The First Time with Stuart Murdoch

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Interviews with major artists revealing the moments and songs that shaped their careers.

6 Music's Matt Everitt presents in-depth, exclusive and revealing interviews with major artists revealing the pivotal moments and songs that shaped their lives and their careers.

The First Time With...: Stuart Murdoch

Stuart Murdoch

BBC Radio 6 Music - The First Time With..., Stuart Murdoch

Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch talks about the first key musical moments in his life

Stuart Murdoch, frontman of indie pop collective Belle and Sebastian, talks to Matt about the first key musical moments in his life and career to date.

Stuart Murdoch, the frontman of indie pop collective Belle and Sebastian, talks to Matt about the first key musical moments in his life and career to date.

Belle and Sebastian were formed in Glasgow in 1994 by Stuart Murdoch and Stuart David, both of whom had enrolled at Stow College's Beatbox programme for unemployed musicians. Together, with music professor Alan Rankine (formerly of The Associates), they recorded some demos, which were picked up by the college's Music Business course that produces and releases one single each year on the college's label, Electric Honey. As the band had a number of songs already and the label was extremely impressed with the demos, Belle and Sebastian were allowed to record a full-length album 'Tigermilk', which was recorded mostly live over three days. The warm reception the album received inspired Murdoch and David to turn the band into a full-time project, recruiting Stevie Jackson (guitar and vocals), Isobel Campbell (cello/vocals), Chris Geddes (keys) and Richard Colburn (drums) to fill out the group. They signed with Jeepster in 1996 and recorded their second album 'If You're Feeling Sinister' to critical acclaim. By 1999 the band was awarded with Best Newcomer (for their third album) at the BRIT Awards, upsetting better-known acts such as Steps and 5ive.

In this episode, recorded back in 2013 and never before aired, Stuart talks about the song that haunted him after his first heartbreak, head banging at his first gig at Ayr Pavillion, and his many influences including The Smiths and The Stone Roses. He also talks about the band's early days in Glasgow, cracking America, and working with production legend Trevor Horn. Stuart also talks to Matt about living with chronic fatigue syndrome and his Dad's honest appraisals of his songs.

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