Would you care to introduce yourself?
Eugene Twist, presently based in Glasgow, operating exclusively as night porter in the tower of song. At this moment finding myself in the region of nine thousand days old and extending a powerball of good will through the ether like an uber buddha with a tuba, to you.
How would you describe the music you make?
Like the music I listen to - varied and hopefully coming from an organic place. Big fan and believer in the pop song in the broadest sense of the form. On a journey encompassing romanticism, lyricism, ballad, rhythm and rock and roll - the infinity bus.
How did you start out making music?
As a drummer very young about 7 years old, with a badass Mickey Mouse kit. Then messing around on piano through my teens, started composing and recording. Eventually got to guitar, writing songs came last and now it's my default setting.
What process goes into the way you write songs?
I try to keep the antennae on and receptive to varying approaches whether subconscious train of lyric that dances off the page or a melody that naturally comes first. I'm never short of the skeletons of songs so I find the challenge is in the less immediate aspects of writing like arranging, instrumentation and rhythm. Computers are great for that - for writing more consciously in general. The recurring component for me to get anywhere creatively has to be experimentation. It can be agonising trying to carve your own musical landscape, to keep it fresh for yourself and unique to you without becoming too obscure etc but if you work hard enough the craft strengthens, the shortcuts emerge and that hopefully sets you on the path to prolificacy and long lasting music.
Surrounding yourself with other creative minds helps massively too. Recently had the chance to work with a majorly seasoned and searching couple of musicians in bassist Steph Greer (formerly of K.M.O and now with the Silencers) and drummer Ross McFarlane (Texas / Proclaimers) and actually work through some new material with them. A treat for me because the calibre of their musicianship and sense of serving the song let me look more towards my own performance and brought a synergy to the material that didn't exist before. Big shout out to Nicholas Blythe and Graham McCusker too, who I've been working with loads and are undeniably the future of songwriting instrumentalists in Scotland.
What can people expect from your live shows?
Sweat. Tears. Euphoria. Enlightenment. Dancing encouraged. Nudity advised. Live is where it's at for me at the moment, it's a joy to take the songs from the record on to the stage, especially with the band behind it - I can sit back on electric guitar so aesthetically it's different to the record in a lot of places, more of a definitive collective sound if anything. It's translated really well.
What are you all listening to at the moment?
Owed myself a classical music binge for a while so Vaughn Williams has been on rotation. If I feel I'm eating too much horseradish I go and put the Stones on. Boots Electric from Eagles of Death Metal had a solo album out last year 'Honkey Kong', which is genius, started listening to that again. Robert Wyatt. Rufus Wainwright.
What can we expect to see/hear from you in the future?
A few videos before the year is out and more band shows and supports on the path to festivals next year. Many more songs, records, music!
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