| In this age of political disillusionment, financial instability, rising unemployment and unpopular war, it is astonishing that our music scene has not thrown up more protest culture as it has so vitally done in the past. Perhaps this gap can now begin to be filled by The Agitator.
At this crucial election moment, and the draconian financial cutbacks to follow, the Agitator has something powerful to convey to the many who have retreated into cynical apathy and inertia, who need some hope, vision and excitement to prompt their re-engagement and stir their energies.
But all this is just hot air if the music is not great. ‘Get Ready / Let’s Start Marching’ is the thundering debut AA single from 23 year old Derek Meins, aka The Agitator. Sharp, inspirational and steeped in intelligence, both tracks revolt against “the blatancy of social injustice, astonishing greed of the wealthy and unbelievable ineptitude of our politicians”.
The Agitator’s music, both on record and live, hits you hard - stripped down, bare and bullish, an apt soundtrack for this coming age of austerity. A return to music’s pure primal elements – just voice & rhythm. Though contemporary and innovative their sound also contains classic ingredients harking back to the fifties, and even the depression-era thirties.
Looking like his skinny frame just strolled in from the Grapes of Wrath, Derek’s rallying-call songs unashamedly tackle political themes but aim to inspire and energise rather than arrogantly dictate some dubious, utopian five-year-plan. With just his momentous force-of-nature voice and the pounding drums of Robert Dylan Thomas (former drummer of The Maccabees), he creates a visceral experience unlike anything else around.
“I wanted a new kind of music, nothing more than banging, stamping, clapping and vocals, something anyone could do anywhere – on a march, at a protest, but then it grew. We added a drum-kit, and that sounded great, then we went in the studio, and being a massive Public Enemy / NWA fan from when Hip-Hop had some social concern, we gave it some of that, and suddenly all the power we were looking for exploded out at us.”
Inspired by the DIY ethic of other socio-political songwriters like Billy Bragg and Joe Strummer; The Agitator likes to make his voice heard in public, holding court at his monthly politically-driven club night in Camden, the aptly named ‘Soapbox’ where he has already collected a growing army of loyal followers.
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