Exclusive Interview: Christmas with… #2 Vanitas!

For the second installment of our Christmas with… interview series there was only ever one choice. Cinematic DJent pioneers Vanitas have been burning rubber all over the United Kingdom since 2022 in search of places to perform their material and with no less than three EPs under their collective belts there is plenty of that to go around. Vocalist Jade Maris, guitarists Mitchell Barlow and Elijah Storer alongside bassist Jonathan Willingham and drummer Jackson Cann all took part so without further ado, lets find out what Christmas is about in Birmingham!

This one rears its ugly head every year, so let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room. Is Die Hard really a Christmas movie? Do you have a movie you watch every Christmas?

Jade: “NO! I’m not really a big action movie gal, nor do I care for Die Hard, it’s all about Muppets Christmas Carol for me personally and I make a point of watching it every year (and in more recent years dragging Mitch into this with me).“

Mitch: “It’s set during Christmas, so therefore it’s a Christmas movie – it’s just a simple fact of life. I don’t have a Christmas watch – but I do wake up to dream theaters 6:00 at 6am, thanks to the line “six o’clock on a Christmas morning” making me laugh.“

Jon: “I agree with it being a Christmas film, but in the same way that miracle on 34th street is also a thanks giving film. I do watch the polar express each year and the Rudolph the red nose reindeer movie to get myself into the Christmas spirit.“

Elijah: “Die Hard is in fact a Christmas film and my yearly film has to be the Grinch!“

Jackson: “It’s set during Christmas so yes 100%, it is not the best however, that goes to Nightmare Before Christmas and Home Alone“

Metal Hammer contact you about doing a cover of a Christmas classic for their Spotify playlist. What are you picking to make over? A bit of Mariah Carey? Slade? or something more left field?

Jade: “Honestly I think ‘Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)’ by The Darkness could be a song that would very easily work in a ‘Vanitas’ style, it’s dramatic and the melodies are great!“

Mitch: “I have to agree with Jade, but a fun alternative – a hilariously heavy jingle bells, with blast beats and fast chuggin’.” 

Jon: “While I absolutely adore The Darkness, I’m going to have to say last Christmas by Wham! Partially so I can call a blast beat a wham beat.“

Elijah: “I’m definitely with Jade on this one, I think The Darkness would work very well for us.“

Jackson: “I think Stop The Cavalry in a ‘Vanitassy’ way with a full orchestral arrangement would sound immense.“

What will you be listening to this Christmas? Are you a fan of seasonal classics are you going to be sticking to your usual tunes?

Jade: “I try and not listen to Christmas music much until the week of because otherwise I get sick of it really quickly, I dig the classics but honestly i’ll probably mainly be sticking to my usual tunes- me and Mitch tend to put the August Burns Red: Sleddin’ Hill album on when we open presents.”

Mitch: “I got Jade into all the August Burns Red Christmas covers, so I’ll be spamming those!“

Jon: “Last Christmas I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away. So this year to save me from tears, I’m going to give it to someone special“

Elijah: “It will mostly be what I normally listen to as opposed to Christmas music to be honest, I’ll be sticking to my usual proggry tunes!“

Jackson: “Christmas Music enjoyed in moderation is the best way to enjoy, most Christmases I’ll slap the Brojob Christmas albums on for a br00tal festive day.“

Do you have a favorite Christmas treat?

Jade: “Pigs in blankets, get in my belly“

Mitch: “Pigs in blankets 1000%.“

Jon: “A bit of smoked salmon on a Ritz cracker, it goes shockingly well with some merlot”

Elijah: “Cheese board and Crackers“

Jackson: “Tub of Roses or two, bosh“

Bottle of Baileys and a Christmas movie on Christmas Eve? Do you have any family traditions in the festive season you’d care to share?

Jade: “In a similar fashion to what you mentioned to me I also tend to always get a Chinese takeaway with my family! In recent years if I’m with my Nanna she likes to go and sing Christmas carols too at a local church, not really my style of vocals but I do it because it makes her happy and generally is a good laugh and they give you free mince pies ha!“

Mitch: “I generally tend to just enjoy chilling – but thanks to one of my parents working the night shift, I always used to do a present opening on midnight, the very first minute or Christmas!“ 

Jon: “On Christmas Eve we usually go on a shopping adventure in Lichfield, and we read the night before Christmas around 11pm on Christmas eve.“

Elijah: “Just enjoying not being at work and chilling haha“

Jackson: “Always since I was a kid, new Christmas PJs, fresh bedsheets and a mince pie, bliss“

Is it straight to the presents at dawn’s crack or more of a Full English with a pint of Guinness at 11am kind of vibe at your place?

Jade: “Presents in the morning kind of vibe for me!“

Mitch: “Presents ASAP, maybe related to my previous answer (but I will have some Guinness this year…I am our bands Guinness addicted after all)“

Jon: “Presents, then food, then presents that we forgot about and probably forgot to wrap until we started cooking.“

Elijah: “Presents in the morning and of course Christmas breakfast!“

Jackson: “Presents and eventual paper cleanup is always the way!“

What does Christmas mean to you?

Jade: “I’m not religious at all personally, so for me Christmas is more about just spending time with loved ones, resting and reflecting after a long year and being cosy, watching movies and eating good food.“

Mitch: “Family and Jade time to do silly things and watch cheesy movies!“

Jon: “It’s a nice time to try and remember the happy parts of life.“

Elijah: “I’m the same as the other guys, just spending time with family and friends.“

Jackson: “Same as Jade, it’s a chill out period for me and a chance to spend time with family and friends.”

Champagne at midnight on New Years? Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions in mind?

Jade: “Why not! As long as I’m having a good time with my friends I don’t care what drink is in my hand. I used to be a major new year’s resolution person, but now I’m more of a set goals every month and gradually tweak them as my life changes so every month is a mini reset for me! I do love the feeling of going into a new year though as if it’s a fresh start.“

Mitch: “Mead ideally – I’d like to learn to sing and play keys finally, I want to collect all the instruments. (I play drums, bass and guitar)“

Jon: “Mine is to get good at longsword so I can stand undefeated in the new year.“

Elijah: “Mine is definitely to learn how to drive, I need it!!!!!“

Jackson: “My New Year’s resolution is to look after me more, eating, sleeping and being better in every way I can“

What’s next for your Vanitas?

Jade: “We’re working hard on new music for 2026, with a fresh outlook and more cinematic prog!“

Mitch: “7 string tomfoolery and silly epic metal tunes.“

Jon: “Exquisite vibes and smashingly excellent blast beats“

Elijah: “Fresh music, fresh tunes, fresh 2026 Vanitas!“

Jackson: “Tunes and bops – that is all“

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