Q & A with Stuart David of Belle and Sebastian
June 15, 1997
Interview by Planting Seeds Records
This brief interview took place on June 15, 1997. This
is an exclusive from the folks at Planting Seeds, shortly after the U.S.
release of "If You're Feeling Sinister." During that summer, the band were
also in the process of contributing to what later became Planting Seeds'
tribute to the Monkees - "Through The Looking Glass." What if B&S covered
"Sometime In The Morning?" or even "The Door Into Summer?" (those were choices
made by Stuart David and Stevie Jackson) Since then, Stuart David has left
the band and concentrated on Looper full time. So sit back and relax. We
truly hope you enjoy!
PSR:
Do you think comparisons to acts such as Donovan, early Lilac time and even
the Monkees (ie: "Pleasant valley Sunday", "Sometime in the morning"--as
reported in one review) are accurate ones?
STUART: Well, Stevie loves the Monkees- I think we all like them, but no-one
particularly has much time for Nick Drake or Lilac Time.
PSR: What music has influenced the overall sound of Belle and Sebastian?
would you mainly say bands from the 60s?
STUART: Well, the sound has changed slightly now, the new EP's (editor:
Lazy Line Painter Jane and 3, 6, 9, Seconds of Light) which will be coming
out over the summer sound quite different from the old stuff. But I'd say
the old stuff maybe sounded a bit like Love mixed with Momus mixed with
the Tindersticks. 60's 70's 80's and 90's really.
PSR: What bands are you presently listening to?
STUART: Radiohead, Sparklehorse, The Divine Comedy, deuS- but that's just
me, there are seven of us.
PSR: on more of a fun note, what do you guys enjoy doing, if you're not
touring or in the studio?
STUART: We went to Banchory with our manager last week. He comes from there,
and we went swimming in the river, and watched Salmon jumping up a waterfall.
That was good fun. But it's fun being in the studio and touring. That's
our hobby really. We only rehearse three hours a week, record about two
weeks a year, and tour about two days every six months, so that's fun too.
PSR: and the final question, what can we expect from the band in the
coming months?
STUART: Two new EPs, some shows in England, four shows in America, and then
a new album around October.
PSR: Again Thanks for your time...
STUART: Bye...
Belle & Sebastian later played in Washington, DC on October 30, 1998 to
a sold out crowd and the folks at Planting Seeds got a good glimpse of Scotland's
latest pop group. Here was the set list from what we can remember:
- Dog on Wheels
- Don't Look Back...
- I Know Where the Summer Goes
- A Silly Little Christmas Thing
- Century of Elvis
- Mayfly
- Ease Your Feet
- Wrong Love
- Stars of Track and Field
- Seeing Other People
- Is It Wicked Not To Care...?
- Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
- Dirty Dream
- Sleep the Clock
Photography by Steve Frank, Washington, DC 10/30/98 (L to R: Isobel, Stuart David, and Stuart Murdoch)
