Not many bands can say their début release was on a engraved bamboo USB stick packaged in a handmade wooden box. But then again, Inuit, are not your average band. When Without Aeroplanes disbanded last year, Inuit, previously a side-project, became the full time vehicle of 'ambient post-rock'. And with all respect to Without Aeroplanes, I'm glad they did! The EP 'At One Time, For A Time' boosts some incredibly haunting and fulfilling music.
Hello, how are you?
We're doing well, thanks!
It's the question everyone hates, but could you tell us a little bit about your music and your influences?
When we first started this band we deliberately aimed at 'ambient post-rock' without really being sure what that would actually sound like. Inuit was originally intended to be a side project while we devoted most of our time to another band that we were in called Without Aeroplanes so when that band broke up it just made sense for us to push on with Inuit as our main project. We make floaty instrumental music with a lot of electronic backing that we sell on bamboo USBs in foam lined boxes. We are not even close to joking.
As far as influences go there's a pretty eclectic mix. Chris listens to a lot of ambient/electronic bands like Hammock and The American Dollar, Darren is a massive Frightened Rabbit, and Scottish folk fan and Andy is really into Joy Division, Sigur Ros and a long list of punk bands.
What's your song writing process like?
Usually we all will come up with an idea and we'll all jam it out together in someone's bedroom. If that works we'll take it into the rehearsal space to hear what it sounds like with live drums then on to Barecalf Studios where we torture our good friend and producer Michael Butler with copious amounts of programming and click track mixing. It's a pretty lengthy process given that we use a lot of backing but it's been paying off so far.
What could we expect to see from a live show?
We put a lot of focus on having a visual aspect to the show as well as the musical side of things. Our EP launch involved live visuals, animations, a big sheet, smoke machines and a crazy light show so hopefully we'll be able to continue doing that going forward.
If it were all to end tomorrow, what would you say has been your greatest achievement?
Managing to be in a band we all love that shares all of our interests and influences equally.
What have you got planned for 2013?
2013 has started pretty well for us. We've released our debut EP on Good Grief Records and finally launched a band that we've been working on in the background for the last 6 months. The plan right now is to get to work on writing more new songs and playing as many shows as possible. We're currently working on a show in Edinburgh in the next month or two as well as a pretty cool gig with another Glasgow band that we can't really talk about right now. Safe to say we have a lot of plans!
Can you build an igloo like your namesake tribe, or is it all just bravado?
Just bravado, but we are quite accomplished at building couch forts.
What other artists (Scottish or not) would you recommend to the Scottish Fiction readers?
Our label mates Bianca and Young Philadelphia. Also, our buddies in Flood Of Red, Owls In Antarctica, Fiesta Minor and Vasa.
Thanks for speaking with us, would you care to share a joke with us?
Two Inuits were sitting in a kayak and were very chilly.
To keep warm, they lit a fire in the craft, but it sank.
They should have known.
You can't have your kayak and heat it too.
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