How are you finding the Lockdown have you still managed to be creative?
Normally I’m extremely creative but working from home with a toddler has made free time almost non-existent. However, I have found time to make two music videos for the Killer Whale album in the flat by myself. One is just me and my two-year-old performing the song, the other is me dressed in different get-ups, with different musical instruments, in different corners of my flat, edited together to look like a full band video. There are ways around limitations!
For those readers that haven’t heard of Killer Whale could you tell us a bit about the band?
Killer Whale was born after a summer of festivals, good times spent amongst good people, hippies, reprobates, fugitives, grooving to the boogie, selves lost in singalongs, deep chats round the campfire long into the morning. All such revelry, sadly, must end, often dying somewhere around the autumnal equinox and the comedown of the six-month Scottish darkness that is euphemistically termed “winter”. Yet out of this crash, creativity often sprouts; out of the darkness, light; in the light, shadows; like the patterns on a killer whale.
These songs were written in that twilight – attempts at faith in a godless universe. An attempt to deal with the comedown, loss of purpose; a striving towards a sense of wonder.
Moments of wonder and transcendence: Leonard Cohen’s last Scottish concert at the Armadillo in Glasgow while Oasis played the SECC and Celtic played Man Utd at Parkhead – the old man outplayed them all; wide-armed on a stranger’s shoulders at the Albert Docks in Liverpool singing “Everyone you know someday will die” while Wayne Coyne from The Flaming Lips psychedelically rolled around the crowd inside an inflatable ball; a killer whale leaping from the water and diving under the boat as the dawn rose upon the Marlborough Sound, New Zealand; swimming in the sea while wild-camping on a deserted beach on the Isle of Coll.
Who inspired you to get on stage and perform?
When I was a teenager I saw The White Stripes just after they released Elephant. The deafening thunder crack of Jack White’s riffage amidst the sweaty waves of the rolling crowd changed my life.
Are there any particular artists or albums that have inspired you over the years?
Dylan, Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen, and Neil Young are heroes of mine. Not only is their songwriting incredible but they made me realise you could be a singer even if you have an unconventional singing voice. It’s more about what you have to say.
Could you tell us a bit about the writing/recording of your new single “Our Father”?
I wanted to write a song that was both happy and sad at the same time and that people would enjoy singing out loud together in a wide-open space.
How has the reception to your new album been?
Great so far. I think people have been impressed by the variety and the lyrics. Many have said it grows on you the more you listen. I also like how everyone’s favourite track is different.
Where do you draw inspiration from when writing music?
4am insomnia. Fragility when noone’s awake.
What are some of the most interesting places you have played?
Interesting would be a sailor’s bar in the Orkney Islands. The local football team had won the cup that evening and by the end of the night, we were all drinking whisky from the trophy. Best would be The Barrowlands in Glasgow. Best venue in the world.
Here at Artistic Echoes, we are always on the lookout for new artists do you have anyone to recommend?
I highly recommend you check out Monica’s new album Celebration – very Blue Niley. Also Land of Rubber Men and Mickey 9s are two great Glasgow bands.
It’s a bit difficult to make plans at the moment but do you have anything coming up that you would like people to know about?
With festival season cancelled there are no booked gigs but I’ll be releasing more new songs from Killer Whale throughout the year so stay tuned and follow us on social media/Spotify etc.
