With their latest album Futique, the Scottish trio sound energised, emotionally open and instinctively fearless: a band comfortable enough in its skin to stop second-guessing itself.
Ahead of their upcoming performance at Rockhal, promoted by Den Atelier, RTL Today Radio’s Stephen ‘Steps’ Lowe caught up with drummer Ben Johnston and bassist James Johnston to talk identity, longevity, vulnerability and why Futique may be the most ‘Biffy’ record they’ve ever made.
A recurring theme in the conversation is humility, “Every day is a school day”, says Ben, “and you get older and you have a different take on things, you know. You get brand new fears you didn’t have before.” Things creep up and just, that’s “just what life is”, he says. “It’s an ever evolving situation that you have to get to grips with again and again.”
This something the band credit, in part, to their Scottish roots. The Johnstons speak candidly about growing up in a culture where self-importance is quickly deflated, even in the face of commercial success.
Headlining festivals and landing multiple number-one albums hasn’t changed their internal dynamic, largely because they actively refuse to let it. “I’ve thought a lot about the nature of Scottish people, because we are sort of brusque, we are kind of abrupt a little bit, but we are also, I hope, very caring and generous and giving, so those two things are quite odd with each other”, says James on the Scots folk’s reputation.
For Biffy, commercial awareness exists, but it’s kept firmly at arm’s length, allowing creativity to remain instinctive rather than strategic. As Ben puts it, thinking too hard about success is “the devil” when it comes to making honest art.
That honesty runs straight through Futique. Written after the longest gap between albums in the band’s history, the record was shaped by time apart, personal recalibration and the challenge of reconverging after moving at different creative speeds.
When the band reconvened in the Scottish Highlands, it wasn’t frictionless, but it was fruitful. Those early sessions required difficult conversations, recalibration and trust, but ultimately reaffirmed the trio’s bond. The result is an album rooted in presence, about noticing life as it happens, rather than realising its value in hindsight. It’s reflective without being heavy, and confident without being complacent.
Musically, Futique nods knowingly to Biffy’s past without being shackled by it. Callbacks and “Easter eggs” are scattered throughout, but they’re embraced rather than restrained. The mantra in the studio became simple: “Let Biffy be Biffy.” For the first time in years, the band stopped worrying about whether something sounded too much like themselves, and discovered that freedom can be creatively explosive. They followed tangents, doubled down on fun, and trusted their instincts, allowing the band’s core identity to surface naturally rather than be engineered.
The conversation also touches on the band’s unusually close relationship with their audience. Increased openness, including a greater presence on social media, has allowed fans further inside the band’s world, even when that vulnerability feels uncomfortable. Mental health, honesty and emotional language are discussed with care, acknowledging both their importance and their complexity.
“After 30 years together, you don’t survive by avoiding hard conversations, you survive by having them.”James Johnston
Since this interview was recorded, James Johnston has made the decision to step back from the upcoming tour in order to focus on his mental health, a move that underscores the sincerity of those discussions and the band’s commitment to long-term wellbeing over short-term momentum. Biffy Clyro have been clear that this decision is fully supported and rooted in care, not crisis.
As for Luxembourg, it remains a favourite stop. The band speak warmly about Rockhal crowds: diverse, welcoming and drawn from across borders, and joke that playing to 5,000 people here feels like performing to one percent of the entire country. It’s a place where the band feel embraced rather than observed, and one they’re eager to return to.
If Futique is about being present and valuing the moment, Biffy Clyro’s next night at Rockhal promises to be exactly that: loud, honest, communal, and unapologetically Biffy.
“Luxembourg always feels open and welcoming...playing Rockhal feels less like a gig and more like sharing a space.”Ben Johnston
Tickets for the show are available via den Atelier here. Biffy will be supported by Bartees Strange on Thursday Februray 19th, 2026.
