Villanelle<\/a> have spoken to NME<\/em> about new music in the works, feeling \u201clocked in\u201d as a band, and plans for a huge 2027 on the horizon. Watch the full interview above.<\/p>\n The rising UK rockers caught up with NME<\/em> backstage at Mad Cool 2026<\/a> last week, where they told us about how they\u2019d been smashing festivals and the Warped Tour in America, alongside playing The Great Escape<\/a> and Neighbourhood Weekender in the UK. They also looked ahead to some major slots at Reading & Leeds<\/a>\u00a0and playing alongside their heroes Deftones at London\u2019s All Points East x Outbreak<\/a> next month.<\/p>\n Having previously told us about feeling apart from much of the guitar music scene<\/a>, the grunge four-piece said they were now finding themselves as part of a community.<\/p>\n \u201cWe feel so left out, man!\u201d joked frontman Gene Gallagher. \u201cAt my old school in kindergarten, we had one of those friendship bus stops. I feel like they need to make a band one of them! We don\u2019t bite!\u201d<\/p>\n Bassist Jack Schiavo continued: \u201cWhen we were at The Great Escape, we hung out with a lot of the bands that played with us there. The guys in Die Twice, then you\u2019ve got mutual friends and guys like Bleech 9:3<\/a> who are on their way up big time \u2013 we\u2019re familiar with them and we like their tunes.\u201d<\/p>\n Guitarist Ben Taylor agreed: \u201cThat\u2019s what was nice about doing America. The UK circuit is quite self-contained until you go out over there. It was nice to meet some people that you normally wouldn\u2019t. Bec Lauder supported us on the last tour; that was really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n But for now at Mad Cool, they said they\u2019d just settle for practising their Spanish and hanging about by the bins waiting to meet headliners Foo Fighters and Dave Grohl<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019m friends with Dave, man,\u201d said Gallagher. \u201cWe go way back!\u201d<\/p>\n Gallagher had previously shared that their single \u2018Placebo\u2019 is \u201cabout heightened visualisations of post-session anxiety\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what any of that means!\u201d he replied when reminded of the quote. \u201cThat\u2019s been thought up in a boardroom somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Perhaps, but how\u2019s he getting at handling the hangovers as the tours get heavier and summer begins?<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had to have a haircut because I was just getting trapped in my own hair follicles,\u201d he told us. \u201cI need to spread my wings and break free. I\u2019ve taken the reins, and here I am. Today\u2019s the day.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond Duolingo and freeing himself from his own mane, Gallagher said he was fixed on new material \u2013 with an EP due by the end of the year and hopes for an album after that.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just straight, absolute vibes,\u201d shared drummer Bleu Wright. \u201cThe shows are going to go crazy. We\u2019re at a point where when we\u2019re creating, we\u2019re so locked in with each other at the moment. The other day, we had a little rehearsal and came up with a little jam that could be a new one. Who knows? We\u2019re at the point where we\u2019re flowing together with so much.\u201d<\/p>\n While Schiavo said his go-to was always \u201cunder-promising and over-delivering\u201d, Taylor hailed their incoming new stuff as \u201can evolution of what we\u2019ve been doing this year, and we\u2019re cemented as a band now\u201d.<\/p>\n Gallagher agreed: \u201cSome might say we\u2019re locked in! We\u2019ve been very busy this year, so we\u2019ll see. We\u2019ll see! We\u2019re drunk, so leave us alone.\u201d<\/p>\n After Taylor told us that \u201cnext year is looking pretty big, but there\u2019s not much we can say right now\u201d, we had to ask if it involved the band rejoining Gallagher\u2019s dad on the road<\/a> again \u2013 but this time for the long-rumoured Oasis Live \u201927<\/em> tour<\/a>?<\/p>\n \u201cWho the fuck is that?\u201d Gallagher replied.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about us, man!\u201d asserted Taylor. \u201cNext year will be the year of Villanelle\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Schiavo added: \u201cAnd every year after\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Villanelle\u2019s \u2018Measly Means\u2019 EP is out now, with the band due to perform at All Points East x Outbreak in London and Reading & Leeds in August.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n You can revisit all of NME<\/em>\u2019s coverage from Mad Cool 2026 here<\/a>.<\/p>\n NME is the official media partner of Mad Cool.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"Villanelle,](\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/villanelle_Credit-Simon-Emmett_1.jpg\")