Idlewild.

BY KELDA MANLEY.

 

'‘It’d be a risky move if you didn’t have loyal fans’ explains Roddy Woomble. The Idlewild frontman is gearing up for the release of the bands sixth full length studio album. This time the fivesome have decided to release their album in a new, untested fashion. They asked their fans to pre-order and quite literally pay for the recording.

‘It was a way for us to fund the album… without the need for a record label’ explains Roddy ‘We had a few offers of record deals, but since the music industry is in a bit of a mess at the moment, we did a bit of research and decided on trying this instead. Thankfully enough people pre-ordered it to pay for it, so now we own the album we’ve recorded, and are free to license it to any label that wants it. It worked for us.’

The dedicated fans Roddy is speaking of are also in for a new direction and new sound. Personally speaking I felt no need to have to ‘rock out’, as they say with this album.’ Muses Roddy ‘The last LP was all about injecting some distortion back into our songs, but on this one, I think we’re comfortable doing what comes naturally. So it’s a bit of everything.’

The band also hope the album will capture the attention of the mainstream masses, ‘I’d love it to do well and be a hit’ admits the frontman ‘but times are tough for groups, especially if they’ve been around a while. I remain as ever, optimistic.’

Idlewild have, indeed, been around for a while. Forming in over a decade ago the band have survived label changes and band members departing. Roddy believes their secret is simple, ‘We still enjoy each others company, we like writing songs, and we enjoy playing concerts, plus it’s how we’ve all made our living for twelve years. 

The 32 year old is also making a living through his folk career. He released his debut album ‘My Secret is My Silence’ in 2006 and collaborated with Kris Drever and John McCusker for the follow-up last year. The two albums are hugely different. On ‘My Secret Is My Silence’  there is still noticeable indie influences from Roddy and Rod and a sense that Roddy and Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones were experimenting. ‘Before the Ruin’ cannot be doubted as a folk record. It is a difference Roddy acknowledges himself, ‘Before the Ruin [is] being played by folk musicians, and My Secret Is My Silence [is] being played by people from Indie bands having a shot a folk music.’

The connection between the two albums is folk stalwart John McCusker. A regular on almost every stage in the genre he has had an obvious impact on the direction of Roddy’s folk music. ‘[Kris Drever, John and I are] friends who I admire’ he explains ‘and writing songs together was great, and very good fun. [John] is very much the captain of the ship.’

John McCusker

 

The threesome have also had a wonderful time touring with the album.  ‘We were surprised how busy [the shows] were, mostly sold out.’ He states proudly ‘People seemed to connect with ‘Before the Ruin’.  A real mix of older folkies and younger types. It was a good feeling being in the room singing.’ In fact they loved it so much they will be heading out on tour once again in June and December and recording a new LP next year.

For now though Roddy is turning his attention back to Idlewild knowing full well their fans are behind them and more importantly that their fans want to hear more. Or they wouldn’t have paid for it.