LUKE SUTHERLAND is the adopted son of an optician, and was brought up in Orkney and Glasgow. He was the founder member, songwriter and lead vocalist with Long Fin Killie who signed to Too Pure shortly after Luke left Glasgow University in 1994. An innovative and experimental band with a cult following, their three albums, Houdini, Valentino and Amelia, gained rapturous applause from the music critics.
Luke plays violin with current darlings of the music industry Mogwai, and accompanied them at both Reading and Glastonbury festivals (amongst others) as well as in the studio.
Luke’s first novel, Jelly Roll, was nominated for the 1998 Whitbread First Novel Award. A blackly comic debut novel which follows a struggling Glaswegian jazz band as they tour the Scottish Highlands obviously draws on Luke’s own experience as a black musician who toured Scotland and the world with his band.
The Whitbread judges said of his debut novel: “Jelly Roll has raw energy and is genuinely shocking at times. It’s a good take on maleness and racism, and the riffs and digressions are wonderful for a novel about a jazz band. It’s bleak but comic and a cracking good read”
Award winning Antonine Films, one of Scotland’s flagship television production companies are currently developing Jelly Roll with Channel Four.
Luke’s current music project, Bows, released their debut album Blush to superlative reviews last year :
“Blush is never less than thrilling” 8/10 NME
“It’s a little bit Bjork, a little bit Air, a little bit Roni Size. Classy “ SUNDAY TIMES
“Blush is a record that overflows with loveliness” TIME OUT
“Unapologetic and fabulous” 4/5 MELODY MAKER
“If you’re looking for an album to compare to Lamb’s superb debut, cast your eyes in Bow’s direction” 8/10 THE TIMES
“Soothing, literate pop.... splendid” EVENING STD
Mixing elegant drum and bass beats with strings, brass sections ‘Blush’ also featured the narcotic vocals of Danish singer Signe Høirup Wille-Jørgensen and long time friend and collaborator Ruth Emond. The second Bows album is scheduled for release September 2000.
His second novel, Sweetmeat, will be published by Anchor at the end of 2001.
