With the album "The Midnight Organ Fight" being recorded from start to finish in a month did you feel it all came quite naturally and an almost organic process or was it more stressful with being in such a short time scale?
It was a total working month. I wouldn’t call it stressful because it’s what I want to be doing and it’s actually really good fun but it was 12 to 14 hour days recording. There was a time pressure that we couldn’t go over time and we just wanted to make it the best we possibly could. So that’s stressful, so you stress yourself out over whether it’s going well or not but really it was just a pleasure to be honest because it was awesome to be recording in America and working with Peter Katis so I’d say fantastic and not too much stress.
How did you find working with Peter Katis?
It was great. He probably alleviated a lot of any of that because he doesn’t stress out at all. He’s got quite a calm, almost like maths teacher approach to the whole thing. He’s quite scientific which is quite different. I learned a lot, it was great to work with him.
Being touted as pop songs the language, content and style of the songs are very much adult based though. Did you ever think with songs like 'Keep Yourself Warm' "I can't sing that!!!??"
You certainly can (he giggles) They are totally adult but when children learn the words these days they’re probably about 10 years old. So I know it seems kind of adult but I’m quite happy to make music for people of my own age.
The first time I listened to that track I was taken aback, almost laughing then I became addicted to it. Then I came up with the idea that all secondary school kids should be given a musical showcase with it to highlight that it's not all just about mechanics when it comes to sex education.
Hopefully it’s true as well. It’s fine that you laughed actually because it’s kinda supposed to be dark humour. People like Nick Cave, I find his songs quite funny a lot of the time. You have to inject humour into more serious issues otherwise it doesn’t really come across that well.
What I find brilliant about the whole album is that you really have worn your heart on your sleeve addressing issues and situations most of us can relate to.
Anyone who has ever broken up I suppose.
A bareness and rawness that we all have emotions and the same needs even although we might not talk about them. As a listener I feel comforted. Did you find writing and recording the album a cathartic process?
People ask if it’s like my therapy, it’s not really that. It’s more a case of tying a knot in that part of my life and almost frame it. So I suppose the reason why I try and write songs is to make sense of what’s happened so making the album put a full stop on that whole section. It’s a kinda weird way of doing it but it’s my way of doing it. So yeah, I would say a lot of stuff got out there that I don’t feel anymore so it’s kinda good.
With songs like “Head Rolls Off' in a PC world gone mad it’s a refreshing change. Is faith important to you?
I don’t really have a faith in a God or a Jesus or anything like that but I think it’s important that you can’t assume that there’s going to be any kind of afterlife because that means you don’t live your current life.. It is important that I feel it’s the only chance I’ve got.
I felt it was like a sort of Valhalla or Nordic imagery?
Maybe, never thought of it like that…. That’s nice to hear, it wasn’t meant but maybe it’s just innate in me. My mum and dad come from Wick so maybe that’s where It comes from, it’s close enough (laughing).
Becoming more recognised and busy, does being in the band have a direct knock on effect to your personal life? Positively or negatively?
It’s not too bad. Obviously I spend a lot of time away form my girlfriend which it can get difficult but at the same time I can have long periods of time off. I think you just have to find ways of dealing with it rather than letting it take over. It can if you let it but I try not to let it.
