Mogwai: "I’ve been in this band for more than half my life - I'm institutionalised" • Interview • DIY Magazine

This hasn’t been an average year for Mogwai. They’ve been graced with a new tag of chart-botherers (eighth album ‘Rave Tapes’ made the Top 10), they’ve played their ‘Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait’ soundtrack in full to sold-out crowds, and they’ve gained a reputation as the best in the game for soundtracking supernatural television dramas. Now they’ve diving head-first into festival season - the band’s Stuart Braithwaite’s trying to keep track of things.

Have you started working on the new ‘Les Revenants’ soundtrack yet?
We’ve started sketching ideas but haven’t done anything as a band yet. We’re looking forward to getting into it again though.

‘Rave Tapes’ was the first Mogwai record to make the Top 10. Are you fussed about that sort of thing?
I think we’re more fussed than we would be were it not released on our own label. It was an exciting week as we didn’t know if it would stay in the top ten until we were told the final chart. We were very pleased - I don’t know about the others but I was pretty amazed.

It’s a fairly rare thing for a band to be eight records in and only gaining more popularity. What’s the biggest thing that keeps you going?
I think we just enjoy doing it, to be honest. I’ve been in this band for more than half my life. I’m pretty much institutionalised.

You’re a dab hand at curating festivals, but given that you’re playing Latitude this summer, which three acts would you get to headline your fantasy fest in 2014?
Public Enemy because they’re one of the best live bands on the planet. Low because they’re just amazing, and The Jesus and Mary Chain because I love them.

Mogwai play the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage at Latitude Festival on Friday 18th July.

Tags: Mogwai, Features, Interviews