PRESIDENT has spoken about the build-up and the execution of their debut live performance, which took place at Download Festival last Summer.
Taking over the Dogtooth stage in the middle of the afternoon on the final day of the festival, showcasing songs that would make up their EP ‘King Of Terrors’ for the very first time, it’s a moment that all there are still bragging about being a part of.
And it’s clear that the sentiment pulsating through the crowd was felt on stage, too. Speaking to Rock Sound as they accepted Best New Artist at the Rock Sound Awards 2025, PRESIDENT details how they felt in the lead-up to the appearance and how everything changed once the music started.
It was one of the best moments of my entire life. I had a terrible night’s sleep the night before. I was almost having panic attacks. I think the weight of the decision to do Download as a first show had not really come into my mind until 24 hours before. I knew it was a big risk. It’s high stakes, and I like that. I like doing stuff like that, because it puts you on edge in a good way, and often positive things come from that.
But I remember thinking this was either going to be a fucking brilliant idea or absolutely disastrous.
When I came on stage, I had tears in my eyes. When the crowd started shouting ‘President’, it was like nothing I’d ever felt before. It was a feeling that I hadn’t experienced. Putting my life and soul for two years into this project, I put my whole life into this, I’ve left nothing on the table. I’m not talking about the amount of work that I’ve done. It’s the emotion that I’ve given it.
This is every fucking part of me, and you’re very vulnerable when you do that. But when the crowd reacted the way they did, that was unbelievable.
PRESIDENT have just kicked off a tour of Europe that leads up to a full tour of the UK later this year. Here are all the dates.
JANUARY
30 – ZURICH Exil
FEBRUARY
01 – BARCELONA La Nau
02 – MADRID Nazca
APRIL
12 – DUBLIN Academy, Dublin
14 – MANCHSTER O2 Ritz
15 – GLASGOW SWG3 TV Studio
17 – LEEDS Project House
18 – BRISTOL Electric Bristol
20 – NORWICH UEA
21 – LONDON O2 Forum Kentish Town
You can read the full interview with PRESIDENT as they look forward to an even bigger 2026 in the Rock Sound Awards 2025 issue.
Get your magazine, poster and a limited edition PRESIDENT patch now at SHOP.ROCKSOUND.TV.
