The VANNS released their third studio album today, All That’s In My Head, sweetening the news with an announcement of an album tour kicking off in October. 

All That’s In My Head is an 11-track record that flexes the growth and durability of the group, impressively released only two years after their second hit album, Last Of Your Kind, in the midst of an ambitious tour calendar, which they set the cadence for when forming in 2015.

The Music spoke with Jimmy Vann ahead of the album release, who said that releasing their third album felt pretty surreal, acknowledging it’s no longer theirs but out there for everyone to enjoy their versatile sound.

“It's pretty versatile, I’m not gonna lie, but I feel like we've always made our albums quite versatile, sonically and even lyrically as well. We haven't been afraid to experiment with what we can and make a great record - for us anyway,” he explains. 

“And all my favourite records that have ever been released are so versatile. We shouldn't restrict any form of what we want to make.”

Millionaires is what Jimmy describes as a “broken-down, really acoustic” track, whereas others bring a Radiohead-esque quality.

It’s clear when listening to the album that they have the wealth of music knowledge and capability among them that has culminated in a label-free good time from start to finish. Half of the album was recorded in London and the other half in Wollongong, adding to the intrigue and easy charm of the album.

Fans of Oscar Dawson (Holy Holy) will see his fingerprints on this project, producing their third album as he did their first, Through The Walls, in 2019. Returning to Dawson for a second time sounded like a no-brainer for the group, who had become friends since their first joint success.

Vann notes, “I was like, ‘Hey, would you be interested?’ We're keen to dip our toes back in because it was not only a great experience in the musical sense, but we've grown like such close friends, and we can really break down all the barriers of how we record and what we do and just approach it a little differently.

“Oscar, he's a bit of a nerd, and he loves trying new things. I feel like he challenges us as artists, you know, like we've always been a really live band and going into the studio playing live… It's kind of nice just to separate things a little bit and concentrate more on parts. We feel really comfortable with him. He just feels like a fifth member of the band.”

The boys have marked the milestone with a string of sold-out launch party shows to tease out their new material and get up close with their fans, a cornerstone move for the four-piece indie outfit. Despite the success of The VANNS, Jimmy was adamant that sharing these experiences with fans was and will always be the sweetest part of the deal.

“We don't always get the opportunity now to do something really intimate. So, half of it's the show, but then the rest is going out and just like, chatting to the fans and, you know, just being a punter as well,” Vann tells.

“So it's not like, ‘Here's the show, catch you later’. We just want to make it a bit of a party, if you will. And connect with people and hear their stories about, you know, what the songs have done for them.”

Jimmy also noted that touring and connecting with the audience gives them a pulse check on what is landing, which could be why The VANNS always bring a tight and tested set to the many shows and festivals they have played over the years.

“If people sing the words, it's a good thing. If they stand like stone mullets, well, back to the old stuff,” Jimmy laughs.

One of the early album track releases, Accomplice, received a fast and fervent response from fans, as well as from those not yet plugged into the Wollongong-based group. Accomplice even made it to Brazil, with calls for The VANNS to consider taking their tour to South America.

“Honestly, we’re a bit blown away with what's happened with Accomplice lately. I get told ‘Oh, it's, like, blowing up in Brazil’, and all this stuff's happening. It’s super cool, so maybe we need to venture over to that part of the world,” Vann teases.

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment that The VANNS became one of the founding faces of modern Australian indie-rock music, but their triple j accolades and festival circuits have done them well to cement themselves in the minds of music punters.

The VANNS take on Bon Iver’s Hey Ma for triple j’s Like A Version in 2020 became a defining moment, now sitting at over 8 million streams and placing at number 32 on triple j’s Hottest 100 of Like A Versions.

Their previous album, Last Of Your Kind, debuted at #8 on the ARIA Albums Chart and became their second Feature Album on triple j, following Through The Walls. In 2023, The VANNS were named number 17 on triple j’s Most Played Artists, a testament to the constant momentum building around them.

The last of the sold-out  All That’s In My Head launch shows is on August 7, playing at home in Wollongong.

The VANNS kick off their 20-date national tour in October with tickets now available via the band’s website.

THE VANNS

ALL THAT’S IN MY HEAD TOUR

OCT 24 Margaret River, The River
OCT 25 Fremantle, Freo Social
OCT 31 Adelaide, The Gov
NOV 1 Melbourne, The Forum 
NOV 7 Brunswick Heads, Hotel Brunswick
NOV 8 Brisbane, Princess Theatre
NOV 13 Mackay, McGuires
NOV 14 Townsville, The Warehouse
NOV 15 Cairns, Tanks Arts Centre
NOV 20 Hobart, Wrest Point Casino
NOV 28 Sydney, Metro Theatre
NOV 29 Newcastle, King St Bandroom
DEC 13 Thirroul, Anita's Theatre
JAN 2 Port Macquarie, Finnians
JAN 9 Central Coast, Drifters Wharf
JAN 10 Dee Why, Dee Why RSL
JAN 15 Torquay, Torquay Hotel
JAN 16 Frankston, Pelly Bar
JAN 17 San Remo, Westernport Hotel
JAN 24 Canberra, The Baso