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Friday, March 29th, 2024  
Scotland Week: The Vaselines’ Frances McKee

Sep 07, 2014 Scotland Week

For this Scotland Week interview we talk to Francis McKee of Glasgow-based band The Vaselines. The Vaselines formed in 1986 and the indie pop duo also features Eugene Kelly. Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain was a big fan and described McKee and Kelly as his “favorite songwriters in the whole world.” The band broke up in 1989, but reformed in 2006. In 2010 Sub Pop released the band’s long-awaited sophomore full-length, Sex with an X. The Vaselines’ third album, V For Vaselines, is due out on Rosary Music October 7. More

Scotland Week: Helen Marnie of Ladytron

Sep 06, 2014 Scotland Week

For this Scotland Week interview we talk to Helen Marnie, lead vocalist for Ladytron. The band may have formed in Liverpool in 1999, but Marnie was born in Glasgow, where she grew up before going to the University of Liverpool to study music. Once there she met Liverpool producers/DJs Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu. Bulgarian co-vocalist Mira Aroyo then joined them to form Ladytron, named after the Roxy Music song. In 2013 Marnie released her debut solo album, Crystal World. More

Scotland Week: The Twilight Sad

Sep 06, 2014 Web Exclusive

For this Scotland Week interview we talk to James Graham, vocalist for Scottish trio The Twilight Sad. The band formed in Kilsyth in 2003 after its members (Graham, guitarist Andy MacFarlane, and drummer Mark Devine) met in and around high school. Their debut album, Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters, was released in 2007 by FatCat. The Twilight Sad’s fourth full-length, Nobody Wants to Be Here, Nobody Wants to Leave, is due out on October 28 via FatCat. More

Scotland Week: Belle and Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson on Scottish Independence and Orange Juice

Sep 05, 2014 Belle and Sebastian

For this Scotland Week interview we talk to Stevie Jackson of Belle and Sebastian. One of the most iconic Scottish bands of the last two decades, the indie pop six-piece barely needs any introduction (especially to the readers of this website). Read on as Jackson discusses his favorite Scottish albums, bands, authors, and films, as well as his thoughts on the Scottish Independence Referendum. More

Scotland Week: Franz Ferdinand

Sep 04, 2014 Web Exclusive

For this Scotland Week interview we talk to Franz Ferdinand. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the release of the band’s self-titled debut album, a record that was met with near universal critical acclaim and was also a commercial success in both the U.K. and the U.S., among other countries. Franz Ferdinand also won the coveted Mercury Prize in 2004, given annually to the best album by an artist from the United Kingdom. More

Scotland Week: Bis

Sep 04, 2014 Bis

For this Scotland Week interview we talk to Bis. The Glasgow-based band formed in 1994 when members Amanda MacKinnon (aka Manda Rin) and John Clark (aka John Disco) were still in secondary school (aka high school) and bandmate Steven Clark (aka Sci-fi Steven) had just graduated. Their songs and videos made fun of the music industry and John Hughes movies, among other things.

Scotland Week: Throwback Thursday: God Help the Girl Interview from 2009

Sep 04, 2014 Scotland Week

In honor of Scotland Week, for this Throwback Thursday we revisit our 2009 article on the genesis of Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian‘s God Help the Girl project. This Friday God Help the Girl, the feature film writing and directing debut of frontman Stuart Murdoch, is released. But back in 2009 Murdoch had done things in reverse, recording the soundtrack to a film that didn’t exist yet. With the film now finally being released we thought it would be interesting to revisit this article. Read on as Murdoch discusses how he was inspired to write a musical and the challenges of finding the right vocalist to realize his vision. More

Scotland Week: Throwback Thursday: Belle and Sebastian Cover Story Interview from 2006

Sep 04, 2014 Scotland Week

In honor of Scotland Week, for this Throwback Thursday we revisit our 2006 cover story article on Belle and Sebastian, which was centered on The Life Pursuit. This Friday God Help the Girl, the feature film writing and directing debut of frontman Stuart Murdoch, is released. The band is also currently working on a new album. More

Scotland Week: The Pastels

Sep 03, 2014 Web Exclusive

For this Scotland Week interview we talk to The Pastels. The band formed in Glasgow in 1981 and its lineup features Stephen McRobbie (aka Stephen Pastel), Katrina Mitchell, Gerard Love, John Hogarty, Tom Crossley, and Alison Mitchell. The indie pop band has been highly influential on the Scottish scene and are revered by the likes of Belle and Sebastian and Camera Obscura. In 2013 they released Slow Summits via Domino Records, their first album since 1997’s Illumination.