Scott Hutchison

Scott John Hutchison, described by his mother as a shy child, was born in Edinburgh[1] and raised in the Scottish Borders town of Selkirk, with his brother Grant.[8][9] Moving to the city of Glasgow, he studied illustration at the Glasgow School of Art: "I was there for four years and I didn't particularly want to be an illustrator, so I wanted to apply the rules that I learnt to everything I do, in terms of working in a bank or writing music."[8] While living in Glasgow, he worked in a specialist whisky shop in the residential area of Hyndland, noting: "I began to appreciate and admire the heritage of flavour in a dram of single malt."[10]

Initially considering himself solely a guitarist, Hutchison began singing at the age of nineteen, stating: "Up to that point I was just a guitar player. I didn't know I could sing, I had been told I couldn't."[8] His early songwriting influences included such American artists as Ryan Adams, Wilco and Laura Cantrell, with Hutchison noting, "When I started writing songs, my references were [these] Americana acts. [...] I could associate with those stories. And you can see American folk's deep connections with Scottish folk."[2]

In 2003, Hutchison began performing under the name Frightened Rabbit, a name given to him by his mother to describe his once shy nature,[11] and began recording and performing with his brother the following year. The duo recorded the band's debut album, Sing the Greys, at The Diving Bell Lounge, with producer Marcus MacKay, and released it independently on local label, Hits the Fan, in 2006; the band signed soon after to Fat Cat Records.[12]

Joined by guitarist Billy Kennedy, the band reissued the album on their new label and began work on its follow-up, The Midnight Organ Fight (2008), with producer Peter Katis, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Influenced by the collapse of his relationship with his high school and college girlfriend Shell Jubin,[13] the deeply personal album was released to widespread critical acclaim and increased the band's exposure significantly.[14]

Owl John was a solo musical project by Hutchison, formed in 2014. Regarding Owl John and his decision to release a solo record, Hutchison noted, "It was approximately 10 years ago that I started a band called Frightened Rabbit. In that time I've dedicated so much of my life to that good wee band with a stupid name, I felt it was time to indulge Owl John."[15][16]

Hutchison recorded the project's sole album, Owl John (2014), alongside his Frightened Rabbit bandmate Andy Monaghan and the band's touring guitarist Simon Liddell.[17]

In January 2014, whilst touring in support of Frightened Rabbit's fourth studio album, Pedestrian Verse (2013), Hutchison expressed his desire to record solo material without the band, stating: "The process has to be different, otherwise I'm just going to make a Frightened Rabbit-sounding record, which I really don't want to do."[18]

The idea for a solo album stemmed from Frightened Rabbit's label, Atlantic Records: "It was actually the idea of the label to make it rather than me. I thought we were going to get off tour and go straight back into writing another album, and the guy at the label knew things weren't really quite right. He basically was like, 'We'll pay for this record. Go away, make a record and indulge yourself.'"[19] The following month, work began on the album, on the Isle of Mull, with bandmate Andy Monaghan producing, alongside Simon Liddell. Released on 4 August 2014, the self-titled album debuted at number ninety-nine on the UK Albums Chart.[20]

Hutchison wrote and recorded with The Fruit Tree Foundation, a collaborative project featuring Scottish indie rock and folk musicians. The resulting album, First Edition, was released in 2011. Regarding the experience, Hutchison stated: "It was really beautifully done. I thought it was such a great thing, and also personally, for me, that was my first taste of proper collaboration and it really changed my outlook on songwriting. Before, I was kind of like, 'Yeah, I know how to write songs. I don't need anyone's help', and then, of course, you learn so much. So it changed my whole outlook, and I would love to get involved in that kind of thing again."[21]

Hutchison performed a guitar solo on the track, "A Bigger World", by the indie rock band The Birthday Suit, and is featured in its accompanying music video. The song was the first single to be released from the band's third studio album, A Hollow Hole of Riches (2014).[22]

Hutchison formed the "indie supergroup" in 2017 with his brother Grant, and the brothers, Justin and James Lockey from Editors and Minor Victories respectively. The band released one album, Dance Music, in 2018.[23]

Hutchison is credited for all of the artwork in Oyster, a book of poetry written by Edinburgh poet Michael Pedersen.[24]

Hutchison is credited for all of the artwork in If & When We Wake (2015), a book of poetry and art by Philadelphia poet Francis Daulerio. Hutchison contributed twelve drawings.[25]

Hutchison is credited for all of the artwork in Please Plant This Book (2018), a collection of poetry and art by Philadelphia poet Francis Daulerio.[26] First released on bundles of heirloom seed packets and then re-released in a traditional chapbook format, the collection celebrates the 50th anniversary of the original collection by Richard Brautigan and benefits The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Hutchison contributed nine drawings.[27]

• Sing the Greys (2006)
• The Midnight Organ Fight (2008)
• The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2010)
• Pedestrian Verse (2013)
• Painting of a Panic Attack (2016)

• Dance Music (2018)

• Owl John (2014)

• First Edition (2011)
• New Branch (2011)

• "Fall Apart" – Withered Hand (2014)
• "The Shine" - Dave Hause (2013)
• "A Bigger World" – The Birthday Suit (2013)