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(((O))) INTERVIEW: ANDY MARSHALL FROM SAOR

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I was inspired by other European bands who mixed their countries traditional folk sounds with metal. It always puzzled me as to why there were no Scottish bands doing this considering we have an interesting history, amazing nature/landscapes and lots of great traditional folk music.

by Guido Segers | January 22, 2017 | Interviews
Scotland is a country that speaks to the imagination. Apart from a lot of clichés that strangely involve many elements of the film Braveheart, it is a place of rugged nature that has inspired many artists over the years. Andy Marshall with his various projects is no difference at that.

Saor is his main output lately, a solo endeavour with which he has released three albums this far. The latest is titled Guardians and shows a new side to the nature inspired atmospheric black metal Andy produces. I decided I needed to learn a bit more about his work and got in touch.

(((o))): Hello, how are you doing?

Andy: I’m good thanks.

(((o))): Can you tell a bit about yourself and how you got into metal music?

Andy: I started listening to metal in high school. I used to listen to a lot of rock and mainstream metal in the beginning, which then led me on to more extreme and underground bands. In my late teens/early 20’s I listened to a lot of black and folk metal. Nowadays I usually only listen to the classic albums from the 90’s/early 00’s and don’t listen to a lot of new bands.

(((o))): What made you feel attracted to the combination of metal and folk elements? Though it’s a broad scope, you’ve clearly found your own combination of the two, where they complement each other.

Andy: I was inspired by other European bands who mixed their countries traditional folk sounds with metal. It always puzzled me as to why there were no Scottish bands doing this considering we have an interesting history, amazing nature/landscapes and lots of great traditional folk music. I grew up around Scottish folk music, so I guess it’s in my blood.

(((o))): You’ve just released the third album under the Saor name, including Roots [which was released under the name Àrsaidh originally], what can you tell about the new album Guardians? What is its concept/story?

Andy: The poems I used on the album cover subjects such as fallen heroes and ancient battles and I thought Guardians was a good title. I never really have a concept or story when I start writing an album, I usually add lyrics or poetry after I’ve written the music.

(((o))): You’ve done this record mostly on your own. How does the recording and writing process take place? How do you select the musicians to work with on your album?

Andy: I usually start off with a few basic demos with guitars, bass and drums. I then start adding folk instruments, strings, piano etc. Most of the guest musicians are friends of mines, but I asked Meri Tadic (fiddle) to play on Guardians because I am a fan of her work and Kevin Murphy (bagpipes) got in touch with me online.

(((o))): You’ve briefly taken Saor to the stage, why did you abandon that avenue?

Andy: We’ve decided to play a few exclusive live shows this year to see how it goes. A lot of people really want to see Saor and the other guys convinced me to continue playing live. I don’t particularly enjoy it, I find it pretty stressful and I get quite anxious on stage. We had a run of poorly organized shows last year and I really couldn’t be bothered with it anymore. We will see how these shows go in 2017 and then I will decide from there if we will continue.

(((o))): In the past you’ve been doing a lot of work by yourself. What is your philosophy behind doing things yourself, releasing music by yourself with Fortriu Productions and how is it to now release Guardians on a label?

Andy: I think the phrase “too many cooks spoil the broth” sums it up. I have always preferred writing music myself and managing things myself. All three of my albums have been physically released by Northern Silence Productions, but I released them all digitally under Fortriu Productions.

(((o))): What does being Scottish mean to you? I ask this in the broadest sense, since it seems to pervade in all your musical endeavours.

Andy: It means that I probably will never see that big warm ball in the sky (I think they call it “the sun”) for as long as I live here. It means that I will never get to see my national team progress to a major football tournament again in my life time. It means that I will probably die young due to a bad diet and alcohol problems… But seriously, I am obviously inspired by my country’s history, its nature and landscapes, its traditions and art, but apart from that, as Renton said in Trainspotting: “It’s shite being Scottish!”.

(((o))): Is it for you the nature or the culture that inspires you? For me it seems like Saor is akin to a number of bands in that appreciation for the land more than its culture. What do you think about this?

Andy: A lot of things inspire me. Nature, culture, art, good ale and life in general. But yeah, I agree that nature and landscapes play a bigger role in my themes than culture.

(((o))): Which bands inspired and inspire you to make the music you do?

Andy: As I said in a previous answer, I grew up listening to a lot of the early traditional, black and folk metal bands, so there’s probably a few of them who inspired me to make this kind of music. Nowadays I tend to listen to non-metal genres and try and get inspiration elsewhere. I actually find that places, books and films inspire me more nowadays than any music.

(((o))): Are there any other Scottish bands that you feel people should know about (and why)?

Andy: The Twilight Sad is a really good shoegaze/folk/indie band from Scotland. I think their sound is great and the vocalist is amazing. My friends Cnoc An Tursa are releasing a new album called The Forty Five soon, which I highly recommend for fans of power, black and folk metal. If you’re into traditional folk music then Julie Fowlis is an amazing singer you should check out. Another suggestion would be the mighty Runrig!

(((o))): What other things inspire you to make the music you do?

Andy: Hillwalking, being outdoors, books, films, art, poetry, life.

(((o))): So earlier in 2016 you’ve also released an album under the moniker ‘Fuath’. A completely different sound, stripped down and direct, what can you tell about Fuath and why did you form this project?

Andy: There’s not much to say really. I wanted to try something different and darker to Saor and I had a few ideas I couldn’t fit into Saor. I probably won’t do much more with it.

(((o))): Though this is an assumption from my side (which I hope you’ll pardon me for), but it seems that there is a perhaps minor political element to Saor (the link to Saor Alba). Politics and folk metal don’t mix well it seems. So my question is, is there a political element and how do you feel about the politics in extreme metal?

Andy: I wouldn’t say there’s a political element in my music. I first seen the word “Saor” in the phrase “Saor Alba” (Free Scotland) and thought the meaning behind Saor (“free”, “unconstrained”) suited my music really well. I’m personally a supporter of Scottish independence and I have always been inspired by my nation’s fight for independence, but I’m not going to try and push a political agenda down people’s throats. My lyrics are mainly based on traditional poetry or love for nature/landscapes. My music is meant to be an escape from politics and all of that kind of stuff. I want people to put my music on and be transported somewhere else. If other bands want to push a political agenda in their music then that’s up to them.

(((o))): Do you have any future projects on your mind or that you’re working on?

Andy: I’ll be focusing on Saor in the future. This year I am focusing on the live shows and I’ll probably look into making some new merchandise.

(((o))): If your music was a dish, a type of food, which would it be?

Andy: Deep fried Mars Bar.

SAOR Mastermind ANDY MARSHALL Celebrates Scottish Culture, the Virtues of Solitude, and Black Metal Style
Kevin Stewart-Panko - Feb 23, 2019 at 11:00AM0 Comments
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Andy Marshall is Scottish born and Scottish proud. So much so, that when he decided he’d had enough of band life and wanted to branch out on his own, he turned his musical endeavours towards folk-infused black metal, making the traditions, instrumentation, and sounds of his homeland an unmistakably important thematic and sonic component. From 2006-2009, he did it in Askival and when that project ran its course, he did it again with Àrsaidh in 2012-13, delivering a single album entitled Roots before changing the name to Saor (Gaelic for “free” or “unconstrained”) and not looking back since.

As Saor, Marshall, with the help of studio session musicians, has bequeathed four full-lengths of multi-faceted, melodic black metal that absorbs and utilizes influence and inspiration from the Scottish Highlands. As well, Marshall has taken the bolder step of assembling a live band that has made Saor a brightly shining light on the overseas touring and festival circuit. The band’s most recent, Forgotten Paths (released on February 15th), continues the collision of musical traditions, but is spit-shined via experience, growth and lessons learned. We caught up with multi-instrumentalist mastermind Marshall to chat about the virtues of solitude, poetic inspiration and how to cure writer’s block.

At what point in your musical history/background did you decide that the one-man band thing was the way to go for you? What were the major stumbling blocks in getting forward movement happening after your decision to do this solo?
Andy Marshall: I played in a couple of bands when I was younger, but I got tired of all the fickle arguments we used to have about who had the better riffs and how we’d structure songs, etc. It was a natural step to start Saor. I’ve always preferred writing music on my own and I felt that I could progress as a musician and songwriter without other people holding me back. I only knew how to play guitar and bass in the beginning and had no knowledge of recording techniques, so I had to learn new instruments and how to use recording equipment properly.

Saor’s video for the single “Bròn” is pretty rad. Check it out!

What were some of the initial hardships you faced when deciding to go solo? After some time, experience, a few albums, live shows, and tours are the stumbling blocks and hurdles different? Do those original hardships still stand in the way sometimes?
Marshall: They are completely different now. Playing live shows can be a lot of fun but also extremely stressful. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being rushed around by stage managers or not being able to hear myself on stage due to incompetent sound engineers, but I’m beginning to cope with it a lot better than I used to. Thankfully, we are at the stage now where we can bring our own sound engineer and stage crew to some of the live shows. The most difficult thing about touring is the long distance traveling; it can be really exhausting sometimes.

How long did it take to write Forgotten Paths and how did you end up writing this new album?
Marshall: I had pretty bad writer’s block for a few years after composing Guardians. I recorded some ideas and demos during 2016-‘17 but I wasn’t satisfied with them. In early 2018, I left Glasgow for a while and stayed at my family cottage on the Isle of Skye. Being away from city life and re-connecting with nature really helped the songwriting process and I began writing the material for Forgotten Paths. When I got back home, I put together all of my ideas and everything started to fall into place.

What is the writing process like? Are you pretty much doing it all yourself and showing hired session players what to do? If so, has your experience with session musicians over the years caused you to think about a shift in your process and the temptation of including others in the writing process? If not, has it been a difficult process letting go of the reins and trusting other players to contribute to and interpret your music?
Marshall: I write all the guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards and some of the folk instrumentation. I then forward my demos to the session musicians. I usually have 90% of the drums composed and ask the session drummer to add in their own fills and some of their own ideas. With instruments such as violin and bagpipes, I ask them to come up with their own parts unless I already have something written. It’s never crossed my mind to include anyone else in (the) main writing process and I only work with session musicians I trust and know will do a good job.

The album Forgotten Paths dropped on February 15th, 2019, and was self-released.

Did playing live as much as Saor has over the past couple of years impact the writing of Forgotten Paths? For instance, did you take into consideration how certain songs go over with audiences, song lengths, track sequencing, etc?
Marshall: It sometimes crosses my mind, but I tend to just go with whatever comes to me naturally. I don’t think I’m capable of writing a song under ten minutes, so unless you are into long, epic songs, you’re probably best avoiding our live shows! We’ve had to shorten some of the older songs because of time restrictions but I don’t intend to do that with the new material.

Considering the amount of solitary work you put into Saor versus the degree to which the band has been fleshed out by a studio and live lineup, has the temptation been there at any point to draft in full-time members and make Saor a full band?
Marshall: Nope, I prefer to do things on my own terms. The proverb “too many cooks spoil the broth” sums up my thoughts on that.

Have there been any specific incidents that have occurred on the road or in the studio that have made you think, “Nah, I’m just going to keep Saor as my baby”?
Marshall: Not really, most of the musicians I’ve worked with in the studio or as a live band understand that Saor is my solo project and that will never change.

The single “Forgotten Paths” features Neige of Alcest. Cool!

Tell us about the contribution of Neige from Alcest to the new album. How did it come to be, what he did, how he did it, etc.?
Marshall: I’ve known Neige for many years. We’ve gigged together in the past and I was also meant to work with him and Roman from Drudkh on their side-project Old Silver Key, however, after the first album they decided to end it. Alcest’s first EP, Le Secret, is one of my favourite releases and it introduced me to post-rock, shoegaze and post-black metal music. I think it was inevitable that we’d both work on something together. Once I had finished the demos, I got in touch with him and asked if he’d be interested in contributing guest vocals to the title track and he said that he’d love to. I then sent him over a rough mix as a guide track and he recorded his vocal parts. I’m really happy with how it turned out!

Was there anything that was done differently during the process of creating the album when compared to the past?
Marshall: I felt that I rushed some of the recordings in the past and I wanted to make sure I had everything nailed before sending it off to be mixed. I wasn’t satisfied with the production on the earlier releases, so I made sure we had more time to mix and master it. There was a lot more time, effort and money put into Forgotten Paths and I’m really pleased with how it sounds.

What is the significance or story behind the album’s title?
Marshall: Forgotten Paths relates to the paths I’ve walked in the Highlands, which have been abandoned and forgotten about for hundreds of years. I was inspired by three poems: “To Exiles” and “Nettles” by Neil Munro and “Mountain Twilight” by William Renton. “To Exiles” is written from the perspective of someone who stayed behind in the Highlands when the majority of people emigrated to the cities and beyond. “Nettles” is based around the emptiness of the Highlands after the clearances and “Mountain Twilight” paints a vivid picture in words of all the colours of a mountain twilight.

Time to begin your journey down the winding roads that are Saor’s Forgotten Paths

How would you characterise Forgotten Paths against your previous records?
Marshall: I think it’s my best material to date, but every musician will say that about their latest work. There’s been a massive step up in production compared to the earlier albums and I think I’ve progressed as a songwriter since Guardians.

Are you ever surprised that the style purveyed by Saor, which borrows from your cultural heritage and lineage, has been able to connect with people who aren’t Scottish? Why do you think that is? Do you consider yourself an ambassador of sorts?
Marshall: I think people have always attracted to the romanticism and the stunning landscapes of Scotland. Films such as Outlaw King and TV shows like Outlander have done a lot for tourism over the last few years and more people are becoming interested in our culture, history and aware of our current political situation. Most of our fans are from North America and have roots in Scotland, so I think my music ignites a passion in them. Surprisingly, there’s not many Scottish metal bands who base their themes around their heritage and history, so I think Saor has its own niche. I don’t consider myself an ambassador but it’s nice to know that my music connects with people around the world and promotes Scottish heritage and nature.

What do you have planned for live performances and tours in the upcoming year?
Marshall: We have a few festival appearances lined up this year at Fire in the Mountains (USA), Karmøygeddon (Norway), Dark Troll (Germany), Metal East (Ukraine), Brutal Assault (Czech Republic) and Frantic Fest (Italy). The Forgotten Paths album launch will be at Saint Lukes & The Winged Ox in Glasgow on March 1st and there’s a few other headline shows still to be announced. There’s also a support slot on a bigger tour in the works, but I can’t say much about it at the moment. One of the exciting things about playing live is getting to see new places, so I’m really looking forward to travelling across the globe this year!

With: Andy Marshall
Conducted by: Bad English (e-mail)
Published: 26.10.2016

Band profile:
Saor

Bad English: Hi, and thank you for doing this interview with us at Metal Storm.

Andy Marshall: Thanks!

BE: Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your musical background? How did you become a metalhead and what music do you listen to on your own time?

AM: I grew up listening to a lot of different rock and metal bands in High School. I got my first guitar when I was about 12/13 I think. I started jamming with friends in a local studio, nothing serious, just playing covers and goofing around. I properly started writing and recording music in my late teens, when I was about 16 or 17. I played in a few shitty metal and post-rock projects during my late teens till early 20's but I didn't start writing and recording music seriously until I started Saor in 2012 when I was 23/24.

I don't consider myself a metalhead, I am a music fan. I am listening to less and less metal as I get older. I like some metal, I like some rock, I like some folk… you get the point. I just happen to be writing metal music at the moment. I'm a big fan of the original black metal scene (late '80s - mid-'90s), some folk metal, classic and power metal. I mainly listen to older stuff. I listen to a lot of different music in my spare time. At the moment I'm really enjoying Bathory - Blood On Ice and Cnoc An Tursa's new album The Forty Five.

BE: This might be a somewhat provocative question, but do you consider yourself primarily British or Scottish?

AM: Scottish.

BE: Can you speak Gaelic?

AM: No, I only know a few phrases and words.

BE: Many German, Scandinavian, and Finnish bands record material in their native tongues. Have you ever thought about doing songs in Gaelic?

AM: If I could speak Gaelic, I would have done that from the start. Gaelic isn't Scotland's native tongue, it's a minority language now, mainly spoken in the Highlands and Western Isles. 99% of Scots speak English (badly).

BE: On the flip side of that, have you ever thought about doing a spoken word track or an intro or something to show off the Glaswegian accent? Many people say that Glaswegians are impossible to understand, but I can get 99% of Rab C. Nesbitt's conversations.

AM: I've not thought about doing any spoken word but I'd not be against it. I'm not actually from Glasgow but it's the closest city. I think my accent is pretty tame compared to some of my friends who were born and bred in Glasgow.

BE: You started Fuath in 2015, but the style is rather similar to that of Saor. Why begin a new project, rather than releasing I under the Saor name?

AM: I wanted to do something darker, more black metal and I had a few ideas I didn't want to use in Saor. It didn't really turn out the way I thought it would but it's still a decent album. I don't know if I'll do much more with it.

Fuath's I

BE: Why did you change Àrsaidh's name to Saor?

AM: I just grew to dislike it and Saor looks and sounds better.

BE: Saor and Fen are two British black metal bands that stand out to me from other acts (possibly Winterfylleth as well, though I am less familiar with them). What is your formula for distinguishing yourself?

AM: Saor isn't black metal. It never was and never will be. Put on the new Saor album and then listen to Darkthrone or Burzum. It's not even the same genre of music in my opinion. Saor is more folk metal/atmospheric metal in my opinion. Black Metal died in the mid-'90s and I don't even listen to it anymore apart from the old classics. I guess the Celtic folk and Scottish elements distinguish it from those bands.

BE: Your songs are about nature, landscapes, and the seasons, not about St. Ann (if you catch my drift). What sparked the deviation from typical black metal themes?

AM: I've always felt a connection to nature and landscapes. When I used to listen to black metal in my teens, I was never really interested in all the evil and Satanic bullshit. The same goes for all that Pagan shit. I guess I was attracted to the cover art too, with forests, castles and mountains.

BE: I always think that the best black metal acts are those that sing about the nature surrounding the places where they live. You clearly share an interest in that subject matter; do you find this to be true of the bands you listen to?

AM: I prefer themes like nature and heritage, yeah. It's great when you find bands with the same interests as yourself. But to be honest, I listen to music if it sounds good, I don't care much about the themes.

BE: Recently I was watching a British black metal documentary, and one band (I don't recall which) said, "Norway has nature, forests, fog, but it's not part of the British landscape; we have a more industrial environment." Do you agree with this statement?

AM: That is a pretty dumb comment to make. They are obviously not looking hard enough.

BE: To clear my head, I usually walk through a dead Swedish forest in the summer or along an icy road on a cold winter day. How do you find inspiration?

AM: Nature, hillwalking, films, books, music, life.

The wild Andy Marshall in nature.

BE: This is purely speculation, but if you were able to spend a few months in north Sweden, would you choose summer, when the sun never sets, or the winter, when there is lots of snow and the sun doesn't shine for days at a time? How would it change your musical creativity?

AM: I prefer the atmosphere of winter. I like how dead and frosty everything looks. I don't think the seasons would change my musical creativity much.

BE: To me, Àrsaidh's Roots and Saor's Aura are equally good albums; I think they will become classics in the genre. Which of the two was more challenging to produce?

AM: You mean Saor's Roots? The official release is actually under the Saor name now. Aura was more challenging because more people were involved but the production ended up sounding worse than Roots.

BE: Could you perhaps share some interesting trivia about the new album, Guardians?

AM: Well, we recorded the album in cottages in the Isle of Skye and Cairndow. The album has a lot of great session musicians on it such as Bryan Hamilton (Cnoc An Tursa) on drums, John Becker on strings, Meri Tadic (Irij, ex-Eluveitie) on fiddle and Kevin Murphy on bagpipes. The album was mixed and mastered by Spenser Morris in the US.

BE: Who came up with the artwork for the album?

AM: Sebastian Wagner - http://www.sebastianwagner-art.com/

Guardians

BE: Are you still a one-man band when it comes to studio work? Do Reni McDonald, Martyn Moffat, and Bryan Hamilton work in the studio, too, or are they just the live line-up?

AM: I write most of the songs and play most of the instruments but I worked with some amazing guest musicians on Aura and Guardians. The fiddle, string and bagpipe players usually come up with their own parts and I send a guide track to the session drummers and they come up with their parts.

Martyn helped me record the first two albums and helped me record some of the guitars on Guardians. Reni recorded the majority of Guardians and Bryan plays drums on Guardians. I hope to work with Bryan in the future; he's a great drummer and a close friend.

BE: As a live band, how many shows have you played?

AM: I don't know exactly but I'd say about 8-10 shows. We no longer play live shows, I hate playing live.

BE: You play bass and sing when performing. Why did you choose bass over guitar?

AM: I always preferred playing bass live. I also found it easier to sing and play bass.

BE: Many similar artists also have neofolk projects on the side. Have you ever thought about something like that?

AM: I've thought about doing some non-metal music with Saor. I think I might do some acoustic stuff in the future but I don't see the point of doing it as a side project.

BE: How do you listen to music: mp3s, CDs, vinyl? Do you ever listen to your own bands?

AM: I mainly stream stuff and buy LPs nowadays. I can't remember the last time I bought a CD to be honest. The only time I listen to my stuff is when I'm recording demos or mixing the album.

BE: To me, Saor calls for a good imperial stout, a fireplace, and a whole album play-through. Do you prefer beer or whisky?

AM: I prefer real ale.

BE: I have never been a fan of British pub culture, since it doesn't exactly fit in with the Swedish climate; if it's 20¤c or worse, it's no fun. How often do you go to the pub?

AM: Probably about 2 or 3 times a month.

BE: This might be the stupidest question of all, but a lot of metal artists we talk to have favorite football teams that they support. Is your home turf Ibrox Stadium or Celtic Park? Do you care about this kind of stuff?

AM: I support Scotland national team and Rangers FC. I am a football fan but I'm not obsessive about it.

BE: Thank you once again for your time. Do you have any last words for our readers?

AM: Cheers. "Guardians" is available for pre-order @ Bandcamp and Northern Silence. 

BLACK FRIDAY: SAOR Travels The Forgotten Paths of Scotland's Highlands and History
POSTED BY CODY DAVIS ON FEBRUARY 22, 2019 AT 1:45 PM

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If Saor's new album, Forgotten Paths, teaches anything, it's to embody your passion. The primarily solo effort of Scotland's Andy Marshall, Saor's atmospheric metal blends black and folk metal with Scottish heritage, history, and music. He's dubbed it "Caledonian Metal." It's almost a singular sound at this moment. Marshall's the first prominent metal musician to blend the ethos of the Scottish Highlands into black metal. "It’s difficult explaining what my music sounds like to people who haven’t heard it before, so I came up with the term 'Caledonian Metal,'" Marshall states. "I think it describes my music perfectly! It’s basically metal with Scottish roots."

He continues on to say, "I expected to find more Scottish-themed metal bands when I started Saor but I could barely find any, and if I did they weren’t even Scottish! Maybe there are other bands out there now; I don’t know. It’s always puzzled me because we have such a rich history and epic landscapes—[they're] the perfect themes for a metal band!"

Forgotten Paths is Marshall's fourth full-length record under the Saor alias. It's also his biggest and most dynamic album. "[It's] quality over quantity. I think the three metal songs on Forgotten Paths are my best yet and I’ve always preferred shorter albums," Marshall reveals. "The production is a huge step up. I spent a lot more time tweaking sounds and making sure I was happy with everything before I sent the master to the label. In the past, I feel like I’ve rushed things and some of my earlier albums have a lot of unnecessary fillers."

While Saor's music has always been immersive and reflective of his homeland, it's hard not to agree with Marshall. Forgotten Paths is a cut above his previous output. He spent the last two years working on his latest album, playing a number of instruments and recruiting numerous guest musicians for it. He mainly plays the guitar, but he also contributes the vocals, tin whistle, and the bodhrán. In addition to these, he's been learning other folk instruments in an effort to release a folk album in the future.

Among the guest appearances is Niege of Alcest. "I’ve been a huge fan of Neige’s work for almost 15 years, so it’s a bit surreal that I got to work with him," Marshall muses. "I remember buying the first Alcest EP, Le Secret, in 2005 and thinking it sounded like Sigur Rós meets black metal."

Elsewhere, Carlos Vivas layered extra drums. Lambert Segura, who is a live member for the band, contributed violin. Additionally, Sophie Rogers and Kevin Murphy brought more vocals and bagpipes to "Bròn," respectively. These added efforts only boost what is Marshall's most concentrated and adventurous work yet.

The added elements show up almost immediately in the opening title track. Furious riffing and Marshall's tin whistle send the first few moments soaring over the hills. A personal favorite, "Bròn," combines much of the guest work into a gorgeous ensemble. It culminates in the brightest moment on the record and of Saor's discography. The music video that accompanies this song works only to heighten the images of the Highlands in the listener's head.

Marshall spends a lot of time in the Scottish Highlands on the Isle of Skye—a popular tourist spot in Scotland—where his family has a home. The rolling hills and peaceful ambiance seep into his writing. "Skye is one of my favorite places on the planet and I try to visit there as much as possible. My family's cottage is in the north of the island and isn’t very close to the main sights and attractions, so there are not many tourists in that area," Marshall describes. "I love the silence and being surrounded by breathtaking scenery. I hate the city, so it’s the ideal place to unwind and gain inspiration."

While a lot of the arrangements are influenced by the beautiful hills, his lyrics come from Scottish history and literature. "I’ve always been fascinated by the Picts and the Dark Ages. I think I’m attracted to that time period because of the mystery surrounding it and I adore the art and knotwork on their stone carvings," he reveals. "I’ve read a lot about the Picts and it seems like no one can really agree on who they were or where they came from. The evidence is pretty scarce. It’s assumed they are the descendants of the Iron Age tribes of Scotland but there are other theories out there. No one really knows if they tattooed themselves or simply painted themselves."

The notion about whether they were tattooed or they painted themselves comes from the Roman panegyrist, Eumenius who described the people as "Picti." In addition to this knowledge, Marshall also discovered an interesting fact about himself. "I recently learned that I’m a descendant of Robert the Bruce, through my grandmother's side, so that would explain why I’ve always been interested in The Scottish Wars of Independence. It’s in the blood!"

Scottish literature compounds the historical elements of Saor's lyrics. Marshall built the new album around a few poems from a couple of notable authors. He explains that “Forgotten Paths is based around three poems. The first two, 'To Exiles' and 'Nettles' are by Neil Munro. The first talks about the emptiness of the Highlands from the perspective of someone who stayed behind when many emigrated to cities and other countries. The second describes the derelict buildings and emptiness, as a result of the Highland Clearances. The third poem, “Mountain Twilight,” is by William Renton. I’m descended from Highlanders and I’m an avid hillwalker, so these poems really speak to me."

For all the greatness Saor packs into Forgotten Paths, fans in the US will be delighted to know that Marshall will be bringing his music stateside for the first time ever in an exclusive performance at Fire In The Mountains. The festival takes place in Wyoming at the base of the Grand Tetons this coming July. Marshall's excited about the trip and the performance.

"I can’t wait to play Fire in the Mountains! I think it will be a very special and memorable experience. The site of the festival looks stunning and it’s the ideal setting to hear Saor’s music in a live environment. I will take playing in the middle of a field surrounded by majestic mountains to playing piss-stained clubs in a city any day," he says. "I’d really like to try some local beers and visit some independent breweries. I’m also looking forward to catching up with some friends I’ve known for a long time online but never met in person!"

There is much to be excited for in the Saor camp at the moment. Given how massively great Forgotten Paths is combined with new upcoming adventures, 2019 shapes up to be the biggest year for Andy Marshall's passion. His love of the Highlands, history, and literature merge to make a simply wonderful piece of music and his excitement to share this love intensifies the wonder it brings. While there is still much time left, Forgotten Paths has made an early case for one of the first great records to arrive this year.

Listen to Forgotten Paths now and pick up a copy of it from Avantgarde Music. Tickets for Fire In The Mountains are available now.

N NCS INTERVIEW: SAOR
Interviews Add comments
Oct
05
2016

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(Norway-based Karina Noctum returns to NCS with this interview of Andy Marshall, the man behind Scotland’s Saor, whose new album Guardians will be released on November 11. Photos by Land of Light Photography.)

When it comes to composition of both music and lyrics, do you need to have a particular mindset or do you need to be at a particular place to compose?

I don’t need to be in any particular place but I like to take my acoustic guitar with me when I’m visiting my family’s cottage in the Isle of Skye. It’s really remote and the landscape from the garden is stunning. I also get a lot of inspiration from hill walking or when I’ve been out exploring in the wild. Sometimes it just takes a film, book, or soundtrack to trigger my creative side. I usually start out with a guitar riff or melody then start adding other instruments. As for mindset, I definitely have a place in my head I go to when I’m writing Saor material. It’s total escapism.

Saor’s music makes you want to jump right in the album and enjoy the atmosphere. To me it is pretty connected to nature. What kind of arrangements does this new album have in order to create that awesome deep and authentic feeling?

That’s a hard question to answer. I like my music to sound atmospheric and I use a lot of reverb and delay effects, I like a mix of aggression, heaviness, and ethereal sounds. I suppose the nature side of things comes from the traditional instruments I use, like tin whistle, acoustic guitars, and fiddle.

saor-guardians

The colors in the cover remind me of the blue shades I have seen in glaciers here in Norway. It’s a beautiful association, but what about you, what inspired the cover artwork?

The cover was painted by Sebastian Wagner, I found his stuff online and I was really impressed with his work. He painted something similar for a video game/animation and I liked the bright blue colours. When I was writing Guardians I always had the image of the mountains at each side and a river running through the middle for some reason. I told Sebastian my ideas and that’s what he came up with.

I spend a considerable amount of time looking for atmospheric/space/ambient bands and I find lots of synthetic music (not that I’m against it), but the more the digital instruments develop the more metal moves towards it, and at times it gets generic and shallow. It has come to a point when I get kinda impressed when I notice there has been a conscious effort in creating music with tangible instruments. What are your thoughts on this trend? Why is it important for you to make your music sound more organic, more real?

I try and stay away from digital sounds as much as possible. Sometimes it’s unavoidable but I prefer to use real instruments. I think you can get away with it when you are recording piano and synth sounds, but it’s pretty noticeable when you start using fake strings and amp simulators. This is why I prefer listening to older metal records, because it has a kind of rawness to it. Although, I quite enjoy all of the crappy ’80s/’90s synth strings — it creates a really strange and unique atmosphere. Modern metal production really bugs me because there’s no dynamics, it’s far too loud and compressed and sounds almost robotic.

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Is it difficult to adapt traditional instruments, like the bagpipe, to metal? How do you do it?

Sometimes. I record demos with the basic guitars and drums first and then add all of the folk instruments. Sometimes I need to mess around with tunings and edit stuff, but it usually ends up working in the end. I don’t really know if it’s difficult for the session musicians, you’d have to ask them.

Tell us about the lyrical themes, what do you want to express with the album.

The lyrics on the new album are taken from traditional poems. They are quite sorrowful and focus on fallen heroes, battles, and a love for the Scottish landscape.

I loved Aura and I think you have outdone yourself with Guardians — we could say that Saor is a success. What would you like to say to underground bands still struggling to get somewhere? What does it take in your opinion?

Thanks! I think Aura is a complete mess in terms of production and playing but I think that “Aura” and “Pillars of the Earth” are great tracks. That album never turned out the way I wanted it to, maybe I’ll re-record it all one day. For me, Guardians is the album I always wanted to create.

I’d advise struggling bands to try new stuff, think outside the box. I think one of the unique things about Saor is that I have the Celtic/Scottish music along with the metal. I sometimes have bands/artists sending me their stuff and while it is performed well, I’ve heard it a million times before. A lot of them stick to the generic “metal” sound. I’d say, listen to some other genres, start experimenting with your sound.

I’d also advise them not to sign to a “big” label. Work with small, established indie labels and sign a deal which suits you. Stay as independent as possible, make your own merch, organise your own gigs.

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I dare to guess you get inspiration from other kinds of non-metal music, if you do can you tell us about it…

Yeah, I love lots of different music. Where do I start? I still love all the old rock classics I grew up listening to. Obviously I like some metal, but not a lot. There’s a couple of classic black and folk metal bands I love but I don’t listen to a lot of new stuff. I’m also a fan of post-rock, shoegaze, classical, folk and weird shit like Gregorian chants. I don’t listen to stuff like rap and shit pirate/drinking/party metal.

Anything else you would like to say?

Thanks for the interview. Guardians is out Nov 11th and is available for pre-order at:

http://saor.bandcamp.com and http://shop.northern-silence.de

https://www.facebook.com/saorofficial/

Friday, June 9, 2017
SAOR INTERVIEW
STORMWIND FANZINE ISSUE:2
SAOR INTERVIEW
07-04-2014

SW: Hails from Istanbul. I want to thank you very much for excepting our interview bro. I must say that your album is one of my favorites of year 2014. Please tell us about your influences on music.

ANDY: Thanks! I'd say that a variety of Metal music, traditional Scottish Folk music and Post-Rock are my main musical influences for Saor. I also like to listen to classical, ambient, shoegaze and many other genres.

SW: What was the main reason that you changed the name of the band from Arsaidh to Saor? Is it a right strategy to do this after releasing a perfect album that may make fans confused?

ANDY: I had a few problems online and digitally with the name because of the accented "A" and I just grew to dislike it. Lots of bands have changed their name early on, so I don't really see a problem with it. It hasn't made that much difference really, the same people who liked the first album still follow my music under the name Saor.

SW: Where do you live? I know you are from Scotland but the question is if you are living in a city or a natural places like a mountain house. Probably your life effects your music. Please tell us about the music creating sessions.

ANDY: I live in a small town near Glasgow at the moment. I am about a 20 minute drive away from the Highlands, so it's not all that bad. My family also have a home in the Isle of Skye, so I try and spend as much time as I can up there. The main inspiration for my music is the Scottish Highlands, I often go hillwalking, camping and trips up north as I get easily sick of the busy cities and towns.

SW: May you compare ‘Roots’ and ‘Aura’ for us?

ANDY: 'Roots' is definetly "darker" and more "black" metal sounding. 'Aura' is heavier, has more riffs, has more Scottish/Celtic folk and post-rock sections and I spent a lot more time writing and recording it compared to the first album.

SW: If I am wrong please correct me. Saor is a one man band. If yes, than will you have some session band members for live performences? I am totally sure that there are many people there who
will be pleased to see this music live on stage.

ANDY: Saor is currently a one man band but I wouldn't rule out adding new members in the future. I hope to arrange some live shows in the future and have a few friends who have offered to play
live for me.

SW: According to the last question, probably you are playing all the instruments right?

ANDY: I played all the instruments on 'Roots' but Austin Lunn (Panopticon, Seidr) played drums and Johan Becker played strings on 'Aura'.

SW: Tell me three bands which marked your soul whith their music.

ANDY: That's an extremely hard question! Sometimes I only like one album or one song from a band. I would say that Burzum - "Hvis lyset tar oss", Alcest - "Le Secret" and Windir - "Arntor" are the
three Metal albums that have marked my soul.

SW: Tell me your favorite writers and books.

ANDY: The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit are my favourite books. Everything by Tolkien is magical! I am also a history addict, so I read a lot of different books by a lot of different writers.

SW: These are our questions bro. Thanks for the answers. Let us hear your last words.

ANDY: Thanks for the interview! 'Aura' will be released on 6th June via Northern Silence Productions. You can keep up to date with Saor at www.facebook.com/saormusic

Saor

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Scots are naturally curious people

Prologue
In recent years Scottish band Saor became an interesting phenomenon. Saor’s music is an original mix of atmospheric Black metal and national tunes, which reflects the majesty of Scottish landscapes and the echoes of the epic battles of bygone eras. Releasing a number of powerful albums, Saor from a purely studio project became a full live band, quite effectively bringing on stage the magnificent atmosphere of studio albums. However, on creative level, Saor is still the creation of one person – Andy Marshall, who almost single-handedly implements all his ideas. (if it is not about live shows) The upcoming Moscow show of Saor on November 16 was a great occasion to talk with Andy about his band.

Q:

Let's start with the most intriguing news. In August, you announced that you finished a demo for the next Saor record. Can you tell me more? Is this a demo for the upcoming full-length album?

Yes, it’s for the upcoming full-length. I’m still writing demos so I don’t have any more information at this time.

Q: How was the songwriting process? You went to a family home in the Isle of Skye again, as with the album “Forgotten Paths”?

I had writer's block but it quickly disappeared once I arrived in the majestic landscapes of Skye. I wrote most of the album there and then recorded demos when I returned home.

Q: Now let's talk about the recent Saor acoustic performance in Antwerp. How did it go, and what are your impressions of the concert? Is this your first such experience?

I was nervous before the concert because I’ve never played acoustic guitar live but I really enjoyed it. It was a bit strange at first because everyone was sitting on chairs and very silent and I am only familiar with crowds banging their heads and shouting stuff. I would really like to do some more acoustic shows in the future, it’s a lot more relaxing than playing with a full band.

Q: The concert was held in the old Church of St. Augustine. Isn’t it strange to play music with such a harsh background in the church?

Not really. It’s a beautiful building and I really admire the architecture and atmosphere of old churches. It’s part of our history whether you like it or not.

Q: Is it possible that you will record an acoustic album with Saor in the future?

I’m focussed on writing material for the next full length but I might consider writing an acoustic album in the future.

Q: This summer, you played at the Fire in the Mountains festival in Wyoming, USA. Tell me about this experience.

It was a really stunning place for a festival and was a bit surreal playing a show in the middle of the Wyoming wilderness next to lakes and mountains. The only downside was the mosquitoes and the heat!

Q: You once said that most of your fans are from North America - descendants of immigrants from Scotland. In this regard, how do you assess the potential of the US music market for Saor?

We sold out half of our first North American tour, so that probably answers the question for you.

Q: You said that you hate playing concerts, but now Saor is quite an active concert band. What’s changed? Why did you change your mind?

The others in the live band changed my mind at first. I don’t particularly like the travelling and was sick of incompetent sound engineers and badly run shows. We have been pretty lucky in the past two years to get to play amazing and unique festivals around the world, so I guess it’s not all bad. I do much prefer songwriting and recording though.

Q

: In November, you will come to Russia for the second time in a year. What is special for you in Russia? What do you like here, and what is not?

I love the architecture and the people who came to our gigs seemed really friendly and passionate. I grew up and live in a cold climate, so the weather is perfect for me. One thing I don’t like is how warm it is inside of public buildings and transport! It’s crazy. We took the night train from Saint Petersburg to Moscow last year and there was no aircon or anything and it was incredibly warm. Pretty funny considering it’s freezing and snowing outside.

Q: You recently signed a record deal with Season of Mist. How did you come to this and what do you expect from this cooperation?

I met Michael Berberian (founder of Season of Mist) at Metal East Festival in Ukraine and we had a long chat during the night over many beers. We discussed the pros and cons of signing to a bigger label and he convinced me that it was the right move. He is very passionate about his artists and only wants the best for them and I can’t wait to see what the future holds as part of the Season of Mist roster.

Q: Earlier this year your fans saw an impressive “Bròn” video. How did the work on this video go, and how deep were you involved in the process of creating it? Are you satisfied with the result?

The video was directed by my friend Anaïs Mulgrew and filmed by Single Cell Films from Ireland. I wasn’t very involved apart from acting in a few scenes. I think it was a success and looks great considering we had a very small budget and time limit.

Q: In general, we can say that 2019 was an important year for Saor. Do you think the album “Forgotten Paths” has become the main reason for this, or is it the result of the work of all previous years?

I think it’s a mixture of everything above and the fact we are playing more live shows.

Q: I know what inspired you to start Saor, but what inspired you to become a musician? When did you decide to become a musician and why?

I got my first guitar in my teens and I enjoyed jamming with my friends in school and creating music at home. It’s probably just a natural progression from that.

Q: You don’t listen to metal very much, but you say that you listen to classic rock a lot. Does classic rock influence you as a composer?

I wouldn’t say that I listen to a lot of classic rock. I like some of it, but I was just giving an example of other genres I enjoy. It doesn’t really influence me. I listen to metal now and again but not as much as I used to when I was a teenager. I mainly stick to the classic albums and don’t listen to many new metal artists and prefer to explore other genres.

Q: Maybe I'm wrong, but at times it seems to me that by the beginning of the 80s rock music stopped developing in the artistic sense. T

he bands stopped exploring new possibilities of sound and forms of musical expression. All the next evolution of rock and metal (with rare exceptions) basically walked the path of heaviness - the louder and more extreme, the better. Extremeness became an end in itself, and not an artistic means…

There were some great bands from the 80s and 90s who experimented with sounds. The more extreme and heavy bands are just a natural link to those rock bands from the 70s onwards in my opinion.

Q: Do you need special conditions for creativity?

Peaceful surroundings.

Q: Saor always remains your personal project. You create all the music yourself, but you involve session musicians in the studio and at concerts. Tell me, when you work together, do you have a feeling of community, or are these people just doing their job?

It’s both. They must enjoy the music and be able to “feel” it but they are also getting paid to do a job. I am friends with most of the session musicians I’ve worked with, so it does feel like a family in some ways.

Q: In an interview you said that nature and landscapes play a bigger role in your music than culture. But there is an opinion that the formation of culture is primarily affected by the environment - climate, geographical location. I’ll tell you more: I believe that the country and its essence are really identified not by patriotic propaganda or political ideas, but only by two things: the spirit (those feelings that are born from the surrounding landscapes and nature) and the way people live. This also largely depends on the natural habitat. What do you think?

You’ve hit the nail on the head.

Q: History is one of the main sources of inspiration for you. Do you know that Walter Scott is the founder of such a genre as a historical novel? He was a Scot. Robert Louis Stevenson was also a Scot and contributed to the historical novel and even neo-romanticism - this feeling is also inherent in your art. It seems to me, in this context, your thirst for history is quite natural. There is some kind of connection here. As a Scot, you continue to do the same as the eminent Scots of the past, but at your own level. What do you think about it?

I wouldn’t put myself in the same category as Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson but I understand what you mean. Scots are naturally curious people and we are very passionate about our history.

Q: Do you think Saor music is escapism?

That’s the intention. I feel it’s escapism for me and I hope when people put a Saor record on the music can transport them away from their day-to-day lives.

Q: Please tell me about your worldview. On the one hand, you say that you were never really interested for all pagan stuff. On the other hand, talking about Christianity you say that you are much more interested in pre-Christian pagan beliefs…

I think all religion is bullshit but I’m interested in them from a historical perspective. Paganism is very close to nature, so that’s why I said I’m more interested in it.

Q: Do you believe in fate?

No.

Q: What are your most important character traits?

A good sense of humor. It’s healthy to not take everything seriously.

Q: According to official data, 43.7% of Scotland's population - atheists. Is it true? What do you think is the reason?

Yeah, it’s probably close to that figure. One of the reasons is that Scotland (especially the West coast) has had religious violence and bigotry for hundreds of years due to the conflicts between Protestants and Catholics. I would classify myself as an Atheist but I don’t like tags or being associated with the radical atheists. I prefer to call myself “none-religious”.

Q: For most people, Scotland is associated with kilt and the highlander clans. But this is only part of the country after the notional division of Scotland in the late Middle Ages between two cultural areas – lowland and highland. Even the languages were different. Are there any traces of this division now and how are they reflected in modern life?

It feels like the lowlands and Highlands of Scotland is way more connected today than it was in the past. This is probably due to better transport links and modern technology. Most of the lowlands spoke Scots and the highlands spoke Gaelic. Not many places still speak Gaelic as their first language but it has seen a revival in recent years.

Q: In addition to kilts, tartan and bagpipes, one of the lesser-known symbols of Scotland is the traditional Scottish knife - Sgian Dubh. Has this item retained its symbolic significance today? Do you have your own Sgian Dubh?

The only time you will see one of them is at a special event such as a wedding. I don’t own one myself.

Q: You are a supporter of Scottish independence. How do you feel about Brexit? What do you think awaits the country in this regard? As far as I know, Scotland is a supporter of the European Union. But without Scotland, the meaning of Britain as a kingdom is lost. After all, Great Britain as a kingdom became possible after Acts of Union with Scotland in 1707. A difficult situation …

I’m indifferent. There’s benefits and negatives of leaving the EU but whether we leave at all remains to be seen. Scotland voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU but as you probably already know, our votes don’t really count in the grand scheme of things. We are controlled by elites and our votes are meaningless. I think we will have another vote on Scottish independence next year but I wouldn’t be surprised if the “Yes” side lost again.

Q: I’ve had information that you are a descendant of Robert the Bruce. It's true?

My family tree leads back to Robert the Bruce through my grandmother. He is my 23rd great grandfather.

Q: Those were all my questions. Thank you for taking the time to answer them. Do you have any wishes regarding your upcoming visit to Russia?

Thanks! I’m looking forward to returning to Russia and drinking all of your beer! See you in two weeks.

Interviewed by Alias
6 ноя 2019

AN INTERVIEW WITH SAOR…
black, folk, interview, metal, post, saor, scotland

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Greetings over there. First of all, I’d like to thank you very much for the opportunity to interview a musician that I highly admire. My interviews are mostly about the man behind the music, but, of course, I ask about music as well. Anyways, I deeply appreciate this. To begin this conversation, I kindly ask you to introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Andy Marshall and I am the main songwriter for Scottish Atmospheric Celtic Metal project Saor.

I believe that, like most musicians, you begun playing music as a child or as a teenager, influenced by some of your favorite bands, that’s usually what happens. I’d like to know, after getting involved with music, what was the driving force that made you create Saor? And what were/ are your main goals when you compose music?

When I was growing up there were so many bands around Europe mixing together elements of their traditional folk music and metal and I was always puzzled as to why there were no bands like this in Scotland. We have a wonderful cultural heritage, a diverse and epic history, breathtaking nature and scenery – all the perfect ingredients for a metal band to use in their lyrics and themes. I have always been interested in my countries past and growing up I was surrounded by traditional music, so creating Saor was quite a natural thing for me. My main goal is to keep on composing music and hopefully progress as a musician and songwriter with each release.

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About your music creating process, how does it work? Do you prefer to work with the lyrics first and then the music or the opposite? And what are the main influences with both? I’d like you to, please, enlighten us not only what/ which are the influences, but how, in some sort of way, they influence you, if you may let us know.

I usually have a melody in my head or I write a riff on guitar and start from there. There is always a concept for the song in my head when I’m writing a song but I prefer to focus on the music first and then work on lyrics once the demos are completely finished.

I am influenced by a variety of styles such as metal, folk, post-rock, classical etc. I consider Saor’s sound to be a mix atmospheric metal with celtic/traditional Scottish and some other elements thrown in the mix. With regards to the lyrics, I am influenced by my heritage, Scottish history, Highland nature and landscapes, poetry, films, books, my imagination.

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How do you feel over the feelings and thoughts of fans and critics of your music? Is it important to “please” the audience or do you, first, make music that you enjoy, that pleases you and then if lucky, others will like it as well? One more thing, are you the type of musician that believes that people have to “get your music” or that music is universal and there’s nothing “to get”, except the beauty of it?

When I receive a positive review it’s great to know that they are enjoying my music and when I receive a negative review, I don’t give a shit. People are allowed an opinion. I don’t feel like I have to “please” anyone and if I am satisfied with what I’ve composed and recorded then that’s all that matters in the end. I prefer to hear the opinions of my fans anyway, as their opinions matter most. I am a pretty down to earth guy, so I don’t try and pretend that Saor is anything more than a musical project in which I can express my emotions and be creative. It’s an escape from reality, I like to get lost in the music and I like the fact that people join me on that journey.

Still on the music subject, I was once told by a famous musician that everything in a click away and all that matters is the first thirty seconds impression because a lot of people don’t value music anymore. It’s something very elucidative in my humble opinion and I always want to know if other musicians share the same opinion, so, I’d like to ask you how do you feel over this and what can a band do detach itself from this problem as well as to distinguish itself from many others?

Real music fans will listen to a record more than once before they form an opinion on it. The problem today is that everything is so disposable. It’s so easy now to log onto the internet and download an album for free without ever thinking about the amount of time, effort and money the artist has put into creating the music. If you listen to something and don’t like it, that’s fair enough but if you have illegally obtained an album by an underground or independent artist then at least have the decency to support them by downloading from their Bandcamp page or buying some merchandise from their webstore or at a live show.

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A question that I always enjoy asking musicians to get to know their opinions. In an opposite way of the previous question, for many others, the importance of music is huge. Music helps us to go on through hard times or completes us in times of joy. How do you feel when you get to know that your music has helped and still helps people to forget about their problems, to go through a tough phase or that simply makes them happy?

It’s a great feeling. My music is there for people to get lost in, to be swept on a journey to another place and leave their problems behind. This is one of the main reasons I enjoy writing music – I get to escape into my own imagination and forget everything else.

What do you think about illegal downloads? Nowadays there even isn’t that excuse that you download to get to know the material, since the labels or the bands themselves puts the album or some songs on the internet for people to listen before the release. How do you feel over this? Is it, in your opinion, harmful not only for the labels, but also for the bands?

Yes, I would say that illegal downloads are harmful for both labels and bands. If someone illegally downloads music, they are basically stealing someone’s work and it is harmful for small, independent labels that genuinely care about the music and their artists. Most true music fans are willing to spend money on downloads by paying the band directly via Bandcamp or other digital websites. It’s important to remember that a lot of musicians and bands these days don’t make a living from their music and need people to buy their music so that they can make back the money they spent on recording costs etc.

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I like to ask questions about the countries/ cities that the musicians live. I know that Google is there to answer our questions, but it’s so much better to hear from the locals. And not only that, but your music shows your deep and immense love for your country. Please, let us know what are the must visit locations in your opinion, the ones that aren’t well-known among the regular tourists.

I love the epic landscapes, nature, history and cultural heritage of my country, yes. However, most of the big cities and towns in the west of Scotland are dumps and I try and avoid them at all costs. I prefer the rural open spaces of the Highlands and the small communities far away from polluted urban areas. I’m unfortunately situated just outside of Glasgow at the moment but I am planning to move further north next year.

As for the must visit locations, that’s a hard one. There are so many amazing places to visit and a lot of them have regular tourists for a reason. I would recommend places like The Cuillin, The Storr, Loch Courisk (Isle of Skye), Callanish stone circle (Isle of Lewis), the Lost Valley (Glencoe)…the list is endless but those are a few of my favourite places.

Usually, well, very often, this is when I ask you about your personal life, but, as I always point out, never to invade your privacy. I just wanted you to, please, share with us some of your main passions outside music, be it about cinema, literature, travelling, studies, some of your hobbies, if you have any, your favorite activities when not playing music.

I enjoy going camping, hill walking and being outdoors in general. I like to read in my spare time and love learning about history, folklore, traditions, religion, wars and I’m a huge J.R.R. Tolkien fan. Most of my DVD collection consists of fantasy, historical or action films – at the moment I am enjoying Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead box sets. I also like my ales and my favourite brewers are the Isle of Skye Brewing Co. and William Bros. Brewing Co.

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In your opinion, what is the correct T.M.I. equation, “(L×d)+W/G)/(??(2@t)] Length times diameter plus weight over girth divided by angle of the tip squared” or “((L×G)/(?A°))÷(M/W)] Length times girth over angle of the shaft divided by mass over width”? Just a joke question, hope you get it!

…?

(Interviewer’s note: perhaps not a South Park fan.)

Something that I’d like to share is that it’s hard, very hard to come up with interesting questions when interviewing bands for a long time (today I’ve worked many interviews, reviews and not counting my endless hours of regular work), especially when you interview only bands that you love the music (as this website is a work of love, exclusively.), like Saor, without getting too vague (like many interviews out there) or too specific (and people new to the band wouldn’t be really interested, as they don’t know the band’s music). So, I ask you one thing, what’s the question that you’ve never been asked, but, as a musician or as a human being, you’d like to answer?

That’s a hard question to answer. I guess I would like to talk more about history, Scottish independence and non-metal music. I get asked too many questions about metal bands and to be honest, I don’t really listen to that much metal anymore.

And so we’ve reached the end of this interview. I hope you have enjoyed it and so our readers. I also would like to wish you all the best in your present and future plans, both in your personal and professional life. Do you have any last words for our readers?

Thank you for the support!