Singer/guitarist Scott Hutchinson of the mighty Frightened Rabbit sat down to chat with Pressed for Sound in our 'Getting to Know You' series.

Moments before the band wowed the crowd at the Roxy last week, Hutchinson revealed what influences him the most, his dream band members and the importance of supporting one's musical community.
 

PFS: At what point in your life did you decide that you wanted to be in a band, and not just a fan? Was it a particular show, event, person?

Scott: Well, I was in a lot of cover bands during school, but I actually never thought that I'd be in a band that people could be fans of. When I was in my early twenties I didn't really think of it as much more than a hobby at that point anyway.

The first record that really made me think differently about music and what can be achieved is The Delgados album The Great Eastern. It just turned me onto a whole new side of music that, as a teenager, I had never experienced until then.


PFS: What was your experience like the first time you played live?

Scott: Huge guitar solos basically. When you're fifteen years old and playing for your friends then that can really win the audience over. My first experiences were just about being loud and stroking the old ego.


PFS: Who writes the music/lyrics in the band? Describe the songwriting process?

Scott: It's all me.


PFS: What do you think are the biggest drawbacks, and rewards, of self-releasing music in an age where there are little boundaries and so many bands to keep track of?

Scott: The drawbacks ... just getting your foot in the door is really difficult. The mechanics of releasing a record is hard at first, especially when you're self-releasing it, a label has a broader spectrum of contacts. It's definitely an uphill battle at the start because there are these marketing and promotional aspects that you learn yourself, but labels have no trouble with that.


PFS: Name three of your favorite hometown places that a traveling music fan should visit (record store, restaurant, bar, etc.).

Scott: I'd definitely drop into Nice N Sleazys, then there's Variety Bar - which is my favorite -- is still an untouched place that has an old charm and clientele you can't find anymore. The Doublet is a cool little dive bar as well.


PFS: You get to create a "dream band" with four additional musicians. Who would they be?

Scott: Right, I'd personally not be singing. I'd maybe have Matt from The National on vocals, keep my brother on drums, Ben Folds on Keys, Warren Ellis from the Bad Seeds on Violin, and PJ Harvey on guitar and backing vocals.


PFS: If you could change any aspect of the Music Industry what would you do?

Scott: To a certain extent the dictatorship of publications -- the NME is one of them. The buzz is always going to be around bands, that won't really change, but the quick rise and fall of artists is a big problem I'd like to see go away.


PFS: What's the best piece of advice you could give to a band starting out?

Scott: Being in a band, you're part of a community, and everyone's career is going to move at a different pace. Just understand that a career can sometimes require different paths and you just need to stick with it and support your fellow bands.
 

PFS: Outside of music what do value the most?

Scott: I love spending time with my girlfriend, which I don't get to do when I'm out on tour. And seeing friends ... yeah, that's pretty much it really.


PFS: What artists are you listening to at the moment?

Scott: The new Portishead, which is really intense. The Crystal Castles stuff, which I was sort of against first, but it has grown on me, and I'm a huge Nick Cave fan.