1) Who are you, who is in the band, who does what in the studio and on stage?
I am Niall and I am the band! I play guitar and bass at the same time and sing.
Marcus Mackay (SAY award winner with Kathryn Joseph) produced our first record ‘A Distorted Sigh’ which came out in April this year but I am producing our follow up record at the moment at home
2) How long have you been writing and performing in this way?
Prob about 3 years.
3) How exactly do you work / write / record?
Tend to just get a strange feeling and pick up the guitar and out they pop! Always amazes me when within an hour you have gone from nothing to a rough demo of a new song. Kinda obsessed with writing songs, I have around 250 song demos in my iTunes at the moment
4) How do you feel your studio/recording style informs the way you perform your music live (or vice versa)?
I try to separate the two so the recording can have anything on it…as lo-fi or as lush as you want but I like to keep the live side quite raw and energetic so I guess I pick songs that will work a bit more punk rock.
5) What’s been happening lately and what’s new with you?
Well I have just got back from playing CMJ in New York which was an amazing experience. Loads of amazing stuff happened that I couldn’t possibly divuldge here ha ha. Going back over to the states in Feb and exciting things in the pipeline with American labels. Love New York. Sorting out some European touring for New Year at the moment and finishing off recording the second album which I’m very excited about. The current album is called A Distorted Sigh and you can get vinyl + cassette through Song, by Toad Records online or it is on iTunes!
6) When was the last time you played Edinburgh (and where)?
Last time was the launch of Nothing Ever Happens Here at Summerhall around April time. It was fun and busy and i managed to throw my guitar at someone which is usually the sign of a good gig!
7) If you’ve played Limbo before, what did you like/rate about the experience? If you’ve not played Limbo before, what have you heard about it?
I have not been but heard good things!
8) What’s next, coming up after this gig, for you and what are you generally looking forward to right now…?
Got a handful of Scottish dates and then its mostly finishing the second record and planning tours. Editing together a new video also which should be online over xmas. And attempting to find spiritual enlightenment.
9) If you have any other passions/opinions you’d like to share, if there’s anything else you feel strongly about, pls feel free to tell us about it here…?
I do a lot of illustrations and all the Elk art is doodled from my hand. At the moment i am setting up a clothing company. Starting with kids clothes then moving into adult stuff. Should have some cool tees out there in the world in the next month.
10) How would you describe what you do – in a nutshell – to someone who’s never seen you before?
I call it ‘Thrash-Pop’ and i am sticking by it!
