The word “Dictator” may not conjure up the most positive image, but it’s the name of a group that has recently set the Scottish festival scene alight.
They’re now set to play a headline show at the city’s PJ Molloys on January 30.
Discussing the band’s roots, lead guitarist and “reluctant band manager” Zach Tarimo-Goodhur said: “We all come from Livingston, and we formed from the remnants of other bands. We all went to school together, but we never really knew each other too well at that point.
“It was out of school that we started connecting through the local gigging scene. None of us were particularly happy in the genres that we were performing in. We were all indie-rock kids but that wasn’t really the music we wanted to make.
“We like hip-hop and electronica, but to create that type of music wasn’t very accessible when you were a teenager. It wasn’t until the equipment became really available that we started experimenting and realised that’s what we wanted to do.”
Asked about the group’s name, he continued: “It’s just a word that we thought was cool. If you ask our drummer he’ll seriously disagree, but we were just throwing about words that we thought were powerful and impactful.”
The upcoming gig will be the band’s second headline show at PJ’s.
Zach said: “It was unthinkable to us three or four years ago. The first time was brilliant actually, people from Fife coming to see us was mad because we don’t know many people from there. To hear people singing our songs back to us is very special.
“People were turning up wearing our merch and we didn’t have a clue who they were. It is just a bit surreal.”
The gig will also help the band get into the swing of things ahead of their March gig in the heart of New York City.
Zach said: “We’ve been invited as an industry showcase festival in the lower east side of Manhattan. It’s in a venue where bands like LCD Soundsystem and the Strokes cut their teeth. It’s kind of like New York’s version of Sneaky Pete’s or King Tut’s.
“When we first started the group we did have this specific festival on our hit list so I’m pretty buzzing that we’ve managed to blag our way in.
“To start with we just thought it was crazy to perform outside of the Central belt, now we can sell out venues all over England too. The journey we’ve been on is very special and we’re very grateful for the opportunities.”