The View: Back On Track

The View burst onto the music scene back in 2007 with their debut ‘Hat’s Off For The Buskers’, and their Dundee youth anthems ‘Wasted Little DJs’ and ‘Superstar Tradesman’, became firm music favourites.

Now, after a well the deserved break the lads are back with their third, yet un-titled album, which is set for release in Spring. Currently on tour, Gigwise caught up with band members Kyle Falconer and Steven Morrison to see what they’ve been up to…

How has the last 12 months been?

Steven Morrison - It’s been really good to get started again, get the ball rolling on the new album.  It was nice to have time off in-between the two albums, taking the time to get things the way we wanted them to be.

You took a while off to record this album – what was the decision for this?

Kyle Falconer - After the first album, we didn’t take the time we should of to record ‘Which Bitch?’ To be honest after the second album we just wanted to get back into the process of recording an album properly. 

Steven Morrison - We sort of rushed into the last two and taking the time out with the new album was a good decision.  There were also a lot of different opinions on what we should do with this record.

You relocated to Liverpool to record this album.  How was that for you all?

Steven Morrison - Yeah it was good.  Nice for us all to be together again in one recording studio.  It helped us keep consistency on the record, unlike ‘Which Bitch?’ which was recorded in various studios with a lot of distractions. 

Kyle Falconer - It’s good to be in a different environment other than London for a while.

Did you feel any pressure with the making of this album - from your record company or just off your own back?

Steven Morrison - Not really.  They were actually surprisingly nice.  They gave us plenty of time to get the album right and the way we wanted it to sound.  We have tried to work more as a team with the record company. 

Kyle Falconer - On the first album we were going to do it our way and we got a little big for our boots.  Realising that the music industry can be a messy place you have to keep the record company on side and keep a good relationship.  They want the album to work as much as we do.  So it works.

Did you want to change the band’s sound on this album? Or was it just a natural progress three albums in?

Kyle Falconer - We were thinking more about the sound with this album. About how all the instruments and vocals would work together.  The rest of the band’s now singing more on this record as well.  We actually have been giving a f*ck about it.  Before it was like piano? What the f*ck but now we have been using a load more instruments.

The View - 'Sunday'

You worked with producer Youth. What was it like working with him? Did he have a large impact on the album?

Steven Morrison - We were blown away by the people he had worked with and his method of recording.  He’s a really laid back guy.

Kyle Falconer - I read an interview that Youth gave the other day, he said he liked to create tension in a studio.  And thinking about it, he f*cking did. 

What’s been the inspiration lyrically for this album?

Kyle Falconer - The same old really. What we like writing about our own experiences, though we’ve grown up since the first album the same things are still as inspirational. 

How has the tour been?

Steven Morrison - Yeah it’s been really good. Getting back on the road has been worth the wait.  It’s been an insight to see the fans reaction to the new material.

Have you enjoyed playing at more intimate venues and unusual cities?

Kyle Falconer - It’s been like being back on the first tour, the venues are smaller, the audiences are f*cking madder. 

Steven Morrison - Playing these really intimate venues is a right laugh. 

Kyle Falconer - The Scottish crowds on this tour have been f*cking mental some top nights back home.  These shows have been better as you can actually see the whole crowd get pissed and get some crowd heckling going.

What are the band’s plans for 2011?

Steven Morrison - Yeah hopefully there will be another big tour in March next year and obviously we’re hoping to do the festivals. Just the standard promotion with the album hopefully we will be able to take this album over to America.