Moteh Parrott is excited to be returning to Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, which gets under way on Thursday Q Your debut album The Stones are Merely Sleeping is deeply personal - can you tell us about the journey behind creating it and how your brother’s memory shaped the record?A Since my brother died in 2009, I’ve been on a journey of grief and healing, which has led me to explore various spiritual and philosophical ideas through songwriting. “The Stones are Merely Sleeping” is the idea that the potential for life and consciousness lies waiting within everything - even seemingly inert or lifeless things, and so we should treat everything with reverence and respect. Q The album blends indie-folk-rock with Celtic elements - what drew you to that combination of sounds?A I grew up in the Highlands, so elements of trad and Celtic sounds were always going to find their way into my music, but my love of great pop songs means that really catchy melodies and structures are the backbone of the sound. Q Were there any songs on the album that came to you fully formed, or did most evolve slowly over time?A The chorus for ‘Afterglow’ just popped into my head one night, and the rest followed very quickly. Some songs are like that, and others are a real struggle! Q You're returning to Belladrum this year after being on the bill previously but not making it - how does it feel to be back performing at the festival?A It always feels great to play Bella, but main stage will be the biggest stage we’ve played on, so it's very exciting! • ‘The crowd was totally bonkers and the energy for our set was amazing’ - The Pigeon Detectives ready to return to Bella Q What can festival-goers expect from your set at Belladrum? A Our album, as you hear it on the record - although we won’t have time to play the whole thing. Q Belladrum is such a Highland-rooted festival - how important is that landscape and culture in your music?A Massively! I grew up on the south side of Loch Ness, and was fortunate that my mum and dad took us to lots of trad gigs in the local village halls, which was so inspiring. I love the space and wilderness of the Highlands, so it will always feel like home to me. Q Your music has been described as “a Highland wilderness with sweeping colour” - how do place and environment shape your songwriting?A I think the space and colours of the landscape are so inspiring in the Highlands, and lead to a more reflective way of being, which creativity naturally follows. Q Who are your biggest musical influences, both past and present?A Frightened Rabbit, Admiral Fallow, Emma Harner, Lucy Rose, Elbow, Laura Marling, Bon Iver… Q How do you stay grounded and inspired while navigating personal themes in your music?A Songwriting for me has always been about working through something. Whenever I need to figure something out emotionally, I turn to it, so just the process of it helps keep me grounded. Q Do you have any plans for a follow-up release or new collaborations on the horizon?A We’re working on it! Q What’s one thing you’d love people to take away from your music, especially after hearing it live at Belladrum?A Love is all you need, and together we can make the world a better place! Maybe a bit grand and cheesy, but that’s the essence of what I want to come across in the songs, and music is always a great way of coming together to make positive change. Q This year's Belladrum theme is movies. Is there a particular film song or theme that sticks with you? What is your favourite and why? A I love the theme from ‘Brokeback Mountain’. You don’t often hear guitar as the lead instrument in movie themes, and this one is particularly beautiful. Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.