Graduate Spotlight – Chris Ballantyne

First of all, a huge congratulations for performing such an incredible set at TRNSMT this year with Lucia and The Best Boys. How did you find this experience playing at such a renowned Scottish festival?

First of all, thank you very much. We were all super excited to be playing on the main stage this year at TRNSMT Festival. It’s something that we had all aspired to do, especially since we started on the smallest stage and worked our way up through the years to the main stage. So yeah, a huge achievement for all of us.
Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of playing at lots of different festivals up and down the country and overseas, but the one thing that makes playing at TRNSMT a great experience is that it’s on our home turf. There were lots of our friends also playing at the festival, and lots of bands that we’ve had the privilege of seeing play in tiny venues go on to play huge spots on the big stages — such as Fontaines D.C. and Confidence Man.

And honestly, you just can’t beat a Glasgow crowd on the sweatiest day of the year!

You’ve just announced a headline show at the iconic Barrowland Ballroom. Can you tell us what makes you proud to be part of Glasgow’s thriving music scene?

Yeah, announcing the Barrowlands show means a huge deal to us. Much like TRNSMT, over the years we’ve worked our way up from playing the smallest venues in town to gradually playing bigger and bigger shows. So to be able to announce a show at the Barrowlands is a huge childhood dream for all of us.

The Glasgow music scene is something that I’ve always been proud to be a part of. I grew up in East Kilbride and played my first gigs there, but coming through to Glasgow was where I first felt like I was really part of something special, Meeting and collaborating with people, and blossoming friendships with people who would truly change my life.

Glasgow has always felt like a place where artistic and likeminded people can really flourish.

Thinking back to your time at the college, what key skills or experiences do you feel best prepared you for life in the music industry?

Outside of learning the fundamentals of the creative industries, one of the most valuable things I took from college was how it prepared me for the actual realities of working in music. It meant that when I did step into the industry, I wasn’t going in completely blind.

Coming out of school at 16 and going straight into college, my time at Riverside was also the first time I had the opportunity to collaborate with people I’d never met before, both musically and in terms of working together on a professional level. That experience was incredibly important to me and gave me a much better understanding of how to work within a team in a creative setting.

On top of that, college helped me get to grips with proper project planning and time management, principles that I still apply to projects today.

How has your approach to songwriting evolved since your time at college, and what influences are shaping your work now?

Since college, a lot’s changed in my life, both in terms of musical influence and personal circumstance.

Back then, I think I was mostly writing and collaborating on instinct, just trying to make something that would entertain a room full of my pals, without thinking too much about the bigger picture.

These days, I feel like I’ve found my footing a bit more, leaning into my own authenticity. I used to mainly draw from the music I grew up with, but now I find inspiration in all sorts of things: film scores, conversations, random sounds, broken equipment, and whatever’s happening around me in Glasgow.

But ultimately, just creating for the joy of creating.

Other than your headline shows at the Barras, what exciting plans or projects are on the horizon for yourself and/or Lucia and The Best Boys?

It will hopefully be a busy year next year in the Lucia & TBBs camp. Not too sure how much I’m allowed to disclose just yet, but there’s lots for people to look forward to.

Outside of that, I’ve been in the studio working with Zoe Kravvariti, Athens based visual artist and good friend of mine on some pretty wonky audio/visual stuff that we’re hoping to release soon.

Also, not to give too much away… but I’ll be announcing something huge soon that’s happening next year with another group, which I’m sure a lot of people will be excited about. Myself included!!!