Scots Way-Hay #30 - A Band Called Quinn

Photo by Jane Rolland

I've featured a lot of indie folk-pop bands recently, so I thought it was about time that I branched out a little. A Band Called Quinn are most certainly pop, but there's no folk to be had here, this is electro-pop done at it's finest. It was their last album, 'Sun Moon Stars' that first brought the band to my attention, at the time I remember thinking that I liked what I heard but that they reminded me a bit of Goldfrapp. Which was especially odd as the 'frapp don't really do much for me, but this did. The stand out track for me from was 'Glimmer Song', it was their lead singer Louise Quinn's shimmering voice that struck the right chord with me. This is unashamed pop, if there's any justice in the world then you'll be hearing a lot more from this band.


Would you care to introduce yourself?

I am Louise Quinn singer/songwriter with A Band Called Quinn.

Where are you based?

Glasgow.

How would you describe the music you make?

It's like sticking your head in a tumble drier at a psychedelic launderette.

How did you come together as a band?

We were dressed as aliens wandering the streets of Glasgow around Christmas time and decided we should make music. We all love sci-fi, lo-fi, hi-fi & wi-fi and decided to unleash our sound on the world.

How did you start out making music?

I wrote my first song Halloween Midnight when I was seven. My brother Shug was older, cooler, had a great collection of punk seven inch singles and played guitar. I wanted to be him.

What process goes into the way you write songs?

Anything can influence a song; a word; a film; a sweetie wrapper. I have melodies in my head and a probable undiagnosed personality disorder but sometimes you need silence to let it all breathe.
Who are your big musical influences?

All the big hitters Lou; Iggy; Debbie; Patti; Ella; Billie but also films.

You were recently involved in the ‘Storm the Charts’ campaign, for those who don’t already know what that is would you mind explaining it a little? Do you think it worked for you as a band?

Storm The Charts was Wes White's attempt to populate the entire top 40 with independent artists on the same week. 40 bands were selected out of 600 applicants to have their track put forward by public vote and panel members such as Huw Stephens & Emily Eavis. STC didn't achieve it's initial aim but our track DIY got to no.4 in The Amazon Indie Charts & 6Music got behind the campaign so a lot more people are aware we exist.

On previous albums you seem to have roped in some pretty big names to play on your records, who’s been lucky enough to play with you and can we expect to see any unexpected ‘names’ featuring on your forthcoming album?

We have been lucky enough to record with Alex Kapranos; Kid Loco & The Pastels. Our next album features sleeve-notes penned by Britain's best selling crime writer & Rebus creator Ian Rankin!

What are your plans for the rest of the year and beyond? Do you have any new releases planned for any time soon?

At the moment we are working towards the release of our next album The Beggar's Opera which is a collection of songs written for award winning Scottish theatre company Vanishing Point's futuristic update of John Gay's 18th Century play. We toured in the show last year and it was an amazing experience for the band; the set, the costumes, the visuals... it was a real spectacle. The show 'caused a lot of controversy in the theatre world - some critics giving it one star; some five. A lot of people really loved it and kept asking if they could get hold of the songs so we decided to record them. The first single is Here's To Us out on the 4th of October. I am absolutely delighted with it - I think it's the best single we've ever recorded & there's some really exciting remixes by Celebrity Murder Party; Colin Waterson & Ban This Sick Filth. We're going to be shooting a video for it with Iman4D (Willie Richardson) & playing a few dates to launch the album (out on the 25th of October).

A Band Called Quinn - Here's To Us (Ban This Sick Filth mix)

A Band Called Quinn play King Tuts tonight (25th) alongside MAY68 and Epic26, you might still be able to get cheap tickets directly from the band here.

The band release the soundtrack to the acclaimed Vanishing Point's Beggar's Opera on the 25th of October with lead single Here's To Us out on the 11th of October.


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