Interview with Glamour and the Baybes
Edinburgh based and locally loved funk band “Glamour and the Baybes” are just as enigmatic in their passion for music, as they are on the stage of one of the most historic clubs in the Scottish capital. After recently releasing their first EP and about to tour the country, these long-time residents of The Jazz Bar are about to be hitting the big time no doubt, and they have a lot to say on the scene where they are making their name.
While it’s regarded as an old genre, Rob says funk has ‘had a resurgence of its own. With Bruno Mars, he’s predominantly funk and soul, he is very well respected.” Angus elaborated on the genre confusion some artists face “It's tough now to put things in a box and say ‘this is funk, this is pop, this is jazz’ because it’s so easy to listen to anything and everything you want, because of all these streaming apps, and it’s fantastic! You get all these young musicians taking what they want from different genres, and make their own.” When asked about their origins, they had much to say on their backgrounds. Rob started “I went to uni, I studied classical music, graduated and then realised, well, there was no money in it! I just started jam sessions after that, playing with mates, but the Baybes was the first funk band any of us were in. So when it started, it was our “in” to the funk scene.
Angus’ entry to the band was much simpler. “ When we were in high-school, we were in a band together that played in Edinburgh a lot, a weirdy pop band. Then while I’m still in uni studying music, Rob said ‘there’s this place called the Jazz Bar, I’d really like you to come down, sing and play sax.’
“It’s just one of those things that have remained constant when I’m in or out of work, full-time or part-time musician. There’s always been Glamour and the Baybes, and it started off as just a fun band, but then we started taking ourselves much more seriously, try and challenge each other. Honestly, though, this is the fun for me, I do my own solo stuff but that can get dull. Funk would never have been my first choice, but I love it now.”
Angus also believes that while many larger music acts go to Glasgow to perform, Edinburgh is the place for musicians. “Glasgow has the most venue capita in Europe, but they do tend to cater to the same kind of thing though. Edinburgh is very international though, you’ve got The Jazz Bar, Sandy Belts, so many folk venues, a huge classical concert venue in the middle of the city.”
Rob interjects to say “You can’t argue that Edinburgh has a bigger music venue than Glasgow, because it doesn’t. If you want to see live music in Edinburgh, you’ve got to know where to go, especially since the council had a bit of a war on music in the last five years, loads of venues got shut down because of noise complaints.” Angus adds “But then again, it’s only been in the last two years that Glasgow has got its first jazz club. It’s good for the scene and genre in general, it’s just a little late.”
Rob continues “The problem is Glasgow’s scene is really healthy for the musicians that are there, but it’s really hard to break into, especially if you’re a more alternative band, a bit like us.” Angus speaks up with a metaphor for the two cities “ If they were selections boxes, Glasgow is the more popular one, but you get more coconut filled chocolates. Whereas Edinburgh has the Malteaser ones, you got your Snickers, only two Mars bars, and the rest are weird flavours you’ve never heard of. There’s more variety!” Rob adds at the end “I think a good way to think of it is that Glasgow is for the public, Edinburgh is for the musicians.”
When asked about their plans for the future, they said that they are in the middle of writing a brand new album to tour with next year “we just have to write it now.” Rob joked. While they mainly perform many funk classics in their weekly set, they also add in songs from their first album Baybe-alicious and songs not officially released (yet?). However, something anyone can see with these two is that they don’t care how big they get, as long as they are performing somewhere. Angus said that it’s “not for the applause, it’s for the feeling. I get this incredible rush whenever I hit a high note I might have struggled with, its the same with the sax too, it’s like I exceed my own expectations, and it never gets old, I don’t think it ever will.”
Something that was clear in the interview, was the unbridled passion these men have for music and their band. They speak with a genuine love for their craft, and that comes across in their performance too. Every Monday they exude the same energy they use for discussing their work as they put into their work. It’s something that can be quite rare, with the industry machine churning out manufactured music that fits a formula, these men and their fellow bandmates go off the reservation in the best of ways, not for recognition, but all for the “feeling”.
Their EP Baybe-alicious is out now, performing every Monday night at The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh. Their tour and next album are due Spring 2019.
