Hey there, End Of Neil!Who is End Of Neil and how did it come about?
End of Neil is a vehicle for my art, music, poetry and general creativity. I decided that End of Neil was going to be the 'end' of my adolescent journey of self-discovery, self-doubt, and attempts to fit into moulds, and the beginning of a strong, passionate and original musical project. I'd say the initial songwriting for the project began in 2004 when I was at University, and developed through punk band ventures, acoustic open mic nights and took on folk revivalist influences. These days, as End of Neil, I am trying to move people and compel them to listen to simple, unfurnished songs.
Where did you get your name from?
I tried many different identities. During a very cold Christmas break, I drew a lot of album covers, flyers and posters, and I produced a lot of music; it was a very rich creative period, and End of Neil was how I was signing it. It's a very dark, sinister title, and people have commented on its negative connotations, but locally it's been embraced, and along with the sharp suits, pocket squares and gusty delivery of my live shows, it's become a part of me.
What are you up to at the moment?
I am very busy. I work full time to support my music, but tonight as I write this I am heading out to my 19th gig of the year; I play a lot of jam nights, open mic nights and have visited Edinburgh and Glasgow recently where there is the chance of a show every night!
I have just confirmed a venue for my EP launch on 19th April, the eve of International Record Store Day, and another Unplugged Acoustic show I am setting up. I am also rehearsing a small band to support me when I open for Rachel Sermanni at Tolbooth, Stirling on 22nd of June. Website endofneil.com is under development. A New Tumblr blog is underway, with biography, fan messages, reviews, regular pictorial updates and full lyrics. Also linked to Pinterest Gallery with every poster, picture and flyer to date represented. End of Neil documentary, the life of a singer/songwriter in Stirling, currently being shot and edited by me, for online release sometime next year. Currently recording long running local band Bad Elephant's first EP, and their first video shot live by me will be released soon when they get a Youtube set up. Also rehearsing with a Scottish piper for some traditional music tracks with a view to trying to get involved with Celtic Connections.
What details can you confirm about your upcoming full length?
I have decided that - rather than release one long album - I am going to break it up into two shorter EP's, so that I can have two large launch gigs spread throughout the year. 'My Games,' released April 19th, will be launched alongside my original artwork and only 100 physical copies will be produced. The songs are largely magical realist tales about dark subjects; vampires, high school cliques, old haunts, the great outdoors, and the whole EP is glossed with heavy, crunchy layers of distortion courtesy of the pedal I bought specifically for this project. It was self-recorded over a period of a few weeks, and mastered by my friend. The second release, 'Rabbi,' is supposed to be a slower, more spiritual album written in deepest winter, about the struggles of human emotion against the cold, and it's a more downbeat, moving listen. Presently, I am working very hard on Twitter and Youtube to get the plays and views up.
Is there any continuous lyrical themes within the records?
Lyrically, my biggest influences are re-imagining my youth with supernatural elements thrown in. For example, on the song FANGS from 'My Games', I place a beautiful, innocent high school sweetheart in a scenario with a vampire, where she has to conceal the fact that she has been bitten from her classmates, and she is slowly being transformed into one of their kind. In a way, it's a metaphor for the death of youth and the slow journey into adulthood. I am also hugely influenced by scenery and nature, and the outdoors, and I suppose I have an urge to see life lived a little closer to nature and to the fruits of the earth.
You played a show with legends The Vaselines last year, how was that for you?
The Vaselines, who were Nirvana's support band when they visited the UK, have a legendary status in Scotland, and supporting them was a great honour. On the night of the gig, the band I was in, Burning Cafe Band, were present when The Vaselines soundchecked, and even the Tolbooth venue, which has some big acts passing through it, seemed to crackle with the sense that we were in the presence of very high status musicians. Their band on the night was made up of some musicians from another legendary Scottish band, Belle and Sebastian, so it was like a double honour. In the event, Burning Cafe Band and the other support, Gothenberg Address, hung out in our dressing room area and talked about all things music, when we went out to play, it was like diving underwater into a world of spotlights, heat, hissing cymbals and whoops and cheers. Burning Cafe Band, usually a three piece, became a five piece for that one night only with the addition of drums and piano, and broke up shortly afterwards. It was, and still is, an unforgettable badge of honour for everyone who played on that stage, and probably one of the most memorable music nights I'll ever have. Also, The Vaselines were great! I gave them an original painting as a momento too!
What are your touring plans for this year?
Earlier this year I did a small tour of Glasgow open mics, taking in the famous Nice n Sleazy's on a Monday night, but due to work commitments I can't take off for the continent yet ha ha! My aim to to maximise my appearances in Stirling, Edinburgh, Glasgow and perhaps Aberdeen with a view to getting a big enough profile to allow for some shows further afield.
Who influences you as an artist?
Red House Painters, Cat Power, Nirvana, Rufus Wainwright, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Joni Mitchell.
What do you aim to achieve by the end of 2013?
I would like, and I know its a big ask, to make music my life and to allow for that 100% immersion in art and creativity that is required to create something truly memorable.
If End Of Neil was a TV show, what would it be?
Columbo!
Shambolic, scatterbrained, but solving life's mysteries one at a time ha ha.
Final words?
End of Neil is a vehicle for my art, music, poetry and general creativity. I decided that End of Neil was going to be the 'end' of my adolescent journey of self-discovery, self-doubt, and attempts to fit into moulds, and the beginning of a strong, passionate and original musical project. I'd say the initial songwriting for the project began in 2004 when I was at University, and developed through punk band ventures, acoustic open mic nights and took on folk revivalist influences. These days, as End of Neil, I am trying to move people and compel them to listen to simple, unfurnished songs.
Where did you get your name from?
I tried many different identities. During a very cold Christmas break, I drew a lot of album covers, flyers and posters, and I produced a lot of music; it was a very rich creative period, and End of Neil was how I was signing it. It's a very dark, sinister title, and people have commented on its negative connotations, but locally it's been embraced, and along with the sharp suits, pocket squares and gusty delivery of my live shows, it's become a part of me.
What are you up to at the moment?
I am very busy. I work full time to support my music, but tonight as I write this I am heading out to my 19th gig of the year; I play a lot of jam nights, open mic nights and have visited Edinburgh and Glasgow recently where there is the chance of a show every night!
I have just confirmed a venue for my EP launch on 19th April, the eve of International Record Store Day, and another Unplugged Acoustic show I am setting up. I am also rehearsing a small band to support me when I open for Rachel Sermanni at Tolbooth, Stirling on 22nd of June. Website endofneil.com is under development. A New Tumblr blog is underway, with biography, fan messages, reviews, regular pictorial updates and full lyrics. Also linked to Pinterest Gallery with every poster, picture and flyer to date represented. End of Neil documentary, the life of a singer/songwriter in Stirling, currently being shot and edited by me, for online release sometime next year. Currently recording long running local band Bad Elephant's first EP, and their first video shot live by me will be released soon when they get a Youtube set up. Also rehearsing with a Scottish piper for some traditional music tracks with a view to trying to get involved with Celtic Connections.
What details can you confirm about your upcoming full length?
I have decided that - rather than release one long album - I am going to break it up into two shorter EP's, so that I can have two large launch gigs spread throughout the year. 'My Games,' released April 19th, will be launched alongside my original artwork and only 100 physical copies will be produced. The songs are largely magical realist tales about dark subjects; vampires, high school cliques, old haunts, the great outdoors, and the whole EP is glossed with heavy, crunchy layers of distortion courtesy of the pedal I bought specifically for this project. It was self-recorded over a period of a few weeks, and mastered by my friend. The second release, 'Rabbi,' is supposed to be a slower, more spiritual album written in deepest winter, about the struggles of human emotion against the cold, and it's a more downbeat, moving listen. Presently, I am working very hard on Twitter and Youtube to get the plays and views up.
Is there any continuous lyrical themes within the records?
Lyrically, my biggest influences are re-imagining my youth with supernatural elements thrown in. For example, on the song FANGS from 'My Games', I place a beautiful, innocent high school sweetheart in a scenario with a vampire, where she has to conceal the fact that she has been bitten from her classmates, and she is slowly being transformed into one of their kind. In a way, it's a metaphor for the death of youth and the slow journey into adulthood. I am also hugely influenced by scenery and nature, and the outdoors, and I suppose I have an urge to see life lived a little closer to nature and to the fruits of the earth.
You played a show with legends The Vaselines last year, how was that for you?
The Vaselines, who were Nirvana's support band when they visited the UK, have a legendary status in Scotland, and supporting them was a great honour. On the night of the gig, the band I was in, Burning Cafe Band, were present when The Vaselines soundchecked, and even the Tolbooth venue, which has some big acts passing through it, seemed to crackle with the sense that we were in the presence of very high status musicians. Their band on the night was made up of some musicians from another legendary Scottish band, Belle and Sebastian, so it was like a double honour. In the event, Burning Cafe Band and the other support, Gothenberg Address, hung out in our dressing room area and talked about all things music, when we went out to play, it was like diving underwater into a world of spotlights, heat, hissing cymbals and whoops and cheers. Burning Cafe Band, usually a three piece, became a five piece for that one night only with the addition of drums and piano, and broke up shortly afterwards. It was, and still is, an unforgettable badge of honour for everyone who played on that stage, and probably one of the most memorable music nights I'll ever have. Also, The Vaselines were great! I gave them an original painting as a momento too!
What are your touring plans for this year?
Earlier this year I did a small tour of Glasgow open mics, taking in the famous Nice n Sleazy's on a Monday night, but due to work commitments I can't take off for the continent yet ha ha! My aim to to maximise my appearances in Stirling, Edinburgh, Glasgow and perhaps Aberdeen with a view to getting a big enough profile to allow for some shows further afield.
Who influences you as an artist?
Red House Painters, Cat Power, Nirvana, Rufus Wainwright, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Joni Mitchell.
What do you aim to achieve by the end of 2013?
I would like, and I know its a big ask, to make music my life and to allow for that 100% immersion in art and creativity that is required to create something truly memorable.
If End Of Neil was a TV show, what would it be?
Columbo!
Shambolic, scatterbrained, but solving life's mysteries one at a time ha ha.
Final words?
Thanks for the opportunity to take part!
Links:
@endofneil on Twitter
www.youtube.com/endofneilmusic
http://endofneil.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/endofneil
http://soundcloud.com/endofneil/sets/my-games-1/s-wmpv3 link to My Games EP
@endofneil on Twitter
www.youtube.com/endofneilmusic
http://endofneil.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/endofneil
http://soundcloud.com/endofneil/sets/my-games-1/s-wmpv3 link to My Games EP
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