MATTY FROM BIIG TIME CHATS NEW ALBUM AND UK TOUR

BIIG Time was born from the creative synergy between DMA’s guitarist Johnny Took and PLANET’s singer Matty Took, and let me tell you right now, the new tracks are sounding amazing. With four DMA’s albums and a global fanbase, particularly in the UK, Johnny Took is well-acquainted with arenas and main-stage festival performances. Matty’s band, PLANET, released their debut album, Information Overload, in 2022 which for the record is one of my favourite albums. This saw them supporting Liam Gallagher on his solo tour.

Formed five years ago, the band is a unique side-project that blends the brothers’ shared musical vision with influences from late ‘90s and early ‘90s grunge-pop. Their standalone debut single It’s You, released in 2020, left fans intrigued and eager for more. After years of anticipation, BIIG Time has finally announced the release date for their long-awaited debut album ‘200K’, which is set to drop on Friday, May 2, 2025.

The announcement came with the release of their first shoegazey, emphatic, and big-chorused single, ‘Bigger Than Nothing’, which Matty describes as quintessential BIIG Time, “It’s our first release since ‘It’s You’ back in 2020. It’s harmonies the whole way through and distorted guitars. Lyrically, it’s full of tongue-in-cheek self-deprecation and floating in and out of the feeling of not being good enough for people and situations around you.”

Explaining their process of producing 200K, Matty describes the album as, “A collective of songs put together organically. There isn’t even a theme as such, it’s more just a massive collective of songs that we put together and took from there.” You can feel the relaxed vibe in how they created the album, not just in the music itself, but also in the way the band talks about their natural approach to creating music. I think these qualities are a big part of what makes not only Biig Time, but all three bands so successful.

Recording the album was a laid-back and chilled experience Matty tells me, pieced together over weekends at a Melbourne studio the brothers had access to. “We just thought, ‘Let’s do an album!” Matty explains. “Every weekend, we’d go in for two nights, have a couple of beers, write, and record. It wasn’t like the hectic experience of a big studio where every second feels like it’s costing you twenty bucks; it was relaxed and creative. The album has a Frankenstein vibe, but it worked for us. Some songs were written six or seven years ago, and we revisited them to polish them up, while others were shaped more recently. Stylistically, it pulls from late ‘90s and early ‘90s grunge-pop.”

Adding poignancy to the release, Bigger Than Nothing’s video features never-before-seen, deeply personal, fly-on-the-wall home video footage of the brothers’ childhoods in Sydney, opening a window into the “lifelong friendship that shines through their songs and harmonies.” Matty reflects on the sibling bond that’s central to the band’s sound, “We wanted it to have harmonies going the whole way through, which is reminiscent of what we used to do when playing cover sets in old bars. There’s something about sibling harmonies that makes the sound really tweak. The track is upbeat, roof-heavy, and fun, it captures the spirit of what we wanted to achieve with the album.”

Working with a sibling comes naturally for Johnny and Matty, whose personalities complement one another. “We’ve always gotten along really well, it’s always been very chilled,” Matty says. “We’ve similar personalities in some ways but different in others, and that balance works well creatively. We both have our own ways of working, and those methods complement each other.” The duo sees BIIG Time as an enduring project, one tied to their unbreakable sibling bond. “It’s something that’ll always be there,” Matty shares. “Writing, recording, and playing music is something we’ll continue to do. It’s always there to revisit, no matter what else we’re doing. It could go anywhere, and it’ll still be there even if we’re 80 years old.”

BIIG Time’s official announcement also follows high-profile live warm-ups on the Australian dates of Courteeners and Jamie Webster. Now, the duo looks forward to a nine-date UK tour to celebrate the release of 200K. Opening at Belgrave Music Hall in Leeds on May 14, 2025, the siblings promise festival-field-ready vibes and unforgettable performances.

Matty reflects on the break he’s had since last performing with Planet, “Getting back on stage after nearly two and a half years was refreshing. Playing live again felt like a breath of fresh air; it’s such an amazing feeling to be performing again.” For Matty, the UK has always been special, particularly Liverpool, where he lived for six months. “I love it up north, the people there are awesome. It’s the best!” I’ll skip the emoji eyes and just say, funnily enough, I agree with him.

Talking of the North, I recalled a few highlight gigs in Sheffield that had included the Leadmill and Tramlines festival. “The Leadmill is such a great venue, I love Sheffield as well,” he recalled. I shared my own experience of having seen PLANET at the Leadmill and at the This Feeling stage at Tramlines, where their set had been greeted by torrential rain, adding an almost cinematic atmosphere to the set. Matty fondly reminisced about the gig and Sheffield’s vibrant music scene, which he holds in high regard.

Fans can mark down May 2, 2025, as the release date for 200K, which will be available in various formats. Tickets to their UK tour are available now. This is something you will not want to miss in person, BIIG Time promises big moments along with even bigger emotions.The tour starts mid-May in Leeds. Tickets for all shows below are on sale now at https://linktr.ee/BIIG.TIME

Wed 14 May – Leeds, Belgrave Music Hall
Thu 15 May – Birmingham, Castle & Falcon
Fri 16 May – Keele, Keele University
Sun 18 May – Bristol, Strange Brew
Mon 19 May – Glasgow, Room 2
Tue 20 May – Stockton, Ku Bar
Thu 22 May – Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
Fri 23 May – London, Tufnell Park Dome
Sat 24 May – Manchester, Gorilla