From History grad to full-blown musician

I headed into Tunnels on Sunday night to question a man who has followed his dream.

Many of us in this world have lost the taste we once had for life’s mysteries, choosing to play it safe instead of taking a chance on the unknown.

“Just tell lies,” smiles Johnny Watt, leading guitarist and singer of the band ForeignFox.

Having gotten a 2.1 in a joint honours degree of History and Music at Aberdeen just last year, Johnny has walked away from a solid future in the world of the past and thrown himself into the risky land of music, having formed a rowdy band known as ForeignFox.

So what does your mum think about this then?

To be honest she would rather I had an intense drug habit. “Rock n Roll is for the Devil,” she’d say.

She would rather I was in church on Sundays.

 You studied a Joint Honours with History and Music… why History?

I chose History so I could look back and realise that the world was always this corrupt, so I didn’t feel too bad about present day…

How’s it going?

Going excellent, much better than expected, we’ve been touring festivals over the summer.

What should you do at University if you’re not certain?

Study engineering… it will either make or break you.

What’s everyone else in the bands educational history?

Drummer: Nicholas Sebastian Hernandez (Nick)– PURE DRUMMER

Vocals/Guitar: PaulDevine – Degree in Engineering

Guitar/bass: Lewis Hamilton – Degree in Engineering

What are your influences?

Manchester Orchestra… Alcohol… Raves.

Why did you choose the name ForeignFox?

Because foreign foxes are so alone… put them word’s together cus there’s no point in space between two words.

You’ve promoted the lies, but could you tell us one true thing about yourself…?

I’m in love with Taylor Swift.

Do you feel like you wasted your time at university?

Yes… but also no. I don’t feel like I wasted my time mostly because of Minival.

What’s a question you’d love to be asked?

Do you want the come to the toilet for a quickie..?

Best place you’ve performed?

Wickerman Festival was amazing, first full blown festival experience.

Dream place you’d like to play?

A cave in Norway… somewhere nobody knows about… apart from the people who want to see us play…

Do you miss Aberdeen?

It’s a bittersweet relationship with Aberdeen. Had a lot of good times… and a lot of heartbreak.

It’s more special now.

Where you off to next?

Heading to Glasgow to play at the Hard Rock Café on Wednesday.

When will you know you’ve made it?

You’re living the dream when you’ve got hot water on a bus.

Would you say this is worth sacrificing a solid future?

Definitely.

So there it is. Having only been together for a year, ForeignFox is thriving in a life of uncertainty.

If there’s something you want to do, don’t let your fears stop you. And if you don’t know what you want to do, go study engineering.