Aidan Moffat | |
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 Moffat with Arab Strap in 2004 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Aidan John Moffat |
| Born | 10 April 1973 |
| Origin | Falkirk, Scotland |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | Chemikal Underground |
| Website | http://www.aidanmoffat.co.uk |
Aidan John Moffat (born 10 April 1973) is a Scottish vocalist and musician, and member of the band Arab Strap.
Moffat was born and raised in Falkirk, Scotland. The first album he bought was Elvis Sings for Kids by Elvis Presley. [1] Whilst at Falkirk High School, he listened to such groups as Pixies, Dinosaur Jr. and Slint. [2] His first ever gig was at the age of 16, and saw David Byrne at Glasgow Barrowlands in 1989. [1] In 1990, aged 17, he was expelled from school, with no Higher Qualifications. [1] He then worked for four years at an independent record shop called Sleeves Records, [3] resigning one morning in 1996, due to having a hangover and wanting to go home. [4]
In 1995, Moffat and multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Middleton began making music under the name Arab Strap. They sent in demo cassettes to record a number of record companies; Chemikal Underground were the only to reply, and they were soon signed to them. They released six albums together, beginning with 1995's The Week Never Starts Round Here , before announcing their break up in 2006.
Moffat and Middleton briefly reunited in November 2011 for a gig as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of Glasgow venue Nice N Sleazy. They reunited again in 2016, for three shows at London's Electric Brixton, Manchester's O2 Ritz and Glasgow's Barrowlands Ballroom. A second Glasgow show was added after the first one sold out in under half an hour, along with a warm-up show in Newcastle. On 24 November 2020 the band announced they had reunited to record a new album, As Days Get Dark . The album was released on 5 March 2021 and was followed by extensive touring in the UK, Europe and Australia. [5]
From 1991 to 1996, Moffat recorded with a band called The Angry Buddhists, which consisted of himself, Gavin Moffat, Stuart the Postman, "Cheg" Taylor and The Stobe. They recorded "over 40 songs on dictaphones and 4-tracks", but never played live. Moffat was also the drummer in Bay, a band who released two albums: Happy Being Different (1994) and Alison Rae (1995). [6]
Aidan Moffat & the Best-Ofs are a four-piece band fronted by Moffat. They played their first gig supporting American band Slint at the Glasgow ABC in Scotland, where they debuted the songs "Big Blonde", "The Last Kiss", "Ballad of the Unsent Letter", "Living With You Now" and "Atheist's Lament". Their first album, titled How to Get to Heaven From Scotland, was released on 3 March 2009.
In 2002, after being challenged by Middleton to record a solo album, [7] Moffat released Hypnogogia under the name Lucky Pierre. In 2005, after changing his stage name to L. Pierre, Moffat released the album called Touchpool, followed by Dip in 2007. In 2013 he released first The Island Come True, then in July another full album, The Eternalist, which was made available for free online and recorded using Vine. Unlike his work with Middleton, the albums are entirely instrumental, making extensive use of field recordings and "found sound." [8]
In 2020 Moffat released Aux pieds de la nuit, a new ambient album, under the name Nyx Nótt. The nom de plume is a combination of Nyx and Nótt, goddesses of the night from Greek and Norse mythology, respectively; Moffat, a lifelong sufferer of insomnia, recorded each record after his family had gone to bed. He released a second album under the name, Themes From, in 2022. Originally conceived as "twenty 90-second tracks designed as TV themes," Moffatt soon expanded the theme, sourcing samples from professional TV and film music libraries. [9]
Moffat provided guest vocals on the Mogwai song "R U Still in 2 It" from Mogwai Young Team , recorded in the same studio in Hamilton) where the Arab Strap were recording The Week Never Starts Round Here . He also contributed vocals to "Now You're Taken" from 4 Satin , and the band dedicated a song to him, "Waltz for Aidan", on their second album, Come on Die Young . In 2002, Moffat, Stuart Braithwaite from Mogwai and Colin "Sheepy" McPherson released an eponymous EP under the name The Sick Anchors.
In 2011 Moffat and pianist, bassist and former Arab Strap collaborator Bill Wells released Everything's Getting Older , which in June 2012 won the first Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award from the Scottish Music Industry Association. [10] A second album, The Most Important Place in the World, followed in 2015.
In May 2018 Moffat released a joint album with longtime friend and collaborator RM Hubbert titled Here Lies the Body . Originally intended as a one-off, within a year they went on to release a Christmas album, Ghost Stories for Christmas, a live album, and a concluding single, "Cut to Black".
In 2022 Moffat and The Twilight Sad frontman James Graham released a collaborative album under the name Gentle Sinners. The album, These Actions Cannot Be Undone, was recorded during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2021 and reflects the anxiety of those times. It was released digitally and on CD in May and on vinyl in September 2022. [11]
Moffat used his own name for his 2007 poetry album, I Can Hear Your Heart. In 2009 He wrote an advice column for the online magazine The Quietus , [12] returning for a one-off Valentine's special to promote his first record as Nyx Nótt. He has also irregularly contributed reviews and commentary to the site, including reflections on a Girls Aloud concert and his thoughts on Star Wars: The Force Awakens .
In 2016 Moffat appeared in the documentary Where You're Meant to Be, in which he toured Scotland performing his reinterpretations of traditional Scottish folk songs. The film, directed by Paul Fegan, also features the traditional singer Sheila Stewart who is critical of the project, viewing it as disrespecting the tradition. She ultimately performs alongside Moffat during a show at the Glasgow Barrowlands. [13]
Moffat lives in Glasgow with his partner and two children, a boy and a girl. [14]
He is known for his distinctive facial hair, which he has commented on, saying
I decided as a young man I would never shave again, after a few accidents with a razor. Since then, I've always preferred a bit of hair. I don't know if I'd lose any power and I doubt that I'll ever find that out. [15]
The Reindeer Section are a Scottish indie rock supergroup formed in 2001 by Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, which released albums and gigged in 2001 and 2002.
Chemikal Underground is an independent record label set up in 1994 at Glasgow, Scotland, by rock band The Delgados. It was set up to release their first single, "Monica Webster" / "Brand New Car" and went on to break many new Scottish bands in the nineties.
Arab Strap are a Scottish indie rock band whose core members are Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton. The band were signed to independent record label Chemikal Underground, split in 2006 and reformed in 2016. The band signed to Rock Action Records in 2020.
Brendan O'Hare is a Scottish multi-instrumentalist musician, primarily known for being the drummer in the rock band Teenage Fanclub from 1989 until early 1994, and a member of and collaborator with Mogwai.
Mogwai are a Scottish post-rock band, formed in 1995 in Glasgow. The band consists of Stuart Braithwaite, Barry Burns, Dominic Aitchison, and Martin Bulloch (drums). Mogwai typically compose lengthy guitar-based instrumental pieces that feature dynamic contrast, melodic bass guitar lines, and heavy use of distortion and effects.
Malcolm Bruce Middleton (born 31 December 1973) is a Scottish musician and member of indie band Arab Strap. He has also released seven solo studio albums and three albums performing under the pseudonym Human Don't Be Angry.
Mogwai Young Team is the debut studio album by Scottish post-rock band Mogwai. Produced by Paul Savage and Andy Miller, the album was released on 21 October 1997 through the Chemikal Underground record label.
Rock Action Records is a Scottish, Glasgow-based independent record label, founded and maintained by Scottish post-rock band Mogwai. The label has showcased such diverse talents as Part Chimp, Errors, Chris Brokaw, Trout, The James Orr Complex and Kling Klang, has licensed music for UK release from Torche, Envy, Afrirampo and Growing, and in the past represented Papa M and The Zephyrs. As of 2010, Mogwai have released their own records on the label in the UK and Europe.
Philophobia is the second studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap. It was released on 20 April 1998 on Chemikal Underground.
Paul Savage is a Scottish musician and record producer, best known for being the drummer in the Scottish indie rock group The Delgados.
Stuart Leslie Braithwaite is a Scottish musician, singer and songwriter. He is the guitarist of post-rock band Mogwai, with whom he has recorded ten studio albums. He is also a member of the British alternative rock supergroups Minor Victories and Silver Moth. He has used the name Plasmatron in the credits of Mogwai's debut album Mogwai Young Team, as a social media handle, and as the name of his signature guitar pedal.
The Week Never Starts Round Here is the debut studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap. It was released on 25 November 1996 on Chemikal Underground. The album was reissued in 2010, with a bonus CD which includes the band's first session for John Peel, from March 1997 with guest appearances from Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch and Chris Geddes, and their first ever live gig, at King Tut's in Glasgow in October 1996, as recorded live for Peel's show.
EP+6 is a compilation album by Scottish post-rock group Mogwai, released in Japan in 2000 through Toy's Factory, and later in the UK in 2001 through Chemikal Underground.
The Last Romance is the sixth studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap, released on 17 October 2005 on Chemikal Underground.
Monday at the Hug & Pint is the fifth studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap. It was released in Europe on 21 April 2003 by Chemikal Underground and in the United States a day later by Matador Records. The album features appearances from Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes and Barry Burns of Mogwai, among others.
The Red Thread is the fourth studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap, released on 26 February 2001 by Chemikal Underground.
Into The Woods is the second studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter, Malcolm Middleton, released on 13 June 2005 on Chemikal Underground.
"The First Big Weekend" is a song by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap. It was first released as a 7" single limited to 700 copies, then later on Arab Strap's debut album, The Week Never Starts Round Here, both released in 1996 on Chemikal Underground.
Melodic Records is a British independent record label founded by David Cooper in 1999. Based in Manchester, England, the label have recently released their 132nd release as of October 2021 and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019. The label also run a label management arm, Melodic European Labels, which distributes and promotes overseas labels in Europe.
RM Hubbert, commonly known as Hubby, is a Scottish guitarist and singer. Best known for his solo work as RM Hubbert and as a member of Scottish post rock band El Hombre Trajeado, he has been an active member of the Glaswegian DIY music scene since 1991.
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