You Me At Six frontman Josh Franceschi believes the UK government hasn't supported the music industry amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking during an exclusive Daily Star Facebook Live today, the 30-year-old singer songwriter opened up about the band's new album Suckapunch, as well as life during lockdown.
Josh admitted that he misses performing live for fans and believes the industry has been left "in a hot mess".
"Our government have completely let down the music industry as far as I can see," he said.
"I would ask the people supposedly running this country to do their jobs a bit better."
Referring to how travel and touring across Europe will be affected due to Brexit, Josh continued: "It’s left us in no man’s land as musicians. The freedom of movement has been vasty affected, that’s for sure. It's game over."
Speaking about the effect the pandemic has had on You Me At Six, Josh admitted: "We’ve essentially not made money for 18 months, because our last gig was in 2019.
"Yeah we get royalties and our records stream well, but I’m gutted for younger bands who were just about to have their first big London gig."
Sadly, You Me At Six will not be able to promote their new album in the usual way – but Josh said they will be interacting with fans via social media.
"It’s the closest thing we’ll have to any sort of connection with our fans," he explained. "We have plans but they’re all on ice."
Speaking about Suckapunch, he added: "We wanted to make an album that moved people, not just emotionally, but physically as well.
"It’s definitely a record with a lot of energy and it's the record that I recognise as being the most important.
"It has so many shades of our band, but the one common denominator is that it’s laced in energy and angst. I think it’s come out in a really good way.
"When you’re making an album, it really is just whatever emotions have been bottling up collectively and that’s really how those emotions take life – through the record."
Suckapunch was made in Thailand after a tumultuous year for the majority of the band, and the album's themes are rooted in reflection and redemption.
The band have used hardships as a catalyst for empowerment, creativity and progression.
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