Glasvegas on their 2008 and new Christmas album

When thinking about Scottish musical successes of 2008, one name stands head and shoulders above all others: Glasvegas.

Love them or hate them – and it seems many members of the music-buying public were in the former camp – there’s no denying the Glasgow four-piece have had a remarkable year. A tipped act at the turn of the year after a couple of self-released and sold-out singles, their signing to Columbia coincided with the beginning of an ascent that’s yet to stop.

Comprising James and Rab Allen, Paul Donoghue and Caroline McKay, Glasvegas’ self-titled debut album stormed the charts in September, and was only held off the number one slot by the return of Metallica. James is the mastermind behind the group’s singular sound – one that’s impossible to imitate, let alone accurately describe in words. It’s an enveloping approach, warm tones and melancholic underbellies, lyrically rich of imagery and instrumentally intense.

A six-track EP, ‘A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like A Kiss)’, is due for release on Monday, December 1. The band’s first new material since the album’s release, the EP’s ostensibly a Christmas record, and was recorded in both New York and Transylvania. Spooky.

Clash caught up with McKay to discuss the band’s amazing 2008…

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It’s been a rollercoaster year, and quite non-stop for you guys… You must be relived that Christmas is almost here, given the break it affords the band?
We’d love to have some time off, love to. We can’t wait. This year has been a rollercoaster, and it’s been very exciting, and bizarre. But having a wee four days off…

Four days? That’s all?
A whole four days, that’s all! It’ll be interesting to look back at what we’ve achieved, because it has been a bizarre year.

Was it nice to work on the ‘Snowflake Fell’ material, given you’ve probably lived with the debut album songs for some time?
To be honest, James created much of the ‘Snowflake Fell’ record while writing the debut album, and the rest he wrote on the road while we were touring. So it’s been constant – we’ve gone from doing gigs for the first album every night, to rehearing the ‘Snowflake Fell’ material, so there was a crossover. But it’s always nice to work on new material.

And are you thinking ahead to the second album proper yet?
Well, it’s in James’ head, and who knows what goes on in there – we’re not part of that creative process. Previously how it’s worked, James comes with demos, and tells us what he’s thinking, and we take it from there. I think the second album will develop much like the Christmas record, where James will perhaps tell us how to do things, but it’ll be a bit more organic than the debut.

So James always takes the lead, and will continue to do so?
I think James is always going to be the architect – he’s the genius behind it if you like. We’re open to contributing ideas, but at the moment we’ve not had any that were better than his! (Laughs) We’re comfortable with that, and we trust James entirely.

And were you comfortable straight away with making the move to a major label, or did you need time to consider the signing to Columbia?
It took us a few weeks to think about. At that point we’d already put out self-financed material, so we were very aware that if we didn’t get the right kind of deal there’d be no point signing with anyone, because we had the ability to release things ourselves, albeit without the financial strength. So it did take us a few weeks to think about, and we were kind of courted by several record labels – again, that was an interesting experience, and good fun. I think we knew we’d be going with Columbia for the most part, because they were the people we trusted the most, and we quickly established a relationship. We really like everyone we’re working with, and they seem to actually care.

And do you have any idea when a second album might be ready?
Um, I guess it’s all kind of relative, what’s considered quick when releasing a second album. Possibly, we might never do another album… Or, we might release one next year. What I know is that we’re booked up ‘til the festivals next year, going to Japan and Europe. (Laughs) It’s a hard life!

Just looking back at 2008, you must’ve never imagined what’d pan out back in January…
We could have never imagined how things have turned out, and each day we’re never sure what might happen. We have a basic structure to each day, but so many bizarre things happen to us! People who are really fucking cool and interesting come over to us and speak to us, popping up here and there. There are so many opportunities open to us at the minute, it’s so exciting.

Anyone you’ve met this year and just gone, Wow…?
Debbie Harry is probably the only person I’ve been star struck by, as ultimately we’re all people doing a job. We were next door to each other, our dressing rooms at the Latitude Festival.

Did you guys have a good festival season?
Festivals are really good fun. You miss important things, like getting a soundcheck, but you get used to that – up we go, half an hour, off again, everyone’s having a ball.

The album attracted almost unanimous praise. Given the unique nature of what you’re doing, in a modern context, did it surprise you that reviews weren’t more mixed?
Well… I don’t know… No. We’ve always totally and utterly believed in the music that James writes and what we do. I guess the reviews of the album could have been more mixed, but we’re ecstatic that it was received the way it was. But it’s all about us four and the music, and if we took all of our bad and good press to heart, we’d probably be a bit crazy by now. There’s good and bad with everything.

And the way the album peaked at number two – no disappointment that it couldn’t go one higher?
(Laughs) No, not at all! Metallica, titans of rock, sold three hundred million albums or something. And we’re a brand-new band who everyone wanted to go to number one, which was fantastic… God bless. But we’re not at all disappointed. I think from this year we’ve sold three times as many albums as any other new British band, so we would have been number one if it wasn’t for Metallica. It gives us something to aim for in the future. Four people from Glasgow who came from nowhere…

Well, Metallica came from nowhere back when…
Yeah, but a good 20 years ago!

They do have that advantage. Thinking ahead to January, you’re headlining an NME tour with Friendly Fires, White Lies and Florence and the Machine. Any concern about potentially playing to audiences that aren’t yours?
It’s not really something that bothers us, again. I think it’ll be great fun, and this sounds really bad, but I’m not really sure what Friendly Fires sound like. White Lies are great though – we really like their music, and they’re great boys. They sound good, and I like their album.

Prior to breaking through, were there other bands you mixed with in Glasgow, who perhaps could’ve broken through too?
We’re so insular, honestly – when we were in Glasgow, we weren’t part of any band scene. We’d spend four or five nights rehearsing, and the other two nights we’d be at my house, drinking and listening to music. We weren’t part of a scene, so perhaps we’re ignorant of other bands that were around at the time.

Sounds like you might need to spend those four days catching up with recent releases of note…
Honestly, I have to! I did an interview with The Observer, and they asked me what my favourite record of 2008 was, and I couldn’t think of one.

And I’m not sure you can suggest your own one…
(Laughs) No, I don’t think so. So I had to do some research and pick up some new ones. I’ve enjoyed the Oasis album – it reminds me of wearing a wee indie anorak down the art school, being a bit cheeky. And Duffy, because I’m a really R&B and Motown kind of girl.

Duffy’s never sat well with me. I find the way she’s presented very… artificial. She does have a good voice though.
She’s got a great voice, although I don’t know how much of it’s her and how much of it is influences. But her record is a very brave one, to put out, because nobody’s ever going to be like Aretha Franklin. She made a good effort, I think.

No doubt. She’s done very well. But it’s not for me.
I just like the fact that… again, I don’t know how much of this is her own personal doing… but she’s bringing back something that’s always been cool, and underground. So maybe kids will do their research and maybe go to a Northern Soul night or something. I used to work for a Northern Soul night, actually.

Do you have any idea who could be the Glasvegas of 2009? In terms of really making a name for themselves.
I think White Lies, for sure. And a band called Thomas Tantrum, from Southampton. They’re a great band – lovely people and good music, and she’s got a great voice (singer Megan Thomas). She’s a wee cutie.

And, finally, what next for you guys. Live dates, by the sound of things…
We’ve a hundred million dates. We’re doing Hogmanay in Edinburgh, which is a big deal, and then we fly out for a show in Boston and do David Letterman in New York. Then we’ve further dates in the US before going to Japan, and after that we’ll probably tour the UK again. And then… then we’re straight into the festivals! No rest for the wicked.

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‘A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like A Kiss)’ is released on Monday, December 1; read our review of it HERE. Find Glasvegas on MySpace HERE and on YouTube, where plenty o’ viddies can be viewed, HERE. They’re on tour right now – all dates are sold out.

ENTER OUR SPECIAL GLASVEGAS COMPETITION HERE