Edinburgh based solo project Signal Source Unknown came to life amid the long lockdown days and nights of 2021. Rising from a desire to contrast the fear and uncertainty of that time with new music that reached for a more optimistic view of the future. The first tracks were created using a micro-keyboard, a laptop and an old analog effects unit. The idea was simple. Write music to soundtrack a brighter future. Inspired by the beauty of the Scottish landscape which surrounds their tiny studio on the edge of Edinburgh, Signal Source Unknown combine ambient piano and lo-fi beats with ethereal electric guitars and driving acoustic drums to craft a sound that takes the listener on a musical journey from haunting nostalgia to a fearful hopefulness.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?
I’d never describe myself as a great musician (I’m not!) but I’m pretty good at playing the drums and producing my own music.
What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?
I think this changes over time depending on where you are in your music journey and also how old you are and your personal circumstances. When you starting out the biggest challenge once you have your music together is to get it in front of the right people. The internet, if used in the right way, has helped hugely with this. When I was younger the biggest challenge was getting some attention from record companies who were based in London when the band I was in was in Inverness. This was a long time ago, pre-internet, in fact I think it may have been pre-telephone! As you get a bit older the challenge becomes more around fitting music into the other parts of your life. I think you can play music and do other things (like have a job) but there comes a point where you need to decide if you want to commit fully or not. That’s really difficult for a lot of people.
Your latest track is 'Starless'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
Starless began as a simple quiet/loud idea using a piano playing the quiet part and a full band sound playing the loud part. This section is still in the track but only used once, close to the end. I struggled to find a name for it but I looked through my notebooks and found this snippet of lyrics and like the idea of a starless night.
CAN I STEAL YOUR SILENCE
CAN I STILL YOUR FEARS
SET FIRE TO YOUR LONELINESS
DRAIN YOUR POOL OF TEARS
BANISH ALL YOUR DEMONS
WATCH YOUR STAR
BEGIN TO RISE
CAN I STEAL YOUR SILENCE
ON THIS STARLESS, STARLESS NIGHT
Where do you see your musical career in 10 years?
I’d like to have produced a collection of music that I’m proud of and be listening to it while drinking coffee on my private island off the west coast of Scotland!
What is the most surprising fact you’ve learnt about yourself?
That despite many years spent playing in bands working at ear splitting levels that I still have most of my hearing.
Do you think that education is important?
Of course.
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
Making music is an important part of my life but I’m also a dad, husband and work full time too. I need a rest!
How do you structure your week?
In terms of music I’m following a 50-50 approach, which is half of my available music making time is spent coming up with and recording music and the other half is spent doing all the other stuff needed to share and promote the music I’ve made. That includes the signal source unknown website, instagram and facebook pages and I’m currently setting up a substack newsletter to share more about what I’m doing and also highlight some of the great music artists I am meeting on the way.
What are your plans for the future?
I’d like to continue writing and recording new music, releasing a track every six weeks and sharing what I’m doing through my website, social media and newsletter.