Five Favourites with The VANNS
Indie rockers The VANNS returned last month with the stadium rock single, ‘Up All Night’. As the lads gear up for the release of more new music in 2025, we chatted with guitarist Cameron Little about their latest track, touring the States and his favourite rock anthems.
Interview Tobias Handke // Image supplied
Congrats on the new single ‘Up All Night’. What’s the main inspiration behind the track?
Thank you! I’d say the main inspiration behind the track thematically is having a whole bunch of life questions and not being able to find answers in the places you’ve been looking, and feeling quite overwhelmed and exhausted by that “search”.
Holy Holy’s Oscar Dawson was behind the boards. What’s it like working with him, and what does he bring to the table?
Oscar brings a lot to the table. I feel like he really understands where we want to take a song sonically, and he’s such a skilled producer and musician.
There’s a real arena rock feel to ‘Up All Night’. Was there a conscious decision to write a rock anthem, or was it just the way the song turned out in the studio?
I never really sit down to write a “rock” song, so that’s definitely something that it naturally turned into, given how Jim sings it and how we all play together as a band. We messed around with a bunch of different ways to approach the song musically, but it seemed to work well as a more rocky song.
It’s been a huge 12 months for The VANNS, which included performing in America for the first time at SXSW in Austin, Texas. What was that experience like?
It was a great experience! I’d never been to the US before, so I was excited to just go over there and see what it was like. The shows were heaps of fun, and the BBQ was top notch.
You’ve also supported the likes of The Kooks and The Wombats. Is it ever intimidating sharing the stage with huge artists you admire?
It’s not really intimidating, but it’s exciting to play with these huge overseas artists and play some of the best venues in the country. Because both of those bands were cool people and really sweet to us, they made us feel very welcome, which helps to quell any intimidating thoughts that might arise.
How did you find performing for American audiences compared to Aussie crowds, or is it all pretty similar?
I’d say they are pretty similar, and it was cool to see American fans show up to our sets at what is primarily an industry festival, too!
What does the rest of 2025 have in store for The VANNS?
Lots in store for the rest of the year! More music, and a whole bunch of shows in the backend of the year.
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The VANNS’ five favourite arena rock songs
AC/DC – ‘Thunderstruck
Live At Donington was the first CD I ever purchased. Them opening with ‘Thunderstruck’ at that concert to a MASSIVE crowd is one of the most epic live moments in rock history.
Queen – ‘We Will Rock You’
Need I even elaborate on this one? Everybody knows it, everybody loves it, and I just feel like whenever they played that song live it would have been the funnest song of the night for the band and the audience.
Mötley Crüe – ‘Kickstart My Heart’
This song is so huge, and the opening guitar tremolo bombs sound like a motorbike taking off. I can only imagine that seeing this live with Tommy Lee hanging upside down in his drum cage would have been the stuff of dreams for “stadium rock” fans.
AC/DC – ‘Moneytalks’
AC/DC gets two mentions in this list, because this song (especially the Live At Donington version) is my favourite AC/DC song. While it’s a great rock song, it’s also a great song in general. I actually really enjoy playing this song on piano in a more stripped-back manner, and I guess the hallmark of a great song is that it can work both ways (although I wouldn’t hold my breath for an official AC/DC piano version).
Dire Straits – ‘Money For Nothing’
Just a classic song. One of the best build-ups to one of the best opening riffs ever. I guess it’s not “stadium rock” by definition, but I have a hunch it’s rocked many stadiums over the years, so it makes the list.
Stream The VANNS’ new single ‘Up All Night’ here.
