“Music means a lot to most of us, it sure were an escapism for me, and being passionate and excited about something you love and shared with people definitely dominated my school and college years, You Me at Six were one of the bands that were core memories during that era for me.”
Words by Emily Otter, 25, a Sheffield-based tattoo artist and long-time fan of You Me at Six.
Back in January, You Me at Six announced that their 2025 tour will be their final tour. They’ll be ending their 20-year-run by travelling around the world to celebrate all their achievements as a group. Achievements such as their debut album, Take Off Your Colours, reaching 25 on the UK charts. An incredible album, that introduced us to singles such as Save It for the Bedroom and Finders Keepers. Their albums Cavalier Youth and Suckapunch peaked at Number 1 in the UK, and independently in the Scottish Album Charts. They even won the category for Best British Band at the Kerrang! Awards in 2011.
Credit: Dani Wilgress
As nice as it is to achieve so much, the legacy they leave will not be in the charts, but in fans’ hearts.
That’s why I’ve spoken to Emily Otter and to Georgia Knighton, 25, on their love for You Me at Six, and the memories that they hold dear. Georgia was around 11 years old when she first heard Reckless, their fourth single from their 2011 album, Sinners Never Sleep. One listen and she was hooked! After listening to the whole album, and with help from a friend, she was a fan of alternative music, but especially a fan of You Me at Six.
“That period of time was quite hard as I was struggling in school and YMAS’ music really helped me to get through each day.”
Always having a soft spot for Sinners Never Sleep, Georgia was able to see them live during their tour for VI. It’s the memories around seeing them live that gives that the top spot in her favour, along with Suckapunch’s track Finish What I Started being her favourite song.
Similarly, it was around the time of Sinners Never Sleep where Emily fell in love with You Me at Six. As a collector of Rocksound and Kerrang! Magazine, and a watcher of the late Scuzz and Kerrang! TV, she first heard Underdog and adored it. Then they dropped Loverboy and the whole Sinners album dropped. She was thoroughly in love! The album became the staple of her teens. Interestingly, though, her favourite song’s The Swarm, a single written to launch Alton Tower’s ride… The Swarm.
“The chorus is an earworm, and for a rock band, the bridge goes mad hard.”
It was these early days, sharing music with her friend group, that has become one of Emily’s favourite memories of You Me at Six. Sharing music was one of the biggest forms of love for her in school, and she claims one of her friends ended up an even bigger YMAS fan than she was! It was here that Emily expressed the sentiments seen at the start of this article.
Both of my interviewees have had the luck of seeing You Me at Six live multiple times! Georgia has seen them plenty of times and claims they’re one of the only bands who are consistently incredible live. Emily shares this sentiment, stating: “A lot of people say they’re a hit or miss band live, but the times I’ve seen them I thought they were amazing.”
Credit: Dani Willgress
Georgia’s favourite memory of YMAS involves seeing them live. Her mum took her out of school to go ‘to the dentist’, and in the taxi her mum revealed they were actually going to get the train down to Birmingham to see them with 30 Seconds to Mars. It was an extraordinary night, where mum and daughter could see their favourite bands together.
All good things come to an end. As You Me at Six announced their farewell, both my interviewees were shocked and heartbroken. Georgia was surprised, seeing as they were still so popular, and felt like it was the end of the era. Emily was less surprised, just shocked from (what she assumes) is the nostalgia of the band.
“I know Josh is doing a lot of smaller DJ sets, but I do hope the individual members still work in music somehow, they’re very talented fellas.”
The 20th year is a nice, round end to their runtime. While the five of them will remember every milestone, and every little achievement, we will always remember what the music meant to us.
My final question to my interviewees was ‘what is something you would say you YMAS, if given the chance?’
For Emily, that would be: “Thank you for the memories! And no doubt they’ll be doing a reunion tour for the Take Off Your Colours, Hold Me Down or Sinners Never Sleep 20th anniversary, so if that does happen, we might see you again one day.”
Georgia would like to say: “Thank you, I have made so many memories with you and going to your gigs were amongst some of the best years of my life.”
Of course, if they choose, we would always welcome YMAS back with open arms.
The fair well tour kicks off in October, touring across the pond with Enter Shikari and will continue until April 4th. Tickets having been selling fast, but there are still some to grab if you’re quick!
Thank you, You Me at Six. Goodbye.