Mumford & Sons: We’ve never sought celebrity and that’s not going to change

Singer Ben Lovett said the band always put their music first
“Loving it”: Marcus Mumford on stage
Mike Gray/Music Pics/Rex
Alistair Foster20 November 2015
The Weekender

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Mumford & Sons have topped the charts in the UK, the US and Australia with their third album — but star Ben Lovett says the band will keep putting music first and never chase fame.

The musician, 29, says the four friends are closer than ever as they were today announced as a headline act at Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time in Hyde Park.

On a break in their world tour, Lovett, who went to King’s College School Wimbledon with lead singer Marcus Mumford, told the Standard: “We’re loving it. I think taking a bit of time off in 2014 has really worked out for us. I feel like we’re closer than we’ve ever been as four guys. You can never come to expect that when you’re working so close with people for such a long time. It can definitely go the other way. Marcus and I go back 21 years now — that definitely plays a part. We’re committed to spending a lot of our future together and sometimes the pressure of that can wear and stuff.”

The band’s new album, Wilder Mind, saw them depart from their traditional folk sound. Lovett said: “I think a good thing is that on this third album we definitely just went with what we wanted to do and followed our instincts. That’s galvanised our creative relationship.”

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Lovett, who formed the band with Mumford, Winston Marshall and Ted Dwane eight years ago, insists they will never be distracted from music.

“I think we’ve done a good job of [avoiding fame],” he added. “We don’t foster it and we don’t try to drive our faces to being the front of what we’re about. We’ve always been music first and when we need to represent our music, we do it.

“But I think we’ve done a good job of avoiding trying to make ourselves bigger than our music, as individuals and people — and that’s where the celebrity comes in I guess. Every now and then there’s bits and pieces that can just be a little bit tiresome, but then I think people get bored of our faces and just go back to the songs.”

Lovett described Hyde Park as the “holy grail of London gigs”, adding: “We wouldn’t be doing it unless we thought we could smash it.” They will be joined on the bill on July 8 by Alabama Shakes and Wolf Alice.

Tickets for BST go on sale next Friday from bst-hydepark.com

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