Spotlight On... Lewis McLaughlin

Edinburgh-based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Lewis McLaughlin is one of a long line of talented artists who have come into sharp focus during the pandemic. The young artist has been working with Frightened Rabbit's Andy Monaghan and is set to release his debut album, Feel the Ground You Walk Upon, via Monaghan's Monohands label this Friday 25 March, so with that in mind, we shine a spotlight on McLaughlin to find out more.

The Skinny: How long have you been making music for and how did you get started?
Lewis McLaughlin: I’ve been making music my whole life. Both my parents are musicians so I’ve always been surrounded by it. My background is in Scottish trad, so I started playing fiddle at five. I also learned classical violin and piano through most of school. In terms of my songwriting, that started a bit later, when I was 14. I got a guitar for my birthday and more or less instantly started trying out writing songs. The likes of Villagers, John Martyn and Tom Waits are a lot to thank for that.

Feel the Ground You Walk Upon is a very assured debut – tell us about some of the themes you explore on the record? What was it like to hold a magnifying glass up so closely to your experiences with anxiety, for example?
This record takes you through a time in my life when I was quite lost and unsure of myself. I was always seeking a way to understand the world around me and find connection. Themes of first love, leaving home and mental health struggles are scattered throughout the record. It can be uncomfortable sometimes to put these experiences at the forefront of a song, it can leave you feeling a bit exposed. Also during the recording/mixing process you’re constantly analysing it to make it the best version it can be, which can feel quite invasive at times. Luckily I’ve always worked with folk who are extremely supportive and compassionate so have never felt too uncomfortable. After the songs are released, hearing people signing it back at me live or hearing how the songs have touched and comforted them makes it all worth the while.

The way you use your voice is really interesting, from the harmonies on Overture to the looped build of Summer, down to the way you enunciate your words. Was working with your voice in all these different ways something you set out to do from the start? Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I don’t think I necessarily set out specific goals for how I wanted to use my voice/vocal harmonies, but I definitely had some ideas of how I wanted to go about each song. The way we made the record left space for me to spend a good while working on the vocals. We did all the instruments at Andy’s [Monaghan] 312 studios in Glasgow, and then I recorded the vocals at home or in various other studios over the top of the instrumental tracks.

Summer, for example, I wanted to be a gradual build to choral euphoria, so I asked many, many musician friends to record over the top of it. On Overture, or Wolf in the Woods, I wanted to get across the feelings of isolation while still having harmonies, so I went for vocoder harmonies weaving around my lead.

I’ve been inspired by the likes of Scott Hutchison and Louis Abbott (and many more), who always sing in their own accents, so made a conscious decision to follow that trend. Bon Iver is a big influence of mine, hence the vocoder harmonies. 

You’re releasing your debut on Monohands Records. How did you end up working with Andy Monaghan?
I’ve known Andy for a long time. After some conversations about my music/music in general, he invited me to his studio to look at some demos I had, some of which were early versions of what’s now on my debut album. We had a play about with them over time and after a few sessions he floated the idea of making an album. I was pretty tentative at first, as I didn’t feel I was totally ready for that. But, with a bit of persuasion, it happened! And I was very chuffed when he offered to release it on his new label. Andy contributed an awful lot to the album. He produced and mixed it, as well as playing some guitar/synths here and there. It’s safe to say this record would not exist without him.

With the album out at the end of this week, what does the rest of 2022 hold for you?
After the launch this Friday at The Hug and Pint in Glasgow, I’ll be getting out and about as much as possible gigging in Scotland and beyond. I’ll be doing some more recording this year too, so look out for some live videos. I’m also already working on the next album. So plenty to keep me busy!

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Feel The Ground You Walk Upon is released on 25 Mar via Monohands Records; Lewis McLaughlin plays The Hug and Pint, Glasgow, 25 Mar

lewismclaughlinmusic.com