The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Getting to know you
Broken Chanter is the stage name of musician David MacGregor – the principal songwriter of Scottish AltPop band Kid Canaveral. Here he gives us an insight into his life
Q What’s your favourite piece of music? A New Paths to Helicon 1 by Mogwai or Birdhouse in Your Soul by They Might Be Giants. Q What do you do to inspire creativity? A Get outdoors. Read. Watch Netflix while absent-mindedly playing an unplugged electric guitar. Q What was your Plan B careerwise? A I’m flattered by the inference that this is both a “career” and “planned”. Q Which writers, alive or dead, inspire you? A Carson McCullers, Raymond Carver, Edwin Morgan, Reni Eddo-Lodge, Kurt Vonnegut and Iain Banks. Q Your house is on fire. What do you save? A Assuming my wife is already making her way down the close carrying the cat, then it would be my Telecaster. Q Theme song for your life? A Sometimes it feels like it should be the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme. Q If you could rule for a day, what would be the first thing you’d do? A Nationalise everything.
Q Favourite holiday destination?
A Anywhere peaceful next to a body of water. Ideally the Western Highlands or the Mediterranean. Q What makes you sad? A A chemical imbalance.
Q What was the last book you read? A Normal People by Sally Rooney. Definitely had something in my eye at various points.
Q If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? A Ramen of some kind or another. You can do a lot with noodles and broth. Q Describe yourself as if you were a fine wine? A Fruity, mature and tired.
Q What makes you happy? A Springtime. The outdoors and universal healthcare. Q Have you ever had a paranormal encounter? A I once played football with The Aliens at a festival. Q What was the first album you ever bought? A Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette. It still holds up today – all bangers, no clangers. Q If you could go back to any point in history, what would it be? A To early September 2014 with a newsreel compilation of the past five years. Q What do you do to unwind? A Five-a-side football. Pints. Cycling. I find cooking exceptionally calming. Q What are you proudest of? A I would say probably this first Broken Chanter record. It’s awfy good.
Q Who would you like to thank? A Everyone who’s lent their time, skill, and/or encouragement to help me get this record made and out there. Q What advice would you give to your younger self? A Fake confidence until you find it. Q Hardest thing you’ve ever had to give up? A Square slice sausage. Q What was the worst punishment you had as a child? A Having to eat gammon for tea.
Q Write your own epitaph? A “At least he will be at peace, for worms will not make him attempt small talk.” Q What three words would your best friend use to describe you? A Passionate, stubborn, mumbly.
Q And your biggest critic?
A Anyone whose biggest critic isn’t themselves needs to examine their circle of friends. A procrastinating, stubborn, oaf. Q Where would you rather be? A Bobbing about in a wee boat, feet up on the side.