1. Under the name of U.N.P.O.C there´s the solo project of Tom Bauchop. What does U.N.P.O.C. mean now? is the name still a mystery or does it change every day? I have curiosity!!! and why did you choose that name? is it really 5 letters over a monument in Edimburgh?
 Yes, there's that big monument built by the ancient Romans in the 1800s, overlooking Edinburgh's Princes Street. You can see it on the History pages of www.unpoc.com. I liked the fact that no-one's sure what the letters mean as the ancient Romans have gone from Edinburgh now. In the context of my music, U.N.P.O.C. means "unable to navigate, probably on course". It's an old shipping term they would write in the log book when they were lost but things looked okay. There's a clever analogy in there somewhere. The name used to change every day and it still does on the unpoc.com website. It took me two days to do the javascript to make that button do what it does on the website so I'm loath to remove it now.
 

2. Have you been playing in other bands before?
 No, I hit the magic formula straight off with my first project. Quite unusual, that is.
 

3. Well, U.N.P.O.C. was formed in 1995, am i right? so why did it take so long to release your first album?
 I'm not sure. 1995 sounds plausible, I suppose. I bought a multi-track recorder that year so, yes, you could say things got rolling then. It took so long to release the album because there was a period to record it, then a period to play it to friends and then a period when they passed it to their own friends and so on until it found its way to Domino, the record company. Then it took about a year for them to decide to release it. It's a grower, I think.
 

4. How was your affaire with Domino? how did you sign with them?
 As I say, they had the songs for a year before they went for it. I sent them a tape and they get millions of those. But they did listen to it and it grew on them. They weren't sure because the songs are strong but roughly recorded. They wanted me to go in a big studio to re-do them but there's something in the originals that I couldn't recapture I thought, so I had to turn down the kind offer to re-record them.
 

5. How is your relationship with Domino?
 Very good, I think. They're a professional bunch but they like their music too, more than most. They're very open to new ideas and collaborations and side-projects so that's good. One of them's in a fantastic band called HOT CHIP.
 

6. What´s the Fence Collective that you are part of? which bands are involved with Fence Collective? which are the most interesting ones?
 Find out at Fencerecords.com. If you don't have a computer, I'll summarise. Fence is a collective (with a record label too) of mostly Fife-based musicians and artists. Fife is in Scotland. Everybody does their own thing but there is something running through the different collective people's work that brings it all together. It's all a bit off-the-wall, so to speak. The most well-known Fencer is James Yorkston but there's also King Creosote, Lone Pigeon and Pip Dylan, whose album is fantastic. There are loads of others but you'll see that at fencerecords.com if that's of interest.
 

7. How did you record your album? analogic or digital? it sounds lo-fi, why did you choose to record such beautiful songs with a lo-fi sound? wouldn´t you have preferred to record in a big studio and with a big sound? it sounds like home recorded, but it´s lovely!!! really fantastic!!! I fell in love with that sound and those songs from the first time I listened to them.
 Recorded analogue. Yes, I would have preferred the big studio but it wasn't on offer at the time. I needed a lot of time; much of the arrangement (as opposed to the songwriting) was done on the hoof, while recording. That would have cost a fortune in a big studio unfortunately. The price you pay for having the arrangement thinking time is that there's a sheen of hiss over everything, if
you follow. I had the recordings mastered at Abbey Road in London. I believe mine is the lowest-Fi thing they've ever mastered in that building.
 

8. What does ‘fifth column’ mean?
 I forget.
 

9. Stu Bastiman helped you with drums... did you play all instruments except for drums?
 Yes. You just can't fake the drums thing, can you? He's a famously good drummer, Stu Bastiman. Luckily for me he's a friend of mine because he's also wildly expensive now too. I believe he charges £1800 an hour for session work, which is way out of my range. I get him for free, him being a pal and all. All the other sounds on the record are me. That's why there are whistling bits sometimes; it's cos I can't play the clarinet or the saxaphone or whatever. And there are lots of backing vocals. It's easier than learning the piano properly!
 

10. Do you have a regular band to play live shows? or do you only play solo shows? Who are UNPOC live?
 I've done live things with James Yorkston and Fence's King Creosote helping me out with second guitar and percussion. I've got a couple of warm-up shows coming up in Sweden to train a new, electric band with bass and drums. We'll see how it goes.
 

11. When will you come to tour Spain?
 I'd love to tour Spain. It's traditional that I get another record out first though, then do some gigs. I've done lots of gigs in Sweden but they seem to like my stuff so much there that I can visit them without losing money. It's a fine situation. As soon as I get an email offering me enough money (to cover costs) to play a gig in Spain, I'll be right over!
 

12. How do Scottish bands feel different from the rest of the bands in the UK?
 Little bit less fashion-driven maybe? Things are changing now. It's quite trendy to be Scottish, or from Glasgow anyway. I was born in Glasgow, I should mention at this point.
 

13. How is your relationship with the rest of the bands from Scotland? which are your favourite ones? My favourite bands are from Scotland!
 My relationship with the rest of the bands in Scotland is very good. I have not met many of them as it's quite hilly here and some of them live quite far from where i do but I believe they would speak warmly of me, if you were to tell them about me and then ask them.
 I have met a few band people from Scotland actually. I tend to meet them overseas funnily enough. I see them in Edinburgh or Glasgow and it seems conceited to go up to them to say hello, but when we're both at a Swedish festival, it feels more reasonable.

14. Where do you find the inspiration to write those beautiful songs?
 I have a very messy and complex personal life which drives my songwriting along. It's a rollercoaster existence I have, with the highs and lows that suggests. The low swoops drag me into desperate days of reflective songwriting when others are laughing and joking and visiting the zoo or the cinema, skipping along with their thoughtless joy and their witless humour. The high-octane
curves let me glimpse emotional moments imagined by many but felt by few, the fear of the new, the stark beauty of love lost, the knowing frown of the antelope. The best of times, the worst of times.
 

15. How would you describe your music to someone who has not heard your songs?
 Sort of clunky, boxy tunes, not very well played but with easy melodies that sit in the memory like a welcome travel companion.
 

16. Name your favourite band from the 60´s, the favourite from the 70´s, from the 80´s, from the 90´s and from today!
 Favourite 60´s band: THE BEACH BOYS.
 Favourite 70´s band: DAVID BOWIE.
 Favourite 80´s band: JOY DIVISION.
 Favourite 90´s band: THE STONE ROSES
 Favourite today´s band: TIM HARDIN. TIM HARDIN's not really from now but I only got the cd yesterday.

17. Why is UNPOC so loved in Sweden?
 Not sure. I don't really like to question it too much. I'm just pleased they like the tunes there. It's a fine place and I am always happy when I get to visit. I think the album got a very good review in their biggest magazine and some important music people liked it a lot so that's how it got started there.
 

18. What are your main influences?
 Oh, I don't know. I'm heavily influenced by a Swedish band called THE CONCRETES at the moment but it doesn't come over in the music. It's more about the way they write.
 

19. As almost no-one lives on music nowadays, what do you do in a normal day?
 I live on music! It's a thin living though, you're right. But so long as you don't eat too much, it's quite possible. In a normal day I get up at about 3 pm, write an email or two, have something to eat, play guitar a little, send a text message perhaps, eat again. By this time it's dark outside, which will be annoying to me so I'll play a new tune on the guitar then watch some television. Then it's getting late so I'll go out for a bit for a wander about. Sometimes I'll phone a friend if she's still up but it's 1 a.m. now so it's getting on. I'm in bed without fail by 7 a.m. . I think my body clock is a little wonky.
 

20. What are your hobbies?
 I don't have any hobbies outside music really. Well, I like to cycle on my bicycle, it's true. I could say I enjoy travel but it's really only to do music or visit musical friends. Hmmm, hobbies? No, I can't really think of anything. I used to go swimming. I live opposite a swimming pool. But it closes before I have breakfast at the moment so it's fallen by the wayside for me a bit. Do most people have hobbies? I read the newspaper sometimes, does that count?
 

21. Name a recent record you can't stop listening to.
 TIM HOLDIN. It's a "Best of..." but it's quite good so far. It was recommended to me.
 

22. I have won a strawberry in your website... when will i receive it?
 As soon as I get that email offering me the gig in Spain for enough money that I don't make a loss, your strawberry will be en-route.
 

23. If you want to add anything...
 Yes, hobbies. I read sometimes. I read "In the land of white death" by Valerian Albanov and recommend it highly. It's a true story and it's not too long either. This not having any hobbies is really getting me. I'm off now to see if I can find a hobby. I used to have a kite. I could get back into the kite-flying world I suppose?
 

Congratulations for your funny website!!! I have played some minutes ago all songs that you include the chords with my acoustic guitar... really gorgeous!!!
Thanks a lot!!!