The large golden letters on the draped burgundy stage backdrop are impossible to ignore. There is no need, they highlight the incredible tale to date, igniting what  have achieved in a short space of time.

An ecstatic reception, the south London crowd have been anticipating this gig moment, without a doubt. Amid an intensity that is about to reach a crisp emotional high, the band walk on stage to rich applause. It’s a big, energising moment.  

Selling out is no casual event for anyone, it will always require something special, and this indie rock band have what it takes. If they ever had anything to prove, they crossed that bridge a while ago.

With a new chapter in progress, the latest album ‘Matter Does Not Define’ is the Wigan act’s best record yet. Bolder, with a solidified belief in what they do, it’s a fine account that wins heart and mind in no time.

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The self-assurance that surrounds the band now could not be more fitting, the band members nod in agreement when the point comes up in conversation. Songwriter believes that some of this is down maturity, a couple more years of experience makes the difference. “Confidence has grown it in all aspects, really. You learn who you are, and as you get older, you get more comfortable in yourself.”

It’s a real confidence that does not limit itself to rehearsals, or the live stage, but is visible right across the board, it stretches to the third studio album. Quite rightly it’s what they deserve, having worked hard on songs that mean so much to them and the fans. believes that little can go a long way in this industry, as the band continue to pick up new insights they add to the knowledge bank.

“All the different little processes and little intricacies that you just don’t know until you’ve experienced it. We are naturally just getting older, we’re still young, but with certain things we’re more organised and have a clear-cut vision of what things are, and what we can do to progress.”

Having a bright vision comes in handy in creative terms, Moore believes. Added to that is the combined awareness of having more time and space to do things, and doing more work pre-production is a way to make better use of time in the studio. 

“I feel on this record, we had a lot of pre-production, a lot of demoing, letting the songs live for a bit, especially for the live aspects of it where it’s got so tight musically, when we take it into the studio. It’s almost like a muscle memory kind of thing, before you begin recording it. I think that it helps to shape the tracks naturally.”

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It’s a hugely transformative thing altogether that impacts the process of making an album, says . “Obviously, sometimes you go in and you’re in the studio and you’ve got a matter of weeks to record an album, letting it work itself out. There was a lot more room for creative inputs and having enough time to try things and experiment.” 

Moore views the overall sense of progression as vital. “We want to progress every album that we do. So having that time to experiment a little bit, try out new things and think more about the sonic. The sound of the record is key, because we want to move forward and keep evolving, not get stuck in one place.”

By no means a unique position for a band, however, it feels distinct when they discuss it. It’s a different band now, in the best way possible. The evidence is there. “It’s been cool to see people’s initial reaction over the last few weeks,” he continues. “Because it’s the first time we’ve ever played some of the songs live in an intimate setting where there’s nowhere to hide. It’s nice to hear people saying that they like the sound of the new ones before they have heard them properly.”

The sense of an acute emotional openness for this project seems undeniable, yet Moore begs to differ. The songs have always been real, conveying intimate messages, lyrics about vulnerability and personal struggles faced by people just like himself, young people who aren’t necessarily born into great privileges. 

“That’s just how I write. I’ve always been quite open. It’s a lot easier now that we’ve got so much support and backing from other human beings. Obviously, if other people are digging it, you are going to be more confident about it. You are going to think ‘this is good, people like this’. I’ll probably always be open, because that’s what proper music is, real music that means something. 

“It’s not just throw away,” he insists. “I think that’s a running theme throughout our records, it’s how I write. It’s natural experiences, they make me write words. I have a fascination with words, I love wordsmithing. It is good to talk about yourself.”

There’s talking about yourself, doing so with an ability to turn some of it into songs, and write music that become part of a full-time profession, a career. Talking about life, experience and emotions. Learning, understanding and sharing it is what they do now. 

“A lot of it are life lessons that have bled into the music,” reflects Moore. “I think we’ve learned more about ourselves in terms of who we are as people, what we want to achieve and what we want to take from life, really. Stay savvy, be happy and enjoy it. But stay focused.”

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It’s a magnificent story, a story they work hard for, alongside the fans. “It’s a real community,” decides “Everybody’s joining in and helping out and getting involved. We are seeing an increase in the number of people that are into our music, and we hold onto people that already knew of it. That’s a massive win in any regard.”

It’s a measure of the level of support, the power that fans can have for an artist. After all, it’s real people that believe in what they are seeing. The charts are one way to measure it. “Getting that number one album is testament to the fan power that you have, the connection you have with people,” Moore concludes. “You only get that by being true and being real.”

Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Or so the saying goes. The Lathums’ body of work is out there for the public and the fans to enjoy, and there is only reason to be proud. The band know it.  

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‘Matter Does Not Define’ is out now.

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