Friday, October 12, 2012 SFTW 5

ELECTRIC THRILL ONE2HEAR SANDI GETS ‘CHAIR’ ...Sandi in death scene BIG Kids are the ste- POP star Sandi Thom really liked their vibe and reotypical odd couple. their tenacity so Iagreed It’s Mr Hudson, the gets the electric chair to work with them. talented singer and in her new video — “Since then Itook more pal of Kanye West — CHRIS and admitted she of an interest in their and Bill Oddie’s dau-

By career and when Iheard ghter Rosie Bones.

SWEENEY NEW LOVED it. the in its com- The pair have The chart-topper suffers pleted form Ithought: released debut album MUSIC the death penalty in ‘This is brilliant’ and I Never Grow Up —and prison —which is for wanted to do everything I play Glasgow’s King By JIM GELLATLY Aberdeen hip-hop duo could to help them.” Tuts tomorrow night. Shy and DRS’ breakout Backing that up, Sandi CALM AS THE COLOUR single The Love is Gone. —who shot to fame in Q Listen at bigkids- music.tumblr.com WHO: Darren Roy (vocals), Kris It was releasedonMon- 2006 with No1 hit IWish Smith (guitar), Phil Cook (bass), day and is riding high in IWas aPunk Rocker — Michael Roy (drums) the iTunes hip-hop charts. signed them to her own WHERE: Markinch, Fife Adding to the madness, label Guardian Angels and FOR FANS OF: Oasis, Stone the song’s tune is 80s is tipping them to make it ONE2SEE Roses, The La’s smash hit Kayleigh — big. The lads —real names OXJAM is taking over JIM SAYS: Local scenes need penned by Dalkeith rocker on-the-ground supporters, be it Fish and band Marillion. James and Darren Scott — Dundee in some style. are twins who’ve been There are gigs lined press, blogs, podcasts or radio. But it’s Sandi who takes It’s all about exposure, and the starring role as the grafting away for years up by localbands in a looking for their break. church, car park, these grass-roots platforms for rappers shackle her feet new music are vital in lighting and hands, put her in a Shy said: “The song was kitchen and other odd convict’s jumpsuit, place a written about both our venues and it’s all kick- that first spark. Bands like Calm hood over her head then recent ex’s at the time ing off this weekend. As The Colour have benefited cold bloodily execute her. where we’d both just Details are released from coverage by Kingdom come out of relationships. afew hours before Cuts, until recently Kev Quinn’s Spooky It’s about the concept of each gig, with all pro- weekly slot on Kingdom FM. having your partner sud- ceeds going to Oxfam. Phil from the band told me: Sandi, 31, revealed: “The denly change. By CHRIS SWEENEY “Kev’s been great. He’s agenu- death penalty scene was a “While talking with Q Keep track at twit ine fan and believer in our lot of fun to film. Sandi before recording it, ter.com/dundeejam MOST people see elec- music. He’s done so much for “I’ve not had any night- she came up with the idea tro boys as all the bands around Fife.” mares since although it of having the song be like Though Kingdom Cuts was was pretty spooky sitting aconversation. DEADLY ... way left of centre. dropped by the radio station in the chair.” “So the chorus is the rappers Shy & But to them —they’re play- last month, it’s thankfully found And the Banff-born female point of view and DRS with Sandi ing it dead straight. anew home online with the babe revelled in being the comeback to the launch of Dunfermline-based part of the unusual Scot- verses, it worked really The band admit they have to well and the guitar lick keep themselves in check. Existence Radio. The first show tish collaboration. is duetobebroadcast on Mon- She said: “I thought it on the Marillion sample is And that they do try to milk WATCH day via existenceradio.co.uk. was agreat idea, Kayleigh totally complemented by it for the mass market. Sandi’s vocals. Synth player Felix Martin Even better is word that the has such arecognisible new show, rather than the 12 riff and Ithought it was “It was the first proper revealed: “In our minds that’s great to have three Scot- collaboration we did so it what we do try and do. minutes allotted by the old sta- tish artists from three dif- felt amazing to work with “We’re trying to make pop tion, will be afull hour, taking in ferent genres collaborating such an experienced and records that are commercial. artists’ interviews andsessions. on asong together. established artist.” “Not that we’re attempting to It may be avery small cog, sell out, but we see ourselves as “The boys asked me to Q Download the single and but it all helps build the profile of apop band. an act. Where better to do that sing on their record acou- watch its video at shyanddrs. “If we’re not selling records ple of years ago now, I com than on your own doorstep? and tickets to gigs, then we’re For Calm As The Colour it ONES 2 not doing what we want to do. gave them alaunch pad which “We’re definitely all capable of led to national attention on BBC making music that is alot more Radio 6. Darren said: “Tom Rob- esoteric andweird —and not suitable foramass audience. inson has played us six times in “But we keep that in check thelast year. He has asoft spot when we make an album.” And Felix also admitted that even he can’t work out how they all come together to make music that has chart success. He said: “If we are sitting on the bus listening to music, it will be all over the place, from Ray Charles to techno. “But somehow it all hangs together in our minds. “It someone laid out the for- mula and our background, I would think it was unlikely that this band would have success. for Fife bands mainly because of Fence Records (King Creo- Confidence sote’s label) and he’s abig fan of our music, which is incredi- “But the core is good song- ble. writing, that’s what people res- “The BBC6 music team have pond to and keeps us relevant.” promoted our music all over the The band are riding high now. country and we are so grateful Recent album In Our Heads — which came out back in June — for their help. not only sold well, but it was a “Tom says we have gems for hit with the critics. songs and are aband that will Felix, 32,said: “This one is be knocking on the door of thebest album we’ve made. record companies next year.” “It’s more interesting and just Praise indeed from the music has better songs all round. legend-turned-broadcaster. “There was areal confidence They’ve also been featured by in the songs. As long as keep set-up with us all doing the have more songs that we are Felix said: “We’re really looking Steve Lamacq on Radio 2, and going in the direction then same thing. able to play in one night, so we forward to coming up to Scot- have afurther fan in former you’re allowed to release music. “There’s alot of swapping fiddle about with the set list. land. Inspiral Carpets singer Tom Hin- “The fans and people who around and working out who’s But once we get into agroove “Honestly, it’s where some of gley. Phil said: “We supported come see us seem to have really going to play what on each and rhythm, we go for it.” our best gigs ever have been. him afew months back. He pro- warmed to it. When we’ve been song. It takes afair amount of The only Scots date on the run “It’s something on the tour motes our music on the internet. playing live, alot of the new preparation as there are seven is tonight at Glasgow’s O2 where you always know it’s “That’s amazing considering songs have been getting areally people on-stage. ABC. going to be ahighlight basically. we formed the band through good reception. “That’swhat we take inspira- And the band —who’re also “It’s alonger set for these influences such as the Inspiral “We’re just really happy. It’s tion from, that’s what keeps it singer , percussion shows too. We’re doing the new Carpets.” our fifth album and people are interesting for us and helps us man , bass player album but we’ve tried to cover Playing jangly indie-pop with still finding new things to enjoy stand out from the crowd. We Owen Clarke and guitarist Al all the old songs. asummery feel, Calm As The about us.” do change things around. We Taylor —are bang up for it. “We’re not ones for ditching Colour have released 2EPs, Right now, the boys are on a stuff becausewe’re sick of play- big European tour —which has andhave just posted agreat ing it, it’s part of our DNA.” video for their track Sometimes, kicked off with the UK leg. THE band are doing adouble shift this time, we’re bringing along One thing Hot Chip have had And prior to hitting the road, produced by Edinburgh crea- in Glasgow today. records and will play some of the since their debut album Coming tives Little City Pictures. they were locked away in cold Before tonight’s gig, they’re tak- second-hand stuff we’ve got. On Strong in 2004, is the cool storage working on the set. Calm As The Colour are cur- ing over Oxfam on the “As that was abig part of tag. But again that’s not some- rently working on athird EP and As they like to keep things city’s Byres Road. our musical experience thing they really understand. dynamic on stage. Felix said: “It’s nice to hear it. hope to release their debut They’re putting on a growing up, buying cheap album next year. They also have Felix said: “It does take a party which kicks off at second-hand ones from But Idon’t know who our typi- while. We put the hours in to cal fan is and what they’re into. their sights set on slots at the prepare, we had areally long noon —with fans able to places like Oxfam. major Scottish festivals like TIn rehearsal period this time as hang out with them. “So we’re giving some- “We’re into quite alot of dif- thing back from some- ferent music, so in order to like The Park and RockNess. we’re trying to dip into quite a Felix said: “It’s afun con- MORE: calmasthecolour.band bit of our back catalogue. cept. We’ve done afew where that helped us. us you need to be open-minded gigs for them over the years. “It’s agood organisation and —and that helps anyone who’s a camp.com and indemandscot “We use alot of instruments land.co.uk. Jim will play Calm and different arrangements for Instead of doing agig in the shop worth supporting if you can.” fan of music rather than apar- ticular genre, to get us.” As The Colour on In:Demand each song —there is no standard Uncut thisSunday at 7pm on Clyde 1, Forth One, Northsound 1, RadioBorders, Tay FM, West FM and West Sound.