‘Hearing my music at Old Trafford was ecstasy’

When it comes to football, the 21-year-old is an avowed follower of the United faith, while many of his musical influences also derive from the North West. 

 

“I grew up in Surrey, just south of London,” he tells our matchday programme, United Review. “You may ask yourself: why then does he support Manchester United? But for as long as I can remember, I’ve loved music and, as a kid, the music that had the biggest cultural impact on me was the Manchester music scene.

 

“I felt as though I had a stronger connection to Manchester than I did Surrey or London. Bands such as Oasis and, of course, my favourites, The Stone Roses. They had such a big impact on my youth. I wanted to be like them... the way they spoke, the swag they had compared with bands across England. That rock-star energy and mentality. I wanted to be a part of that, and felt that football was the first check on the list.”

Once he’d made the choice between United and City (“the easiest decision of my life”), it was settled. Not that it made for an easy existence in the classrooms of his native Morden, where fans of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham were much more prevalent.

 

“My first memory of watching United was October 2004. Most of the kids at my school were Arsenal fans and I remember them making fun of me because Arsenal had just gone the season undefeated and were champions of England. 

 

“Being the only United fan in my friendship group was tough, but the day we ended Arsenal's [undefeated] run was the best feeling in the world. I couldn’t wait to get into school the next day – I wore my kit under my uniform!”

As the only United fan in his family, Master Peace’s football diet came largely via TV, with Soccer AM being a favourite show, due to the way it blended football and his beloved music. But when that first visit to Old Trafford did arrive, no all-powerful God could have divined a better match – August 2011’s 8-2 walloping of the Gunners.

 

“It will still go down as the best day of my life,” he says. “We took the train up to Manchester from London with our familiar foes, the Arsenal fans. To be fair to them, the atmosphere on the way up from the travelling support was great, but it just made me want to beat them even more. 

 

“What unfolded that day was the greatest thing ever. Just being at Old Trafford, that close to my heroes, was incredible... but 8-2 against Arsenal?! Are you crazy?! Imagine that being your first-ever game... and the train back with the miserable Arsenal fans made it even sweeter!”

The year 2024 is a big one for both the musician and his team of choice. Master Peace’s debut album, How to Make a Master Peace, is set to be released on 1 March, with Rolling Stone UK describing it as a ‘stunning, transformative’ work that ‘lifts sounds and energy from all corners of the 2000s indie scene, moulding it into something that’s new and distinctive’. 

 

Take a listen to I Might Be Fake, the artist’s biggest tune on Spotify, and you might hear traces of The Smiths, The 1975 and Bloc Party. Or you might just hear what the kids these days refer to as ‘a banger’.

 

“I’ve been working extremely hard on my craft over the past couple of years,” explains the man himself. “To have the support of my football club is beyond belief – when I first heard that my music was played at Old Trafford, the feeling was similar to how I felt when we won the Champions League in 2008: ecstatic!

“To all the United fans out there who want a new indie artist to support, tune in!”

And what about United this year? 

 

“I have complete faith that Ten Hag and the boys will turn things around,” he begins. “What Erik created last season, in his first season after a tough time for the club, was a huge achievement. We’ve had terrible luck with injuries and once the backbone of our team are fully fit, watch this space...” 

 

That’s a phrase music fans should probably keep in mind, too, if the early reviews of How to Make a Master Peace are anything to go by. 

 

Master Peace’s latest track, I Might Be Fake, featuring fellow United fan Georgia, is available on digital streaming platforms now.