INTERVIEW: Liam Allison from Retro Video Club

Retro Video Club have had a massive few years in the music scene. Releasing tune after tune and are now heading towards a sell-out at SWG3 in Glasgow. Lead singer, Liam Allison discussed all things music and growing up in Edinburgh.

Liam said: “It was as normal an upbringing as I could imagine having, working class background with very supportive parents. Never grew up in the best of areas, but I never had a days trouble.”

Music has always been a major part of Liam and the bands life.

Liam stated: “I really got property into music around second year, I was in high-school when Arctic Monkeys dropped their first album so I was right in the middle of that whole Indie blowup.”

However, it wasn’t until 2005 until he started learning to play any sort of instrument.

The artist said: “Green Day were my reason for picking up a guitar in 2005, soon as I heard the American Idiot album I just wanted to be in Green Day.”

The band only met in 2015 where they discovered they could play a little bit. Family and friends were the way the band was made up from by the end of things.

He said: “Me and Sam (lead guitar) are cousins, and we started doing some tunes together in 2015, just throwing some stuff around. Sam knew Kieran and Michael from where he stayed and school, so that’s how we met.”

The group decided they could make a real go of things after releasing, ‘Pyscho’ in 2017.

He said: “Psycho came out and people responded to it better than anything we’d released before. After that we started to sell out shows in advance. From then on, it seemed like something was happening.”

The artist also explained that their new tune, ‘Youth’ is all about: “escapism and looking to get away from a normal nine to five life.”

2019 was also a massive year for the band. Playing to a sold-out Assembly Rooms in their hometown was definitely the highlight.

Liam said: “Assembly Rooms was mental to be honest, 1000 folk singing all the words back to you is ridiculous, but I think the fact we’ve worked up to filling a venue like that when we spent years playing 200 cap rooms is the most satisfying thing. Makes it all seem worthwhile.”

Glasgow has been a big part of the bands success due to selling-out big venues here. A sold-out St Luke’s and now heading towards a sell-out at SWG3.

He stated: “SWG3 should be magic, it’s our biggest headliner ever and to be doing it in a city that isn’t our own is crazy.

“Glasgow has always been supportive of the band from day one, so it’s good to be able to pay them back with a big show.”

Finally, the singer spoke about the growing Scottish Music Scene. A subject that hits close to home with most Scottish artists.

Liam said: “The music scene in Scotland is booming just now, and I’m a believer that a rising tide raises all ships, so it can only be a good thing for all the Scottish bands on the scene just now.

Catch Liam and the rest of his band, Retro Video Club at their biggest headline show at SWG3 via the link https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/retro-video-club-galvanizers-swg3-tickets/10319215?REFID=swgsite.