Photo: Richard Gray
It takes some work to make it as a two-piece. But Kent punks Slaves have managed not only to carve a career out of their crunching sound, but have become one of the biggest buzz bands of 2015.
But despite playing to thousands of fans at Leeds Festival, the duo are keen to point out they didn't come up the easy way. After forming in 2012 Laurie Vincent and Isaac Holman believe their first years of touring have helped shape them as people as well as develop their sound.
"I think it helps you develop social skills," they told us when we caught up with them backstage ahead of their huge Leeds Festival set. "You have to be nice to everyone when you first start out. When you have to ask the landlords for a tenner for petrol, and speak to everyone, and that's where the best stories come from."
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"We're at the pinnacle now when we're playing festivals to lots of people, but the funniest stories when you're in a band come from the dark days when you first start," they explained.
Despite recently signing to a major label, the band were quick to counter the cliche that their message could be diluted. "People say 'sell out' or whatever," said Laurie. "But since we signed to Virgin, they have the budget to help us explore our ideas. Sometimes when you are on a small label you are limited."
Their set was well received by a sizeable crowd , but the band remember where they came from in those 'dark days'.
"The smallest crowd we've ever played to was one bloke in Cardiff once," said Isaac. "He was waiting for someone else and I don't think he enjoyed it!"
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