Q&A with Elephant Sessions
1. You are on the back of an Australian tour (congratulations!) How was your trip? How does an Australian audience compare to a Scottish audience?
It was great! We love going out to Australia and it was so good getting back out there in March after a couple years of not being able to travel abroad. We always have such an amazing time out there though, fun gigs and cool experiences.
Audiences out there are class and always so up for it, they’re actually probably the closest we’ve found to Scottish audiences anywhere in the world.
2. Your hometown venue, The Ironworks welcomed you back with a sold out gig in September this year. How was the gig?
Loved it! It’s always great to come home to play a show. An Inverness crowd never disappoints. We’ve always had a strong connection with the venue and for that reason I think it’s even more special when we’ve played there. We grew up going there to watch live bands and then we were given opportunites to play there by the venue before we we had any right stepping out on such a big stage. They’ve supported us right through our career as a band and we’ll always be thankful for that. Legends!
3. How did you meet each other? How did the band get started?
Euan and myself (Alasdair) met as kids in a fiddle class and then met Greg as teenagers. We began playing together and would play gigs and ceilidhs around Inverness. I met Seth at uni in Newcastle, started Elephant Sessions, and here we are 10 years later!
4. What is the most memorable gig you have played?
There’s been so many memborable and pivotal gigs for us but I think I’ve got to say our recent show at the Barrowlands in Glasgow, it was to celebrate our 10 year anniversary and it was a special one!
5. You have a new album out now. How did you manage to write/record during lock down?
With difficulty! It wasn’t straight forward, I think like everyone we lacked that creative spark at the start of the pandemic. We began writing things individually before sending each other demos that we would record at home.
Once things relaxed and we could meet up in the same room again we did this and spent 2021 writing together when we could.
6. Following on from that how has the use of digital transformed the way you create music now compared to when you first started?
For sure, those original demos and ideas were important before being able to get in a room together. I think everyone in music, and life generally, had to adapt to survive and using digital technology was how a lot of people got through those rough years.
7. What do you think about the current Scottish music scene? Anyone we should keep our eye on?
The Scottish music scene is thriving right now! I think the folk scene has had a real revival over the last decade or so and it’s amazing how many talented people are coming through in all genres in Scotland.
Folk wise keep an eye on Project Smok and Trip, both great bands that have released great albums.
Outwith of just the folk scene, I’d say ones to watch would be Cara Rose, Lewis McLaughlin, Tamzene, Memphis Gerald and Inverness’ finest Katie Gregson-MacLeod.
8. Do you have any advice to up and coming musicians/bands?
Sounds cliché but have fun. Make music you enjoy and play it with people you like being around. We’ve been very lucky that we are all pals and that’s very important when you’re on the road!
If you look like you’re enjoying yourself then an audience will react to that.
9. What is the best and worst thing about the music industry?
The best thing for me has been getting to do what I love, seeing new places and experiencing things I would never have done if it hadn’t been for music.
The worst; things can feel pretty blue sometimes, gigging gives you big highs and adrenaline rushes so the come down from that, combined with a lack of sleep or routine, alcohol and inconsistent eating habits can be a hard thing to manage sometimes.
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