Interviews

A Quick Chat With C Duncan

• 5th Mar 2015

We caught up with Fat Cat Records latest signing C Duncan following the release of his stunning debut single, ‘For’, taken from his forthcoming LP due to drop in summer 2015. A neat window into Glaswegian native Christopher Duncan’s songwriting, we were hooked by this lofi blend of Americana and psych-folk from the off; let’s find out more…

When I first started playing music…

…I was about 6. I started on the piano, then the viola. When I get to secondary school I took up singing. Then guitar and drums a couple of years later…

If I had to choose a new name for the band it would be Sea Duncan because…

…people always mistake the ‘C’ for ‘Sea’ for some reason at gigs. Sea Duncan is obviously catchier than C Duncan or See Duncan…

I knew I was on to something when…

…I left school. All I wanted to do was make music and art, so I decided to study composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I really knew I was on to something when I graduated and sent my music to FatCat Records demo site, where it received good reviews. It was then that I knew making music was something I could realistically do and make a good and very happy living from.

My biggest non-musical influences is…

…visual art. I was always torn between making music and painting, and it wasn’t until now that I could coherently combine them. I am so inspired by visual artists (particularly Grant Woods, Patrick Caulfield, David Hockney and Gerhard Richter) and how they structure their art through repetition and colour – which is something I aim to do through music.

I’m most proud of…

…my debut album. I know it’s probably a pretty generic thing to say, but I have spent the past 2 years writing and recording it (as well as painting the cover art) and now that most of it is complete I can sit back and enjoy the work that has taken so long to put together.

My ideal support slot would be…

…Cocteau Twins, Thundercat or Bjork. They are artists who I have drawn a lot of influence from.

Something I haven’t achieved yet which I’d like to is…

…exhibit my artwork more. I would love to show my work to the public more, but it’s something I haven’t had a chance to do yet. I’d also love to write more for string quartet to use in my music (which I plan on doing for my next album…)

My favourite places to hang out are…

…Monorail, Stereo and Pena in Glasgow… I also love hanging out at gigs and galleries.

I can’t stop listening to…

…Cloud Castle Lake, Geneva Jacuzzi, tUnE-yArDs, Connan Mockasin and the new Bjork album.

I’m not ashamed to admit that…

…Burt Bacharach is my favourite songwriter and The Carpenters are one of the greatest bands ever!

If I could wave a magic wand and make anything in the world happen it would be…

….I could say something profound and grand, but where would I start…

Someone you might not have heard of that you should check out is…

…There are a few, so here are just some. Babe, Cloud Castle Lake, Laura Groves and Weyes Blood…

‘Far’ is out now on Fat Cat Records