says, we want to make sure we have some all
new keech for everyone in Benelux... Where
is Benelux? Is that near Kelty?
Are you touring at the moment? Any
upcoming tour dates?
(Andrew) One date planned – world tour to
follow…
(Albie) Like the bass player said, one date
planned, but we are in discussions with our
good pals Cuddly Shark about a two-pronged
North-South gig two-up to unleash our
respective albums upon the masses. Look
towards summer and its 5 hours of whiskybased daylight for the Elgin gig and an
aggressive taps-aff Glasgow-based moustache
fest for the return leg.
We've never actually embarked on a major
tour, principally since two of the members of
ECD chose to triply impregnate their wives
and see out full term and beyond – it's a Clarke
thing, apparently – so the prospect of spending
two weeks in a van with camping gear and
complaining is what they typically do any
given summer. I look forward to arguments in
a hired Transit.
(Alan) I loved playing at Doune The Rabbit
Hole festival last year in Scotland (and I think
the others liked it too – once they recovered
from the tent-induced hypothermia) which
also featured some fine acts including No
More Tiger, Errors, Trembling Bells to name
but a few. As the guys have said we have a gig
in Edinburgh on the 9th of May at The Wee
Red Bar nearly sorted (a Pure M exclusive
there!) and would love to play one or two more
shows over the summer up north & at any
festivals that’ll have us! We are very clean and
easily pleased.
16
Could you give me some insight into East
Coast Defector’s songwriting process?
(Andrew) Songwriting is a complete mystery
to me…
(Albie) Usually the first question we ask
ourselves is, “What would Bill Murray do?”
Then it's over to A. Clarke (1,
Singer/Songwriter) to actually write all the
songs. I add syncopated percussion noise over
the top; the other members complain about the
noise,
drink
tea. A.
Clarke
(1,
Singer/Songwriter) ignores most of it and
continually shits out diamonds. We assemble
Newton Mearns's finest teenagers to help out
and all is well.
(Alan) It’s very variable. It tends to happen in
clumps. Big noisy clumps. Nothing for weeks,
months and then all of a sudden, a song about
Facebook addiction just appears from
nowhere. I don’t know why or how. Ches
might know the answer. Just clumps.
Musically, who are your biggest influences?
(Andrew) This could cause arguments…
(Albie) I'll speak for the rest of the group when
I say our greatest and most resonant influence
is Leonard Nimmoy's 1974 magnum opus
Outer Space/Inner Mind LP. That, and
anything by Sparks.
(Alan) Honest answer here... Lionel Ritchie
and Motorhead (early albums only). And my
mum & dad (that’s the most genetically robust
answer).
What are East Coast Defector’s 2015 goals?
(Andrew) To release an album and