A Glimpse Into The St Andrews Music Scene

Chatting with Peter Malcom

By Finn Wentz

If you ask me, I think most people in this town are witnessing the development of one of the college world’s most robust music scenes without realizing it. Every school has a few well-known student bands, and last year, if you had asked me, that’s all I would have said about St Andrews. But the difference between now and then is like night and day. Almost out of nowhere, there are multiple acts of live music at least two nights a week, every week. We owe Signpost Magazine a thank you for that. Other societies such as Music Fund and Jazzworks have and continue to provide artists with a platform as well. Not only that, but I swear I hear of a new band every couple of days in this town. There are so many musicians now that booking a practice room at Laidlaw has turned into the Hunger Games. There’s just something in the air. A handful of fourth-year bands departed last Spring, leaving big shoes to be filled, and I can say without a doubt the younger generation has done more than their part in doing so. All this, and yet the amount of people I talk to who have no idea this is going on is astonishing. St Andrews seems like the best town on this planet for starting a band right now, yet nobody bats an eye. I think it’s time the spotlight turns to the music scene. In an effort to help this issue, I’ve taken an interest in interviewing up-and-coming artists. I hope to continue this trend. Last semester, I had a chat with Ella Prieto, and now I’ve been able to catch up with Peter Malcolm. Coming from Texas, Peter is an impressively original artist in this town, as he infuses the scene with his hometown admiration for Americana and Country music. Performing at various spots around town and helping others get their start through his work with Signpost, Peter is no stranger to music in this town. Because of this, I wanted to capture his insight into the scene while discussing his motivations and roots as a musician. 

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity

Hearing Aid (Finn Wentz): First, l what initially got you into music? 

Peter Malcolm: My family has always been really into music, so I feel like I’ve been listening or playing music for as long as I can remember. I started playing piano at six when the organist at my dad's church gave me a lesson, and ever since, I have been hooked.

HA: Who are your biggest musical inspirations? Who pops into your head when you’re up there in front of the mic with your guitar?

PM: My two biggest musical inspirations are Bruce Springsteen and Zach Bryan. The first song I ever sang was Born to Run at 4 years old, and the first song I learned on guitar was Heading South. I love their stage presence and the unmatched storytelling in their music

HA: What does music mean to you? What do you get out of playing or writing?

PM: Music is the lifeblood of humanity, man. It can bring people to tears, make people feel closer to each other, and help people express themselves in a way that few things can. 

HA: Where do you see music taking you? Is this a hobby or something that’ll hopefully be more permanent?

PM: Music will always be a part of my life, and I can't imagine a life without it. While it would be an incredible experience and privilege to play professionally, I don't think that it is in the cards for me. I don't ever plan on stopping playing or listening, though. 

HA: Now, looking at the local scene, how has the St Andrews music scene allowed you to grow as a musician? Do you find that the town does a good job of fostering musical opportunity and growth? 

PM: Like all college towns, I think St Andrews is a great place to grow. However, there is a special scene around town. With so much emphasis on live music and concerts, young musicians are in a great spot to grow. I never played and sang with my guitar until I started busking on Market Street, and it's all grown from there. 

HA: That’s awesome! I know you to be quite involved with the music scene. How have you been able to express yourself as a musician in this town?

PM: The main way I have been able to express myself as a musician besides bar gigs is busking on Market Street. When you are playing on the street, it's very thankless, and it got me out of my head when playing. It's a much better feeling to get a crowd of random people watching you perform on the street than almost anything else I can imagine. I also recently got back into piano, so I am hoping to debut some piano songs on the street when I can. 

HA: Do you think the scene gets enough recognition from the town and the student body?

PM: I don't think so, no. I would say that people around town don't realize just how much effort goes into putting on and playing events around town and just how lucky we are as students and members of the St Andrews community in regard to our music scene. 

HA: Where do you see the scene going over the next few years? What do you want to see happen?

PM: I think a lot of local talent and music businesses are going to grow like crazy, and more live music is going to come to St Andrews. After seeing how much traffic the Rule and Aikman's get when live music is put on, I wouldn't be surprised if we begin to see weekly gigs at most of the venues around.

HA: Do you think music in this town is missing anything? What are the biggest upsides and downsides?

PM: The biggest thing music in this town is missing is the creation of a less toxic culture amongst musicians themselves. Everyone is going to have a bad gig, a bad day, and different ways of playing, but that doesn't mean that they should be written off in the scene. Many bands become toxic when members have a different viewpoint or ideas from the lead singer, for instance, and that culture can only hurt our scene as a whole. That being said, I think it is getting a lot better, and I'm excited to see where it goes!