uselesswhen I’m not making music or painting.”
“I feel
Chris Duncan is a young man in the up and up. Having been surrounded by music from an early age, he studied music composition and went on to record his debut album in his
bedroom all on his own. Tat album, Architect, was nominated for the Mercury Prize last year. Not only a musician of talent,
combining his love of popular and classical music styles but also an accomplished illustrator, Chris plays at Norwich Arts Centre this month along with his newly formed band. I spoke to him about heavy metal, Glasgow and being a perfectionist.
control over what you are doing - there aren’t the time or financial constraints of recording in a professional studio and you are the only person who has an input. Tis is very important to me when making music. Maybe I’m a control freak! Would you say you’re a perfectionist in terms of your sound? Yes, definitely. I take a lot of time over writing and recording and it is essential for the heavily layered and intricate music I make that I am a bit of a perfectionist. How did you come to put your band together? Has it been difficult to express to them what you want the sounds to be like? It took a long time to get a band together. I started performing alone, then added to the band person by person. Tere are now four of us in the live band. My bandmates are all very good friend of mine so I guess it is difficult because I don’t want to be overly controlling, but at the same time they get what I’m doing and know how I make my music which is helpful. It’s a great dynamic. You’re also a painter and make his own cover art – is the cover for Architect a real life place and if so what does it mean to you? Te cover of Architect is an aerial view of Byres Rd - the main street in the west end of Glasgow. I spent a lot of time there when writing the album, working and socializing, so it’s a place close to my heart. Also, my brother stayed there and I spent a lot of time at his flat whilst making Architect. It’s a pretty dreamy album with those huge washes of sound. It’s also a positive sounding collection. Would you say there’s a theme that links the tracks together at all? A lot of the album is about escaping - not in a miserable and sad way - but going somewhere ethereal. I guess that’s why the album is so dreamy. It’s really quite a happy album. You’re off on an eight night tour of the UK. What are you most looking forward to or nervous about? I’m really looking forward to being on the road
You’re the son of two classical musicians and learnt piano and viola when you were young, What was the first music that you heard that moved you? Te first music I heard that moved me was Te Carpenters. We had a vinyl of it at home and I would play it on repeat. To this day they are still a big influence of mine. What sort of bands were you in when you were at school? I was in a couple of heavy metal bands. I went through a phase between about 12 and 15 when I listened to a lot of heavy music like Slayer and Opeth. My bands were like bad rip-offs of them. How has Glasgow influenced your music? Te music scene in Glasgow is amazingly varied at the moment with loads of different styles floating around. Tis has been a big influence, as there isn’t necessarily a ‘Glasgow’ sound anymore. Te place itself has changed the way I write music. Glasgow is a fantastic city, full of music and art, but it is also quite a grey and cold place. My music escapes this world and ventures off into dreamier landscapes. You studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. How has your classical training influenced the way you write your songs?
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outlineonline.co.uk
I write songs in the same way I write classical music, starting with a melody and adding layer upon layer until there is a completed song. Do you think you might ever release a purely classical album? Yes, I plan to do so at some point. Your music’s a real mix between classical and modern. Who would you say is your favourite classical composer, and favourite current modern musician or band? My favourite composer is Maurice Ravel, and my favourite band at the moment is either Beach House or Connan Mockasin. You’ve gone from waiting tables to having a full on musical career in the last couple of years. What are your hopes for the future? To avoid waiting tables! I plan on writing and recording music for as long as I can. It’s a real passion and obsession of mine. I feel useless when I’m not making music or painting. I plan to write classical music again also. You recorded your debut album Architect at home, building up one layer at a time for over a year. What was that experience like? It must have been quite isolating. It was quite an isolating experience, although I wouldn’t have changed anything about it. Recording from home means that you have full
again. It’s beginning to feel more normal being on stage, which is nice. I used to get very nervous about shows but now I get excited. I am however a little nervous about the Union Chapel show. It’s a big place with a lot of history. I’m looking forward to it though. Were you surprised to be nominated for the Mercury Prize last year? It was a massive surprise. I never thought I’d be nominated for a Mercury. It is something that I have followed closely for years and it was such an honour to be a part of it. It was a surreal experience having recorded the album in my bedroom. Are you working on your next album, and will it have a change of direction do you think? Yes, I have almost finished the new album. It is a bit darker than Architect and is slightly more electronic.
Lizz Page
INFORMATION C Duncan plays Norwich Arts Centre on 22nd February. Tickets available from
ueaticketbookings.co.uk
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