Fraser - Keyboards
Gear: -
Roland XP-80 Workstation, Roland VK-7 Organ, Rhodes 73 Stage Piano, Korg Mini-Korg 500, Korg Trinity Rack, Yamaha S3000 Sampler, Behringer 1202 Mixer and Headphone Amp, Yamaha monitors and Amp, Ultimate stand etc. and so on...
Fraser enjoys all the technical aspect of recording using synths/modules etc. from his days being the Cubase Atari ST expert in the School music class to finally getting his hands on his favourite synth: Roland XP-80 Workstation which has been solid since he bought it in 1997.
Fraser started playing keyboards properly from the age of 12 after his father (James Campbell, Guitarist in Best Before Midnight) gave him a guitar at the age of 11 and he never really took to it the same as he did the keyboard.
Fraser explains-
"There is music running through the Campbell blood with my Gran teaching me some old Sunday School favourites on her organ throughout my childhood years, which probably explains why I took to the keyboard rather than the guitar. - I have got a lot to thank her for! "
Anyway whilst at school and doing keyboard lessons etc. Fraser played at various school shows, and local events but most of all enjoyed jamming with his father as he got into blues via Clapton etc.
Musical influences were never the same after that as he got into more of Clapton, Cream, BB King, Pink Floyd etc. and one of his heros, Jules Holland.
Fraser has played in a plethora of bands since the age of 14, whether it was in school; with both Ronnie and Jim in "Focus" and then in "New Directions", both being Christian bands playing throughout Scotland.
Following on from playing in various bands during his teenage years Fraser got involved with the NSCO (New Scottish Choir & Orchestra) performing at various shows including scores from Sister Act and Space Odessey 2001.
This led to him playing in The Funk Federation which was associated to the NSCO. With a great mix of gospel, funk, rhythm and blues etc. The Funk Federation covered everything from "Shackles" by Mary Mary to Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" which went down particularly well live!
With 8 band members including a full brass section Fraser comments that
"it was great fun gigging with our full-on sound."
Simultaneous to Funk Federation, Fraser became involved with another band called FourMinuteMile which had in contrast a totally different and original, more mellow sound, with music based around the various influences of Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Crowded House, Radiohead etc.
There were a few gigs where he ended up playing for both bands in the one day; notably one being a late afternoon gig with the Funk Federation at a Christians Arts festival based at Carberry House east of Edinburgh then playing at a bar with FourMinutemile on the same night in Glasgow!
Over the last 20 years of gigging, Fraser has played in many different venues. A fish farm in Buckie, various festivals including Cross Rhythms in Devon, various open-air gigs, The Royal Concert Hall and SECC including the Armadillo to name but a few. Fraser also played on televisions "Songs of Praise" with The Funk Federation doing Bill Wither's "Lovely Day" in the style of Kirk Franklin, Christian Gospel/Rap Artist with a Choir.
Towards the end of The Funk Federation, Fraser explored a new direction becoming involved with a new ceilidh band "Canny Clamjaphries," which kicked off his collaboration with Phil (Fiddler in BestBeforeMidnight) whom he had known for many years anyway.
Phil and Fraser played together in the Clamjamphries for over three years, putting a new twist on some classic ceilidh tunes for such dances as Orkney Reel and Strip The Willow.
Fraser and Phil have since introduced that sound and their influences to the emerging "BestBeforeMidnight."
With his background influences of funk, blues, rhythm & blues, gospel, dance, rock etc. Fraser reckons it sure will be an interesting journey ahead with this new band, for ceilidh, covers and then Celtic/Folk Rock, performance pieces in future!
