Twin Atlantic
Twin Atlantic are the boys to watch in 2008, especially if you’re planning to head out to any of the sexual festivals lines up around August.
Fresh from their tour with The Subways and ready to pour their musical sex down the ear canal of anyone willing to listen; I caught up with Barry, Craig, Ross and Sam to find out what it’s like being Scotland’s best export since kilts (and Biffy Clyro. Obviously).
Hello boys! How are you enjoying your tour so far?
We have only done two shows so far but they have both been amazing and possibly the best shows we’ve ever done. We played in Inverness yesterday and it was like out ‘homecoming’ because we’d been over in Germany so we went back to Scotland for a show
What’s it like having your first headline tour?
It’s amazing because when you’re supporting someone, you know the whole crowd is there to support that band and even though you’re playing to a whole bunch of new people, there’s nothing better than coming to play a gig - and even if there’s only 20 people there - knowing that they are there to see you and see you play.
What can fans expect from tonight?
They can expect songs that they will recognise from our very short history as a band but also a load of new stuff that we’re hoping to record for our new album. So this is a tour to let people know what we’re working on, to experiment and test new ideas.
So when can we expect your debut album to grace our shelves?
We’ve not recorded it yet, it should be recorded in January and get it out as soon as possible but when that will be is anybody’s guess. I imagine it will come out at the end of May / beginning of June so it coincides with the main festival run and start of summer.
To anyone who hasn’t heard of you yet, describe your band in five words
Melodic, Explosive, Hot, Hairy and…
Sam: Can I join two words together? [FF: Go on then…] Loud-Quiet.
Okay, well it sounds like a deliciously bizarre combination, so what else do you think sets you apart from everyone else trying to make it at the moment?
We have an honest approach to how we write our music, it’s not contrived in any way, we just write songs and don’t try to sound a particular way or put across a certain attitude. A lot of bands will do whatever is selling records or whatever is popular and they jump on the bandwagon of “Oh that’s popular today so we’ll do that!â€
These people never aspire to write individual songs whereas we write songs that me want to listen to and we make music for ourselves . I don’t think we really care what other bands are doing as long as we make people happy.
What do you think are the bands weaknesses?
We haven’t really been together very long so we’re still getting to know things like that. But think the main one has to be transportation. We need to get a touring vehicle that goes; we’ve had so many van break downs it’s just ridiculous. This is going to be ‘Black Beauty’s’ last tour. In fact, just electrics in general really.
Who do you look up to within the music industry?
We look up to anyone who sticks to their guns but at the same time understands that you need to change with times. The best example of that is Radiohead because they are so inspirational and move with the times but stay true to themselves.
What are your influences?
It depends really, we don’t have a certain set way because there are so many different ways that songs can come out and I think the only set formula we have is that music comes first and lyrics come after.
We all just take influence from what we’re listening to at the time and what’s around you, but lyrically Sam is a bit weird [Sam: Cheers!] and he takes influences from all sorts.
Given the chance, who would you love to tour with?
Mogwai - but that’s never ever going to happen. [Sam:] Bruce Springsteen [FF:Ooh! I love Bruce!]
Do you have any collective goals as a band?
To keep growing the way we’re growing and not lose sight of our initial ambition to be the biggest band we can be without ever losing who we are. So I think we just want to keep getting bigger and bigger.
Who do you think is the most talented act around at the moment?
Frightened Rabbit. Kings of Leon - their new album was written as they went along and was all done in 30 days, that’s something a band hasn’t done for ages and I think it’s great that they brought that back.
If you could only listen to one CD for the rest of your life, which would it be?
Barry - Jeff Buckley - Grace; it’s a classic.
Sam - Nirvana - Nevermind.
Craig - At The Drive-In - Relationship of Command . I pretty much listened to that for a whole year when I got it so I guess that one.
Ross - Status Quo?
What was the last album you bought?
Craig: The last album I bought was TV On The Radio’s Return To Cookie Mountain.
Sam: The Horses’ second record.
Barry: The New Frightened Rabbit album - The Midnight Organ Fight , although technically I didn’t buy it, I stole it off my girlfriend.
When was the last time you felt truly inspired?
When we went to Germany a few weeks ago when we were supporting The Subways and it was the first time we’ve ever played outside the UK and was a total eye-opener and a completely different experience in people’s attitudes and the vibe of the country. They were open to new music in a completely different way than British people.
Ross: We played in this place that was like a barn conversion in Scotland a few nights ago and I don’t know what it was about the place or the show, but it was just the happiest I had felt in a long time. It was really really good. Just being out in the middle of nowhere and playing.
Aww, I love it. Well good luck tonight boys.
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison
Check out our review of the night's proceedings here
Check out our gallery of photos from the night here
Twin Atlantic are the boys to watch in 2008, especially if you’re planning to head out to any of the sexual festivals lines up around August.
Fresh from their tour with The Subways and ready to pour their musical sex down the ear canal of anyone willing to listen; I caught up with Barry, Craig, Ross and Sam to find out what it’s like being Scotland’s best export since kilts (and Biffy Clyro. Obviously).
Hello boys! How are you enjoying your tour so far?
We have only done two shows so far but they have both been amazing and possibly the best shows we’ve ever done. We played in Inverness yesterday and it was like out ‘homecoming’ because we’d been over in Germany so we went back to Scotland for a show
What’s it like having your first headline tour?
It’s amazing because when you’re supporting someone, you know the whole crowd is there to support that band and even though you’re playing to a whole bunch of new people, there’s nothing better than coming to play a gig - and even if there’s only 20 people there - knowing that they are there to see you and see you play.
What can fans expect from tonight?
They can expect songs that they will recognise from our very short history as a band but also a load of new stuff that we’re hoping to record for our new album. So this is a tour to let people know what we’re working on, to experiment and test new ideas.
So when can we expect your debut album to grace our shelves?
We’ve not recorded it yet, it should be recorded in January and get it out as soon as possible but when that will be is anybody’s guess. I imagine it will come out at the end of May / beginning of June so it coincides with the main festival run and start of summer.
To anyone who hasn’t heard of you yet, describe your band in five words
Melodic, Explosive, Hot, Hairy and…
Sam: Can I join two words together? [FF: Go on then…] Loud-Quiet.
Okay, well it sounds like a deliciously bizarre combination, so what else do you think sets you apart from everyone else trying to make it at the moment?
We have an honest approach to how we write our music, it’s not contrived in any way, we just write songs and don’t try to sound a particular way or put across a certain attitude. A lot of bands will do whatever is selling records or whatever is popular and they jump on the bandwagon of “Oh that’s popular today so we’ll do that!â€
These people never aspire to write individual songs whereas we write songs that me want to listen to and we make music for ourselves . I don’t think we really care what other bands are doing as long as we make people happy.
What do you think are the bands weaknesses?
We haven’t really been together very long so we’re still getting to know things like that. But think the main one has to be transportation. We need to get a touring vehicle that goes; we’ve had so many van break downs it’s just ridiculous. This is going to be ‘Black Beauty’s’ last tour. In fact, just electrics in general really.
Who do you look up to within the music industry?
We look up to anyone who sticks to their guns but at the same time understands that you need to change with times. The best example of that is Radiohead because they are so inspirational and move with the times but stay true to themselves.
What are your influences?
It depends really, we don’t have a certain set way because there are so many different ways that songs can come out and I think the only set formula we have is that music comes first and lyrics come after.
We all just take influence from what we’re listening to at the time and what’s around you, but lyrically Sam is a bit weird [Sam: Cheers!] and he takes influences from all sorts.
Given the chance, who would you love to tour with?
Mogwai - but that’s never ever going to happen. [Sam:] Bruce Springsteen [FF:Ooh! I love Bruce!]
Do you have any collective goals as a band?
To keep growing the way we’re growing and not lose sight of our initial ambition to be the biggest band we can be without ever losing who we are. So I think we just want to keep getting bigger and bigger.
Who do you think is the most talented act around at the moment?
Frightened Rabbit. Kings of Leon - their new album was written as they went along and was all done in 30 days, that’s something a band hasn’t done for ages and I think it’s great that they brought that back.