From an Edinburgh bedroom – that most hallowed of indie incubators – No Windows emerged not through industry machinations but through that most time-honoured tradition: two creatively aligned teenagers finding their wavelength.
The partnership between Morgan Morris and Verity Slangen transcends the typical bedroom pop playbook, crafting something that lives in the sweet spot between DIY intimacy and polished musicianship. Their early days read like a coming-of-age film treatment: Morgan, watching from afar, saw in Verity the only other songwriter at school, a cool upperclassman who seemed worlds away.
“When I first became aware of Verity’s existence I knew her as the cool girl in the year above in school who I was too scared to talk to, and the only other person in the school that wrote songs,” Morgan recalls. “I eventually mustered the courage to message her, and it all came together after that.”
That initial digital hello blossomed into something special. The duo began crafting warm, atmospheric compositions from Morgan’s bedroom studio that drew whispered comparisons to Duster, Alex G, and Big Thief. Their ascent through Scotland’s music ranks has been measured but meaningful, culminating in the Sound of Young Scotland Award at 2023’s SAY Awards and a fresh deal with Fat Possum Records.
Their latest EP, ‘The Great Traitor’, marks their first foray into proper studio territory. “It’s about all sorts, really,” Morgan explains. “A lot is drawn from Verity’s personal life, relationships and feelings. Musically, it comes from all over the place. It’s the first thing we’ve worked on in a proper studio. Having done everything else in my bedroom, it seemed right to push ourselves sonically. It’s probably the most honest and musically rich project of ours, for now at least.”
Film scores loom large over No Windows’ latest EP, marking an intriguing shift from their indie rock foundations. The cinematic turn makes perfect sense when Morgan explains: “With this EP, we were drawing a lot from non-band music, especially film scores. We got quite excited about the idea of approaching the EP as if it were the score to a non-existent film. Jon Brion” – who scored Magnolia (1999), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), and Lady Bird (2017), amongst others – “is a big hero of ours, and we hope that shines through in what you can hear.”
Like a plot twist in development, their next chapter promises even bolder departures from convention. “As always, we’re writing new music, which is sort of all we know to do,” Morgan shares. “We’ve got big plans for the next thing we do; working and collaborating with as many musicians as possible is the plan. I’m hearing all sorts of string and horn arrangements for the songs we’re making just now. The less we can sound like a rock band, the better.”
Despite these grand orchestral visions, their north star remains remarkably pure. “Really, I just want to make some great records, which sounds obvious but is easier said than done,” Morgan muses. “I’d love to be able to stick any of our records on in 50 years’ time and be as into them then as I am now.”
Their festival journey is one they’re also enjoying, as Morgan confesses: “I’d never been to a music festival before our first time playing one, which was Connect Fest in Edinburgh a few years ago. Green Man was a great time. I despise camping, but for a festival like Green Man, I will happily camp.”
These field trips into festival land have yielded unexpected treasures. “There’s a few [acts] that I’ve seen years ago and since become huge fans of without even realising I’d seen them,” Morgan recalls. “I saw Personal Trainer in Bongo Edinburgh years ago for the festival Stag & Dagger. At the time, I thought, who are these nutters? And frankly wanted to leave as Bongo is usually the place of excessive drinking. However, I’m glad I stayed as they’ve become a favourite of mine since.”
For their upcoming Dot To Dot appearance, camaraderie tops the agenda. “Would be nice to see Keo again; they’re a nice bunch of lads, and they play good,” Morgan notes. “Aside from that, I’d love to see our labelmates Honeyglaze and, of course, Westside Cowboy. I’m a big fan of those guys.”
When it comes to their new music’s message, No Windows keep it refreshingly straightforward. “I don’t know if we have a specific message to push, but our only aim is honesty,” Morgan reflects. “So, if anyone were to take away anything from the EP, I’d hope it would be that of comfort or relation. Really, I just hope folk enjoy the thing; it took bloody ages.”
Like a well-crafted film score, No Windows’ evolution feels both purposeful and organic – each new element building on what came before while pushing toward something grander. Is there anything else we should know? “This is somehow the hardest question yet; it almost sounds like I should be confessing something. I roasted broccoli with Worcestershire sauce the other day; it was really nice. You should try it.” â–
Get tickets and find out more at dottodotfestival.co.uk now. Follow Dork’s Dot To Dot Festival Guide Spotify playlist here.
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