Scott Hutchison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Scott Hutchison
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Hutchison performing with Frightened Rabbit at SXSW in 2013
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Scott John Hutchison |
| Born | 20 November 1981 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 9 May 2018 (aged 36) South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Genres | Indie rock, indie folk |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 2003–2018 |
| Labels | Atlantic Records, Fat Cat Records |
| Associated acts | Frightened Rabbit, Owl John, The Fruit Tree Foundation, Mastersystem |
Scott John Hutchison (born November 20, 1981 – died May 9, 2018) was a talented Scottish singer, songwriter, guitarist, and artist. He was best known as the founder and main songwriter for the indie rock band Frightened Rabbit. He also created the artwork for all of their albums.
Scott was also part of a music group called The Fruit Tree Foundation. He released a solo album under the name Owl John. His last music project was a band called Mastersystem. In this band, he played with his brother Grant, who was also in Frightened Rabbit, and members from other bands like Editors.
Scott studied illustration at the Glasgow School of Art. He started Frightened Rabbit in 2003. At first, it was just him, but then his brother Grant joined for their first album, Sing the Greys (2006). Their album The Midnight Organ Fight (2008) became very popular.
After that, Frightened Rabbit gained many fans. They released more albums like The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2010) and Pedestrian Verse (2013). Scott released his solo album as Owl John in 2014. The band's last album was Painting of a Panic Attack in 2016.
Scott Hutchison passed away on May 9, 2018. His body was found the next day near the Firth of Forth.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Scott Hutchison was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on November 20, 1981. He grew up in a town called Selkirk with his two brothers, Neil and Grant. Scott had a close bond with his family.
As a child, Scott often felt worried and had bad dreams. His mother used to call him her "little frightened rabbit" because he was shy. He preferred to play by himself and was often quiet.
Scott moved to Glasgow to study illustration at the Glasgow School of Art. He learned many creative rules there. He also worked in a special shop that sold whisky. He learned to appreciate the different flavors of single malt.
Scott started singing when he was nineteen. Before that, he only played guitar. He didn't know he could sing until then. He was inspired by American artists like Ryan Adams and Wilco. He felt a connection to their stories and saw how American folk music was linked to Scottish folk music.
Music Journey
Frightened Rabbit's Start
In 2003, Scott began performing as Frightened Rabbit. This name came from his mother's nickname for him. His brother Grant joined him the next year. They recorded their first album, Sing the Greys, in 2006. It was released by a local label and then by Fat Cat Records.
Later, guitarist Billy Kennedy joined the band. They then recorded their second album, The Midnight Organ Fight (2008). This album was very personal and received great reviews. It helped the band become much more well-known.
Scott's Solo Project: Owl John
Owl John was Scott's solo music project, which he started in 2014. He wanted to make music that sounded different from Frightened Rabbit. He had spent ten years with the band and felt it was time to try something new.
Scott recorded the Owl John album with his Frightened Rabbit bandmate Andy Monaghan. Their touring guitarist, Simon Liddell, also helped. The idea for a solo album came from their record label, Atlantic Records. They wanted Scott to explore his own music after a long tour.
Work on the album began in February 2014 on the Isle of Mull. Andy Monaghan produced the album. It was released on August 4, 2014. The album reached number ninety-nine on the UK Albums Chart.
Working with Other Musicians
Music Collaborations
Scott worked with The Fruit Tree Foundation. This project brought together Scottish indie rock and folk musicians for charity. Their album, First Edition, came out in 2011. Scott said this experience taught him a lot about writing songs with others.
He also played guitar on a song called "A Bigger World" by The Birthday Suit. He appeared in its music video too. Scott played guitar and sang on the Withered Hand song "Fall Apart" from the album New Gods.
Scott also helped produce the 2014 album Bummer Summer for the band Flashlights.
Mastersystem: A Supergroup
Scott joined a band called Mastersystem in 2017. It was a "supergroup" because it had members from different well-known bands. His brother Grant was in it, along with brothers Justin and James Lockey from Editors and Minor Victories. They released one album, Dance Music, in April 2018.
His Art
Scott was also a talented artist. He designed much of the album artwork and tour posters for Frightened Rabbit. He also created art for his Owl John solo project. The Cross of Lorraine and the Papal cross were symbols he often used in his drawings.
Besides his own bands, Scott made artwork for other artists. This included the album Conflats (2017) by Out Lines. He also designed the Chase Yirsel (2014) EP for Stanley Odd.
Scott illustrated several books too. He created all the artwork for the 2017 book Oyster by poet Michael Pedersen. He also worked with Philadelphia poet Francis Daulerio on two projects. These were If & When We Wake (2015) and Please Plant This Book (2018).
His Legacy
In May 2019, Scott's family started a mental health charity called Tiny Changes. The name comes from a lyric in Frightened Rabbit's song "Head Rolls Off." This charity honors Scott's memory.
In July 2019, Atlantic Records released Tiny Changes: A Celebration of Frightened Rabbit's The Midnight Organ Fight. This album featured musician friends covering the entire 2008 album. Scott had been involved in planning this album before he passed away. The remaining members of Frightened Rabbit have said the band no longer exists without Scott.
Many songs have been dedicated to Scott after his passing. These include "Champion of the World" by Coldplay and "In Your Corner" by Dan Mangan. Other artists like Biffy Clyro and Frank Turner have also written songs about him.
In November 2021, a book called The Work: The lyrics of Scott Hutchison was published. It collected all of Frightened Rabbit's lyrics and some of Scott's original drawings.
Discography
Here are some of Scott Hutchison's musical works.
Frightened Rabbit
- Sing the Greys (2006)
- The Midnight Organ Fight (2008)
- The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2010)
- Pedestrian Verse (2013)
- Painting of a Panic Attack (2016)
Mastersystem
- Dance Music (2018)
Owl John
- Owl John (2014)
The Fruit Tree Foundation
- First Edition (2011)
- New Branch (2011)
Other Appearances
- "I Turn Around" – Bad Veins (2012)
- "The Shine" and "Benediction" – Dave Hause (2013)
- "A Bigger World" – The Birthday Suit (2013)
- "Fall Apart" – Withered Hand (2014)
