Scotland and Ireland share quick wits, kindred accents and a love of a good time. Former Champ fit that kinship neatly — proof good things happen when we work together. With debut album i saw you in paradise due 19 September, SNACK caught up with Claire McKay (vocals), Andrew Macpherson (guitar) and Zack Manson (bass) to chat maturity, reflection and experienced musicians making a debut.
September’s crammed with new albums — what makes yours the one people should care about?
Zack: It’s an album of singles. I feel the rest of these September albums probably don’t have that accolade!
Claire: We genuinely believe it’s very good. We worked hard and had a lot of fun making it — I think that comes across when you listen.
Could this band have existed ten years ago, or is this music only possible now?
Andrew: I’ve thought about that. I knew all these people ten years ago, and I’m having so much fun playing in this band compared to when I was 20. This isn’t the first album any of us have made, so you’ve got that experience. As you get slightly older — not that we’re old — you learn to work with other people better. There’s a difference between being 20 and trying to force your ideas and being a bit older and chilled.
Claire: Your ego’s more in check than in your early 20s. You’re more open to collaboration — with the right group. I feel lucky this formation converged when it did. I don’t think this album could have happened with any other group because the writing was very collaborative.
Zack: The lyrics come from Claire; they’re reflective and come from a place of maturity. You couldn’t have written this album ten years ago. So many themes come from experience — being in bands, living your life, all of it.
Nostalgia’s everywhere in music this summer — are you nostalgic, or rooted in the present?
Claire: I used to only write about nostalgia. I’ve actively stepped away from that to write in the present — looking at situations and asking what I’ve learned, where I am now, and what’s next. So, it’s firmly in the present.
There’s bite and bitterness on the record — cathartic, or just a bit spiteful?
Claire: I’m a horrible person! [laughs] No — there’s tongue-in-cheek lyrics in there. Take it with a pinch of salt and a bit of humour. A lot of the lyrics are self-directed: if I’m having a go at someone, it’s often me. Some lines I brought in, the band said, ‘That’s funny, keep it.’
Do you approach release day with debut-band giddiness, or industry cynicism?
Claire: It feels new because we’re harnessing it ourselves. No external party — we’re running the label, phoning the pressing plant, doing the PR, everything.
Zack: Giddy. More giddy than shitty.
Tell us about the big Glasgow show at Stereo.
Zack: December’s a delayed celebration — the album will be out a bit, then we all get together. We’ve got Babyshark, a new Glasgow collective, supporting. They played the label’s Hand of God all-dayer — they’re amazing. Get there early.
Claire: Really cool, check them out. After, we’ll DJ upstairs. Live music finishes at 10, then the night goes on until 3am. We like curating a night — playing our tunes and making it feel like an old social club. We put the streamers up and everything.
Zack: It’s nice having control of your own night — you can make it whatever you want. And loads of pals come out when you put on your own gig.
What’s next for Former Champ?
Zack: We’re already working on songs for the next album. We’ve been chipping away at ones already and I expect us to do much like what we’ve done for this last album. Have writing retreats, focus on jamming together and working on new stuff. Get the next one out.
Claire: We don’t chase goals we can’t control. We want to write, record and play shows. We were lucky to get funding this time, but even if we don’t next time, we’ll go record with our mate Ronan Fay at Green Door Studios and make something.
Does Ronan know?
Claire: We’re just turning up. He’ll love it. We bring him Tyskie.
Former Champ’s i saw you in paradise is out 19th September on Hand of God.
Former Champ play Stereo, Glasgow on 12th December
All image credits: Laura Meek
