We catch up with Steven of The Chosen Lonely ahead of Belladrum 2024 and ask him a few questions.
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What would be your FFO list?
People often mention The Cure to me when they first hear the songs, which is quite interesting, cause I can probably only name around 4 Cure tunes off the top of my head, but I do recognise where they’re coming from with that in terms of the pop sound.
I think Glasvegas and The Vaccines are shining through a bit in the early work we’ve been doing. And there’s definitely a general 90’s UK feel to some of the melodies.
So in short, at least for now, I’d say: The Cure, Glasvegas, The Vaccines & [interchangeable Britpop group]
The Chosen Lonely is now (as had always been intended) a full band, can you introduce your band mates and tell us about what they bring to the band.
We’ve got:
Andy Bannerman – Keyboards
Andrew ‘Badger’ Stewart – Bass Gtr
Donna Smith – Drums
It’s been great being back in a group environment. It’s still quite early days for us, so I think there’s more to learn about each other, but it’s already apparent that everyone’s bringing something great and unique to the table.
People who have seen us so far have all been really positive about the team, which is cool.
Andy’s brought a slightly different energy to the early live shows. He’s also translated some of the musical ideas into really nice keys parts.
It’s been great having Badger involved after having played alongside him previously. He’s been a good head to have around during discussions on the early set and he’s not afraid to challenge an opinion, which I think is healthy to have within a band environment.
Donna’s brought a great edge to the tracks, having probably come from a slightly punkier background to the rest of us. And her humour deserves high praise too.
It’s a great mix that I think has blended really well so far.
You have had a handful of live performances leading up to Bella, how have you felt they have gone?
We played our first show down in Edinburgh at Sneaky Pete’s, which was a great experience for us. I’d played there acoustically just over a year beforehand and had promised the crowd then that I’d return with a full band, so it was quite nice to do the first one there and pull through on that promise. We didn’t actually have the complete four there, but we enlisted the help of Liza Mulholland to cover on keys for the night, and she’s been a great supporter and friend of the band since. I was delighted with that show. It set a high bar for us early on.
We then picked up a slot at the Bandstand in Nairn to test out some new material, and to break in the completed lineup ahead of the hometown headline show. That show gave us the kick up the backside that I think we needed. I think maybe we took the foot off the gas a little after such a promising start in Edinburgh, but admittedly, I was also probably putting the guys through hell a bit with the quick addition of new songs. It was a good chance for us to see where we were at, and what was needed to get to where we wanted to be.
The first hometown show last month was truly awesome. We all really grafted on the run up to it, and the Tidal End team that came to open were a real hit with the crowd too. I really enjoyed myself from start to finish, and I hope that the rest of the squad felt that too.
You have three original songs to wow the Belladrum audience, which ones would they be and why?
We’re planning 7 and we of course plan to wow them with each one, but the 3 I’d put forward would be:
‘Big Blue Bus’ – that’s a song that’s been kicking around for quite a while, but it was never quite given the focus it deserved in any prior projects. Even up until the band was introduced this past few months, it only ever cropped up occasionally in solo live sets. But we’ve really made it our own here. I mean, it is our own tune, but we’re playing it in a way that I hadn’t really pictured – and it’s the ideal version for me.
‘Rollercoaster’… – it’s one of the earliest songs I ever wrote. And I love that our version has managed to add something new and fresh to it.
Tough call for the third between ‘Jamie’s Light’ & ‘Sandra Darlin’’ – Sandra’s the first tune we ever jammed, so I think for that reason it’s very stable ground. But I just f***** love playing the solo in Jamie’s Light to be honest. No other reason. So that edges it for me.
Festivals are renowned for horrible clashes, which act on the Belladrum line-up would you least like to clash with and why?
Hopefully we don’t clash with Sophie Bex, as I’ve heard she’s not the best person to get on the wrong side of. Particularly when on the dancefloor.
But in seriousness, I’d probably have to go with Ocean Colour Scene.
I used to cover them at open mics back in the day. So it’ll be nice to tick them off the list of bands to see.
Luckily we’re not playing on the same day as either of those acts, so we should be safe on both accounts.
What are your favourite memories of Belladrum?
This’ll actually be my first time back at the festival since I played the Free Range Acoustic Stage many moons ago. So that experience is an easy win for this question.
It was great to tick my first festival off so early on back then. And many old friends who I’ve sadly become quite disconnected from since had come along to support me that day. Perhaps I’ll run into some of them again this year.
Given the Love theme, if you had to create a love playlist with only five songs, what would be on it?
I’ll try not to give this too much thought
- Silly Love Songs – Wings
- If You Wanna – The Vaccines
- Archie, Marry Me – Alvvays
- Your Song – Elton John
- About You Now – Sugababes
If you could travel back in time which Belladrum would you like to revisit?
Despite the memories and milestones. I definitely wouldn’t travel back to my first one.
I remember watching the one with Chvrches on BBC Alba from the house. Think that must’ve been 2019 was it? I would’ve liked to have been there in the flesh. That seemed like a great set.
In your act’s repertoire, what is the most romantic song you have?
Probably Big Blue Bus actually. I think it really captures that early infatuation of a feeling not yet expressed. When you’re first just starting to fall for your own idea, of what this person who you do not yet fully know, might be like. It’s a real ‘let’s run away and never mind all this noise around here’ sorta song, which of course is a completely unhinged proposition. But it works in a songworld.
What’s on the horizon for you after Belladrum?
After Bella, we’re really excited to have been included on this year’s Endless Summer Series, which sees us hit the Hug & Pint in Glasgow on 23rd August.
After that, we need to get into the studio and record some music as a band – something our schedule hasn’t allowed yet. So that’s as far as the agenda is stretching for now.
Expect a single and maybe a local launch gig later in the year.
The Chosen Lonely perform at The Seedlings Stage 730pm on Saturday and can keep track of The Chosen Lonely via Facebook
