Amy Macdonald is one of the most successful international touring artists to emerge from Scotland, with over 12 million records sold, and accumulation of over 200 million Spotify streams. Her breakthrough was in 2007 with her debut album ‘This Is The Life,’ which reached number 1 in four countries, including the UK. The eponymous single from the album became her most successful, having reached number one in six different countries. 

Well over a decade later, with four Top 5 albums under her belt, she's still filling prime festival slots and performing in sold-out shows in front of hundreds and thousands of fans. Last month, Ken Bruce premiered her latest single The Hudson on BBC Radio 2. With her new album set for release at the end of this month and a string of tour dates scheduled in the coming months, Andrew Gilmour from Music Talkers caught up with Amy via phone to ask her a little more.

MT: It's Andrew from Music Talkers here, are you alright?

Amy: Yes good, thank you. 

MT: Good, so how are you feeling today and what have you been doing?

Amy: I’m okay, thank you. I have just been doing the same old, which is doing some interviews and chatting to some people on the phone, haha.

MT: It goes without saying it’s been one of the most strangest years that anyone can remember so far, so I can’t not ask you about it really, how have you coped?

Amy: Fine, like I’ve been healthy and I’m lucky I’ve got a roof over my head so I can’t really complain. Obviously just not having kind of those connections with family like you normally would, that’s quite hard. It just feels a bit weird, I feel like we’re such social creatures as humans and it feels like that kind of side of life is being discouraged just now. And it just feels like it's against everything that we normally do.

MT: I know, I don’t think you can really think of one person who hasn’t been affected by it in some way or another, it’s weird, isn't it?

Amy: Yeah, totally. 

MT: I noticed at one point, and I remember it was around my birthday that you did a couple of performances online. Was that something you just thought… ‘I’m bored out of my tree, I want to do something?’

Amy: Haha, I think it was probably a bit of both, knowing I was going to record something gave me a bit of focus for my day, so it kind of helped in that respect. I think it was also the feedback I was getting from fans. I felt like during the lockdown I conversed with my fans more than normal on social media, we had more time. So many of them said that stuff like that helped them and it gave them something to look forward to. So I just felt that it was a nice thing for me to be able to do that, if it helped people a little bit it was worth it.

MT: You know when you’re sat in front of a camera and you know there’s a lot of people watching, do you find that more nerve-racking than playing in front of a big crowd?

Amy: Yeah I find it more nerve-racking in front of a camera I think, it’s just because it feels so weird, it feels like everything is heightened like every mistake will be noticeable, and like that, haha. Whereas, where there’s a crowd there it’s easier to kind of get on with it and it’s a bit more relaxed I think.

MT: Moving forward, with all this situation, how do you feel about it in terms of how it’s affecting the music industry?

Amy: It’s obviously been a complete nightmare, and it still feels like it is. For me, my band and crew, who are some of my closest friends, and they feel like family, as we’ve spent so much time together. So many of my crew have taken up jobs like doing home deliveries and stuff like that, because they’ve just kind of been forgotten, and that side of it really hurts me. When you hear language like “unviable jobs” and things like that. The only reason they're unviable is because everything is closed, and it’s ridiculous to say that we won’t need music, and it’s fair enough giving the venues support, the venues obviously need supporting as well, but, what is a venue if it’s got nobody to work in it and perform in it?

MT: I know...

Amy: The people who actually use the venues, and the people who work behind the scenes and make sure the shows happen, are the ones who have been totally forgotten. And that side of it’s really really frustrating, and I just don’t know how people can be discarded that easily.

MT: I know, I’d be lying if I said I’m not really scared about how things are going to go, to be honest. You know,  everyone just loves watching live music and it’s just not happening at the moment is it, it’s just weird. And obviously, like you say it takes a lot of people to make those things happen, it’s not just the person playing, it’s the bar staff and everyone isn't it?

Amy: Yeah, totally. 

MT: Moving forward, talking more about yourself. I’m just wondering what your influences are really? Because, I can hear a bit of country, a bit of folk music and things like that but with some people, the music they write is not necessarily the music they’re influenced by. So, I’m just curious as to what your influences are?

Amy: Yeah, erm I mean I don’t listen to country music [laughs]. So, erm I don’t sound like the stuff I’m listening to then! I’ve got a pure eclectic taste like I enjoy everything and anything. I think in terms of artists I really look up to are people like Bruce Springsteen I absolutely love. 

When I started out I was listening to all the indie-rock, I was kind of a teenager in the good old days when there was a new band out every week that was flying. That’s kind of what inspired me to get into music at the beginning. I think in terms of the music I make, I think you’re right in that I might be inspired by a different type of music, and sound nothing like that, and I think that’s totally fine. I like catchy songs, that’s what I always try and do. I like things that kind of grab hold of my attention, and I like upbeat music, the kind of stuff you really want to tap your feet to. And that’s what I’ve focused on with my own music.

MT: Is there anyone who you would like to collaborate with?

Amy: I mean I'm very shy in terms of what I do musically. So I would never be going “oh I would love to work with you”, or whoever it may be. I think I would always be very open if somebody kind of suggested something, but I would never be going out there and kind of seeking it because I would probably be scared of the rejection.

MT: Yeah rejection is a funny old thing isn't it? 

Amy: Yeah [laughs]

MT: So far in your career obviously you’ve got very well established, and you have gotten a lot of fans. Have you got a standout gig or performance so far?

Amy: I feel very lucky that I’ve been able to play in so many great cities and countries. I’ve had some great moments. Sometimes it’s hard to remember them because when you’re constantly travelling, you’re doing about five gigs in a week, after a while you forget certain points. One that I absolutely loved was playing in T in the Park, King Tut’s Tent In 2012. 

MT: Ooh yes!

Amy: I’d never played in the King Tut’s Tent before, don’t think I’d ever been in it, and it was just amazing. I couldn't believe that there were that many people in there. It just felt like quite a special night. It was just great and I absolutely loved every second of it. So that’s one I will probably always remember.

MT: T in the Park hey! Where's it gone?...

Amy: I know…

MT: I’m always interested when I speak to songwriters, what their process is when writing songs. Do you find you write your music first, or lyrics first?

Amy: It just depends. If I’m writing on my own, I will just kind of come up with a little idea on the guitar and go for the lyrics. With most of the songs on this record, I was writing with bandmates, and then some of them kind of came up with a musical idea first and I would put the lyrics and melody on top of that. Or with another bandmate, we were just kind of sitting jamming and out came a song. So it really does vary, it depends, either or.

MT: Yeah so that’s what I was going on to next. Talking about your new album ‘The Human Demands’ and you’ve also released ‘The Hudson.’  Was that with Ken Bruce actually? Back in September, it premiered on his show?

Amy: Yeah Ken Bruce, he had the first play back then.

MT: Ken Bruce, he’s a top man! I actually heard it at the time coincidentally, and yeah I really like it and I’m looking forward to hearing the new album. How many songs will be on it? 

Amy: There’s ten tracks on the record, it’s absolutely one of my favourites I’ve done. It just feels so exciting. It covers such a broad selection of the kind of everyday topics and stuff. Jim Abbiss produced it, I'd known of him when I was young, obviously with his work with Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian and things like that. So for me, it was incredibly exciting to have him produce it, and I think we were a good team, we got on really well from the get-go. I think he really got what I was about but added an extra sparkle to it, I’m so pleased with how the record sounds. 

MT: Are you allowed to tell us what your favourite song is on it?

Amy: Ermm it’s difficult because it actually changes on a daily basis. There’s no weak link on this album, it's all kind of up there. Probably right now a track called We Could Be So Much More, it’s very kind of big bold, a little bit rocky and grabs me every time I hear it. It's a real kind of catchy instant song for me.

MT: I will look forward to hearing it.

MT: I will get off in a minute, I know you will have a lot going on today. You seem to have a lot of fans out there, and at Music Talkers we like to give artists a voice and platform to say whatever you want to say to your fans. So, therefore, is there anything, in particular, you’d like to say to your fans right now?

Amy: I think I’d probably just like to say thank you. I’ve been around in the music industry for a long time now. Having brought my first album out back in 2007, and just having that feeling where people have stood by me that whole time, it’s very humbling and I’ve been very grateful. I know that the industry can be pretty fickle, and It’s always about the next big thing, so the fact I’m still here and had that support throughout the years is not something I’ll ever forget, and I'm very grateful for it.

MT: I’m looking forward to hearing the new album and it’s been really nice talking to you, and thanks for having a word with us.

Amy: No problem at all.

MT: And good luck with the tour next year.

Amy: Thanks very much.

MT: Cheers Amy, thanks very much.

Amy: Thanks bye.

Listen to the interview below:

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and Managing Director of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.