Mên An Tol are embracing the true spirit of folk music, and already gaining a steady following. Drawing inspiration from The Cranberries, The Pogues, and The Waterboys, the London lads have accumulated over 6,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone, which in today’s music industry is no small feat.
On 14 March 2025, the folk rockers released their debut EP — The Country — a compelling introduction to their unique sound. Blending indie elements into traditional folk, they are breathing new life into the genre with a revival that feels both fresh and familiar.
They have proven their distinctiveness yet again with their latest single ‘Not Ideal’, produced by Fontaines D.C.’s Carlos O’Connell. It is the first taste fans have of the band’s upcoming second EP This Land, which is due to release on 26 September 2025, in preparation for their tour opening for Cardinals the same month.
With gorgeous guitar sound, Mên An Tol’s latest track treads the line between traditional and delicate, whilst harnessing the heavier aspects from their influences. With resounding vocals offering a hint of grunginess — and balanced, springy guitar work contrasting it — ‘Not Ideal’ blends both elements to form a sound of softness and clarity, polished with a steady drumbeat.
Frontman Bill Jefferson descried the track as being fuelled by the idea that “to burn with desire and keep it quiet is punishment”. Exploring themes of unrequited love and emotional restraint, he distils it all into one beautifully crafted track.
The lyrics contrast the song’s tranquil tone, as Jefferson admits he was “In and out of (his) mind” and “rewinds, lives, it all the time” — a hard-hitting reflection on emotional turbulence. It is the raw honesty that elevates the track, resonating with anyone who has experienced the helplessness of spiralling sadness.
Producer Carlos O’Connell said that he “Found a real beauty in working with them, seeing a band at such a formative stage, with intent and vulnerability at the core”. Comparing them to his own band, he claimed “It was just a treat to be reminded of the early days, before the masses have made up an opinion on the spirit of something”.
‘Not Ideal’ sets high expectations for Mên An Tol’s upcoming EP. As rising voices in the folk and indie scenes, the London channel the spirit of traditional English and Irish music — reworking it with a distinct, modern edge. With this momentum, it is clear that the best is still to come.
Words by George Connell
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