From Inverness solo project to Highland indie sensation, The Chosen Lonely have crafted something special in Scotland’s musical landscape. What began as Steven Barclay’s acoustic escape after previous band endings has blossomed into a full four-piece outfit, earning BBC Radio Nan Gàidheal recognition and support slots alongside Glasvegas and Kyle Falconer.
Their debut single “Big Blue Bus”, recorded at the remote Lyth Arts Centre with Neon Waltz’s Darren Coghill, captures their signature blend of infectious indie-pop and subtle electronica. Fresh from completing a headline tour across Scotland, we caught up with Steven to discuss musical evolution, Highland influences, and euphoric recall.
Check out our most comprehensive Inverness gig listing so far
Starting as a solo project that evolved into a full band in 2024, can you walk us through that transition and how it’s changed your creative approach to music?
I think the long-term intention was always to make The Chosen Lonely a band, at least on the live front. In 2024 I just decided to press on and make that happen. Teaming up with an old friend and some new faces, there was a good mix of familiarity and freshness in the early rehearsals.
I wouldn’t say it’s changed the approach too drastically, as a lot of the music was already being written with a band sound in mind. But subtle nuances of certain members’ playing styles has definitely had an influence on some of the new arrangements.
“Big Blue Bus” was co-produced with Darren Coghill from Neon Waltz at Lyth Arts Centre. How was the experience of recording there?
It was really nice to head North to record for a change, and Darren was great to work with. He’s very willing to contribute some of his own ideas, yet equally doesn’t mind stepping back and letting due process unfold. We’re heading back up in a couple months to work on the next batch.
You’ve described “Big Blue Bus” as “shroud in euphoric recall” and capturing “that blend of nostalgia and hopeful optimism.” How does this emotional landscape relate to your broader musical vision?
Yep, you could tie a similar description to quite a number of the tunes. Some of them have been around a wee while now, and it’s nice to connect to both their original story and to what they say about things in my life as they are now.
You’ve recently supported established Scottish acts like Glasvegas and Kyle Falconer. What have you learnt from sharing stages with these more experienced artists?
Just to trust what we’re doing really. James of the former was a real gent. I hadn’t realised at the time, but he’d spent our entire set at the side of the stage looking on. And his comments after the show were a real dream come true. He didn’t have to do that, so it felt really authentic and really affirming to have someone I genuinely idolised creatively saying positive things about what I was doing.
The Scottish music press has described your sound as “infectious indie mixed with subtle electronica.” How would you characterise what makes The Chosen Lonely’s sound distinctive in today’s Scottish indie scene?
I think we’re a lot more on the melodic side of indie and we’ve taken influence from quite a broad spectrum. That seems to have culminated in a sound that we feel is beginning to come into its own a bit.
With band members now including Andy, Tai, and Donna alongside yourself, how has the collaborative dynamic shaped your evolution from those early days of layering melodies over drum loops?
A lot of the music was ready to go by the time the band members were brought in, but they’ve certainly been the important vessel for getting it out there in its new form. As I mentioned before, everyone’s individual traits can give it a slightly different flavour to what I had in my head initially. ‘Honour thy mistake’ is a heck of a songwriting tool, and quite often a miscommunication in rehearsal can lead to something far more interesting than the originally held idea. I think moments like that are more frequent when there’s four of you involved than if I were on my own. I do still like the space to flesh out demos at home though.
You’re nearing the end of a five-date headline tour across Scotland in May. How did those shows go, and what did you learn about your live sound during that run?
The shows have all been genuinely incredible. I booked the dates because that’s the position I want us to be in, touring and headlining venues across Scotland. I believe we’re capable, and it’s shown for sure. It was a bit of a gamble, as we hadn’t yet put the first single out when we announced them, and it probably didn’t quite gain the level of traction I’d hoped for. But this didn’t seem to affect the shows one bit. 1 or 2 cities took their time securing tickets in advance, but sitting tight and pushing through to the end really paid off for us, and we saw solid crowds in every place.
We’ve even come back up the road with some pocket money
We’ve even come back up the road with some pocket money and great memories. I’m absolutely delighted with the crowds we saw for our first headline run and they were all so receptive. The encore in Aberdeen was a real highlight!
In terms of what it’s done for the live sound, we got plenty of great comments from fans of the supports who were seeing us for the first time. I think it’s really evolved over the year, and even more so throughout these shows. One gent who attended both the Glasgow opener as well as the most recent Edinburgh show commented that Edinburgh felt like it had kicked us up a few more notches, and I guess continual improvement is exactly what you’d hope for.
Being based in Inverness, how has the Highland music community supported your development, and what unique perspective does it give you compared to bands from Glasgow or Edinburgh?
There seems to be more of a DIY approach emerging locally, particularly in terms of the live scene, which I think I like. Bands booking venues and running their own shows didn’t seem as commonplace in the past, but I think it’s healthy that this is becoming more frequent.
I do think it’s our own responsibility as a band to get people to sit up and believe in what we’re doing
I feel much more a part of something here than I ever used to before moving away and coming back, so perhaps that’s an indicator that there’s been a good feeling of support over this last year or so. I do think it’s our own responsibility as a band to get people to sit up and believe in what we’re doing though. I’m really proud of the first single and the things we’ve all achieved in year 1, so hopefully Upstairs is the show where some new faces will take the gamble on us and come see what we’re all about.
Looking beyond your current tour and debut single, what ambitions do you have for The Chosen Lonely over the next year?
After the Upstairs show on the 30th, we’re opening the Main Stage at the nearby Woodzstock Festival.
We’ve been speaking with a few different parties about organising some more shows for the tail end of the year, but before then, we’ll be back in Lyth to record our next single.
We’re just taking it bit by bit at the moment, and plotting what the next right move is for us. There’s an album or two in demo form, but I think that’s being left on the back burner for now. Upstairs, Woodzstock, and the next single are the main focus of the immediate future, then we’ll have a think about what’s next for us.
The Chosen Lonely play Upstairs on the 30th of May, 2025 with tickets available now.
