One of my favourite bands that I discovered a few years back is a Scottish is a 6-piece indie-alternative folk rock band called Broken Records. I first read about them in this great magazine called Under the Radar (which I personally think every person looking for new music should subscribe to), when there first full length CD Until the Earth Begins to Part came out in 2009. I went out and bought the CD solely on the review I read and proceeded to listen to it every day for… Well actually, I’m still listening to it on a near daily basis.
I’m really big on supporting bands that are more on the obscure side. I’d rather get sick of listening to an artist by my own doing, like listening to a song or album on repeat rather than being forced to listen to it over and over again like songs on Top 40 radio stations. Although, most of the bands that I “discover” aren’t bands that I typically get sick of easily.
Broken Records has this great sound to them and is clearly full of extremely talented members who play multiple instruments. They’ve been compared to Canadian band Arcade Fire because of their big sound, but as you’ll see in a moment, Arcade Fire played no part in how they came up with their music.
If you will be so kind as to flashback to the post where I talked about a new Interview series we were launching called Twitterviews, you will see how eager we were to talk to some people about writing, music, art and more. One of the first people who messaged us back about doing a live Twitterview was none other than Broken Records. As a big fan, you can imagine how thrilled I was to have a chance to talk to the guys in the band about their music and find out more about them as artists. On Friday July 22, just before their show at the Secret Garden Party, they took the time to answer some of our questions and this is what they had to say (keep in mind that this was through Twitter, which means with screen names and such, we both had less than 140 characters to ask and answer questions!):
Q: How did you guys come up with the name for the band?
A: it was meant to be a DIY record label, but we ended up failing at that so the name stuck for the band!
Q: There are a lot of songs about the end of relationships. Is it hard putting bits of your soul out there through the music?
A: I don't know. Jamie just tries to tell stories with the songs but I don't know how many are from personal experience.
Q: You’ve been compared a lot to Canadian band Arcade Fire, how do you feel about that? Which bands would you compare BR to?
A: Have we? The idea for a big dramatic sound comes from large groups like the Bad Seeds and Springsteen, not AF.
Q: How long did it take you guys to come up your unique sound?
A: we wanted to try and write on different instruments from guitar, even if they end up being played on it in the end. I guess our sound is still growing and changing from the 1st to 2nd albums. And we're still trying out new toys!
Q: You already mentioned Bad Seeds & Springsteen as influences, are there any other bands that influenced your style and sound?
A: plenty: GY!BE, @yanntiersen early REM, Calexico, Tom Waits, Arvo Part, A Hawk & A Hacksaw, PJ Harvey and many many more
Q: There's a lot of bands coming out of Scotland lately-What is it about the country that brings out so many diverse musicians?
A: I guess the terrible weather and long dark winters- we need to do something to pass the time indoors!
Q: What other newer notable bands hail from Scotland (or anywhere else for that matter) that you like to listen to?
A: plenty: @sparrowworkshop @eagleowlattack @KidCanaveral @thelastbattle King Creosote, Meursault, @FRabbits @witheredhand
Q: A couple years back you did a cover of The Beatles song Oh! Darling, was it daunting to perform such a popular song?
A: Not really. We tried to make it different so no risk of sounding like a poor covers band, tho it did upset the purists!
Q: With us also being a story/writing site, we'd love to know what some of your favourite books are?
A: Bulgakov's The Master & Margarita and David Niven's The Moon's a balloon are my two favourites!
Q: You yourself play a wide variety of instruments in Broken Records, do you have a favourite?
A: I liked the glockenspiel until the band vetoed me using it! Dave has a great old harmonium we've used on recordings tho!
Q: Was being in a band at the top of your career choices when you were growing up?
A: Probably. I'm not exactly sure what else I would do, and I'm still amazed we've actually had the chance to do this!
Q: I know you have a busy weekend, but I would be scolded if I didn’t ask you to tour in Canada soon-near the East Coast! :)
A: we'd love to!
Q: And with that being said, I'll let you guys get yourselves prepared for the Secret Garden Party: http://t.co/9
A: yep, the van's all packed and good to go!
Q: Thanks so much for your time and if you DO tour in Canada, the East Coast is full of Scots who would appreciate your music!
A: it's been a pleasure, thanks!
Broken Records recently put out a second full-length album, which the above song (The Motorcycle Boy Reigns) is from. The album is titled Let Me Come Home and you can pick up by clicking here and support this amazing group.Seriously. You won't regret it, they are all kinds of amazing and like I mentioned in the Twitterview, I really hope they come play on the East Coast very soon so I can finally see them live.
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