Uchechi Adeboye
My name is Uchechi, and I am a 21 year old law student from the north of Scotland. Outside of my studies, I am a avid concert goer and music enthusiast. Photography has also been my passion for as long as I can remember, so getting to combine my two passions through concert photography has been great. When I’m not with my camera or typing with my keyboard, I am enjoying nature with my friends.
Ahead of their performance at St James Quarter, I had a quick sit down and chat with Darren from Scottish indie band Shambolics
This year’s St. James Quarter Sessions brought a wide range of artists to the heart of Edinburgh,and the electric atmosphere could be felt all throughout the city. Among the standout performers were Shambolics, a Scottish indie band known for their chaotic yet captivating style. Ahead of their performance at this iconic festival, I had the chance to sit down with Darren from the band to chat about their much-anticipated debut album, their roots in Fife, and the influence of legendary bands like The Beatles and Oasis on their music.
Reflecting on the day, he shared his excitement: “The venue looks amazing. Beautiful skyline in the background, yeah. Let’s hope that stays the same and it doesn’t rain.” We talked about their debut album, the creative process, and how the band’s name perfectly captures their vibe.
Darren was thrilled to perform in Edinburgh again, mentioning how they’ve played there quite a few times before, though not so much recently. “We’re from Fife, just across the water, so it’s good to be back,” he said.
When asked about their debut album, Darren struggled to pick a favorite track but highlighted the title track, ‘Dream Schemes & Young Teams,’ for its euphoric feeling. “People seem to really resonate with that and scream the words and stuff, yeah,” he added. The album-making process, true to their name, was a bit chaotic. “We went in there with barely that much songs and kinda wrote like three songs while being in the studio,” Darren admitted, laughing about the band living up to their “Shambolics” reputation.
Curious about the origins of their name, I asked Darren for the story behind it. He explained, “Like today, I was just telling you before, we were two and a half hours late for the soundcheck. Absolute shambles. Just as simple as that.”
When it comes to musical influences, Darren is unabashedly inspired two groups: “I’m musically obsessed with The Beatles, scary. And Oasis was a massive inspiration,” he shared. He also spoke about how growing up in Fife influenced their music, but acknowledged that to move forward “You kind of have to get out there to try and progress,” he said, joking about how they get teased for their accents.
We also touched on the nod to Trainspotting in their video and album campaign. Darren revealed that the idea came from their label boss, who grew up during that time and insisted on tapping into something deeply Scottish. “He kept mentioning Trainspotting, so I was like, you know what, let’s just rip off the video,” Darren explained, pleased with how well it turned out.
As we wrapped up, I asked Darren if he could describe their music as an animal. With a laugh, he chose a greyhound, saying, “He’s chaotic sometimes, really fast, but also very, very chilled and loving.” It was a fitting comparison for a band that are both so energetic yet equally laid-back.
Listen to ‘Dreams, Schemes And Young Teams’ here:
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