Mogwai's 'upbeat' return after tough personal times

Mogwai, a renowned rock band from Glasgow, has recently made headlines with their new album, The Bad Fire. The band, consisting of Stuart Braithwaite, Barry Burns, Dominic Aitchison, and Martin Bulloch, has a unique way of describing their experiences, often using the word 'weird. ' Their previous album, As The Love Continues, achieved unexpected success by reaching number one on the charts in 2021, a feat that was particularly surprising given the circumstances of the pandemic. Stuart Braithwaite, the band's frontman, shared that the pandemic made it difficult for them to celebrate their success with friends, saying, 'It was such a weird time. ' The band was also invited to the Mercury Prize gala, which they found to be an unusual experience. Interestingly, they were so focused on their new music that they forgot to mention their chart-topping achievement to their new producer, John Congleton. He only discovered it when a French journalist brought it up during an interview, leading to a surprised reaction from him. 'Wow, that's weird,' he remarked. Mogwai has never been a band that aimed for global fame. They formed as a group of friends who wanted to create 'serious guitar music. ' Their style is characterized by long, captivating instrumentals that evoke a sense of creeping anxiety and emotional release. Their journey to the top of the charts took 25 years, and they benefited from chart rules that favored physical record sales over streaming numbers. This worked in their favor, as they have a dedicated fanbase that values vinyl records. For one week, they even outsold popular artists like Dua Lipa and Harry Styles. Stuart emphasized, 'It was a huge surprise. ' While they desire their music to be successful, they are not overly ambitious, stating, 'We're not like Queen, plotting world domination. ' However, their path to creating their new album was not without challenges. Barry Burns, the band's keyboardist, faced a personal crisis when he learned that his daughter was seriously ill. She was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia, a rare condition that affects the body's ability to produce blood cells. Barry recalled the stress of the situation, saying, 'It was extremely stressful. ' He had a personal connection to the illness, as a childhood neighbor had suffered from it and tragically passed away. Fortunately, after undergoing a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy, Barry's daughter made a full recovery. 'She's going to be fine, but I've had an awful two years,' he shared. The band also experienced other losses during the recording process. Their long-time live agent, Mick Griffiths, passed away from cancer, and bassist Dominic Aitchison lost his father. Even Stuart's pet dog, Prince, faced health issues, requiring an amputation just before they began recording. The album's title, The Bad Fire, is a Glaswegian term for hell, but the music itself does not dwell on grief. Stuart explained that when something heavy happens in his life, he prefers not to write about it. Their songs are primarily instrumental, allowing listeners to interpret them in their own way. The band often gives their tracks quirky titles, such as Pale Vegan Hip Pain and Fanzine Made Of Flesh, to avoid imposing specific meanings. When lyrics do appear, they tend to be abstract and open to interpretation. The only hint of the band's recent struggles can be found in the song 18 Volcanoes, where Stuart sings, 'Hope has come another day/Hold me close in every way. ' Some journalists have described the album as cathartic, but Stuart disagrees, stating, 'I don't think it's maudlin at all. It's vaguely upbeat, by our standards. ' Mogwai is gearing up for an extensive world tour, and their new album is already making waves in the UK charts, competing with artists like Central Cee and Teddy Swims. Stuart is pleased that physical sales are giving The Bad Fire an edge over streaming hits, as he believes the streaming landscape can be confusing and often favors established artists. He expressed concern that many new musicians struggle to gain recognition in a world dominated by streaming services. Despite these challenges, Mogwai has found success on platforms like YouTube, where their older track Take Me Somewhere Nice has garnered over 85 million views, even though the video was uploaded by a fan. The artwork for the video, created by game designer Ken Wong, has become iconic among fans, with some even getting tattoos inspired by it. Stuart finds it amusing, saying, 'I almost want to go, 'Mate, you know, that's not the cover of the record. ' But it's cool. ' He appreciates the sense of community that has formed around their music, especially among young listeners who support each other through difficult times. As Mogwai celebrates their 30th anniversary, they reflect on their journey from young musicians to respected figures in the British rock scene. Stuart humorously noted that he expected flying cars by now, but he is grateful to still be making music. 'It simply feels weird,' he concluded.