about betatone

Betatone Distraction are a 3 piece from Glasgow.

Ray Elma on Guitar/Vocals/Keyboard,

Stevie Liddell Drums/Percussion and

Olly Stockman Bass/Synths.

Betatone Distraction have been playing together since 2008 when drummer Stevie Liddell caught singer/guitarist Raymond Elma’s acoustic set in a Glasgow bar. Having not seen each other since Ray was a teenager, when they both worked in a guitar shop, seasoned musician Stevie was pleasantly surprised to find Ray had matured into a talented singer and guitar player. Subsequently they formed a band called Lull. A few gigs later they regrouped and recruited Suffolk-born PhD student Olly Stockman to play bass and synths. Olly recalls going to audition in a warehouse in the middle of an industrial estate, worried that he would never return, but once there he found it was home to the band’s well-stocked studio space. Within a week they were playing gigs as Betatone Distraction.

Betatone Distraction play layered electronic pop with big guitars and synths that never sound like a gimmick. They take their musical cues from Placebo, Pink Floyd, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Daft Punk, The Prodigy and The Veils, but the band’s sound is ever-evolving and they’re unafraid to experiment.

Our main influences are Placebo, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Smashing Pumpkins, White Stripes, Rage Against the Machine and The Pixies. Our goal is to hopefully be original and get our music to reach as many people as possible.

Gig Review by Quenched Unsigned What’s the Noise presents battle of the bands at Pivo Pivo Glasgow:
“Betatone Distraction were my pick of the bunch as they combined indie rifts with electro synthesisers, while using a sound desk. This multi-sounding three piece really blew me away with the lead vocals and constant differentiating sounds kept the audiences’ attention, I slightly feel that this was not the best arena for them to showcase their skills as it was clear this style of music fell on deaf ears, bar the track ‘Tail Between legs.’ The track showcases all their skills while remaining true to their style of music, the way they integrate the music and vocals are reminiscent to The Whip, a real track, which hushed the critics”.