Grant Hutchison
| Grant Hutchison | |
|---|---|
 Hutchison in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Selkirk, Scotland |
| Genres | Indie rock, indie folk |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer |
| Instruments | Drums, percussion, backing vocals |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | Atlantic Records, Fat Cat Records |
| Associated acts | Frightened Rabbit |
| Website |
frightenedrabbit |
Grant Hutchison is a Scottish drummer and percussionist. He is best known as the drummer of the indie rock band Frightened Rabbit, with whom he has recorded five studio albums.
Initially a solo project for his brother, Scott, Grant joined Frightened Rabbit, in 2004, with the duo recording the band's debut album, Sing the Greys (2006). Grant has performed on each of the band's releases to date, and contributed to the songwriting process of the band's fourth studio album, Pedestrian Verse (2013).
Biography
Early life
Grant was raised in Selkirk, Scotland with his brother Scott. Reflecting upon his mother's nickname for Scott, "Frightened Rabbit", which ultimately became the namesake of their future band, Grant stated: "I’d just get called "The Bairn on account of me being the youngest. There’d have been no way that I’d have ever been compared to a frightened rabbit when I was growing up – I was something more akin to Warner Brothers’ Tasmanian Devil. I was the polar opposite to Scott."[1]
Joining Frightened Rabbit and Sing the Greys (2004-2007)
In 2004, Grant Hutchison joined his brother Scott in Frightened Rabbit, rendering the band a two-piece. Describing his entry into the band, Grant stated, "Scott started playing solo shows supporting friends' bands in Glasgow with just an acoustic guitar. I was the only drummer he knew so I got the job of being the second member of Frightened Rabbit. Basically I joined to make the whole thing a little bit noisier!"[2] Grant and Scott subsequently recorded the band's debut album, Sing the Greys, with producer Marcus McKay in Glasgow.
Regarding his aspirations during the band's early days, Grant noted: "When we first started my measure of success was selling out King Tut's, in Glasgow, and then being signed to Fat Cat and more recently getting the top ten album. Hopefully I never get to the stage where I can say “We’ve arrived” because I would never want to settle with what we have achieved."[3]
The Midnight Organ Fight and The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2008-2011)
The band's two subsequent studio albums, The Midnight Organ Fight (2008) and The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2010), expanded the band's fan base significantly. The album's tracks stemmed from Scott's fully formed songs, with Grant describing the writing process as "Scott [starting] the whole process off by writing the songs himself on an acoustic guitar and then I chip in with some drum ideas, and then we sort of figure it out from there."[2]
Songwriting contributions and Pedestrian Verse (2012-present)
During the writing and recording process for the band's fourth studio album, Pedestrian Verse (2013), Scott Hutchison opened up the songwriting process to include Grant and the other members of the band. Grant stated: "The writing process was different. We were all involved from the beginning. So, I had a lot more input with this one, helping shape songs and taking them in different directions. It’s great to be a part of that, to have a real impact on the songs. In the past, I’ve mostly just played drums along with fully formed songs. This time, I was playing along with very basic minimal tracks that Scott would lay down, and many times, it wouldn’t even have a melody yet. So that was new for me. It was great."[4]
Solo work
In 2013, Grant mentioned the possibility of working on his own material, stating: "I’m hoping to maybe get something started with some friends back in Glasgow when I get home. I've spoken to someone about that recently. I've got some songs I've been working on. I think it'd be nice to do something else, not because I don’t like [playing in Frightened Rabbit]. I absolutely love it, but it’d be nice to have something else too."[4]
Personal life
Regarding his potential career options, were he not a member of Frightened Rabbit, Grant has noted: "I have no qualifications to do anything else, so I’d probably be working in a cheese shop or trying to make my own cider. It’s difficult to think about that because everything I have managed to do because of Frightened Rabbit has made me who I am now, and I can’t really say where I would be without it."[3]
Grant has praised both his and Scott's parents for their support with Frightened Rabbit, noting, "I will always be eternally in debt to my parents for being so supportive when things weren't so rosy with the band. Whenever I need them they are there, and they're just as important in the band's progress as Scott and myself."[2]
Philanthropy
Grant, and his brother Scott, are both supporters of the Cystinosis Foundation UK.[4]
Discography
- Sing the Greys (2006)
- The Midnight Organ Fight (2008)
- The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2010)
- Pedestrian Verse (2013)
- Painting of a Panic Attack (2016)
References
- ↑ "[INTERVIEW] Grant Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit". cheeseontoast.co.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Interview: Frightened Rabbit". drunkenwerewolf.com. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- 1 2 Scantleton, Kate. "Interview: Grant Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit". newsunlimited.com.au/. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 Dembinsky, Ryan. "HT Interview: Grant Hutchison – Frightened Rabbit". glidemagazine.com. Retrieved 7 January 2014.