traquair

Bio:

‘I will always make music and put out records, no matter what happens or what’s going on’. Traquair 2007

Traquair is Glasgow based Singer Songwriter Stewart Traquair. Born in Pretoria, South Africa where he spent the first seven years of his life. It was here he acquired an early taste for music by sliding and scratching his parent’s vinyl collection. The victims included ‘The Beach Boy’s – Pet Sounds’ and ‘Al Stewart – Year of the Cat’ among others. Narrowly missing death on more than one occasion, his near misses included: falling off a truck in a Safari Park (luckily the men with tranquiliser gun’s were on hand), almost drowning in Crocodile Infested Quick Sand (his Dad on hand to pull him out by the hair) and narrowly missing a bomb explosion in the local bank. You could say life was hectic for the young Stewart Traquair.

At seven his parents decided to move back to Glasgow, Scotland. The next few years were fairly normal for Stewart Traquair. That is until he found himself with a £15 guitar and a notepad at the age of 12. Mastering the C chord and ‘The House of the Rising Sun’, Bands came, tambourines went and with a few years of gigging, writing and recording past, Stewart Traquair decided to become a solo artist.

‘Writing is the most important thing, write down everything that you see and feel. It teaches you a lot about other people.’ Traquair 2007

Between 2002 and 2005, Traquair the solo artist released 3 e.p’s: Levelled – 2002, The Three Sides of Perception – 2004 and Hello, Good Times Goodbye – 2005.

2005 saw Traquair living in New Zealand, where he painted, read, wrote endless songs and prepared to record his first full length record – ‘Waiting for the Day to Begin’. On his return to Glasgow in 2006, he released this very record. Inspired by the laid back sounds of the beach and the surf, ‘Waiting for the Day to Begin’ was a laid back affair with Traquair in a mellow mood. 2006 was spent gigging, mingling and writing. It was a full on year, taking in over 60 gigs and endless nights in Glasgow’s Halt Bar.

2007: A New Year and a new record. ‘The Purpose of the Hopelessly Immoral’ was recorded and released in 2007.

‘In a way, it was reminiscent of British folk music of the late sixties and early seventies transported into a modern, urban setting. Pleasingly melodic with that open, almost spiritual feel of the best folk music this album did prove to be a rather soothing’ experience Bluesbunny.com 2007

2008: Relationships, marriage and a brief excursion to India and Pakistan took up most of Traquair’s 2008, that and of course writing his next record. Many songs were written and recorded, put aside, re-recorded and then re-written. Had Traquair gone mad? Possibly! Has the world gone mad? That would be most definitely.

2009: A new record, a new sound and the search for an endless manta. ‘‘We pay good Money to see Miracles’ is currently scheduled to be released in April 2009. ‘It a circle that I’m more than willing to go round. This is just the start.’ Traquair 2009

.. This profile was made at www.wonderbackgrounds.com

Member Since:

April 22, 2006

Influences:

The Band, The Who, The Beatles, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Wilco, Neil Young, Beck, The Kinks, The Brian Jonestown massacre, Ryan Adams, The Byrds, The High Dials, Pearl Jam, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Nick Cave, Rolling Stones, Love, Small Faces, The Jam

Currently listening too: Joy Division, The Jam, David Bowie Low, The Moons

Record Label:

Levelled Records