Lost Map: Johnny Lynch
One of Scotland’s most forward-thinking imprints, we spoke to Lost Map’s Johnny Lynch, aka Pictish Trail, about returning to The Spree alongside his labelmates.
How would you define the philosophy behind Lost Map?
It’s more of a compulsion. I’m a big music fan, and there’s no greater thrill than championing what you love, made by people you love. I’m wary of any label that is run by someone who hasn’t had experience as an artist. You need some awareness of what it feels like to put out something that carries your identity — the sheer embarrassment of it, the elation, the anxiety and the sordid feeling of being exposed. I’m hyper-sensitive to how that affects musicians we work with.
Throughout the label’s history, you’ve released everything from lo-fi indie pop through to Romeo Taylor’s gabber anthem ‘The Kingdom Of Scotland’. Did you aim to capture this eclectic spirit when curating the Spree bill?
Ha! I’d be surprised if one of the DJs doesn’t give ‘The Kingdom of Scotland’ a spin. I knew the event was going to be seated, and I’ve tailored the line-up so that it suits that vibe, each act has their own distinct sound. Fell is the alter-ego of Nicolas Burrows, who creates beautifully intricate psych-pop. Molly Linen is a singer-songwriter from Shropshire but lives in Glasgow and sings dreamy folk-tinged songs. Callum Easter is a rising star in our roster, whose debut album Here or Nowhere is unlike anything out there. Edgy, distorted, Caledonian drone-hop. Our last visit to The Arts Centre [in 2017] was a long day, about six hours long! So, we made sure to make The Spree event a bit more compact.
Six years into Lost Map’s existence, are you happy to be in the position to showcase your artists to unacquainted audiences?
Absolutely. It’s a real pleasure and events like these are the lifeblood of the label. Getting to hang out with the different acts and spending an evening with the folks willing to buy a ticket, it’s really important to me. It’s nice chatting to folk in between the sets, finding out where they’ve travelled from and what they’re listening to. Music is all about sharing, isn’t it?
For more information on Lost Map, visit their website. This interview was published in Mill issue 7 September/October 2019 ahead of Lost Map’s gig at The Spree.