Scots rocker Paolo Nutini: My new album is inspired by punk rock

Dec 19 2010 Exclusive, Sunday Mail

SOUL star Paolo Nutini is ready to shock fans with his new album - after finding a passion for punk rock.

The singer shocked fans by opting for a radical new direction on his second album Sunny Side Up.

And he is set to do the same again on the follow-up after admitting he is listening to lots of old punk and finding plenty of inspiration.

Paolo told Email: "There is more rock coming in to an extent but don't get me wrong, I still wake up and put on Fats Domino.

"I can't stay away from The Posters and I am getting really into Screaming Jay Hawkins.

"My latest thing is Richard Hell and the Voidoids."

Hell - real name Richard Lester Meyers - is often described as the original punk, creating its distinctive look - spiked hair and torn or cut clothing held together with safety pins.

Paolo, 23, said : "Ialsolikestuff from the old punky bands like early Motorhead, Johnny and the Self-Abusers, which was what Jim Kerr did before Simple Minds.

"These guys were not accomplished players when they were making those records, they just had ideas and grit. It was simple but effective.

Paolo admits he enjoyed the baffl ed initial reaction to his last album - and the dramatic shift when people got it.

He said: "I felt I got a lot more comments when I used my vocal and exaggerated it.

"Some people thought it was good, others just asked why I wanted to do that.

"Even my uncles and stuff, heard it and asked what the f*** I had done.

"Critics thought there were no real singles as such and it took a wee while for them to get their head around it "To go from 'This is a load of s***' to loving all the tracks on the album takes time. It's going to be the same with this new one."

Paolo loves the idea that people will live with his album rather than buy it then move on to the next thing.

He said:"It might not be No.1 in the charts but there will be people who like it and keep it in their collection for a long time.

"I would rather a handful like it and hold it dear for a long period than a huge amount of people buy it, listen to it a couple of times and throw it away.

"I don't want to be the fad of the moment, I want to work my way into people's hearts."

He is thrilled that, at the moment, his record label are leaving him alone to work it out for himself.

He added: "When I transcribe something I had in my head on to a record I get a real kick out of it.

"The stuff we are doing now is building up a body of music that could span over a couple of records "I am going to buy myself a violin as a Christmas present and see where that goes.

"I am just taking the time to look about." The best thing I can do is talk to people and try new stuff."Paolo reckons his youth allows him to get away with more than established artists.

He said: "I just want to express myself in any way I can, while I can do so without restrictions.

"I have plenty of mistakes to make.

"It's all just having fun and pulling things around and experimenting."

Paolo will headline RockNess on Sunday June 12. For tickets and info go to www.rockness. co.uk

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