Making their debut at the Takeover event at Download on The Doghouse stage, Change Persona are living out their life long dream. A band created while they were still in school, they have reached for the stars and have a hunger for more. From South London, with roots in the DIY scene they have various influences that helped shape their Punk style and music. Aggy Gillon had a chat with CJ Fulcher (vocals and lead guitar), George Mann (rhythm guitar) and Owen Chester (bass guitar) where they discussed the origins of Change Persona, their latest album release and new music on the horizon.
So, you guys played the Takeover stage on Wednesday. Did you have to apply more than once to get there?
In Unison: No, first time.
Quite a few bands have applied numerous times before getting there. so that’s amazing, well done! How long have you guys been together then?
Conner: Sixteen years. We formed in 2009. We’re a high school band.
You look really young to have been going for that long.
Owen: Yeah, we just got together in school and decided let’s start a band!
George: The funny thing is we decided to start a band before we could play any instruments. It was a case of like “You go away and learn bass and I’ll go and learn guitar”
That’s so cool and you guys made it happen and look at you now playing Download!
Conner: I know, what’s that all about.
So what does it mean for you to play here?
Conner: Everything! This is the biggest thing we have ever done. We didn’t think we would and here we are. It’s just an absolutely immense and amazing time. This whole weekend as well has been such a good time. Now we have a taste for it, we want more! *laughs*
So, you are still getting to enjoy the bands as well, that’s great, Are you all camping this year?
George: Owen is.
Hard core!
George: The rest of us have taken the wuss route and have got an airbnb down the road. *laughs* The problem is what do you do with your guitars and stuff in a tent
Who has been your number one band you have managed to catch this weekend?
Conner: Green Day I’d say.
George: Yeah they have been one of our biggest influences. If you were to say who are the bands two greatest influences we would say Green Day and Rise Against and we got to see them on the same day.
Owen: I would say Rise Against. They are my favourite.
Who else are you going to see?
Conner: We saw Spirit Box, they were absolutely amazing. If we can catch Bullet we will have a look.
Owen: Steel Panther and Korn.
Can you tell us about any albums and EPs you have out right now?
Conner: We released an album in 2024 called ‘Perfect Fake World’ and that is our most recent. It was the first album we have done that sounded different to anything we have done before. Other recordings we have done have been quite limited in terms of how it sounded.
George: Very DIY.
Conner: And also the way that I wrote songs as well back then was very narrow minded. I was like “this needs to be punk rock, this needs to sound like this”. But this is the first album where I have said sod that, I’m just going to write what sounds good to me. Broaden the horizon a bit with the writing. I think so far it’s the best stuff we have done.
George: I think as well as that the whole production quality. Like I said before it’s all very DIY. This album we recorded with Meyrick who is the singer of Exist Immortal, he is our producer. In the studio he added ideas and things. The overall quality we are really happy with.
Conner: We are also recording in September this year so we should have some new music dropping pretty soon.
So you said your music has changed a lot over the years. Did you have a vision for that or was that something that came organically?
Conner: It was organic. I just got sick of writing about the same thing again and again. It wasn’t fun anymore and I just wanted to do something that sounds good and that we all enjoy. Luckily these guys have really enjoyed it as well. So we’re just going to keep going down the route and just do what we like basically.
Have you guys got any more shows in the UK after this?
George: We have a punk festival in Uxbridge, just outside of London on the 27th of September. We are also playing the Rebellion Fringe up in Blackpool on Sunday the 10th of August.
Nice one. We cover Rebellion as well and that is such an amazing festival. Of course you can’t compare the two as they are so different but Rebellion must be an amazing festival to play.
Conner: Yeah I think it’s two different sides of the same coin. You have got very punk orientated Rebellion sort of bands and then here you can just go heavy as fuck basically. You can have the most brutal bands
George: And also pop like Mcfly! *laughs*
Conner: I do quite like how they are branching out a bit.
Is there anything you would like to say to your fans or anyone reading this article just discovering you?
Conner: We are very grateful to everyone who listens to us and comes and sees us. We really appreciate all the feedback people give us as well. Basically it’s what gets me out of bed in the morning. I don’t think I could choose any other life than I have now doing this.
George: I would say if you haven’t heard us then give us a chance on Spotify. Give us a listen and see what you think.
Interview and photo by Aggy Gillon