Scottish duo Galileo’s Fan prepare to release their spellbinding new album, I Won’t Be Found, on 16th September 2019 via GF Records.
The album is an undeniably compelling collection of cinematic vignettes from the offset. Each track combines subtle electronics with poignant harmonies and twinkling melodies to create Galileo’s Fan’s signature indie-pop sound. Nods to their traditional folk roots can be found throughout the album, cleverly mixed with modern, celestial soundscapes to make their unique sound truly majestic. Fans of the likes of The Frames and Of Monsters and Men will feel at home here. Talking about the album, the band elaborate “the songs are a collection of personal stories of love, loss, political dismay and life experience. The album portrays an insight into both a male and female perspective on modern life and the trials that shadow it.”
Siblings Fi (vocals/piano/keys) and Martin Vass (vocals/guitar) grew up in Nairn in the Scottish highlands where they played folk and traditional music alongside their siblings, including renowned folk musician Mike Vass. In 2012, Galileo’s Fan was born and the duo have been regulars on the Scottish live circuit ever since. The pair have already received praise from the likes of Folk Radio, BBC Radio Scotland and Best of British Unsigned, as well at performing at prestigious festivals such as Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Yes Festival.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Galileo’s Fan about their latest music, technology, challenges and more.
Full Q&A along with links and more below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
I (Mart) have always loved guitar driven music and as a youngster sought out bands that were really raising the bar in terms of creativity eg, Brand New, Biffy Clyro, Manchester Orchestra, Idlewild.
When we first started writing and performing our own songs there wasn’t really a discussion about genre so we are happy to receive any and all suggestions of where listeners feel the record lands. All of the songs were written acoustically but we knew when it came to producing the album that it would be a full line-up expression.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
We used to play Scottish folk music with our other siblings, Mike and Ali, when we were all very young. Then, as we grew up listening to indie, electronic, pop and everything in-between, we began composing ourselves (separately, as adults). Music has been a hugely strong common bond for us and we have always loved sharing our songs with each other. Eventually, as we began to jam more and arrange the songs, we decided to try some recording and we made a demo in a studio on Loch Fyne, with our brother Mike at the desk. We had a lot of fun doing that so I suppose the idea of Galileo’s Fan was conceived then.
I think we have a belief in each other’s songs and what we’re trying to say. There have been a few times where I’ve thought something I’d written was rubbish but Fi loved, and vice versa. I guess we’re just curious to see what others make of it too!
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
Our tastes have not changed, they have expanded. We’re both massive fans of electronic music which did not feature at all in our teens.
The biggest influence on our creativity is the unpredictable nature of life and how we’re constantly having to adapt to whatever’s thrown at us. We’re both very British when it comes to talking about difficult things so it’s amazing to have music as a vehicle for our emotions. It is our catharsis, above all else.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
We were trying to make each song the best version of itself. It was a fantastic process and we’re very happy with the finished record. It is our debut album so we were just keen to get going really!
What was the last song you listened to?
The last song I listened to was Young & Unafraid by The Moth & The Flame. Brilliant song.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
We all know it’s true; the convenience of mp3s and streaming is unparalleled. We may prefer the sound of cds and vinyls but it’s not how we listen to music any more.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
Spotify all the way. We pay for accounts and we actually have high hopes for the future of sites like Spotify. Their growing popularity can only be a good thing for artists. We know plenty musicians would disagree and say that artists don’t get paid for their work but if everyone started paying their £10/month and numbers continued to grow, we think that would begin to change for the better.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
The biggest challenge we face is not having enough time. We both have full time jobs. It would be nice to make a living pursuing the music but we feel extremely privileged to share what we can, when we can.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
Usual social network platforms, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and, for future sneak peak music releases, we are on soundcloud.
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
Thanks for having us!
