Based in Scotland, Two Goats in a Canoe formed in 2019 from the ashes of a bad raspberry harvest by a troubled singer-songwriter Peter, and a fire-fighting ex-circus knife-throwing guitarist Craig. They braved the darkness of the early 2020s when rehearsals were illegal. The light resumed in 2022 when pianist and vocalist Katie found the band. Followed by percussionist and vocalist Amy, and bass player Greg.
They return with their brand-new single Jericho. The haunting blend of troubled vocals set to the indie-pop beat on ‘Jericho’ brings the song to life with honest lyrics that will resonate with the lost. The production featuring cajon, keyboards, guitars, and bass elevate the track to new heights.
We sat down with Peter from Two Goats in a Canoe to discuss the band’s music and much more. Here is what he had to say:
Hey Two Goats in a Canoe, welcome to FLEX! How are you?
We are very well and thank you for talking to us.
How did the band come together?
Craig (lead guitar) and I got together in 2019 initially we were doing covers with the intention of being a covers band, then COVID hit and it was illegal to get together which seems crazy now that the two of us playing together was against the law. It was during this bizarre period that I started writing, so when 2022 arrived and we could practice again, then Katie (pianist) arrived. She had seen some of our rehearsals on social media, closely followed by Amy and her cajon. By now I had written and finished fifteen original songs, Greg (bass) Craig’s next door neighbour joined us and the band was complete. Since then we have been rehearsing, recording and performing live and now we only do our own original material.
And what inspired the band’s name Two Goats in a Canoe?
We were going to call ourselves free beer not my idea Craig’s I never liked the it but went with it, but when I googled the name it was already being used, and after that every name I tried was already being used, in sheer frustration I decided to come up with the most obscure name I could think of, Two Goats in a Canoe, and low and behold it was available.
Congratulations on your brand-new single ‘Jericho’ - what inspired this particular song?
Jericho is actually an imaginary club, that when you're there the world and all your worries disappear (much like most clubs) and when the world becomes too much and you can’t climb the wall, I will be there on the dance floor waiting for you.
How was the recording and writing process?
The recording process was good but studio time is expensive so you're always under pressure to get it done in time, the writing process was generally very easy the words just sort of fell out of me, I know not how.
For viewers that don’t know Two Goats in a Canoe, how would you describe your sound?
Difficult to describe our sound, it’s generally depressing lyrics set to a pop beat and when you sing the lyrics to the beat the lyrics then become uplifting and inspiring, we want to inspire with our music, anything is possible you just have to believe.
What’s the music scene like where you live?
The music scene in Aberdeen is quite quiet although it is getting better as live music slowly starts to return. We have aspirations beyond Aberdeen.
And what are some of those activities that you engage yourself in when you aren't writing or recording in the studio?
At the moment studio time and writing consume much of my time, when I’m not doing that I like spending time with my daughter who is our number one fan.