“The ego is quite useless in a writing situation. I just ask myself, ‘What does this song want?’” Deacon Blue’s polymath guitar genius Gregor Philps dissects his six-string approach, and reveals his favorite Strat (clue: it isn’t a Fender)

Gregory Philps of Deacon Blue plays his yellow Stratocaster onstage.

Like the weather in Scotland, the country’s pop music often feels overcast with a chance of showers. “There’s a slight doom and gloom element to Scottish music,” guitarist Gregor Philp says with a smile. “It’s plaintive and yearning, but I think that’s what gives it its emotional power.”

For the past 17 years, Philp has played with venerable Glasgow band Deacon Blue, whose now-classic 1987 debut was called – appropriately – Raintown.