Scott Hutchison

Scott Hutchison

Hutchison performing with Frightened Rabbit at SXSW in 2013
Background information
Born Selkirk, Scotland
Genres Indie rock, indie folk
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 2003–present
Labels Atlantic Records, Fat Cat Records
Associated acts Frightened Rabbit, Owl John, The Fruit Tree Foundation
Website frightenedrabbit.com

Scott Hutchison is a Scottish singer, songwriter, guitarist and artist. He is best known as the founding member and primary songwriter of the indie rock band Frightened Rabbit, with whom he has recorded four studio albums. Hutchison is also a member of the musical collective The Fruit Tree Foundation, and has recently recorded a solo album, under the moniker Owl John.

Hutchison studied illustration at the Glasgow School of Art, before forming Frightened Rabbit in 2003. Initially a solo project, Hutchison collaborated with his brother Grant on the band's debut album, Sing the Greys (2006), and recorded the band's critical breakthrough, The Midnight Organ Fight (2008), as a three-piece, following the collapse of a romantic relationship.

Following the album's release, the band's fanbase expanded significantly and a third studio album, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, was released in 2010. Signing to Atlantic Records, the band released its fourth studio album, Pedestrian Verse, in 2013. The following year, Hutchison recorded a solo album under the name, Owl John.

Hutchison creates the artwork for each Frightened Rabbit release.

Biography

Childhood and early life

Described by his mother as a shy child,[1] Scott Hutchison was raised in the Scottish Borders town of Selkirk, with his brother Grant. Moving to the city of Glasgow, he studied illustration at the Glasgow School of Art: "I was there for four years and I didn't particularly want to be an illustrator, so I wanted to apply the rules that I learnt to everything I do, in terms of working in a bank or writing music."[1] Whilst living in Glasgow, Hutchison worked in specialist whisky shop in residential area of Hyndland, noting: "I began to appreciate and admire the heritage of flavour in a dram of single malt."[2]

Initially considering himself solely a guitarist, Hutchison began singing at the age of nineteen, stating: "Up to that point I was just a guitar player. I didn't know I could sing, I had been told I couldn't."[1] Hutchison's early songwriting influences included American artists, Ryan Adams, Wilco and Laura Cantrell, with Hutchison noting, "When I started writing songs, my references were [these] Americana acts. [...] I could associate with those stories. And you can see American folk's deep connections with Scottish folk."[3]

Formation of Frightened Rabbit, Sing the Greys and The Midnight Organ Fight (2003–2009)

In 2003, Hutchison began performing under the name Frightened Rabbit, a name given to him by his mother to describe his once shy nature, and began recording and performing with his brother the following year. The duo recorded the band's debut album, Sing the Greys, at The Diving Bell Lounge, with producer Marcus MacKay, and released it independently on local label, Hits the Fan, in 2006 An initial run of one-thousand copies quickly sold out and the band signed to Fat Cat Records.

Joined by guitarist Billy Kennedy, the band reissued the album on their new label and began work on its follow-up, The Midnight Organ Fight (2008), with producer Peter Katis, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Influenced by the collapse of his relationship with his high school and college girlfriend Shell Jubin,[4] the deeply personal album was released to widespread critical acclaim and increased the band's exposure significantly. Joined by fourth member Andy Monaghan, the band supported both Death Cab for Cutie and Biffy Clyro on various UK tour dates, and found the album placing highly on multiple 'end-of-year' lists.

Collaborations

The Fruit Tree Foundation

Hutchison wrote and recorded with The Fruit Tree Foundation, a collaborative project featuring Scottish indie rock and folk musicians. The resulting album, First Edition, was released in 2011. Regarding the experience, Hutchison stated: It was really beautifully done. I thought it was such a great thing, and also personally, for me, that was my first taste of proper collaboration and it really changed my outlook on songwriting. Before, I was kind of like, ‘Yeah, I know how to write songs. I don’t need anyone’s help,’ and then, of course, you learn so much. So it changed my whole outlook, and I would love to get involved in that kind of thing again."[5]

The Birthday Suit

Hutchison performs a guitar solo on the track, "A Bigger World", by the indie rock band The Birthday Suit, and is featured in its accompanying music video. The song was the first single to be released from the band's third studio album, A Hollow Hole of Riches (2014).

Rod Jones

In 2011, Idlewild and The Birthday Suit guitarist Rod Jones noted that he had been collaborating with Hutchison on some original folk songs: "I’ve recently been doing some stuff with Scott from Frightened Rabbit. The idea was to do a Simon and Garfunkel-style folk duo, but we spent a couple of days writing and it's already a lot weirder than that!"[5] As of 2013, these songs have not yet been recorded or performed.

Withered Hand

Hutchison provides backing vocals on the song, "Fall Apart", from indie folk artist Withered Hand's second studio album, New Gods (2014).

Personal life

Hutchison currently lives in Los Angeles with his girlfriend. He has previously lived in the Scottish cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh, for significant periods of his life.[5]

Frightened Rabbit's second and fourth studio albums, The Midnight Organ Fight (2008) and Pedestrian Verse (2013), are both heavily influenced by the collapse of two respective romantic relationships, with the former focusing upon his relationship with Big Brother contestant, Shell Jubin. Regarding her time in Big Brother, and its impact on their relationship, Hutchison noted: "I was on Big Brother's Little Brother a couple of times, I did a lot of stuff. [...] It was really hard. I was skint and [media outlets] were offering me quite a lot of money to talk about her, 'she and I', stuff like that. It was totally fucked up. I was doing my degree show; I get up one morning and there's a journalist buzzing my flat having found out where I lived, and I'm trying to finish off something I've worked towards for four years. It was horrible. [...] It was just a really weird event in my life because we split up and got back together prior to [Big Brother] happening and that's what most of Organ Fight is about."[4]

Hutchison's current girlfriend is based in Los Angeles, with Hutchison noting, "My girlfriend lives in Los Angeles, so it's great to see her there. Having disliked Los Angeles a lot, it's grown on me – and she's the reason for that."[5]

Discography

Frightened Rabbit

Owl John

The Fruit Tree Foundation

Other appearances

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sharp, Craig. "Interview: Scott Hutchison – (Frightened Rabbit)". dirtyzine.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Hutchison, Scott. "Guest column – Whisky and me by Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchison". news.qthemusic.com. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Lewis, John. "Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchison: We were never cold enough to be art school". metro.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Frightened Rabbit: Doomed relationships, Big Brother and the missing $28,000. The Pop Cop.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Smith, Kelly. "Interview: Scott Hutchison from Frightened Rabbit". list.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2013.