Broken Records Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Feb 15th 2010 1:40PM by Michele Stephens
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Broken Records has done some moving around among record labels, but they finally found a home on independent record label 4AD, which released the band's debut album, 'Until the Earth Begins to Part,' in June 2009. Having formed in late 2006 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the band is getting ready to embark on a trip to the US to show SXSW a good time. This seven-piece indie folk act was named "one of the country's most exciting new bands" in 2008 by NME. Spinner recently spoke with guitarist Ian Turnbull about the band and the plans they have for the coming year.

Describe your sound.

Violent strings, droning accordions and abrasive guitars combined to create passionate, wide-screen music.

How did your band form?

We're a mixture of school friends, university friends, siblings and accidental meetings.

What are your musical influences?

We all have quite different musical backgrounds, so it varies from things like Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Yann Tiersen, Edith Piaf, Elgar, Slint, Sonic Youth, Weezer, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

How did you come up with the name for the band?

Jamie [Sutherland, vocals]'s idea before the band had properly formed was to try and set up an independent label or collective similar to Saddle Creek or the Fence Collective. The idea was to record some local bands, and then Jamie would get the other musicians to help out and play on his songs. However, we never quite got 'round to recording other people, and after a few of us had played a couple of gigs under the label name it just kind of stuck and became the band name.

What does 2010 mean for you?

For the first part of the year it means virtually no live shows, apart from SXSW, and working on putting our second album together instead. The album should be due around September, and we have a single coming out in May. We all miss playing live, though, so we're hoping to be on the road again for the summer festivals.

What's in your festival survive kit?

For summer festivals it's the usual stuff -- sunscreen and waterproofs, sunglasses and warm jumpers, a three-liter box of wine (lighter to carry than beer) -- and a plentiful supply of toilet roll! If it's for SXSW, then just the sunscreen and sunglasses.

What bands are you currently listening to?

Peter Broderick, the Low Anthem, Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, and the Tom Waits 'Glitter and Doom' live album. I've also been listening to recent records by local Edinburgh and Glasgow bands including Sparrow & the Workshop, Eagleowl and Withered Hand.

What is your musical guilty pleasure?

'Candyman' by Christina Aguilera. Sorry.

The Beatles or the Rolling Stones?

Secret option C: the Velvet Underground.

Michele Stephens is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.