We sat down with Vanitas during this year’s Bloodstock, a few hours before they took the headline slot on the EMP stage for Friday night. The group is easy to spot with their black-and-purple-themed outfits only adding to the cinematic feel. 

The band originated through gradually accumulating members at college and university, with singer Jade Maris giving a vocal lesson so the band could "see if she was a hench vocalist". Her incredible ability instantly won them over and secured her slot in the band that was yet to be called Vanitas. 

Guitarist Mitchell Barlow went on to say about their second guitarist that "I found the lovely Elijah Storer from knowing that he was obsessed with Kingdom Hearts". This video game would go on to be crucial in the band's story, with their name being a character from it. The final lineup was completed after their first EP and a selection of shows were played, with drummer Jackson Cann completing the five-piece. Jackson is proud to say he found the band, not the other way round: "I was at the first EP launch, at the front!" 

This may have been the group’s first time playing Bloodstock Festival, but not all members were unfamiliar with the event. Maris had attended back in 2021; she said she came "with my friend's band Fury when I did some backing vocals for them". However, there was definitely a sense of how special it is to return in a band of her own. 

The group has been busy this year, but all agreed that their Bloodstock appearance was a major highlight for them. Maris said they'd been "planning and looking forward to this for months and months" and they certainly felt as though it had paid off. 

Luckily, they had the time to watch and support some of the other great artists in attendance at the festival - they highlighted Lamb of God, Sellsword, Nevermore and Slaughter to Prevail. Their enthusiasm and appreciation for being around such talented artists was infectious, with a special appreciation for seeing "deathcore on the main stage", which was certainly a topic of conversation throughout the weekend.

Vanitas certainly are not slowing down, with the promise of "new gigs, new music and new other things" on the horizon. All members are clearly looking forward to the band’s future, with the festival seeming like a great stepping stone in the right direction. Maris discussed the multitude of live dates they have coming up for the rest of the year as well as confirming they will "definitely be releasing some new music before the year’s up". 

Emily Teague

@eastereverywhere

Image: Tim Firth