INTERVIEW | MOTION

I recently caught up with Robbie and Paul from Motion for a chat! How would you sum up your 2018? Paul: It was a great year for us! Busy. We put on a couple of headline shows, one at the start of the year belatedly promoting our debut EP (Listen here - https://spoti.fi/2Ta9msK) and a second to promote another single. They were both sell out shows which we’re immensely grateful for, it was unexpected selling out our first ever headliner but then selling out the second was an even bigger surprise. On top of that we were also invited to play alongside a few bands we love like Neon Waltz, Vistas, Rascalton and a lot more.

We released our newest single ‘BBlurred’ (Listen here - https://spoti.fi/2HTXlFH ) at the tail end of the year. We basically got let loose in a fancy studio to record it which I loved. I’m very pleased with how that turned out. I think we were able to create something fairly unusual, off the top of my head I can’t think of anyone it really sounds like. I’m very happy whenever I hear it. Jordan from Neon Waltz helped us make a video for it too which was great!

Declan Milne also joined us to play keys and second guitar a few months ago. Declan and I had collaborated on projects previously, plus having good patter as well as being a soop connoisseur made him the obvious choice. We’re currently sitting on a cache of songs we’ve written both together which we’ll be playing and likely releasing later in the year.

Plans for 2019? Paul: We had to turn down shows for a bit there at the start of the year while I’m working on a project I can’t say too much about at the moment, so we’ll be lining up plenty of shows to make up for it towards the summer. New music with a bit of a new direction is on the cards right now. Nude photo shoot for Q. Make more bands cry. Any new music in the pipeline? Paul: Aye, we’re toying with the idea of an EP. We’ve been putting out singles but really it’s more rewarding for us to put out a cohesive body of work. I think what we’re going to release will surprise a lot of people, I don’t want to give too much away. What are your influences for song writing? Paul: I handle the majority of the music side. It’s tough to list all the influences that go in but I would say XTC, The Stranglers, The The, Wire, Massive Attack and early New Order are the main ones. Wire in particular. I love how their music is kind of poppy but kind of weird at the same time. I’ve always really liked shit pop music too, who doesn’t? That has helped me get a good ear for hooks, arrangements and so on. Can you tell I was exposed to both extremes as a child. I do probably about a third of the lyrics. They’re more based on what I’ve been reading or watching or whatever at the time than other artists. Interestingly, I noticed recently mine and Robbie’s lyrics seem to contrast each other where his tend to be more introspective or indoor and mine tend to be more extrospective and outdoor.

Robbie: Lyrically a lot of my drive comes from the likes of Joe Strummer from the Clash, Nicky Wire from Manic Street Preachers, Andy Partridge from XTC, Lee Mavers from The La’s.

Thoughts on the Scottish Music Scene? Paul: This is the strongest I remember it ever being. So many great bands about at the moment and things really seem to be coming together. I think previously there was a lack of confidence from Scottish artists in themselves which has been causing this weird prisoner’s dilemma, crabs in a bucket type situation in Scottish music for years. It’s definitely a lot better than it was that way. Think The Dunts, Rascalton and The Ninth Wave being called over to SXSW inspired a lot of people, that was great to see. In the Scottish scene I’ve overheard the old guard complaining about the new bands that are making a name for themselves which is always a good sign. Favourite Scottish bands or artists? Paul: Far too many to name which is a good sign. The ones I’ve been listening to a lot at the moment are Rascalton, Frankie’s Evil Party, Snack Villain, Parliamo. Closer to home there’s The Party Slogan, Nasari, Betty & The Bass, Spyyn and Wylde who are great too.

Robbie: The Dunts are doing great, Neon Waltz too. Young Fathers. It's a good time for Scottish music.

If you could cover a song, what would it be and why? Robbie: We could do Alex F by the Crazy Frog if Paul learns to roll his ‘R’s

What's the most bizarre thing to happen while you were onstage? Paul: We’ve been fairly lucky in that nothing like sinister or anything has happened. It’s usually just folk handing you drink or whatever which is pretty funny. The only one I can think of is this- we played a show after we’d been out for Lee’s birthday the night before and in the photo’s from it we’re all actually grey.

If you only had one album to listen to, what would it be? Paul: The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers                     

Robbie: Forever Changes by Love What is your guilty pleasure song? Paul: We Built This City by Starship. It’s a song complaining about bands ‘selling out’ but the band themselves sold out with that song. Genius. You’d think that it was maybe a bit of an in joke and done ironically, but no, it was written by a kind of song writing team and nobody thought it would be weird. Too many to choose from, as I said earlier I really love terrible pop music so you should probably expect some of that from us later on down the line.

Robbie: Love and Pride by King If you had your own festival, who would be your 3 headliners? Robbie: Three of the remaining Jackson 5 would do solo/DJ sets. Leeway for a bit of drama.