My name is Euan Alexander Millar-McMeeken and I am a Scottish composer/musician from Dundee, Scotland. I am now based in the south of England. I started making music as part of Edinburgh based band The Kays Lavelle. After the band split in 2010 I started to make minimalist piano music under the name glacis and have a whole load of different releases under that name. I have also released 3 albums as one half of Graveyard Tapes with Matthew Collings (Lost Tribe Sound), 1 album as one half of Gallowglas with Johan G Winther (Barrens/Blessing) (Lost Tribe Sound) and will soon release a new record as one half of Civic Hall with Craig Tattersall (The Humble Bee/Observatories) (Lost Tribe Sound). 

I have also released albums under the name The Dead Bell (with The Green Kingdom) and have just finished making a record with Japanese artist Satomimagae (as yet unnamed project or album). When not making music I am an urban designer in London with a fascination with sound design and the impact of sound in urban environments. All The Weather Of The Human Heart is my debut solo record blending vocals and instrumentals.

Where did you come from and where are you going?

I came from nowhere and for the most part remain nowhere. I would like to go somewhere but the reality is that I sit in the shadows making broken sounding, wonky music and hope that it reaches a few people and connects in a positive way. If I can enrich the lives of others through what I make then that feels like I’m going somewhere good.

What preoccupies your mind these days?

How when I was in my 20s I could run 10km and recover quickly. The decay of the human body – even when still achieving things – is remarkable. Or maybe our ambition lessons to keep in line with the idea of achievement.

Name a favourite taste, touch, sound, sight and smell

Taste – that first cup of coffee in the morning. Touch – Oh, now that would be telling. Sound – I love the sound of birds first thing in the morning when the world is otherwise silent. Sight – I love the sight of Dundee from the north side of the River Tay as it means I’m nearly home. Smell – coffee and toast first thing in the morning.

Describe one of your most vivid dreams or nightmares

My most vivid dreams are often quite odd. I once had a dream where I was rehearsing my piano pieces in the next room to Mogwai and they came in and asked me if I could play more quietly as they couldn’t hear themselves (you have to know Mogwai to know why that’s funny). I also dreamt that Ian Felice gave me a shoulder massage once as I played piano – make of that what you will. I had a recurring dream that I was dating one of the Sugababes (a long time ago I should add) Oh, and once, I suffered sleep paralysis where I thought somebody was in my bedroom and they were stealing my super straws… for info a super straw is when you take lots of straws and join them together…

Have you ever had an uncanny experience?

I have them often. Very many times I feel like things have happened before or I’ve been to a place before when I know I have not.

How does your sense of place affect the way you express yourself?

I am fascinated by how where we come from affects us and the way we are. From the way we sound to the way we behave. Culture – including history, heritage, identity and citizenship are very heavily embedded in my instrumental work as glacis. I don’t think it necessarily comes out in my vocal work in the same way but in life I am always very aware of when I start sounding more Scottish. It’s a strange thing but never stops being of interest. In fact, I am currently discussing a programme of events with a landscape architect that will explore music and sound and involve performances and conversations with built/natural environment professionals and musicians.

What has particularly touched or inspired you recently?

Watching my son learn to play drums has been inspiring and witnessing his love for music develop. His obsession with Bob Dylan and then his desire to try banjo – made me buy and start learning the banjo.

Tell us a good story, anecdote or joke

Mmm, well, my favourite joke might not amuse everyone, but anyone with a severe dislike of clowns might chuckle…

How do you get a clown off a swing?

Hit him in the face with an axe…