Five minutes with Aiden Moodie and Graham Rorie from Gnoss
With their roots in the Orkney Islands and a sound that blends traditional folk with modern acoustic layers, Gnoss has become one of the most exciting folk acts to emerge from Scotland. Led by guitarist and vocalist Aiden Moodie alongside fiddle and mandolin player Graham Rorie, British Underground’s Steph Wilkinson catches up with the four-piece set to bring their infectious energy to the Horizons stage at WOMEX 24.
Interview: Steph Wilkinson
Who are Gnoss and what instruments do you play?
Aiden: We’re a four-piece folk band, born in Glasgow – made up of myself on guitar and vocals, Graham Rorie (fiddler/mandolinist), Craig Baxter (bodhran/stomp) and Connor Sinclair (flute/whistles).
Describe your music in one sentence.
Acoustic layers with a traditional foundation inspired by modern influences.
What are your musical influences?
Graham: Myself and Aiden grew up in the Orkney Islands with fiddle tunes, and Craig and Connor were brought up with pipe bands, but we’re influenced by all music – when our playlist comes on in the van you couldn’t predict what will come next.
Where did you learn your craft?
A: Growing up there was always so much informal music-making, just played with your pals.
G: Then we all met at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland doing a traditional music degree.
“We’re influenced by all music – when our playlist comes on in the van you couldn’t predict what will come next.”
What can audiences expect from Gnoss at WOMEX?
A: Our live set is a mix of energetic tunes and really bad jokes – we lean heavily on the stand-up comedy element. We try to make it as warm and friendly as possible, it’s just like having a chat with us in a pub.
What are your ambitions for WOMEX?
G: Meeting bookers and finding new festivals and new shows in any areas we haven’t dreamed of gigging yet.
Career highlight or most rock’n’roll moment?
A: We had a random cultural exchange in Russia in early 2020 and it was such a surreal experience that I feel like I dreamed it. We did two gigs in Northern Russia but the audiences were so appreciative and so friendly.
Best audience reaction?
A: We just played a festival in Switzerland called Guinness Irish Fest, and the audience were chomping at the bit to dance to some traditional music. Then about 200 people emerged from the crowd and started doing these traditional line dances – it was like a TikTok thing, but on steroids.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
G: There’s a cool band from Manchester called The Deep Blue, who we met at a festival in Stornoway [Outer Hebrides, Scotland]. We’ll hopefully see them at WOMEX in October 2024.
A: I’m biased because I play in a band with her, but Kim Carnie has been putting out some new music and it’s pretty stunning.
Who are your top three artists or best live acts of all time?
A: I’m obsessed with Adrian Lenka – an American singer/songwritier who is also the front person of Big Thief – I think her songwriting might be my favourite in the world at the moment. Also, I’m an old rocker at heart, so Alice in Chains’ album Dirt is one I go back to if I’m feeling a bit angsty. And lastly, Talking Heads – their approach to creativity and playfulness is inspiring.
G: The Punch Brothers was my favourite live act I ever witnessed at the Celtic Connections festival. It was just incredible. And at the Shetland Folk Festival I saw The Fretless, a string quartet with a singer – what they could do was just outrageous. And Sarah Jarosz, a bluegrass/roots singer from Texas, was over at the Tønder Festival in Denmark – amazing music and such a lovely person.
What do you love about music?
G: One piece of music can mean so many things to so many different people at one time. It could be somebody’s first dance at their wedding, it could be the one from their grandad’s funeral. I remember a teacher asking the class to describe music in its simplest terms. And I went round for ages but we couldn’t, and he said: ‘Music just is the creation and release of tension’. And it’s true, whatever music you listen to is building or releasing it. Just one big rubber band.
A: Music can be so many things at once, it’s self-expression, but entertainment, and something to colour the days and the weeks. There’s nothing really like it in life. Music has also connected us to so many people and that will be the same at WOMEX I’m sure.
Gnoss will perform on the Horizons Regional Stage at 10.30pm on Friday 25 October 2024 at WOMEX. Buy your tickets here.
You can listen to their latest album Stretching Skyward on Spotify.
The Horizons partnership is managed by British Underground on behalf of Arts Council England, Culture Ireland, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Creative Scotland, Wales Arts International, Arts Council of Wales and British Council.
