Sonic adventurous The Twilight Sad fly the flag for the new breed of Scottish bands. Vocalist James Graham tells Catherine Hill why they are not in the music industry for fame.
“Scottish and noisy,” is how the Twilight Sad describe themselves. Emerging from the shadow of Idlewild and Biffy Clyro, they reject apologetic Scottish mumbling in favour of cacophonous drone-rock and eye-watering instrumental aggression.
The Twilight Sad comprises of James Graham (vocals), Andy MacFarlane, (guitar/accordion/noise), Johnny Docherty (bass), and Mark Devine (drums). Forming in 2003, the Scottish foursome’s early shows saw them creating half-hour pieces of music with effects pedals, thumb pianos, computer games and various other ephemera alongside bass, guitar and drums. Their unique and experimental sound evolved into more traditional song writing, yet their taste for sonic adventure is still apparent.
Whilst undergoing this metamorphosis the band went into Ca Va studios with Peter Katis (Interpol, Mercury Rev, Mice Parade) and emerged three days later with their first album; ‘Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters.’ Named the best album of the year by The Skinny, it more than lives up to the bands early EP’s. Despite being grouped together with label mates We Were Promised Jetpacks and Frightened Rabbit, The Twilight Sad’s sound is distinctive and transcendent. Their debut album showed intricate layering and overdriven instrumentals yet still maintained raucous warmth.
Influences range from Portishead to Radiohead to fellow Scots Mogwai. “I think our good friends Mogwai have done everything the right way. They have worked hard to get where they are now, have consistently pushed themselves and released great albums. I respect bands who push themselves and try different things,” praises Graham.
‘Forget the Night Ahead’, their second studio album displays darker lyrics and a sound racked with emotion. The songs fall into two categories; crushingly loud from the jump or slowly and steadily building to an almost uncomfortable intensity. They themselves describe their sound as “Scottish folk songs mixed with noise and elements of punk and post rock.”
Graham describes the audience at their gigs as “middle age males and angry young men.” Angry is the perfect word to describe their music. If you can understand the lyrics behind James Graham’s roguish Scottish drawl you’ll hear of bitter experience and romantic failure. “I’ve been in love and can only write about my own experiences. I don’t think I am too experienced but I have been hurt and hurt other people so I know both sides of the argument,” explains Graham.
Comparisons are undoubtedly going to be made with other Scottish groups, but The Twilight Sad are distinct and inimitable. However, Graham embraces the influence growing up just outside Glasgow has had on the band “I think if we weren’t from Scotland we wouldn’t sound the way we do. I think it has had a subconscious effect it’s not something that we knowingly play on it’s who we are and our songs are honest.” The Twilight Sad would not be the band they are without Graham’s unmistakable accent, he proves that everything sounds cooler with a Glaswegian twang.
It’s when performing live that The Twilight Sad truly shine. Graham’s confidence behind the microphone has grown, now singing with a pre-battle emergency making for an extreme live experience. “The expectation from other people sometimes makes me nervous,” explains Graham. The band like to have a contrast between their albums and playing live. Their studio work utilises many more instruments than their live shows. They keep it simple yet don’t loose any of that devastating intensity. “I don’t like going to see a band that sounds just like their album. That’s what we try not to do,” says Graham.
When asked what he misses when touring Graham does not hesitate “my bed, my cat, my girlfriend, my family and Irn Bru.” The band has toured a lot in America as well as Europe “I don’t prefer European or American tours anymore than each other. It’s just great to be able to do them. Our audiences are very respectful no matter where we go to be honest” adds Graham.
Their tours have left them with an abundance of anecdotes, Graham recalls one of the more memorable ones “We left our drummer at service station in Arizona at 5am in the morning and didn’t realise until two hours down the motorway. It was like something out of that film Almost Famous.”
Currently touring with Scottish giants Biffy Clyro, The Twilight Sad will be performing in some of their biggest arenas to date, touring the country and ending in London at the Hammersmith Apollo. Also in the pipeline for this year is more touring, recording a new album and a charity album that Graham is involved in with other Scottish artists. “I just really want our band to be successful by doing it the right way and if we are happy and people still buy the records and come to the shows then we will know we are doing something right” tells Graham. The current tour promises to serve up a sundry plethora of “travelling, service stations, interviews, sound checks, drugs, drink and meeting people for five minutes then off to the next town,” declares Graham.
Festivals are a major part of any emerging bands life; they can make or break you. Graham reveals “I would love to play at an ATP festival as all my favourite bands have.” On the subject of festivals Graham gives simple advice on how to survive them; “drugs and a lot of them!” Grahams favourite festival however, is not what you might expect “End of the Road,” and why? “They have a pie minister and the best hot brandy cider!” Seems as good a reason as any. Touring the festivals can be an arduous task; dirt, tents, hangovers, more drugs and of course crazed fans. So far The Twilight Sad have only had good experiences with their audiences “our fans are very respectful and give us our space,” says Graham.
“I never had any expectations, I just want to make music for a living and at the moment that’s happening which is amazing and a privilege because there are so many bands out there trying to do the same” reveals Graham. Unpretentious and unaffected, this band will not be sacrificing their tumultuous sound for commercial success. Instead, they are slowly but surely raising their profile by touring festivals and venues around the world. An aim for the band is to headline at The Barrowlands, one of Glasgow’s bigger and more famous venues “we played there supporting Idlewild but to headline that venue is a big thing and I think we will do that at some point in the next year or next,” says Graham.
“I think most stuff in the charts is pish,” tells Graham, also revealing a penchant for Abba “quality pop music!” When asked if there are any songs in the charts he likes, Graham gives a shocking answer; “Telephone by Lady Gaga or Rude Boy by Rihanna.” Perhaps not what we expected from this sharp-tongued Scot. James Graham isn’t afraid to say what he thinks even if it means revealing a slightly schizophrenic personality. But it’s these schizophrenic tendencies that make the band what it is; portentous and romantic, thunderous yet sentimental.
Their metaphorical and emotional lyrics stay clear of political messages “ there are some bands out there who think they have a big opinion on it but don’t have the knowledge or qualifications,” Graham sticks to what he knows; “my family and friends.” This is not to say that Graham is not an intelligent man, he is quick-witted and shrewd. It’s no wonder his idol is one of the most intelligent characters from Marvel comics; “Tony Stark AKA Iron Man.”
What does the future hold for The Twilight Sad? “I would like to be where bands like Mogwai are in a few albums time. Where we are respected and selling out good sized venues,” muses Graham. Not a band that wishes for chart success and fame, The Twilight Sad have a simple plan; “make quality albums and tour our arses off.”
I love them!
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