Alistair Bain

How did you first get into music?

I started playing guitar when I was in Year 4. I started singing and playing guitar when I first listened to Newton Faulkner’s first album and something clicked with me and said ‘I wanna do that’ and that kind of inspired me to start making music.

Was that when you first wanted to pursue it as a career?

I think at that point I was just kind of doing it, but by the time I had finished my GCSEs I was working out what I wanted to do and music was the one thing that stood out. And it’s better than plastering.

So what made you choose Brighton and BIMM for that?

Well I was looking at places to live and study where there was a good music scene, and I’d narrowed it down to here or London. Then I came to the BIMM Brighton open day and there was some great bands playing there on that day, so I thought it would be a good place to set up camp.

What have you been up to recently music-wise?

I recently did some recording, with one of the songs going on the new BIMM album, and then potentially doing an EP with the guy who I recorded with on that. Then I’m just planning towards a couple of gigs in the summer, as well as some festivals back home, so I’m looking forward to that.

Any idea on when we can expect any of that material?

Well it’s not at the point yet where I’m gonna say ‘Yeah I’ll have my EP out by the summer’, I think it’s gonna be a slow process. The guy was great as well so I think we’ll just take our time on it and make a product that we’re both really happy with. 

Do you have a favourite venue to play or go to in Brighton?

I’m a big fan of Bleach. I’ve seen a lot of bands there. 
I saw Hake there in a support set the other day and they were wicked. 
They played some amazing seven-minute long thing with amazing outros and stuff. It was great. 
It’s just a cool place, I think, it’s just kind of hidden away. 
It’s always quite busy in there as well, I saw FUR [another up-and-coming BIMM Band] play there and it was completely packed which was cool.

You’ve mentioned Newton Faulkner, but who else inspired you to start making music? 

I’ve got quite a wide range of tastes in music, but in terms of people who are similar to me I listen to a lot of City and Colour and Lewis Watson. 
But it goes as far as bands like Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and old Metallica songs that I used to listen to when I was kid.

How would you personally describe your music?

I think I kind of fit into the acoustic singer-songwriter genre, but I like to do different outro sections and try to do things a little outside the box to differentiate myself from other artists.

What’s next for you then?

Just more gigging in the summer and recording like I mentioned. 
I’m playing the Northampton Festival back home and just doing little things like that, while also working and getting money so I can finance my addiction to music.

Find out more: facebook.com/alistairbainmusic