The hype around Scottish band Frightend Rabbit soared after the release of their 3rd album ‘The Winter of Mixed Drinks’ which received outstanding reviews from the likes of NME and The Guardian.
While their fourth album isn’t out until early 2013 the band are currently treating fans to a four track EP entitled ‘State Hospital’ as well an extended Irish tour. Scott Hutchison took some time out from their busy schedule while in Portrush to have a quick chat about the new EP, about playing in Ireland and the Irish artists he admires.
So tell us about the EP, I know for the last one you said you went off in isolation to focus, write, record and just take some time out, was it different for this EP?
We didn’t write this one as an EP in itself, we wrote about 20 songs and these were the ones, aside from State Hospital, the lead single, that didn’t fit on the record. The writing process was different for each one. I can’t even really remember exactly when we wrote each of them. So the reason that this came together was that they didn’t really fit on the album, but we still loved them. We wanted to put them on an EP instead of giving them B-Side status.
Why do you think you ended up with two different sounds for what was originally the same album? Do you know or did it just work out that way?
Yeah, I’m not entirely sure. I think it’s just one of those things, we wrote the album over a reasonably long period and some of these were towards the end of that process and had come to a place that they weren’t really in keeping with the beginning. When we sat down and listened to the 20 songs, we had these four that didn’t really match up to what came before. We knew they didn’t fit but we still love them so we’re glad they’re getting a moment in the sun.
What kind of music were you listening to while you were writing the album?
Everything. I really love Caribou, Beach, I absoultely love The Shins, The Antlers and I’ve been listening to a lot of Bill Wells and Adrian Moffat.
Are you going to give fans a preview of the album as well as the EP?
We’re gonna try a couple. We’re going to play two or three off the EP and then maybe one or two off the album. I don’t want to bore anyone. I know what it’s like to go to a concert and the band play all this shit you’ve never heard of. I find that annoying and boring and self-indulgent. I know a lot of people will want to hear some older stuff so we’ll do that.
The last time you played in Dublin you were in the Academy and sold out the venue. Are you familiar with Dublin? Do you enjoy playing here? Don’t worry we won’t get offended if the answers no.
I do, that one in the Academy is one of our top 5 shows we’ve ever played as a band. One of the reasons we’re doing this tour at the moment is basically that Ireland was one of the first places we ever toured because we had friends of friends that had pubs where we could play. When we came to release the EP we didn’t just want to do Dublin and Belfast. I love Dublin but I also love Galway and Cork and we really just wanted to play in cities we hadn’t played before. We’re really pleased to be coming back. [laughs] If we weren’t I’d just say no comment.
Are you been listening to any Irish bands? Have any crossed your radar?
Yeah I’ve got recommended this album called ‘Heartworm’ by Whipping Boy. The songs are really good, it sounds like the 90s but I’ve been enjoying it. Apart from that, I still love David Kitt, don’t know what happened to him though.
David Kitt? He played the whole of ‘The Big Romance’ album on Saturday night Electric Picnic at the weekend just gone, it was great!
Awww no. No, don’t say that, that’s one of my favourite albums ever. Aw, fuck.
Yeah he’s got a new band too called Spilly Walker you should check them out! Thanks for taking the time out to talk to us we’ll see you on the 14th for the gig in Dublin! We’ll be up in the Academy to check it out.
Great, thanks hope it’s a belter of a gig!
Frightened Rabbit play the Academy on the 14th of September as part of their Irish Tour. ‘State Hospital‘ is released on the 21st of September.