Fresh Meat Monday - The Deportees

Would you care to introduce yourself?

We are the Deportees from Aberdeen in Scotland. There are five of us: Me, Adam K, on lead vocal duties and guitar; Ricky on guitar and vox; Christy on Drums; Diarmaid on Keys and vox; and Adam M on Bass guitar, fiddle and vox.

How would you describe the music you make?

Honest, natural, country-tinged, big rock music I’d say is a fair description. There’s a celtic influence in there too so you get people trying to wedge us into that New Folk genre that seems to be doing the rounds at the moment.

How did you start out making music?

This band was formed after the demise of our earlier projects. I had just spent 6 months on the road with Christy’s previous outfit, Edgar Prais, playing 2nd guitar and a bit of mandolin. When they decided to call it a day, in my view prematurely, it gave Christy and I (we’re brothers) the opportunity to collaborate on something a bit closer to our hearts and minds. We were raised on traditional music, American and British Folk in particular, and we had discussed for a while how nice it would be to play together in a band that nodded towards the sorts of musicians and bands that had sound-tracked our childhoods. Ricky and I had played together in bands since we were 16 so he was first on our list. Adam M was Christy’s choice because the guy is an incredible musician and knows his way around a fiddle. We advertised for a pianist and up popped Diarmaid to make it 5.

What process goes into the way you write songs?

As clichéd as this might sound, we’re very much a collaboration. The main melodies and the lyrics come from me but I rarely complete a song prior to playing the bones of it to the rest of the guys. I find song writing works best when you throw your original idea into the pot as quickly as possible and see what other people come up with; see how they hear it and where they think the song could go. If you’re too rigid and controlling as a songwriter then you’re limiting yourself to possibilities. The other guys are all so talented it would be a crime not to collaborate on arrangements, counter melodies, harmonies, structure etc.

What can people expect from your live shows?

No frills. We just play our instruments the way they’re supposed to be played and don’t rely on gimmicks. There seems to be this thing at the moment where, because there’s such a saturation of new music - endless reams of the next big thing – bands feel the need to turn gimmicky in order to stand out: let’s all stand around a floor tom and hit it with our elbows for 5 minutes; that’ll look cool. No it won’t, it’ll look like every other band. I’m not trying to sound like I’m too cool for school or anything, it just ain’t our bag. Let the music do the talking (there’s another cliché).

What are you all listening to at the moment?

Speaking for myself, I can’t get Dylan off my stereo: Oh Mercy is the album for me right now – His first with Daniel Lanois producing. As far as modern stuff goes, I’m a big fan of everything the Decemberists do. And the Waterboys are probably my all time favourite band. Forget U2, there’s your Big Music right there.

I imagine Christy is listening to Modest Mouse, Neil Young and Van Morrison at the moment. Ricky’s probably not listening to anything because he’ll be in his home studio making fat beats of his own. Diarmaid might have eschewed Abba in favour of the Divine Comedy. And poor Adam M will be dancing is his bedroom to McFly or other such pop delights.

What can we expect to see/hear from you in 2011?

Well it’s knocking on August so there’s not much of 2011 left. We’ve just released our debut single, I Lost Her to the Sea on Bedford Records, which we will continue to promote for a while. Unfortunately I’m still recovering slowly from a bad bout of laryngitis, which despite popular belief, really is a nasty, nasty thing for singers to get. Could take a few months yet for my voice to come back so we’re spending the time in our practice studio writing at the moment. If we’re gigging again by the end of the year then we’ll try and pop out on a wee tour in October, November time. If not then we’ll start planning for 2012, which should hopefully see us assaulting the hell out of the festival circuit, and recording our album.

The Deportees - When The Roses Bloom Again

Home
Facebook

Friday Freebies

King Post Kitsch
I know I have been banging on about King Post Kitsch for a while now and I will continue to do so as his new album is fucking ace. If you still haven't checked him out then head over to Song By Toad where you will find a free download of the excellent 'Fante’s Last Stand'.

Michael Cassidy
First off he records a Peenko Session, then the next thing you know Michael Cassidy is being voted as one of Scotland on Sunday's Eligibles for 2011. I am sure the fact that he's handsome man and talented as fuck has nothing to do with it, it was all about the influential power of Peenko, or perhaps not. If you haven't checked the sexy beast out already, then you're in luck as he's just posted a free download of a new demo called 'You do it again' on his Soundcloud page.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
I am guessing that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's wee hiatus was brought to a bit of an abrupt end seeing as nobody gave a shit about any of their side projects, or am I just getting cynical in my old age. Whatever the reasons for them returning, it's nice to have them back, yes their second album wasn't the greatest but I did miss those odd sounding vocals. In September they're releasing their third album, Hysterical, to remind us that they exist(ed) the band are giving away a free download of new track 'Same Mistake'. A welcome return? that's up for you to decide, personally I like this new song and am looking forward to hearing more.

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks
Having spent most of time recently touring with his old band, Pavement, Stephen Malkmus is set to release a new album, Mirror Traffic' with his new old band (that makes sense right?!), The Jicks. You can find yourself a free download of new song 'Senator' on his homepage.

Campfires in Winter
It's been a while since we've heard anything new from 'my boys', but Croy's finest are back and they finally managed to nab themselves a new drummer in the form of the awesome Denny, formerly of Macabre Scene, who sadly called it a day this week. Anyway to remind you all that they've not disappeared off the face of the earth they've posted up 3 demo tracks for free download. Two of the songs are new and the other is a reworking of an older song, With A Ragged Diamond, I know you probably haven't been itching for this as much I have, but I must say it's nice to have them back.

Vetiver
The rather ace Vetiver are giving away a free download of their song 'Wonder Why' from their new album, The Errant Charm, which is out now on SubPop.



The Pineapple Chunks
They're based in Edinburgh, they sound ramshackle as fuck but I can't stop listening to them, so they must be doing something right. Hopefully we'll have more information on them for you soon, for now you can help yourself to a couple of free downloads on their Bandcamp page.

The Deportees
Our friends up in Aberdeen, Bedford Records are set to put out their third release next month with Americana outfit The Deportees. In anticipation of it's release they've posted a free download up on their Bandcamp page.

Maydays
Originally from the North East of Scotland, but now having relocated to Edinburgh, Maydays are purveyors of charming indie pop. You can find out for yourself by downloading their songs for free on their Bandcamp.

The Boosts
Invernessian band, The Boosts have been developing a bit a buzz up in their neck of the woods, they write catchy as fuck pop tunes and they give all of their music away for free, what's not to like. Their Soundcloud page is full of infectious wee pop gems all of which are free, don't say they're not good to you.

Honey
Glasgow based band Honey, recently released their debut E.P, Taste It And See, which they've posted up for free download. It reminds me a bit of the Stone Roses but with a touch of post rock thrown into the mix. I still haven't quite my mind up if it's for me or not, if it sounds like it could be for you then you can download it for free on their Bandcamp page, they're also playing tonight at Slouch in Glasgow.

The Tolbooth Sessions 2011
There is a free compilation of local talent up for grabs on Bandcamp, which includes the much hyped Friends in America, Hey Enemy and Miniature Dinosaurs. Download it here.

How To Swim
If you're heading up to the Insider Festial this weekend then you might want to check out How To Swim before you head off. They've posted a couple of singles for free download via bandcamp, you can get ‘Corpsing’ and ‘She Gets Around’ for nowt here.

Breton
Fat Cat have signed yet another awesome band, fuck knows how they do it. This lot are called Breton and they have a free download up on their Soundcloud page.

Vigo Thieves
You can get yourself a free download of their song Love Is Dead in exchange for a tweet.

Fountains Of Wayne
Bloody hell they're still going, I remember listening to these guys when I was in fifth year school (which was a long long time ago), then they released that song about Staceys Mom, or whatever it was and to be honest it totally turned me off them. Anyway if you still like them and want to hear more they're about to return with their fifth LP. You can download a free MP3 of new song "Richie & Rubin" for free via Stereogum.