Stuart Interview + Tour Preview | Mogwai
On 30 years as a band and their quest to bring about the downfall of western society
Ahead of their visit to Australia for three epic shows Stuart Braithwaite from legendary Scottish post-rock band Mogwai joins Tempo to talk about how affective volume can be, following rules, trying something new with each record and being really happy to still be playing music (and have people wanting to hear it) as they celebrate their 30th anniversary.
Hi Stuart, I’m imagining it must feel pretty wild to be celebrating 30 years of being a band as you get ready to visit down under for three epic shows. It’s certainly a massive achievement and I wonder what the feeling is in your camp as you celebrate this and prepare for the tour?
I think we’re just really happy to still be playing music and have people wanting to hear it. I’m not a very nostalgic person but to have been in this band for most of our lives and to have made it beyond 3 decades seems worth celebrating.
My first real taste of your music was, Happy Songs for Happy People and still remains my favourite and I always come back to it when I crave a post-rock fix. There have been many bands flying that genre’s flag, but few have lasted the test of time and/or managed to stay interesting and creative. What do think have been the key elements in you moving forward in an innovative way with your 11 albums?
We always try to do something new with every record and I’m glad that’s appreciated.
Barry is particularly dedicated to this as he gets an entirely new set of equipment to use for every album.
Mogwai have always been such a brutal force live and I’m sure you would have left many ears throbbing. I am interested to know what inspired you initially with the loudness side of things and also how you have always managed to balance such gentle melancholic sounds with earth-shattering atmospheric noise?
I saw a few concerts as a teenager that really blew my mind in terms of how effective volume can be - My Bloody Valentine and Spectrum. Martin saw The God Machine too who were famously loud. We are just following the rules.
You must all get along really well to be still making music together and I am wondering if you have shared interests outside of being a band that has been one of the secrets to staying together?
We all support Glasgow Celtic (albeit Dominic quite passively). As well as that we are quite similar in our interests outside of sport and music,
particularly our quest to bring about the downfall of western society.
It might be a tough question but if you were introducing someone who has never heard Mogwai to your music, which album would you choose that is the best representation of your sound?
The track Mogwai Fear Satan
You have scored some pretty amazing soundtracks in your time with several films and TV shows, including Black Bird (2022), ZeroZeroZero (2019), Kin (2018), Before the Flood (2016) and Les Revenants (The Returned, 2012). For me ZeroZeroZero was so powerful visually and with your music it complemented it so perfectly. What is your favourite moment in your soundtrack history?
Personally, the Atomic soundtrack as the subject matter felt extremely important. I’m proud of all of them though.
As you prepare your set lists for the tour how have you been selecting the songs that you will play across your extensive catalogue and how much priority do you give to the tracks from The Bad Fire?
We don’t do it that scientifically to be honest.
We just play 90 minutes of our songs that we like playing.
You have partnered with PLUS1 to support War Child for the upcoming shows in Aus with $1 from every ticket sold going to help War Child to protect, educate, and stand up for the rights of children affected by war. Can you tell us a bit more about this organisation and your relationship with them?
It’s an incredible charity and we’re so happy to be helping raise them some money.
The Palestinian, Lebanese and Ukrainian children need all the help we can give them.
To finish my interviews I always ask about favourite bands in Melbourne/Naarm at the moment and if there is anyone you would like to see interviewed but as you are not a local I would be more than happy for you to let us know in a more general sense your experience over the years and who you have connected with and enjoyed listening to from our country?
We’ve always had an amazing time in Melbourne. It’s a brilliant city and we can’t wait play there next week
Mistletone proudly presents three epic Mogwai 30th anniversary shows this May. The beloved Scots band bring their monumental sonic power to Forum Melbourne, Sydney Opera House and QPAC Brisbane, ticket details below.
MOGWAI TOUR DATES:
SATURDAY MAY 23: SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE CONCERT HALL for Vivid LIVE. Tickets on sale here.
MONDAY MAY 25 – FORUM MELBOURNE with special guests Fancy Weapon. Tickets on sale here. Presented by Triple R.
WEDNESDAY MAY 27 – BRISBANE: QPAC for Open Season. Tickets on sale here.
