Glasgow band Hollow Horse are about to release their new album 'Beggarstown', a collection of radio friendly pop gems. Lead singer Kenny Little took time out from a busy schedule to answer some questions for Rainsound

Could you introduce us to the band members?
Of course I can. Hollow Horse is a four piece songwriting band based  on the outskirts of Glasgow. I play guitar and sing. Kevin Devlin is the bass player. Ian Stevenson is our drummer - and very good he is too - and finally, we have David Wotherspoon on piano, organ and keyboards.

How did you meet up? and when?
I met David a number of years ago in a well known Glasgow music shop. He was trying out a new keyboard and I could hear straight away that he was a very good player indeed. I got taking to him and he joined Hollow Horse about a week later ! So, I have worked with David, off and on, for  years. I'd be lost without him.

Both Kevin and Ian, we got to hear about through mutual friends. They are both fantastic musicians. Not only that, they just  play so well together. They  really lock in tight - just the way a good rhythm section should. Working together, they give the songs the really solid foundation  they need for David and I to add our wee bits and bobs on top. I have to say, it is a privilege to be working with such fantastic, talented players.

Is the current Hollow Horse line-up the original?
No! We have had many many musicians pass through the ranks - some good, some great, some completely insane ! The only constants are myself and David. We were even up to a ten piece at one time ! Never again, it was an nightmare to organise.

What qualities does Brian McNeill bring to the sound as producer?
Brian is a fantastic musician in his own right. He was a member of 80's band, China Crisis - he played keyboards. So, he comes with a great musical knowledge and background. He also knows how a  band should operate to its maximum potential. Brian, unlike other producers we have worked with, tries to bring the very best out in everyone involved in the recording process. He really cares about how each instrument is recorded. He is very meticulous; choosing the right mics, the careful placing of the mics, the sonic qualities of the room etc. He is very open to suggests, willing to try out daft ideas, but can also rein us in if we start to lose focus. He is like, I have to say, the fifth member of the band in many ways. We also get on very well with him; he is one of the funniest guys I have ever met, full of stories of his days on the road. He's a very sweet guy. In the history of recorded music I think you'll find that most of the great producers have had fantastic working relationship with the bands they work with. The one that springs to mind the most is obviously is George Martin and the work he did with The Beatles in the 60's

Who are your favourite artists?
All four of us have completely different musical tastes. I love The Beatles - no-one for me, so far, has managed to better the standards they set in terms of writing, singing and arrangements. They are absolutely still the best. Having said that, I have very broad tastes across the whole spectrum of music. I am particularly drawn to the great wordsmiths of contemporary music - Joni Mitchell,  Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen etc but I still love Jazz, Classical, Country & Western as well as classic British rock.

David listens to slightly more rockier, heavier music than me. He is a big Queen fan. Kevin is much more interested in acoustic based music - it is his influence that has given the new album and much softer touch. Ian's tastes are very similar to mine. I think it this rich mix of styles and influences that has really helped make us what we are.

Why do you think it is that Glasgow has produced so many great pop singer songwriters (Roddy Frame, Edwyn Collins,McCluskey Bros., Davie Scott, to name a few)
You do actually list some of the very best that Scotland has to offer there Phil. I would also add Justin Currie from Del Amitri who is fantastic writer - what a tremendous voice he has too.

Why has Glasgow produced so many great pop acts and singer songwriters ? I think it is the classic scenario; Glasgow, a seaport, a city built on heavy industry - shipbuilding, engineering works etc and the only means of escape are either football of music. Glasgow has a great tradition of music making - also, a great diversity of styles sitting side by side. It's a good place to be - and, paradoxically, a great place to escape from !

I feel there is a 'Scottish sound', pretty much like there was the Mersey sound of the sixties and the Manchester sound of the early 90's.Agree or disagree?
Yeah, there probably is. There are, I think, still wee pockets of bands and musicians across the city who all listen to the same type of music and write and play in a similar type way. Right now, for instance, there are loads of Franz Ferdinand wannabe type bands - we see and hear them in the rehearsal studios as we come and go. Glasgow has always had a very healthy music scene.

I think tracks from the new album would sound great live, so any gigs lined up?
They do sound good live. It is probably what we do best, actually; we know our craft - we have served our time, so to speak , and we are, I have to say, a rather good, tight wee live rock band. But, to get back to your question, no, we have no live dates lined up at the moment, but there probably  will be soon. I'll keep you posted. We do plan to do some live shows to help launch 'Beggarstown'.

Why 'Beggarstown'? Is it a pet name for Glasgow?
It is rather too long a story to go into fully here, but yes, it is an alternative name that one could certainly christen Glasgow. Not only Glasgow, but any major city in the world. Any city will have the same problems that we have here in Glasgow.

Do you have a release date for Beggarstown?
Realistically, we are looking now, probably, at the end of April before we can get the distribution into place and get 'Beggarstown' into the shops.

Will there be a single lifted from the album to help promote it? And if so, how on earth are you going to choose one!
Singles are dead really, aren't they ? I do think a number of the songs on the album are rather more radio-friendly than on 'Five Year Diary' but no, we don't really have any plans to release a single. What one would you suggest ?

Today that would be 'Wait', but it could well be something else tomorrow! And lastly ...What is an ashet pie?
I get asked that all of the time! It is a very traditional small, crusty, meat filled pie that can look very much like a wee tortoise...especially if you are drunk ! And that's all I'm going to say about it until after the court case. Ozzy's got nothing on me!

Oh! I forgot to ask about the songwriting process. Does someone write the lyrics and someone the music? Is it a long, painstaking process? Do you go into the recording studio with 11 songs , or do you go in with more
We don't have a formula for writing, apart from, and I insist on this, that the songs still have to sound good when played on an acoustic guitar or piano with one voice. That is very important to us. You know then that the song can stand on it's own two feet, and anything  further that you do it in the studio can only add to an already well structured song. As I said, we know our craft and  we try not to rely on an over use of technology during the recording process. Again , this is where working with Brian is so good.

Like most bands, we go into the studio with more material than is actually needed for an album and eventually prune it all back to keep the record concise, clean and make sure that it flows well as a piece of work. We are very pleased with the way that, 'Beggarstown' - the  new album - has turned out. We think it is a quantum leap forward from 'Five Year Diary', our first release. We hope it is well received, but we are already talking about starting sessions for our next album !

OK , now that really is it! Thanks again Kenny and good luck with Beggarstown

For more info on Hollow Horse and a listen to some sounds from their debut album 'Five Year Diary' check out www.hollowhorse.co.uk