk us through making music in a country coming undone, why they’ll never sugarcoat a lyric, and how their live shows are anything but minty fresh - in the best way possible.

Maisie Daniels: Welcome to F Word! Let’s start from the top, how did the name sounds mint come about?

Rudy: Well, we did a session with our mate Amin, he and Kelvin had two sea foam green / mint bass guitars so we decided on MINT, then a band from up north in the UK sent us a cease and desist over the name with threats of a battle of the bands to decide who gets to keep it. Our instagram was sounds mint anyway which funnily enough is a northern term for something being good. So we decided that was a much better and more unique name.

MD: Your new EP One Day We’ll Make It Out Of Here, ‘Til Then; is loud, raw, and emotional.Where were you emotionally when it came together?

Kelvin: Frustrated state of mind, but also motivated, which alludes to the title.

Layla: So many emotional states we went through.

Rudy: In a place of repetition, wanting to break the cycle of monotony. I think it’s important to convey a strong feeling or emotion in music, that makes it relatable to the listener.

MD: Where did the title One Day We’ll Make It Out Of Here, ‘Til Then; come from?

Kelvin: It’s a mantra of motivation around why we made the project. A love letter to that feeling of wanting to get out.

MD: You’ve described it as “a second chapter where seeds start to sprout.” What were you growing through, as people and as a band?

Rudy : Just life really, we all live it but our individual experiences and most importantly our perceptions of things be that positive or negative. As a band just evolving our sound which casts a wide net but seems to have a sonic spine.

MD: You’ve said you “don’t sugarcoat lyrics.” How important is that no-bullshit honesty in the world you’re building?

Kelvin: Yeah I think it's like a central part to what makes us who we are, and sets us apart. We actually aim to be as unfiltered as possible, and I think there’s a lot to be spoken about and we don't wanna be too safe. We don’t wanna play it safe, you know? We want to actually provoke people in good and bad ways. Bad ways if they need it. If this music offends you in any way shape or form, then you’re probably one of the c**** that I’m talking about. I just write what comes into my head. I'm not necessarily a troll, but I'm definitely an observer, and I think my aim is to get exactly what's in my head down on paper and then into the song, you know?

MD: You’ve called this record a response to the absurdity of London life - isolation, escapism, dysfunctional systems. Can you expand on that?

Kelvin: Yeah, that’s a lot of it. It’s just me being reflective, and we live in a very upset time. So a lot of these scenarios make it into the songs.

MD: Let’s talk “Where’s Wally”, it’s sarcastic, sharp, and class-conscious. What’s the core message behind that track?

Kelvin: Probably divide. It's what we were just talking about. Certain themes that are inside that song apply to a small percentage of society. I'm sure they wouldn't like to hear that, but it's basically. just like, identifying them, because a lot of them try to blend in and fetishise “normal life”. But we actually live in normal life- it’s not just a holiday to us.

Layla: I think it just sheds light on the state of the world. And in quite a humorous way.

Rudy: It’s a very cheeky song but if you listen the message is not so light hearted.

MD: The video for “Where’s Wally” looked like pure chaos - in the best way! What was it like shooting that in the city, dressed as Wally? How did people react?

Rob: It just felt free, basically. Do what I want, speak to anyone, have fun. It was kind of inspired by that classic British show from back in the day, Balls of Steel.

Rudy: With Rob on the ground and us in the sky communicating through a single hidden airpod we instructed Rob to wreak havoc on the unassuming public, who were more than happy to get involved on most occasions. Balls of steel is a great reference. Impractical jokers too. It was a very fun shoot, probably the most fun music video to date. Will be hard to top.

MD: “Incel Saviour” started as a one-note bass idea and evolved into a full chaos anthem with STONE. What was that process like?

Rudy: Kelvin and I made Incel Savior very late in the studio one night and then we showed the band and it did not hit. They did not like the song. So we put it in the vault and ignored it, and then six months later, we were listening to old demos and Finn from STONE was in the studio and he wanted to do a verse on it, and that's how it became the song.

Kelvin: He breathed life back into it, really. He was like “This is f****** sick”.

Layla: It’s one of my favorites to do live, definitely. It’s a fun song.

MD: Rudy, you mentioned the groove for “Zombies” came out of boredom, just waiting in the studio. Do those unplanned, scrappy moments often lead to your best work?

Rudy: Haha, I think my best work is always unplanned and never forced! I generally never do more than two or three takes per song. Trying to replicate ideas I come up with on the spot never sounds as good and really takes the feel away from the groove. It’s rare that I get to just enjoy the drums on their own, so when I can, I make the most of it. And if a song comes from that then great.

MD: From post-punk grit to 2000s nostalgia and J Dilla grooves, this EP is a melting pot of styles. Is that genre blending intentional, or just what happens when you're all in a room?

Kelvin: I mean for me it's not intentional. I think I just like to play my favorite s***. Whatever I'm like f****** buzzing off. If I'm buzzing off a certain type of hardcore, punk or math rock it’s whatever I’m listening to that week. And that type of music just ends up coming out into the sonics of how I want the tracks to be. But, you know, I love all types of s***. So there’ll be all types of of genres in there. That ultimately is what makes it Sounds Mint.

Rudy: Yeah I don’t think we have any restrictions on our sound or what we want to create, we can be inspired by anything. Right and wrong doesn’t exist its just personal taste and finding new ways to combine already established elements.

MD: From hosting a football tournament to working with Brixton Soup Kitchen and City Harvest, your community-first mindset is real. Why did you want to tie community action to this release?

Kelvin: Just if there's anything we can do to bring people together, help someone else. That's what this is about, you know, trying to make a difference on any sort of platform that we have. So it's nice to do, man. We’re nice guys.

MD: You’ve played with Blur, STONE, Connie Constance and live shows clearly mean a lot to you. What does performing unlock that the studio can’t?

Kelvin: That’s a good question. Performance is everything for me man. I think it's the only place where I can actually let go and explore parts of myself that I probably keep at bay in the day-to-day, even in the studio. There's just so much energy that you get off the crowd and then you give it back to the crowd, and it's this exchange of energy which is pretty addictive. And I think there's no feeling like it. Can’t be recreated anywhere.

Rudy: It unlocks confidence and experience, even if you are playing to 10 people, gotta impress every single one of them. You only get better at performing by playing shows so any opportunity to improve and grow is a blessing and must be taken.

MD: What can fans expect from a live performance?

Kelvin: Sweat. They can expect a lot of sweat. A lot of swearing. Just a lot of f******, well, I head banging basically.

Rob: Yee, that way.

Kelvin: Don’t come if you’re scared of getting loose. Or do come if you’re scared. We’re very loving people. It’s okay to be scared.

Rudy: High energy and entertainment, big family vibes where everyone’s welcome, we know the day ones that want a pic after the show, we love chatting to people, catching up and building the community.

MD: What is your music trying to make sense of?

Kelvin: The world.

Rudy: Ourselves hahaha.

MD: What annoys you the most right now?

Layla: The fact that it’s so expensive in London. Also the fact that there’s no beaches nearby and it’s grey and rainy in July.

Rob: My bank account.

Kelvin: Same.

Rudy: Not being able to do what I love everyday.

MD: The UK in three words...

Layla: Goth, Adidas...crumpets.

Rob: Job seekers allowance.

Kelvin: Lovely, Rainy, Seedy.

Rudy: Inspiring, depressing, comforting.

MD: What’s next for sounds mint?

Kelvin: Go on a world tour. Try to play to everyone. Get on everyone’s doorsteps like Jehovah’s witnesses.

Rudy: more of the same, more fans, more exposure, more releases, more interviews, more tours. Everything and more, building this house we call home brick by brick.

MD: And finally... this is F Word magazine - what’s your favourite "F” word?

Layla: Feline, because I love cats. Or fierce...I like that one too.

Kelvin: Fucking. It’s probably the word I say the most as an in-between word when I'm just thinking.

Rob: Foraging. I don’t forage at all, though. I guess you could also say failure.

Rudy: Fuck, its the most expressive word for a reason.

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