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Being a singer songwriter these days seems par for the course. You can dismiss them as being two a penny or get caught up arguing over the musical prowess of what’s his name vs. what’s his name. But when somebody of Paolo Nutini’s calibre comes along there’s nothing for it but to stand up and take notice. His debut album ‘These Streets’ is now on the shelves and the past few months have been a whirlwind of recording, touring and performing. So Gigwise jumped at the chance to thumb a ride with the 19-year-old en route to a gig in Brighton.
Despite the exotic sounding name (his father is Italian) Paolo was born and breed in Paisley, a large town in the central lowlands of Scotland. Surrounded by music from an early age, family, friends and even the local priest filled Paolo’s world with the sounds of fifties rock and roll, Scottish folk and classic soul. This early exposure to music sparked an unshakeable passion and he was soon indulging in his favourite past time as often as possible as he fondly remembers: “People like my grandfather would always play piano and stuff at his house when I was young. Everybody else just loved their music and would always play records and there was always a record player I could listen to. I grew up listening to Ben E King and Sam Cooke and wishing I could sing like those guys one day and you know, Marvin Gaye, John Martyn, Van Morrison.”
Funnily enough, he could, and soon began to put in years of hard graft, from working as a studio hand to eventually leaving school so he could roadie for a friend’s band. Learning the business in this hand's on manner saw Paolo serve his musical apprenticeship well. But the difference between working in a studio and becoming an artist in his own right was almost too big to contemplate. “Well it was and it wasn’t. I was always singing and I just used to enjoy it. But to do it…it never really crosses your mind. You don’t think music could be a possibility one day; it’s just a dream isn’t it? And I suppose I was distracted by football and looking at all the nice schoolgirls.”
As understandable as that may be it didn’t distract him enough to realise that he had a talent and more importantly something to say. It wasn’t long before he stated to make a name for himself. Live sessions on BBC Radio Scotland duly followed and just after his 18th birthday Atlantic Records snapped him up. His debut single ‘Last Request’ charted at number 5 and the eagerly anticipated debut album ‘These Streets’ was released on July 17.
But despite his years spent in and around studios, recording the album was a new experience, as Paolo goes onto explain: “It was my first ever time getting a record done. Ken Nelson, who we did it with, was so experienced and used to working with tight knit bands like Coldplay and Kings Of Convenience and stuff. And then he came to working with a band like mine that are actually constantly evolving and becoming…a band really. It was a different thing for him as well and I think maybe it took a bit longer because of that factor. I still had the fucking time of my life!”
Paolo’s broad spectrum of influences, from Al Green and Ray Charles to The Strokes, have all gone some way in contributing to the overall soulful and bluesy feel of the album. Combined with an overwhelming ability to communicate everyday life through his words and music (not to mention that voice!) ‘These Streets’ is a highly personal yet far reaching piece of work about his experiences over the last three years. “It was just a very eclectic mix of music that led to good songs with the feel of them constantly changing. And I like that’ says Paolo. ‘Despite being this personal event it talks about things like everyday issues. Things like missing my dead grandfather, lying about your age to a girl and having sex one last time before you break up. So its not necessarily issues, it’s really whatever you get your fix off, whatever makes your day change I suppose. But I don’t feel like I’ve got to live up to musical expectations because music is just too much of a fucking natural thing.”
Paolo might not think that he has to live up to other people’s expectations of him, but its quite clear that he’s already highly respected. The Rolling Stones recently asked him to support them in Germany. No mean feat for even the most experienced of musicians, but having been brought up on rock and roll, gracing the same stage as Mr Jagger and Mr Richards et al was too good a chance to pass up. And he didn’t disappoint.
“It was overwhelming to say the least,” says Paolo “I was trying not to think about it too much before I got there. Then when I got there it suddenly kicked in. There were a lot of people there, a lot of die hard stones fans, that had paid hundreds of euros for a ticket and we were holding them up. But for people that hadn’t heard us they were getting into it. They weren’t going absolutely crazy but they were enjoying it so what more could I ask. We’ve been given another show with the guys in Sheffield so I’m looking forward to that…what a steal!”
Indeed it is. But success dictates hard work and a demanding tour schedule will see Paolo perform extensively throughout the UK and Germany over the next three months, which is more than ok with him. And it doesn’t end there as Paolo explains: “There’ll be touring and touring…more recording…ideas to put down. Happy days.”
There’s even talk of America. And if things keep on going as well as they have for the man from Paisley, could a shot at world domination be next? “That’s the plan.”
