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Artist Interviews
Q&A: The Twilight Sad
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 30 July 2009
Formed in 2003 by James Graham (vocals), Andy MacFarlane, (guitar), Craig Orzel (bass) and Mark Devine (drums), The Twilight Sad began by creating half-hour pieces of music with tape loops and toy instruments before moving towards a more traditional songwriting style. They released their debut album, ‘Fourteen Autumns And Fifteen Winters’, in 2007 to widespread acclaim and gained yet more fans through live shows with the likes of Mogwai, The Smashing Pumpkins, Battles, Beirut and Frightened Rabbit. ‘I Became A Prostitute’, the first single from their second album, ‘Forget The Night Ahead’, is set for release on 3 Aug, with the album following on 21 Sep. To celebrate the single release, the band will play live at The Lexington in London on 5 Aug. We spoke to Andy MacFarlane to find out more.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
I grew up with Devine and James playing in cover bands because it was the only way we could get into pubs when we were under age. A few years later I met Orzel and we all got together making noise in a studio for a year or so, wrote four songs, and got signed on our third gig. It seemed really easy but we were pretty lucky.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Lyrically the album’s inspired by some experiences that have happened over the past year or so, that aren’t the happiest of things, and musically we wanted just to develop and move on from the first record.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
I’ll work out some ideas in my house and record some rough versions, email them over to James and try to give an idea of how I imagine the song to pan out. He’ll write some lyrics and then all of us will go up to the studio and piece some kind of arrangement, which ends up changing a ton of times for a few weeks afterwards.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
No one in particular. I’m always trying to find new music and films to listen to and watch, which will have some kind of influence, but I couldn’t say any specific people.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Thanking you much very for listening.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
My ambition for the latest album was just to make something that was a step forward from the first, and I think we’ve achieved that. For the future I’d like to be able to keep on touring and recording for as long as I’m allowed to really.
MORE>> www.thetwilightsad.co.uk
