Interview: Scott Hutchison of FRIGHTENED RABBIT
Technically speaking Frightened Rabbit are a band comprising Scott Hutchison (vocals/guitar), Grant Hutchison (drums/vocals), Billy Kennedy (guitar) and Andy Monaghan (keyboards), but put them in context and you have one of Scotland’s finest indie exports. Like fellow Glaswegians Shitdisco and Franz Ferdinand, the band are the next in line of students of the Glasgow School of Art who put down brushes to pick up guitars.
Frightened Rabbit began as the one-man show of Scott Hutchison, who eventually recruited a full band and debuted with the album Sing the Greys in 2006. After turning down a bunch of label offers the band signed with Fat Cat in 2007 and entered a long bout of touring across the UK and US, gaining critical acclaim at venerable music institutions like SXSW and BBC Radio Scotland’s Vic Galloway show along the way. Early in 2008 they released The Midnight Organ Fight to a highly appreciative music press– positive reviews flooded in from places like Pitchfork Media and the Washington Post– and the band’s profile took a giant leap.
I caught up with lead vocalist Scott Hutchison– fresh from rocking the T-Break stage at T in the Park– to discuss Glasgow, touring, and why there won’t be any “break up songs” on the next album.
Earz Mag [Martin Skivington]: How was playing T in the Park this year?
Frightened Rabbit [Scott Hutchison]: It was easily one of the best shows of the year. We hadn’t played in Scotland for a while, so to come back from the US and play to such a reception was overwhelming. I hadn’t even been since I was 16 so it was nice to go again.
EM: It’s two years since Sing the Greys dropped- how has life been for the band since?
FR: We don’t have to text everyone in our phonebook to get people to come and see our shows. We travel in vans now so don’t need to carry our gear on our backs and under our arms from the bus stop to the venue. But we’ve been progressing at a steady pace. Our only goal is to be moving forward and even the steps that felt backward at the time proved to be vital to our progression as a band. Getting fucked over by the rats of the industry only serves to strengthen the group’s resolve.
EM: Do you enjoy being on the road- what are the good and bad sides of touring.
FR: Travel is an eye opener. Touring with a band, whether you are in Seattle or Skegness, is the best way to see and hear the REAL heartbeat of a town, city or village: the people who live there. It’s meeting people that makes it worthwhile. Though I struggle and feel uncomfortable with most social situations, I always love talking to Frightened Rabbit fans. I also love the free drink, which may in turn contribute to some of the less enviable aspects of touring… Finding a nice clean toilet for one.
EM: How important a formative influence was Glasgow- and Scotland- to Frightened Rabbit?
FR: Glasgow was where I started writing songs. Its a creative city. So many people there are active in music and the arts that it kind of rubs off. Scotland in general has a rich seam of folk music, which has definitely found its way into our songs. There’s a directness lyrically that is there, the idea of a song being a story and also a sadness in the writing. It’s just there, whether we like it or not.
EM: It’s a bit of a cliche that Scotland- especially Glasgow- produces fine indie bands- do you find yourselves being pigeonholed by the press that way, and do you find it annoying?
FR:: We are proud to be included from time to time in the great canon of Scottish indie music. As a nation we’re pretty shite at sports (curling and bowls aside) but I think Scottish people write some of the best music around. It’s a cliche for a reason - Scotland just keeps coming up with the goods.
EM: You were described by a journo once as sounding “at times like a Scottish Michael Stipe”. Accurate, flattering, or…?
FR: It’s…interesting. I don’t think I know what I sound like, really. You know the way that when you listen back to your speaking voice, it doesn’t sound like you? It’s a bit like that, and I’m unaware of trying to ape anyone else. I try not to sing with any affectations, but my favourites are going to seep in there naturally. The list of those great singers includes James Graham (The Twilight Sad), Roddy Woomble (Idlewild), Joel Gibb (Hidden Cameras) and I guess Michael Stipe’s in there too. I’m not too bothered, as long as no one mentions Adam Duritz again.
EM: There’s a humbleness about Frightened Rabbit– for example lyrically in the song Be Less Rude, plus you’ve spoke in interviews about “not being a bastard”. Discuss please!
FR: There are many who would testify to my being a complete dickhead actually. Be Less Rude just happens to be about a person who is MORE of a shit than me and who was a shit to people I liked. However, when I’m dealing with people as a member of the band, I try to stay civil and friendly, but the mask does slip now and again… It’s bad form though, as you ALWAYS remember the guy you met from ‘that band’ who was incredibly rude to you one night. I don’t wish to be that guy.
EM: What has the overall reaction been like to The Midnight Organ Fight. Are you guys happy with the record?
FR: I am happy with it. It was a big step for us sonically, and some of it took me a while to nestle down with but I think it has helped open our songs up to a wider audience. The reaction has been pretty pleasing for us to hear. We worked really hard on the album and its nice to have that pay off somewhat.
EM: There’s a lot of progression evident in the band’s sound since Sing the Greys. Will the next album be a continuation of that? What direction is Frightened Rabbit going in?
FR: I have no idea! There are a few ideas floating around in my head that i hum from time to time. There’ll be no going back to Sing the Greys territory, but i feel we could do with a few scuzzier elements next time round. I may buy a distortion pedal. I like the idea of horns too. Who knows… There won’t be many break up songs on it though. I think that well is pretty dry.
Frightened Rabbit Links!:
Fat-Cat Records
Myspace
Official site
Buy Frightened Rabbit Music:!
Multimedia t-b: [i] photo by Fat Cat Records, [ii] video by Bandstandbusking.com, [iii] photo by rorris, ©, [iv] photo by jalapeno, ©.
Posted in Interviews & Music
Tags: fatcat, frightened rabbit, indie, Interview, Scott Hutchison, scottish
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