King Creosote is the name used for current solo releases of the Scottish musician Kenny Anderson.
Formerly lead singer of Skuobhie Dubh Orchestra and Khartoum Heroes, he's a prolific songwriter, many of his songs having been released across just under 40 albums in ten years. Most of these are CD-R releases on his own Fence Records label.
After "KC Rules OK" in 2005, "Bombshell", released last year, shows all the talent of this brilliant musician.


Interview with Kenny Anderson, aka King Creosote:

S: How and when did all begin with music? 

KC: My dad's an accordion player - from a very early age I remember him setting out as the sun set, and then I'd be woken up at crazy o'clock to raucous laughter from downstairs. When he asked me if I wanted to learn the accordion, I replied "I most certainly do, father, for having been woken up at all hours this past 5 years by your drunken debauchery, it is all I dream about!" I was 7 years old, and an obnoxious little shit. I then realised I had no love for traditional scottish music and spent hours playing minor chords with both hands. At the age of 13 I discovered music by "the jam", "adam and the ants", "dexy's midnight runners" and "blondie", and my accordion went into its case. At 18 I "learned" the electric bass, and at 22 the acoustic guitar. At 23 I had my own bluegrass busking band, and was back playing the accordion. I love the accordion. I love my dad for persevering with my lessons.

S: Where is your stage name coming from?

KC: I started my own record label after a disastrous fling with a small scottish record label based near Glasgow. I called my label "Fence", and it was meant to be a home for my solo project. "What could I put out on a label called Fence?" ... well, I remember my dad would paint our garden fence at the end of every summer with a paint-like substance called "creosote" - it is banned now - and he would often ask me to help him. I usually did as i loved the smell of it. If you got it on your skin, and then hopped into the bath, it stung like billy-o. Anyway, I thought I'd put "creosote" on my label Fence. I wrote down "King Creosote" without thinking, and it stuck.

S: What are the positive and negative sides of being a musician in Scotland?

KC: You know the saying "large fish in a small pond", yes? Scotland is a small country, and most of the population live in the central belt, so it's not a bad place to build a following. We are also a proud and nationalistic race, and tend to get behind our own. We are also a race easily tempted by foreigns climes, and so there are entrepreneurial scots in exile all over the world who tend to be more scottish than those left behind. But enough of the negatives ... i'm joking of course! There are no negatives. In fact there's a potential worldwide audience ... all wearing kilts!

S: Do you feel anxious before a show?

KC: Sometimes, yes. Some venues have a tangible fear built into the very masonry. I used to think having friends or relatives in the audience made me nervous, but then 4 or 5 years ago friends and relatives made up my entire audience, so I got over that particular fear. Now I'm most nervous wearing the kilt.
 
S: What musicians or artists had an influence in your life and in your work?

KC: Other than my dad, it was a friend from school, Ralph Hasselgren, who got me into songwriting when we were in our 1st year at university. He's a good guitarist, but better at artificial intelligence, and therefore wealthy now. The busking band I mentioned? Well, the original banjo player Eric (from the village of pommiers, near Soissons) reminded me just how cool and versatile an accordion can be. My little brother Iain has learned every acoustic stringed instrument this past 15 years, and this has kept me on my musical toes, whereas 10 or so years ago my little brother Gordon (singer with "The Aliens") let me hear his own home recordings, and that inspired me to create songs and therefore records no matter the limitations of recording equipment. There's a whole collective of musicians and songwriters associated with Fence now, and it's their support this past decade that has most influenced my attitudes towards music as a carreer. Kept me keeping on too. I just re-read that and feel a bit nauseous.

S: Do you remember what was the first CD you bought ?

KC: hmmm ... not really. It might've been a Kate Bush album called "Sensual World"?


S: Do you think the emotion is different between a song in English and in a different language?

KC: probably not - it's hard to tell though ... I can understand a little French, but that's it. In a lot of songs the original idea somehow gets lost amidst trends and styles and the drive for it to become playlisted on the radio - I bet that's true in all languages.

S: How could you define the music of King Creosote?

KC: wooden songs hidden beneath layers and layers of preservative carcinogenic lacquer. 

S:  Do you agree with Victor Hugo who said : "Melancholy is the pleasure of being sad" ?

KC: most down-heartily.

S: When you write a song you follow your heart, your brain or your hand ?

KC: heart filtered thru brain hindered by hand.

S: What is your favorite song of King Creosote and why?

KC: oh, this changes all the time, but something like "Missionary" or "Klutz" - I'm very proud of the lyrics.

S: As musician, what's your feeling about Internet?

KC: weighing up all the pros and cons, and remembering how it used to be to play in a band in the late 80s, I'd have to say "vile".

S: Can you describe what is a typical King Creosote's day?

KC: there are several - promotional days, touring days, recording days, accounting and budgeting days. But right now, I'm gearing up for another week in the recording studio and trying to write new songs, or at least lyrics. This is my excuse for getting up late, building a coal fire in the living room, reading historical fiction, playing zelda's wind waker and walking or cycling when the wind direction allows - all in the name of inspiration naturally.
 
S: What are your hobbies aside music?

KC: I'm still looking ...

S: Are you venturesome person?

KC: not especially - most of my "deeds of derring do" are done when under the influence.

S: Who is your "Favourite Girl" ?

KC: my daughter Beth. She's 9 years old now, and calls herself "Kid Creosote".

S: Are there any things, which you are afraid of? Do you have any fears?

KC: Wasps. Ex girlfriends. HM revenue and customs. Cities.

S: What is the best moment and best place to listen to your music ?

KC: standing on the singing sands on the island of eigg as the sun starts to go down to the left of rhum. Red sun, blue sea, white sand.

S: As our website is dedicated to Manic Street Preachers maybe can you say some words about them?

KC: I have the same electric guitar as James Dean Bradfield. Unfortunately, I do not have his talent with it.

S: I know it’s a difficult question, but if you would have to keep just one album from your CD collection what album would it be?

KC: Talk Talk's "Spirit Of Eden".


S: What was the last song you listened to before the interview? And, if you know, which one will be the next?

KC: "Coast On By" by King Creosote and king biscuit time. The next one might well be "Sensual World" by Kate Bush now that i've been reminded of it.

S: Can you tell me the name of one French song, or singer, or band?

KC: I'm a big fan of "Les Negresses Vertes" - I only have the album "Mlah Mlah" on cassette, but I love it and it is all but worn out. I've tried in vain to find this album on cd, but I refuse to use "the internet".
S: And say something in French?

KC: en y va?

S: What are your plans for the nearest future?

KC: starting tomorrow I have 2 weeks in which to finish the next King Creosote long player.

S: And finally, what’s the most important thing in life for you?

KC: my daughter Beth and her attempts to avoid my accordion lessons.


MANY thanks to King Creosote for the interview!

More informations about King Creosote:

- on his site:
http://www.kingcreosote.com

- on his Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/kingcreosote