Paolo Nutini: You can find fulfilment through fame
Paolo Nutini: You can find fulfilment through fame
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Wednesday, 01, Jul 2009 12:52
His debut album These Streets sold more than two million copies worldwide but follow-up Sunny Side Up revealed Paolo Nutini seems to be immune to 'difficult second album' syndrome. Crashing into the album charts at number one after lead single Candy revealed a growing maturity, the record's an impressive collection of influences, with reggae, ska, soul and country all rearing their heads as the Paisley boy shows he's more than just a pretty face.
inthenews.co.uk caught up with the 22-year-old backstage at Glastonbury 2009, ahead of his Saturday evening set, and found out what he had to say on his new LP, his musical ancestors and the influence of Michael Jackson.
Hi Paolo, are you having a good festival?
Yeah, why don't we sit down and do this?
Sure, it's dry everywhere! When did you arrive?
Just on Friday. But I'm staying until about half seven on the Monday morning, so that's alright.
Did you used to come to the festival as a punter?
Yeah, man, I've been here a couple of years just to see the music. I've never not had a good time, you know?
Do you think the weather's even that important?
I wholly believe that it's much better when it's nice and sunny like this, when the grass is solid and you can sit when you're getting tired in the evening, it's just better for everyone.
So, the new album. It went straight in at number one, but with your debut These Streets having sold more than two million copies, did you have no pressure for the second album? Or at least more control?
In a sense. [long pause] Yeah, I think the label recognised the sales and appreciated me how much touring and promotion was behind it and attributed to the record's success so they seemed to stay out of my way for the creative process.
You and your bands, the Vipers, produced the album but you had Ethan Johns on board as well. I remember hearing [lead single] Candy and then read that Ethan had been involved, it all made sense, after his work with Ryan Adams and Kings of Leon. What did he bring to the making of the album?
He had a lot to say in the mixing, which is what I wanted, and he was also somebody I trusted about my vocal takes much more than I did myself. I respected his opinions, you know?
Paolo Nutini - Candy
But you didn't initially want Candy to be the first single, right?
Not really, I didn't feel it was a good representation of the record... [breaks off to remark on paparazzi taking photographs of him]. I would have picked a song called Pencil Full of Lead. I don't know whether it would have been a massive hit or anything, but it would've been a fun song to go with.
The new album feels very different in terms of influences - there's a song that reminds the listener of Bob Marley, you can hear Otis Redding, John Martyn, the Specials in there - do those echoes come from who you were listening to while making the record?
I think these are people whose music should be embedded in everybody, or at least all music lovers' heads. I feed my head with so much s**t that subconsciously it can only come out of one tap, so it all goes in. A lot of the appreciation of music for me, though, comes from watching somebody do the song live and getting the impression that way, the imagery of the performance. Watching somebody perform a song can just inspire, you know?
Someone renowned for doing that is Bruce Springsteen - will you be watching the Boss?
I think so, yeah. I'm not a massive Springsteen fan, but I feel a duty to go and see him.
And what did you think of Neil Young's set?
Amazing. His voice is still there, he's still going, it's great to see.
Another legend that can't be avoided this week, after his sad death, is Michael Jackson - was he someone that had an influence on you?
He is somebody that made, or was involved in recording, some great music, gave some great performances and made me dance enough times. Despite all the surrounding controversy and allegations, I firmly believe he was an entertainer, an innocent human.
With your first album, and its huge success around the world, was the ensuing fame hard to cope with? Or do you not see yourself as famous?
No, I don't think that really applies to me unless you're in this situation where you get people doing that [points to photographers again]. I don't really embrace that side of things.
Was there never any pressure from the label of trying to market you in a certain way?
I think they may have been trying to market me as a pretty inoffensive folk boy thing, but that's their prerogative, you know?
What are the upsides, other than getting to make music every day?
There's a lot of options, man. a lot of time to think about things and a lot of fulfilment to be had, if you can do it right.
Lewis Bazley
Paolo Nutini's second album Sunny Side Up is out now.