We recently sat down with Cole Bryant, vocalist for the Oxfordshire-based alt-rockers Stud Farm Mafia, to discuss the band’s transition from teenage friends to their current high-energy project. Following the March release of their debut EP, Did You Have a Good Weekend?, Bryant dives into the “stupid story” behind their name, their penchant for satirising “bro-culture,” and the “mild homoeroticism” fans can expect from their live shows.
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Me and Nath are from a little town in Oxfordshire called Thame, our drummer Luke is from High Wycombe and cosplays as a cockney. Bassist Rik is from somewhere unpronounceable in Sweden, we had to get him shipped in, but when he arrived it turned out we had to build him ourselves.
How did you meet?
Me and Nath went to school together. We found drummer Luke in a bin outside the rehearsal studio. We had to teach him things like manners, rudimentary English, and how to love. It didn’t work. We ordered Rik online, bass included!
Ok fine, Luke auditioned for covers band Nath was doing which fell through, but a slot opened up in our band. Rik we met through joinmyband.com yeaaaars ago. I have no idea if that site is even still active!
How long have you been playing as a band?
Stud Farm Mafia is a fairly new project, but we’ve played together in various bands for years, me and Nath started playing together when we were teenagers.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
It’s a stupid story really. There a village called Turville with a great pub, me and Nath sometimes go for walks there. It’s where they filmed Vicar of Dibley and the windmill was in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. We walked past a sign saying ‘Stud Farm’ and I made a joke about us being a couple’a studs. We did a silly ‘big man’ walk and Nath joked about us being a ‘gang’ or ‘mafia’, Stud Farm Mafia, and it stuck. It funny really as a lot of our music takes the p*** out of macho, alpha-male, bro-culture.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
What are your influences?
Don Broco was a big touch stone for this band. Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Biffy Clyro, a bit of Skindred, maybe some Queens of the Stone Age
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Apart from big riffs and hooks, I think we’re very British, particularly in how I enunciate and also the sort of dry sarcastic humour you find in our songs.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Well as I’ve said, we do love to take the p***. Theres a lot about my difficult relationship with time, how stupid bro culture is, but also things like self actualisation, and weirdly some self-aware gym culture stuff too.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Over the years we’ve played hundreds together, but as SFM is fairly new we’ve only played a few as this band, expect a lot of energy and some stupid front-man antics!
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
I mean, a cavalier attitude to clothing, and some mild homoeroticism is probably to be expected right? I once carried Nath on my shoulders and accidentally dropped him on a table of unsuspecting women.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Nath uses some awesome baritone by a company called Rivolta. They’re amazing. Also a big Marshall guy!
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
Our debut EP ‘Did You Have a Good Weekend?’ came out in March. We’re very chuffed with it and we feel it represents where we’re at creatively very well.
What are your plans for the next 6 months or so?
Gigs and more songwriting! Wanna see us playing near you? Drop us a line 😉
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!
Would love to be supporting Don Broco, their new album is amazing too. Bright Black is a band I really like on the scene at the moment.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
If you want to check out more new music, then fire up ourHeadline Act playlistson Spotify and YouTube!
Stud Farm Mafia: facebook | instagram | spotify | tiktok | youtube
Related
Published by