A Minas gig really offers an immersive dose of catharticism, fuelled by the escapism of yesteryear. “The ‘90s rave and ‘80s punk scenes were such strong movements [formed] through music” the producer explains. “I just love how much it influenced people and made them feel part of something bigger than themselves. I just wanna create that at my shows, that feeling of being together, whether we’re all venting about what’s upsetting us or whatever.”

It’s an ethos that radiates out of latest track “B&R”, an off-the-cuff political vent, termed by the artist ‘ramblepunk’. Written in the space of an hour, with abrupt, toe-curling lyricism – ‘It’s like two clashing skulls made of rusted iron / I’m a lion and you’re a mouse / This country’s my house and your ass will be handed to you in advance’ – Minas impersonates the egotism of the US and UK’s recent leaders, in a critique at their approach to governing.

It’s a thorough introduction to the spirit of upcoming album All My Love Has Failed Me from the South-Wales-raised producer, determined to reflect the stories of his origins in his work. And, what interesting those are, having grown up in the circus, with parents who were heavily involved in the ’80s punk scene. We chat about his upbringing below, plus new single “B&R”, and how the ethos of punk and rave scenes shape his artistry.

Head below to listen to “B&R” and read our chat now…

Hey Minas! Where are we chatting to you from today?
I’m currently in Mile End, London

Apart from this interview, what’s one thing you hope to get done today?
Have a decent brekkie and studio session I’d say

Talk to us about “B&R”! How did it come about and what were you hoping to convey with the track?
To be honest, I hadn’t really thought about it much beforehand. I wrote it in like an hour, just ranted on my notes app on my phone and shouted it over this simple instrumental I’d made on my laptop while my housemate was making pasta. I’d made the music on the train home that day just trying to make old ‘80s rock ballads sound gross by flipping and stretching and reversing the bits I’d sampled. In a sense I guess I just wanted to convey that moment in time, I’d been looking way too much at the current state of the country and got myself wound up so needed to vent.

All My Love Has Failed Me, your upcoming album, is due on 11th November! Congratulations, first of all! How does “B&R” fit in within the record as a whole?
It’s the first track on the album, when looking at the tracks as a whole I felt like it worked as a kind of introduction to some of the sounds that were to come as well as a fat opener. I didn’t wanna slowly ease people in or anything like that if you get me.

The track channels your frustrations around the political climate of recent years. Were you planning to explore this in your work or did it just come out one day in the studio?
Well, I was one of those people who used to be like, “Ah I don’t give a fuck about politics, they’re all liars and don’t sound like me.” But it’s probably more accurate to say I just didn’t understand it and was only interested in other things growing up. It wasn’t until Jeremy Corbyn turned up that I was like, “what’s the hype here then?” He seemed to just be talking common sense to me, so I was surprised to find that was out of the ordinary and the more I looked into it the angrier I got. So when writing this album I just had to vent about that and other things I was going through. I don’t have a diary, I just have this as my outlet really.

You had what sounds like a really interesting childhood, in the circus! How do you think those beginnings influenced the artist you are today?
It definitely influenced my music and my life. We were all outsiders to the norm, whatever that is. It kinda stayed with me that feeling throughout life. Initially, I hated it, hated that I couldn’t fit in, hated that I was a “weirdo” but I see it is a strength now. It’s allowed me to make the music I do and anytime someone connects with it it’s like finding a new part of my tribe. People should celebrate being weird, or whatever makes them them. I think being obsessed with fitting in can threaten your capacity to have your own personality.

Did you pick up any secret circus talents along the way?
Haha, did I fuck. I tried a few though: rope, straps, a bit of static trapeze and Chinese pole, but I was always transfixed on the live band in the shows. Dylan was the drummer and it felt like he controlled the whole show from his drum stool. He kept the rhythm and pace of the show and cued the performers and the other parts of the band as the show changed scenes.

The 1980s punk scene is a big influence in your work, we gather, due to your parents’ involvement in the scene when you were growing up. For you personally, how do you find that spirit manifests in your work?
Yeah fully, as well as the ‘90s rave scene. I feel like they were such strong movements through music. I just love how much it influenced people and made them feel part of something bigger than themselves. Whether it was in a sweaty punk crowd screaming or even spitting with the band or in an illegal rave, pinging and telling strangers you love them. I just wanna create that at my shows, that feeling of being together, whether we’re all venting about what’s upsetting us or whatever. My girlfriend’s Dad said when he heard my music for the first time that it’s like it gives you a right to be angry, that was sick to hear.

You hail from South Wales, which like many regions of the UK perhaps isn’t abundant in music industry opportunities. What’s your favourite thing about your local scene and what would you love to see achieved there in the coming years?
To be honest in the last couple of years, especially since the pandemic, even with minimal opportunities the scene has grown and artists from all kinds of genres are at shows supporting each other. There’s a sound coming from Wales that is authentic to what we deal with there, our outlook on life and it’s just proper exciting to see and be a part of. I work as a producer outside of my artist stuff, with artists all over the UK and strangely I feel lucky to be from Wales and Greece too. There’s an edge to what I do which means I can bring something different to whatever I’m working on.

And for you as an artist, what’s the ultimate goal that you would like to tick off?
This is gonna be maybe a cliche answer, I dunno, but I guess in a way my ultimate goal has already been ticked off. I’ve made music that’s authentic to me, I’ve not tried to hop on a trend and people are connecting with it. If I can keep doing that, I guess that’s the ultimate goal.