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Interview: The Moth & The Mirror
The Moth & The Mirror's debut album, Honestly, This World, picked up a fantastic reception when it was released earlier on in the month. Comprising of members taken from an array of Scottish talent (including Stacey Sievwright from The Reindeer Section and Arab Strap (vocals/guitar), Gordon Skene from Frightened Rabbit (guitar/vocals), Louis Abbott from Admiral Fallow and Song of Return (guitar/vocals) Kevin McCarvel (bass), Iain Sandilands (percussion) and Peter Murch (drums)) the band have been justly hailed as a Scottish super-group. We managed to catch up with them this week for a quick chat about their latest album, and their plans for 2012.
You've got a really evocative band name. How did you guys come up with it?
It's from a bedtime story in a ladybird book my mum used to read to me. It's about a King moth who falls in love with, and decides he will marry, a beautiful Queen moth. Unbeknownst to him it's his own reflection. There is a flash of lightning and the moth disappears as the mirror shatters. He then returns to his forest and sends all of his moth subjects off to seek the Queen anywhere there is light, and that is why moths fly close to flames... It's a cute story. We all liked the moral aspect of it.
Most bands find it hard to find the time to put together a solitary single, let alone an album - all of you are attached to other projects. How on earth did you manage it?
It was a struggle, to be honest. The writing came about over a long period of time. We had to record it in bits whenever we could. We did set 2 weeks aside in the summer and whoever could make it turned up and did their parts. The rest of us played Aerobie outside while we were waiting. There is always free time when you're in a band but co-coordinating everyone's free time to happen together is nearly impossible. I feel that, because it was a struggle, it makes it all the more rewarding when you get to the end and finally hold the finished album in your hand. It really felt as though we'd accomplished something just to even get it finished!
Tell us how you all found each other?
We met through a friend, ‘The boy who trapped the sun’. I knew him and Gordon since they were just wee lads from some touring I did with a band called Astrid in the highlands. Colin asked Gordon, Kev, Murdo (our old drummer) and me to be his backing band. We liked each other so much we stayed together after Colin moved back to the Isle of Lewis. We joined together with another project I had been doing with Iain and became The Moth & the Mirror. Murdo then left to move to London and at that point we asked Louis and Pete to join the band - thankfully they said yes! We’ve been a sixsome ever since. It was all fate, you see.
Talk us through the creative process - does any one-person lead, or is it more or less a free for all?
Every song is a little bit different but they usually start with a simple melody or riff brought in by one of us, then we all get together and the fun starts. We really enjoy knocking ideas around and trying out lots of different manifestations of our songs before we settle on the one we like best.
Your album, Honestly, This World, came out at the beginning of the month. Have you got any plans to tour it?
We're gonna try our damndest!
A lot of people have commented that the album has a definite Scottish sound. Is that something you've set out to do, or just a label that's been pinned on you?
Oh no, I didn't think we did. I think people automatically look for the 'Scottish sound' but it's not something we've in any way striven for. I mean we are all Scottish. It's in our blood. But I always wanted the music we made to be more universal.
Any future releases planned?
Nothing set in stone yet. We're planning another single release and maybe some remixes in the New Year. We've started writing our next album, but that's likely to be a way off from now.
Finally, you've half an hour until a meteorite hits the planet. How do you spend your last 30 minutes?
The clean answer? Something to do with swimming in the sea. Maybe watch one last episode of Arrested Development. I hope they've made the new series before this meteor hits!
The Moth & The Mirror - Fire by abadgeoffriendship
Honestly, This World is out now on Olive Grove Records and available to buy on the band's Bandcamp page or alternatively you can get it on Amazon or iTunes.
Social Media – The Rise of The ‘Social’ Idiot?
This week's blog comes from ABoF founder Paul and his views on the highs and lows of social networking.The modern world has given us an incredible amount of technological advancements. The iPod, laptops, Kindle, Blackberry, Facebook, Twitter and, er, Bebo.
Ok, Bebo is utter shit and seems to be populated with the dregs of society, but you get my drift.
Technology seems to have moved towards giving us all the ability to voice our views, stamp our personalities on the world, and show off the many facets of our personalities.
I mean how many times do you see someone whose profile seemingly indicates that they can do almost anything? “Part-time waiter, photographer, actor, musician, model, director, playwright, poet, gravedigger, racist, philanthropist, vet, arsehole…”
The world is a much smaller place, but that doesn’t make it a wonderful place.
Everyone wants to be someone, and many believe their own bullshit. Many believe that because they have 1000+ ‘followers’ that what they have to say matters. The self-serving nature of social media seems to cloud many people’s judgement on just how important they really are.
Unfortunately, social media is a pre-requisite for the industry within which we ply our trade. We have to reach people, magazines and websites to promote the music we are covering on behalf of the bands on our roster. This is a necessary evil.
On a personal level I go through phases of liking what Twitter has to offer. On other occasions, I can’t even look at it without getting angry.
I mean who wants to be inundated with bloody ‘Beliebers’ each and every day of the week? A hairless, talentless little ball-bag and his army of pre-pubescent zombies… I most certainly don’t!
Facebook I can’t really stand. It’s just a huge social nosey neighbour. It’s comprised of ex school friends wanting to snoop on what such and such is up to, or bitch about how much weight thingamajigger has put on. Jeez, get over it – school finished 14 years ago (Old Bastard).
Again, with Facebook, many seem to believe that having 6000 ‘friends’ equates to popularity. Like a sense of achievement comes with this delusion of “I have xxxx friends”. How many have you actually met? What a load of nonsense.
I honestly really couldn’t give a damn whether someone wants to be a ‘friend’ or a ‘follower’. I know who my friends are and I am more than happy with the limited number of people I actually know! ‘Billy nae mates’ really sits quite comfortably with me.
The great misconception about social media seems to be the way in which an individual comes across online, is the way they are in real life. Well, in my experience this mostly isn’t the case.
An individual who is seemingly a talkative, laugh-a-minute jokester online is often a mute in real life.
There is nothing more awkward when someone introduces themselves as their Twitter handle, and then stares at you blankly looking for you to provide them with something. “Hi, I’m @unmemorablechancer, I follow you on Twitter…” Cue tumbleweed…
Sometimes I think that if I respond by talking in @’s and #’s, then they might be able to converse. Perhaps if I tell them to #fuckoff they might get the message.
You see, social media is a fantastic platform for informative, news worthy articles that otherwise might not reach a large portion of society.
The old media have been banished by some very good investigative journalists, bloggers and tastemakers who have been given a voice through this platform.
This is a good thing in my opinion.
The Internet has also been polluted by sick individuals, deluded wannabes, spammers and the weirdos of society, who have suddenly found a platform to unleash their shit on the world.
Unfortunately, this appears to be the majority.
I am not the authority on what is good, bad or average. This is merely my opinion. However, until I meet someone face to face, until someone shows a warmth, a spark, humour or compassion in the real world, they will always be a stranger to me.
Now why don’t you come follow me? It’s @sirbeardypants… Or perhaps sarcasm doesn’t translate well into the written word.
Interview: The Birthday Suit
It's all go for Rod Jones new solo project, The Birthday Suit, at the moment, as it's only a few days until their debut album The Eleventh Hour hits the UK. We managed to catch up with Rod for a quick chat before the release.
Sorry, we made the mistake of reading your interview with GaydarNation, and now all we can think about is the Strapless Pant. Forgive our ignorance, but are they real and if they are please describe them to us?
They are real in my mind but only there, for now. Patent pending
How did your new project, The Birthday Suit, come together?
I'd started to write a new solo album which started out quite folky, but I guess I just started to feel like I missed playing with a band and making noise. I started to rethink all the songs I had, and how to reshape the album. I started to learn the drums, and think about the songs in a more rock frame of mind, which led me to the realization that I needed a band to play and fully form the ideas. I collected together a bunch of friends and local musicians, some of whom had played with me on my first solo tour, and we gelled together really quickly, and so did the songs in their new form. After recording the record, it felt to me like this was much more of a band than a solo album, so The Birthday Suit was formed.
Why the name? You're not naked now, are you?
That's for me to know... but no, not in this weather.
A lot of people are comparing your debut album, The Eleventh Hour, to Idlewild's 100 Broken Windows. How do you feel about the comparison?
It's inevitable I suppose. I spent 15 years writing music in Idlewild, and so anything I do in that style is always going to have similarities. I think maybe the fact that it's a new and exciting band for us, the enthusiasm and energy translates into the music in a similar way as it did with the earlier Idlewild records.
The Birthday Suit - Do You Ever? by abadgeoffriendship
We were really sorry to hear about your shoulder, and the tour postponement. When do you think you'll be hitting the road again?
Thanks... It was bad timing but I'm on the mend. We will be honouring the gigs we had booked from November 25th onwards and rescheduling the postponed dates for mid February.
Are there any plans for future releases?
Yes. I'm working on new songs at the moment and hope to record early next year. We're just finding our feet as a band and have a lot more to say.
What are you listening to at the moment?
I'm really enjoying The First Aid Club and Sparrow and The Workshop, but have also been listening back to some old Sonic Youth records and some even older King Crimson albums.
Are there any future plans for Idlewild?
No future plans at the moment. We're all in very different places musically and busy with our other projects. Never say never, but not for a while certainly.
Finally, a meteorite is going to take out the planet in half an hour. How do you spend the last 30 minutes?
Just being with my wife and my family.
Although The Eleventh Hour is due for release on 11th of November 2011 (that's 11.11.11) via Sing It Alone Records, the band have made the album available to download from their official website today at a special early bird price for fans - £5!
If you'd like more information about this, our PR services or anything else, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Team ABoF do Movember!
Team ABoF (or "MoBof") have decided to raise some money for Movember!
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.
We're looking to raise as much money as possible so please make sure you support team captain Paul, Claire and Ed by donating a little to help go a long way. You can also follow Paul, Claire and Ed on Twitter to track their progress or follow the official ABoF Twitter page for official updates!
You can join Team ABoF by clicking on "A Badge of Friendship" on any of our Movember pages.
Blogger Of The Week: The Mad Mackerel
As you might have gathered from last week's newsletter, the ABoF team absolutely love blogs! One of the blogs we've been enjoying over the years is The Mad Mackerel, who not only provide a cracking read, but feature some great artists, and have been more than a little supportive of our artist roster. We managed to catch up with John Grain for a quick chat.
Tell us about how The Mad Mackerel got started.
Mad Mackerel got started because we rediscovered our own love of music via music blogs. And because we were finding and listening to so much good music through them and discovering stuff all the time via Hype Machine, it all seemed really exciting and we wanted to be part of it. Also, there just wasn’t one blog that was exactly what we wanted it to be, so like all these things we thought we’d make one by nicking the best bits of the blogs we liked. And of course, like most music bloggers I guess, who doesn’t like the idea of inflicting your brilliant musical tastes onto someone else...
There are so many music blogs nowadays, how do you keep the blog fresh and different?
I’m not sure we deliberately think about trying to keep the blog fresh and different as a specific objective, it is more a case of still wanting to share what we are excited by, what new stuff we are discovering that is good and wanting to do new things and features for our own satisfaction. We do try and post something everyday as we think it is important to have regular posts, but we try and retain our own voice and personality within Mad Mackerel too, rather than chase after whatever is the latest buzzworthy post from a popular band. While we think our tastes are relatively broad, we do have a particular niche too so people who come back to the site regularly know they are unlikely to get offered the latest in soul, r&b, house, electro or similar - not because we think it is crap, but because it is not our thing and we don’t know enough to have a valid opinion. Lots of blogs do that stuff far better than us anyway. It is for that reason too that we rarely, if ever, post remixes as we rarely, if ever, listen to them.
You've quite an unusual name for the blog. Where did it come from?
The blog has its name mainly because of our naivety when we started. We had the picture of the fish which was one our seven year old son (at the time) liberated from an angler on the beach and returned to the sea to swim another day (much to the annoyance of said angler) and so we thought we would use ‘Fish out of Water’ as our blog title (imagining we had distinct and unusual tastes at the time that would set us apart from the majority). Of course we were about six years too late to register a blog of that title, but by then we were quite wedded to the image so it became the Mad Mackerel instead.
When you started the blog, was there anything special you did you get the word out there about it?
When we started we didn’t know anything about how to get the word out about MM and probably still don’t really. We started by pleasing ourselves pretty much and have carried on using that as a yardstick for what we post ever since. Over time we have slowly built up a bit of a reputation and obviously we have the genres of music that we particularly enjoy and that is reflected in the music we post and the people who consistently come back to MM presumably share some of those tastes. For the first few months after we started in early 2009 we only got a handful of site visits every day, but we persisted and now it is gratifying to get stats that show many thousands of site visitors each month.
With Twitter now a prevalent social media tool, has this changed the way you blog and promote the links on Mad Mackerel?
We’re aiming to get better with Twitter! Like lots of music blogs out there, Mad Mackerel is a labour of love and sadly doesn’t pay anything at all so regrettably has to be a hobby rather than a business. It means finding and making time to develop the site and content is pretty precious. It helps using the widgets in Wordpress and they improve all the time in terms of capability, so now having the automatic updating of posts onto our Twitter account is good, but we could do lots more with it and with Facebook - we just to need to find the time!
How do you find out about new music?
In our opinion, finding new music (and sharing it) is one of the most enjoyable and fun things there is in the world ever - no question about it. In fact if there is one thing better than having a music blog it is probably being a music consultant suggesting the music for cool TV shows, but until that happens we have Radio 6 on constantly in our office and at home, we have lots of other blogs we love and read everyday, we read all the (decent) music press we can, we follow Twitter feeds and subscribe to all sorts of e-newsletters from bands and labels, we use Hype Machine, Elbo.ws, Shuffler FM and Spotify, we subscribe to e-music, have lots of artists and labels that we have posted about previously that contact us direct now with new songs and releases which is great, and we get lots and lots of brand new submissions in via MM which is great too. We probably make at least ten different, big digital mixes per month just to listen to while walking the dog or driving. More time to listen to everything properly would be nice, but when that’s the biggest problem we have there isn’t much to complain about really!
Are there any ABoF artists you've heard that float your boat?
A Badge of Friendship has some great artists and a nice eclectic mix meaning it is always worth us making time to listen whatever is sent through and there aren’t too many labels like that out there! Particular favourites have been What Would Jesus Drive (who made it into the MM Top Ten of 2010), The Blood Arm, who we’ve loved for a long time, IndianRedLopez and more recently the wonderful Birthday Suit. Lots of good stuff!
Any artists that you can see making an impact on the remainder of 2011/early 2012 (signed or unsigned)?
Artists that definitely will make an impact compared with who we would like to see making an impact are probably two very different lists. Personally, we would love to see Deer Tick and The Felice Brothers go global and if there was justice and fairness in the world, Hooray For The Riff Raff, Wooden Wand, Forest Fire and Howling Owls would become household names in the worlds of Folk and Country music. Closer to home Grass House, The Sunderbans and Gaoler’s Daughter would get the NME adulation they deserve too!
Finally, top tips for running your own music blog?
Not sure we’re smart enough to offer top tips - there is loads of things that we would like to do better and loads of ideas we would love to have the time and money to implement properly that would make MM far better. Until then though, for us the two main things are a genuine, honest belief that what we are posting is what we would want to hear and passes a basic quality control test (i.e. we have actually listened to it before posting it), and secondly having a voice and opinions that visitors to the site know is really ours and not copied from elsewhere.