Eagleowl's Gentle Invasion

With all the majesty and wisdom that their title evokes, Eagleowl create stripped back, modernised folk tunes of a quiet intensity. Their sparse yet warmly atmospheric sound is the culmination of varied instrumentation: double bass, violin, ukulele and mandolin, all forged together by an understated sensitivity. The trio provide an alternative to the multitude of acts who wouldn't dare stray from the more standardized rock set up.

“It was just a case of writing around whatever instruments were available to us,” guitarist and vocalist Bart explains. “We never intended to be 'the band without a drummer'. I now like having that restriction, as it helps the writing process. You have to think 'how do we put together a 30-40 minute set without any percussion, but still keep it dynamic and hold the audience’s attention?'"

It’s a challenge that Eagleowl have met well, considering they're still reeling over the successful launch of their first EP in August, a gig held at the Scottish Scullery featured as part of the Retreat! Festival, which Bart also helped put together. “In the end the gig sold out – the crowd, despite being packed in, were very respectful and appreciative. The venue was amazing. It was all just a very special evening.”

Hailing from what they believe to be a strong network of musicians working with various independent promoters and labels based in Edinburgh, Eagleowl affiliate themselves with a group of like-minded artists called the 'Fife Kills' collective. “It’s based on folk, but I think the most important thing is that everyone has their own idea of what that word means. Folk is really just the starting point, and everyone has their own take on it – I think we’re called folk more for our instrumentation than our actual songs. But it’s fine – I’ve been trying to find an accurate way to describe our music since we started, and I still struggle.”

Fuelling a healthy appetite for collaboration and investment in a diverse musical community is the band's interpretation of the DIY ethos, demonstrated by the handmade, screen-printed packaging of their new release. Bart’s own endeavours as an independent promoter under the moniker 'The Gentle Invasion' are also testimony to these beliefs. “I think the DIY thing has really helped the band," he enthuses. "It feels like whatever success we’ve had, we’ve created ourselves. Of course we’ve had help and support from a lot people, but I feel proud that we’ve been able to retain control over what we’re doing. It also means we have quite a close relationship with the audience. You see the same faces at the shows, and we’ve made some really good friends just from that.”

With the development of such tight knit communities the danger would be that such ‘scenes’ might project an image of insularity or exclusivity, with the potential to harbour less friendly feelings of rivalry amongst would-be peers. Bart sees no such problem. “The thing I like most about Edinburgh is that there’s no bullshit or ego. Music shouldn’t be a competition — if a band are successful, it’s not to the detriment of anyone else. There’s a shared outlook. It’s not even necessarily the same kind of music we’re making, but I guess it’s more about embracing that DIY ethic. No one is sitting around waiting for a major label to come calling – we’re just getting out there and making music, without necessarily having that expectation that it needs to lead to bigger things.”

Fortunately, it seems that with their combination of intelligence, enthusiasm and a knack for beautiful song writing, this may well be on the cards for Eagleowl.