60 .............................. Friday, February 20, 2015 1SM

Something for the WeekendSomething 2

SONIC TEMPLARSWHO: Stewart Bryden (vocals/gui-tar), Stephen Crawford (guitar/vocals), Fraser Malcolm (bass/vocals), Scott Tonner (drums).WHERE: Irvine/Glasgow.FOR FANS OF: Queens Of TheStone Age, Muse, You Me At Six.JIM SAYS: Maybe I’m just beinglazy, but it’s tricky not to referenceBiffy Clyro when talking about anyrock band from Ayrshire.I suppose it’s the curse of having

one of the biggest bands aroundhailing from the same part of thecountry. Sonic Templars havemanaged to dilute the Biffy factorby gigging with artists as varied asThe View, Alabama 3, OceanColour Scene’s Steve Cradock andMark Morriss from The Bluetones.There’s no denying Sonic

Templars are very much a rockband though. By default theyhave more in common with Biffythan these acts.Stewart told me: “I think any

rock-based acts will always at firstbe likened to them as they arearguably the biggest alternativerock band to come out of Ayrshire.“Simon Neil has a unique vocal

style though, so I don’t thinkanyone is ever going to sound quitelike them.”A lot do try though. There are

plenty of Biffy clones out there, butSonic Templars head out undertheir own steam. Stewart and Scottinitially got together in 2011 afterplaying in other bands includingThe Contra Band and The Usual.Stewart said: “We then brought

in Fraser after his band The Ten-ants split up. I had known Stephenfrom when he played in Citizen buthe had been out of the game for awhile. I was aware of his abilities sodrafted him in to complete the cur-rent line-up.“Everything gelled, and we found

the right chemistry to take usforward.”So far the band have issued

three EPs. Their most recent,Weapons of Mass Distrust, cameout at the end of last year. Mixingup big riffs with impressive harmo-nies, they also have a more sensi-tive side, as demonstrated on EPstand-out track King Of TheOcean. It still rocks, but it’s maybeno coincidence that they cite JeffBuckley as an influence.Stewart explained: “We like to

push ourselves musically and takeinfluences from a wide variety ofgenres we listen to.”Another of the dominant tracks

on the EP, Trigger, is set to beunleashed as a single in its ownright next month.Stewart said: “It’s driven by a

grinding bassline and its centre-piece is the twin harmonies ofmyself and Stephen. It highlightsthe more melodic side of the band.”Sonic Templars launch Trigger

with a gig at the Hard Rock Café inGlasgow on March 13 with supportfrom Whispery Club, Static Rockand Thula Borah.More: www.facebook.com/sonictemplarsl Jim presents Drivetime onXFM Scotland, Monday to Friday4-7pm.www.xfm.co.ukwww.jimgellatly.com

She was pals with Amy Winehouse,inset, and tried to help her oldschoolmate with her tragic struggles.

ALA.NI is now solo — after being abacking singer for Damon Albarn, Mary JBlige and opera king Andrea Boccelli.

She said: “It’s scary. I went to schoolwith Amy and you get to see how thathappens. If you don’t have things setup around you, it can be very self-destructive.

“I was exposed to rock ’n rollwith Damon and Blur, AndreaBocelli had a big a choir and thenwith Mary J Blige — I learned animmense amount. All that experi-ence has helped me to be able todo what I do now.”

Opening up about Amy’s tragicdeath in 2011, she added: “I knewher at school, we had mutual friends.I saw her once or twice at studiosafter that.

“I remember trying to contact her onFacebook, we messaged back and forth.

“I just got scared for her, I could see it.A friend of mine went out with her and Iused to say to him, ‘How do we getthrough? Can’t you talk to her?’

“But you just can’t. They are protected aspeople are making money out of someone’smisery and if you’re not solid enough to beable to detach yourself, then it’s destructive.

tions, ALA.NI has kept a low profile. She’sno fan of social media or personal details.

The singer said: “It’s not necessarilyintentionally done that I want to be myste-rious. I’m not great with social media.

“I’m a keen photographer but I don’t liketo use digital, I use film.

“Even taking a picture, I ponder it, Iconsider it, as I’ve only got 35 attempts.

“I prefer a slower pace in myworld to appreciate things. I’ve

got to be myself and think ofit as quality, not quantity.

“I could easily spend theday posting or I couldspend it writing a goodsong. That’s the kind ofartist I am. I direct all myown videos, so it’s intimate

and personal — they don’tneed to know what I ate for

breakfast.“That’s a stronger message to

What isn’t a secret is the big reac-tion to her current single Cherry Blossom.It’s a slow, jazz number. And it’s part ofher plan which will see four EPs releasedthis year, one in each season.

The Londoner explained: “You don’t wantto get caught up in the reaction but it’squite nice to see I’ve done something andpeople are getting it.

“People are seeing it as something freshand that’s nice. I wrote one of the first

“From the beginning, I was veryconscious I didn’t want it sound like apastiche.

“I went to stage school and all that, so Ihad to be careful — it was a thin line.

“The best way to do that was to keep itsimple.

“With the whole thing, I was trying towrite about a love affair and then it madesense to put it in the context of a year andthe seasons.

“I had 12 songs and they worked splittingthem up.

“If you get all the EPs together, youcould listen to them and it makes sense.

“But individually the songs stand ontheir own.”

ALA.NI, below, also revealed she’s gotScots roots.

And even though she’s appeared up hereon stage with her famous mates tomorrownight will be her first solo show, at Glas-gow’s Broadcast.

She explained: “My surname is Hutchin-son. It’s on my grandmother’s side. Twobrothers from the Isle of Skye travelled outto Grenada and made my family I guess.

“So I’ve got my roots in Scotland.“I love that it’s all connected.“I’m black but I’ve got Scottish in me.“I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Glas-

gow, it’s a buzzing city.“And I’ll need to connect some dots and

maybe get up to Skye to show them mymusic some time too.”l Listen to Cherry Blossom at: www.ala.ni

ON

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EENEY

ONE2HEAR ONE2SEETHERE’S more to Dorset than hit TV serie

s

Broadchurch. Crooner Roo Panes is flying

the flag with pride.His new single Home From Home —

released on March 16 — shows off his

impressive set of pipes. It’s a powerful

track and one to puff your chest out to.

You can check it out now at:

www.facebook.com/roopanes

ROCKERS Young Guns haveplenty of bullets to fire.They’re fresh off the Kerrangtour — and are going out again ona really big UK run across AprilandMay.They hit both Edinburgh andGlasgow. Get all the info at:www.weareyoungguns.com

SomethingSomething 2SW

EENEY

WHO:tar), Stephen Crawford (guitar/vocals), Fraser Malcolm (bass/vocals), Scott Tonner (drums).WHERE:FOR FANS OF:Stone Age, Muse, You Me At Six.JIM SAYS:lazy, but it’s tricky not to referenceBiffy Clyro when talking about anyrock band from Ayrshire.

one of the biggest bands aroundhailing from the same part of thecountry. Sonic Templars havemanaged to dilute the Biffy factorby gigging with artists as varied as

omething for the Weekend

MYSTERIOUS new sensationALA.NI knows the music busi-ness is no joke.

She was pals with Amy Winehouse,

She was living what she was singingabout.”

Despite having lots of big name connec-tions, ALA.NI has kept a low profile. She’s

songs four years ago. It’s taken me a whileto grow into it.

“From the beginning, I was very

songs four years ago. It’s taken me a while

Peopleare seeingmymusicasfresh

By JimGellatly

NEWMUSIC

She said: “It’s scary. I went to schoolwith Amy and you get to see how thathappens. If you don’t have things setup around you, it can be very self-

“I was exposed to rock ’n rollwith Damon and Blur, AndreaBocelli had a big a choir and thenwith Mary J Blige — I learned animmense amount. All that experi-ence has helped me to be able to

Opening up about Amy’s tragicdeath in 2011, she added: “I knewher at school, we had mutual friends.I saw her once or twice at studios

“I remember trying to contact her on

consider it, as I’ve only got 35 attempts.“I prefer a slower pace in myworld to appreciate things. I’ve

got to be myself and think ofit as quality, not quantity.

“I could easily spend theday posting or I couldspend it writing a goodsong. That’s the kind ofartist I am. I direct all myown videos, so it’s intimate

and personal — they don’tneed to know what I ate for

breakfast.“That’s a stronger message to

me.”What isn’t a secret is the big reac-

tion to her current single Cherry Blossom.