‘Fatherhood is like the early days of Franz Ferdinand’

Franz Ferdinand singer Alex Kapranos finds becoming a father a familiar experience – because it reminds him of his band’s early days.

Kapranos and wife Clara Luciani welcomed their first child last year and the 52-year-old told BBC Scotland News that going on tour with his band is now “really difficult”.

“It’s hard to say goodbye,” the singer said in January as his band prepared to release their sixth album, The Human Fear.

“I’ve spent my adult life avoiding responsibility and being as irresponsible as possible, so it’s quite refreshing to be presented with responsibility.

“A lot of people told me that lack of sleep would destroy me, but it was just like 2004 when the band was starting out and I never went to bed.

“We’d play shows, go out all night and then get up at 6 in the morning to fly somewhere. I used to sleep about two hours a night at that time, so it’s the same – just without the hangover.”

As 2025 progresses, Kapranos will be forced to say goodbye on a few occasions, leading to a busy year for Franz – now freshened and reformatted from those early days, but still writing artful indie pop. Is expert in.

Emerging from Glasgow’s bustling music scene, the Kapranos, consisting of guitarist Nick McCarthy, bassist Bob Hardy and drummer Paul Thomson, enjoyed chart success. Inevitable singles like Take Me OutEarned a reputation as one of the country’s finest live acts and received a Mercury Music Prize in 2004.

that victory This happened when the band thought “nobody but us was going to win,” recalls the singer.

“It’s just a Glasgow-like attitude. You’re like ‘We’re not one of those people who wins awards.’

Success took time to come.

Kapranos was born in England but moved to Scotland in his childhood. As a teenager he became involved in the 90s Glasgow music scene, running club nights and playing in cult indie band The Yummy Furs before forming Franz Ferdinand.

a lot has changed since then his first album The Human Fear won a Mercury Prize with The Human Fear, the group’s first studio offering since the exit of original drummer Thomson in 2021.

Guitarist McCarthy left in 2016.

A new line-up formed around original members Kapranos and Hardy with the addition of guitarist Dino Bardot, keyboardist/guitarist Julian Corey and drummer Audrey Tait.

Kapranos believes that the band’s identity remains intact despite the changes.

“Whenever we do a cover it always sounds like us, and I love it. We did Good Luck Babe (by Chappell Roan) on Radio 2, which is an amazing song but when we play it, it’s Sounds like Franz Ferdinand.

“Before making this record Bob and I were talking about how it was good to be comfortable with our identity and our sound.

“It’s important to know your voice and who you are. You can listen to those early birthday party records and then those deep sad songs nick cave Writing now, and it’s still unmistakably the same – it’s the same for PJ Harvey or Leonard Cohen.

“That really helped us make this record. I wanted people to hear it and know that this is clearly Franz Ferdinand.”

The greatest hits compilation and upcoming tour in 2021 helped the singer “make peace with all the things we’ve done before”.

He further added, “I’m not the kind of person who likes to look back.”

“Once we make a record I never listen to it again, so for the tour I was being forced to listen to that music again, and I found I was feeling quite comfortable with it. “

Celebrating the past meant the band was also eager to try new things for the future.

Human Fear is full of new ideas for the group, from the orchestral flourishes on recent single Audius to the bouzouki used on Black Eyelashes and the Celtic-style riff pulsating through Cats.

However, while the title might suggest a record filled with fear, Kapranos says it is the opposite.

“The greatest moments in life are when you overcome fear,” he admits of his childhood terror. shark in jaws,

“Watching horror movies or riding rollercoasters gives you excitement and we should probably tackle some of the broader existential fears with the same approach.

“I remember growing up in the ’80s and thinking that one diplomatic slip-up would mean we’d all get nuclear blasts. There’s always something to be afraid of, and you can either surrender to Or stand up for it.”

politics is also a thing Franz Ferdinand Have visited before also. In 2014 he supported Scottish independence and two years later he released Demagogue, aimed at then-incoming US President Donald Trump.

However Trump’s second presidency Such a similar reaction is unlikely to occur.

“Trump is not my favorite guy and there is a lot about politics around the world that is disappointing,” the singer says.

“But it’s also frustrating how everyone is talking about politics all the time. I find it tiring and I shy away from taking part in it. It should be clear that Trump is an idiot and self-centered. Say, do I need it?

“Some of my friends on social media talk about this all the time. Art is a powerful tool of protest and we should continue to do that, but there’s a difference between that and a low-key complaint.”

However, they will not remain silent on some issues.

In 2024 the group was one of a number of Scottish musicians who raised concerns over Potential arts funding cutsWhereas during a short tour, he was seen road-testing new songs at some small places in the country.

UK dates for 2025 include big cities like Barrowland in Glasgow, with a summer show also booked at the city’s SWG3, but supporting grassroots music remains a passionate topic for the singer.

“I spent many years in the basement of 13th Note in Glasgow, so it’s part of my DNA.

“Living in a dirty basement with a loud band playing – that’s my happy place.”