Mt. doubt - asunder

Jonny Elswood

Reviewers have said recently that My Past Is A Quiet Beast, the debut album from Mt. Doubt, sounds close to the works of The National's Matt Berninger, Thom Yorke and of The War on Drugs. But out of genuine respect for the real talent, thought and emotional brooding that went into the work’s production and performance, it’s fairer to say that Mt. Doubt's sound is something completely new. As dark and nervous as the tracks present themselves through Leo’s eerily powerful vocals above stormy instrumentals, the artistic scale of the album induces real excitement. 

The atmosphere of the new music video for Asunder (below) is consistent with the song's intelligent and deeply personal lyrics, as well as with Leo’s image, moniker and presence. Like much of the accompanying album, it is a graceful example of well-paced and emotive indie rock. I sat down with Leo to talk about all this.

Hey Leo, this album is a real achievement. Is it true you recorded all the instruments by yourself? It must have taken quite a while to perfect.

Firstly, thanks very much, I’m really glad that people seem to like it! 

Almost 100% of the album is played by me. I work closely with my friend and producer Mark Morrow in the studio so there’s a few little guitar parts and the like that he plays. A lot of the more ambient stuff on the recordings and the drums are brought to life through amazing computer programmes which I know a lot of people can take issue with but as a one-man project it just makes the most logistical sense! 

You’ve recently been compared to Radiohead, The National, and the War on Drugs. I’d probably add Whirr and City and Colour to that impressive list. But as a member of the ever-growing Scottish indie scene, are there any Scottish artists that have significantly shaped what you’ve made?

I feel Scott Hutchinson from Frightened Rabbit has lyrically had an impact, the man knows how to throw a sentence together. I remember walking into town when I was about fifteen listening to Poke from Midnight Organ Fight and just thinking, “Shit, this is unbelievable”. So that album especially and then bands like We Were Promised Jetpacks, Mogwai…

The new video is great. The imagery seems to suggest a lot of power in isolation and inner conflict. Do you find that sort of music the most powerful?

Any music that really resounds on a personal level is instantly more relatable, to me at least. I love bands like The National and Sparklehorse and I’ve been a little obsessed with Sufjan Stevens’ album Carrie & Lowell lately. I think it’s fair to say that I have a fairly depressing taste in music; I almost exclusively listened to Morrissey for about two years. 

Did your time in Fife help form the mood of the music at all? If not, what did?

Sub-consciously I suppose it will have done though not with the whole influence of the sea and sky stuff but probably more through the sense of isolation up here, the cold winters and my general, growing disdain for people… I think there’s vast amounts of personal influences on the album; I think it’s quite reflective but perhaps not always obviously so… 

A lot of the song Leap was written in my head driving back to Edinburgh after a bleak spell in our wee town. Make of that what you will. 

You seem to be super busy these days. I imagine you’ve got lots more planned. Any more gigs coming up?

I’m playing 2nd October at Electric Circus supporting The Winter Tradition and then there will indeed be more to come before the end of the year but that’s all hush-hush for now! All announcements will be up on the Facebook page.

…And finally a bonus Behind the Ink style question - we get a peek at some tattoos in the vid. Any good stories behind those?

I hope ‘Behind the Ink’ becomes a regular feature! They actually all do have personal meanings largely surrounding the theme of reminding myself to not be a prick or take everything for granted and to remain positive. The tree of life and a Hamsa are what you can see in the video I think!

Cheers Leo, keep 'em coming.