17 May 2010 (released)
17 May 2010
Glasgow-based duo Any Color Black are set to play the second Music-News.com gig in Maggie's Chambers, Edinburgh on May 28th, playing alongside LightGuides, Suspire and What The Dead Know.
Any Color Black will be playing this year's Rockness Festival, and in preparation for their big festival debut, Music-News.com are putting on a special show to mark the occasion. With two Rockness tickets to give away on the night, and DJs in the beautiful courtyard pumping out Rockness-themed beats, Any Color Black’s show in Maggie's Chambers will be a night not to miss.
As Any Color Black prepare to play our big gig in May, I caught up with leadsinger and guitarist Louise to talk touring, inspiration and midnight gigs.
Who are Any Color Black and what’s your story?
Louise: Any Color Black are an electro rock duo from Glasgow. We met some drunken night down Buchanan Street and have been making music together ever since.
Where does the name ‘Any Color Black’ come from?
Louise: The long version is that it comes from a Henry Ford reference 'you can have any color as long as it's black,' it's like taking any limitations or negatives and turning them in to positives, we try to do the same with our stuff, not cause we like Ford Fiestas.
Describe your music to those who have yet to hear it.
Louise: Big beats, loud guitars and some choruses to get stuck in your head.
Where do you draw influences, in both lyric and music style?
Louise: We have a huge bag of influences, anything from Guns & Roses, to The Presets and The National. Lyrically, I have no idea where those influences come from.
How do you go about penning lyrics and writing music?
Louise: Usually we'll start with some riff or loop that we've came up or a chord progression that has pricked the ears and then it'll turn into something totally different. It tends to happen quite naturally, we'll just sit in the studio and jam it out till we have a rough idea of what we want it to sound like, then spend a bit of time working on the drum sounds and bass loops. Other times it comes from a place where there's something going on in our life and we just need to express it a little.
How much does place, i.e. where you come from and where you write your songs, affect your particular music style?
Louise: I don't think we sound particularly Scottish or Glaswegian, but then again I don't think we really sound like we're from anywhere.
What do you aim to achieve through your music?
Louise: It would be great to be able to play music full time and make a decent living, that's kind of the only real aim, that and a Grammy of course.
The last time I saw Any Color Black was round about midnight at a show in The Ark; do you enjoy playing gigs that defy normality and are a bit different?
Louise: Absolutely, the more random the better. Our EP launch is going to be another midnight show in the Attic of The Garage in Glasgow and one the best gigs we have done was a gig with a string quartet called the Viridian Quartet. We had full on visuals and light show and is definitely something we will be doing again.
How were you picked to play Rockness Festival and just how excited about it are you?
Louise: We have no idea about that, but were beyond happy to be offered the slot.
What other Rockness preparations have you got outside the Music-News show?
Louise: Depending on how many new tracks we've got, we might have a little show in our studio which is out near Loch Lomond just for a few folk. Other than that, stretching and drinking lots of water.
What can fans expect from a live performance from Any Color Black?
Louise: Sweat, sweat and buzzing ear drums the next day.
What’s next for Any Color Black after Rockness?
Louise: After Rockness we'll probably sleep off our hangovers and then we've got an EP out on 28 June.
