Interview: Leah McFall

---

Published by Glasgowist.

The Voice 2013 runner-up Leah McFall is back with a new independently released EP and UK tour called INK. The singer-songwriter from Northern Ireland who confesses that she ‘sings weird and dresses like a grandpa’ is coming to Glasgow on Monday, April 10 to play in Stereo Café in Renfield Lane.

With INK due to be released next month, Glasgowist caught up with Leah to talk about the new tour and EP, how she’s feeling about going on the road and playing Glasgow.

So, what have you been doing so far in 2017?

This year’s been really exciting and good so far. We’ve basically just been making the record. At the end of last year, we released a track called ‘Wolf Den’ which was the first release from the kind of mini album, the EP, called INK. So, this year we’ve really just been getting visuals together and booking the tour and getting ready for the release of the EP which is out on March 27.

Your new single ‘Happy Human’ is out now. Can you tell me a bit more about the song and the upcoming music video?

The video for ‘Happy Human’ is hopefully being released this week. It got shot over in LA with a director I worked with through Will. I saw the last edit of it a few days ago, and it looks great. I’m really looking forward to it coming out!

The INK tour starts in April. Are you looking forward to going on the road?

I’m really looking forward to it, actually! After the show [The Voice], I wasn’t really able to put on anything like this, just because of contracts and stuff. So, once I got free of them, we decided I was just going to do it independently. I’m really excited because I’ve never actually been able to meet the people supporting me, so that’s like the selfish reasons. But I’m really excited to start meeting people because the support has been so steady and faithful from the show and even a few fans from before the show which is really lovely.

I’m really looking forward to getting the EP out there and being able to translate it into a live show because, obviously, that’s part of my biggest passion is to sing live. And we’re doing it completely independently, so we’ve booked it ourselves and sorted out venues. And, now, we’re actually looking for support acts in each city. We’re looking for local bands who make a similar kind of style of music who are kind of R&B or singer-songwriters. So, if you know any good acts, let us know!

Have you played in Glasgow before? Are you looking forward to coming here?

No actually, I’ve not played in Glasgow, but I’ve been loads of times. My boyfriend and I were there about a month before Christmas and had the best weekend ever actually, it was absolutely hilarious. So, we were like: ‘We definitely have to come here!’ We’re playing in Stereo Café on April 10, which I’m quite excited about because I have a few friends in Glasgow and they were saying it’s a really cool venue. I heard it’s like a vegan café upstairs and a gig venue downstairs, so it should be great.

It’s one of my favourite cities, so I’m really looking forward to it. I mean I’m Northern Irish and I think Celtic people just gravitate towards each other and one of my best mates is Glaswegian and she actually is the funniest person I know. I think it’ll be great and it’s one of the shows I’m definitely looking forward to the most.

Your new EP INK is coming out soon. Can you tell me a bit more about it?

With the EP, there’s not like a singular story. Basically, the record I made with Will over in LA didn’t get released. You have to get a lot of yeses and we just didn’t get them all. So, I basically waited out the contract, so I was free from any kind of restriction, and I just thought, ‘Right, I’ll do this independently’.

I actually started working with the producer I started working with before The Voice, a guy called BeatFox in London. And he’s just this mental South African genius and his beats are just insane. So, we just started to work together and I went to a song writing camp actually in a church and was told when you sit down to write a song just write what your heart needs to hear because you’ll very often find that that real truth will resonate with other people.

So, in that place, I was just coming out of the record deal and realising I didn’t fit a particular mould, but I’m pretty happy with who I am. The whole record is basically about just being yourself and not trying to change into something you’re not. Even ‘Wolf Den’ was just about like going out on your own and ignoring people who say you can’t do it on your own. People said that to me and I just thought, ‘Well, I’m gonna try.’

The record is like a painted journey on what the past few years have been like and a few songs about meeting a couple of douchebags along the way and a couple of songs are about the nice guy that I met. It’s a real, honest record and something I really wanted to do.

Do you think making the EP independently allowed you more creative freedom?

100%, yeah. Most of the songs were actually written and recorded in one day. Part of that was because BeatFox is so quick and one of the quickest studio engineers as well as a producer. So, he would build the track and I would be writing the lyrics and the melody, and we’d just get in and record it while we were still in that fresh kind of vibe. So, there was so much freedom for me to just write about exactly where I was at and do exactly what we both wanted to do, so that was amazing.

It’s been a lot of hard work though, like I’ve had to sneak into a lot of meetings. I had to sneak into one meeting where security were actually like, ‘You need to leave. You’re not a record label. You’re an artist. We know you’re an artist. We recognise you.’ And I was like, ‘Great, well, thing is, I’m not gonna leave. So, I’m just gonna go straight into this meeting.’ And I ran in. So, there was a lot of crazy stuff where I was like, ‘I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.’ But we’re having fun with it and we’re just going to push it as far as it goes.

What can fans expect from the live shows? Will you be doing a mix of originals and covers?

The majority of it will be originals because we’re excited to get that new music out and the music that is ready to go after the EP. So, we’ll definitely be focussing on originals. I’ll probably do two or three covers. I’ll probably do ‘Loving You’ and ‘I Will Survive’ from the show and one other, but I will not be performing ‘Home’.

Actually, when I first got told they wanted me to do ‘I Will Survive’ on the show, I was like, ‘Noooo. What am I gonna do with this song?’ But we just spent time working on melodies and I was really excited to perform that one in the end, it was good fun.

After the tour, what’s do you have planned next?

I’d quite like to get on a support set for a bigger artist, that’d be cool. It’d be cool to learn from someone on that level. You know, if I could pick anyone it’d probably be Michael Jackson. If he could just come back that would be great.

Obviously, it’d be pretty cool to support another female artist, you know, like Rihanna. If she’s up for it, I am. I also really like Emeli Sandé and acts who are doing kind of pop and R&B stuff like we’re doing. And I’d also like to try out different audiences that maybe haven’t heard me before. Apart from that, it’s just going to be continuing to get music out there and hopefully festivals and stuff, if that’s an option. I’m sure I’ll just keep sneaking into meetings.

Leah McFall is playing in Stereo Café in Glasgow on Monday, April 10. Buy tickets here.

If you are an original musician or you’re in a band local to Glasgow with a similar sound to Leah’s music, get in touch for the chance to support her at Stereo Café: contactleahmcfall@gmail.com

Interview: Rory James of Sunset Sons

---

The new edition of The University Paper, Glasgow is now online! You can view the digital version: here.

One of my favourites pieces from this edition is my interview with Rory James of Sunset Sons who are supporting Imagine Dragons on their tour next month. You can read the interview in The University Paper here, or read my extended version below…

---

Buff surfer dudes turned rockers Sunset Sons are set to take the UK by storm this winter after being snatched up as the support band to open for Imagine Dragons on their Smoke + Mirrors tour.

With their new EP ‘The Fall Line’ out now and being scheduled to play Glasgow at the SSE Hydro in November, I caught up with Sunset Sons lead singer Rory James to talk about what he thinks of the band’s success, Scottish crowds, those Kings of Leon comparisons and what’s next for the band in the New Year:

SOPHIE: So, Sunset Sons are supporting Imagine Dragons on their latest tour. How did this collaboration come about?

RORY: ‘I didn’t really hear much about it until we got it. Obviously, being quite a new band we weren’t expecting to even get close to being selected. We got into the top 15 which meant that the guys in Imagine Dragons were actually going to listen to us themselves and then they’d actually decide which I thought was really cool because then the band are choosing a band they really want. So, our manager got a phone call and he got all excited and I just remember thinking “Either something really amazing has happened or something bad has happened”.

Yeah, it was nice, it’s a pretty organic way to do it because the band actually chose us which is awesome. We knew they weren’t doing it as a favour or something like that but because they actually liked us. It’s always nice to know that you’re wanted. We haven’t actually met the guys yet but everyone who has met them have told us good things so I’m looking forward to it. I mean, if you don’t get on with someone, being on the road with them for two months would cause problems but everyone says they’re great guys so it’s exciting. I can’t wait!’

As part of the tour, you’re going to be playing at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow this November. Have you played in Scotland before and are you looking forward to this show?

‘Aw, words can describe. First of all, we’ve played maybe three or four shows in Scotland on our little tour before things really kicked off and it was amazing. I’ve got Scottish blood in me so going up there reminded me of my childhood.

The crowds are just unreal, that’s what Scotland is renowned for. I suppose if they didn’t like us, we’d definitely know about it.

We sold out King Tuts back in March and it’s such an iconic place to play, we were honoured to just be there in the first place. If you sell out, you get a bottle of whisky and your name or your set list or something written up on the wall which was a great feeling. Honestly, I love Scotland.

We went to T in the Park this year which I was really excited about. It was raining and stuff but we were playing in one of the tents and there’s this chant they do in Scotland that goes: “Here we, here we, here we fuckin’ go!” And we thought they were telling us to get off the stage because we couldn’t understand it. We figured it out half way through the set and they were going along with the beat and the rhythm of the song we were playing so I started shouting it into the mic and trying to amp the crowd up. And eventually, they were doing the chant along to every song, and honestly, it was such a moment in our festival season this year and I won’t forget that – it was brilliant.’

Throughout the whole process of making music, would you say you prefer song-writing, recording in the studio, or touring and playing music live?

‘Definitely getting on the road. I do enjoy being in the studio but, for me, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions. It can be the smallest thing that goes right, like when you’re getting your vocals down or the guitar track or something and then suddenly something just clicks and you come up with something new and that is really exciting. But on the hand, it can be the smallest thing that goes wrong, like say someone spills a cup of coffee or something and just because you’re in such an intense environment, and say there are maybe five or six of you in the studio for like five weeks at a time, and you can imagine what it’s like – it’s really intense. I do love that process but, for me, it’s all about being on the road.

To do the live stuff is great. It gets the adrenaline pumping and it’s the whole reason I do it. It’s amazing being able to interact with people. Sometimes you’ll get a cold crowd and you’ll need to warm them up or you’ll go on stage and everyone is already pissed up and super excited and start jumping about and it’s so much fun. Every gig is different, you really never know what you’re going to get and obviously now that the crowds are getting bigger, that is a bonus.’

What would you say is your favourite song to play live?

‘That’s a tough one. Well, okay, I’ll give you a little exclusive here. We’ve only played this song I think just once at the moment, we played it at Reading. We’d only just finished writing it. It’s a song called Tick Tock. It’s a brand new song and at the moment that’s my favourite one to play live. It’s really different. It starts off with me on drums for one thing which is unusual since I mostly play the piano so that’s cool. And new songs are always exciting so I can’t wait to play it more.’

When Sunset Sons were just starting out as a cover band, what were your favourite covers to play live?

‘There’s a couple. We used to play ‘TV on the Radio’ – Wolf Like Me. It’s just a crazy fun song to play live. ‘Stay With Me’ – Faces was another favourite. We used to play a bit of Queens of the Stone Age as well. The great thing was back then, we kind of went against everything that we were supposed to play. We steered away from what ‘people like’ and just played what we liked. We just thought that if we were having fun, people would either join in or they’d leave and then you’ll know where you stand. One time, we were in the car and ‘Bubbles’ – Biffy Clyro came on the radio and I was like “Aw man, I love this song!” We played ‘Bubbles’ and ‘Who’s Got a Match?’ They’re great songs.’

Many people have compared Sunset Sons to Kings of Leon and similar bands. Are you flattered by these comparisons or does it bother you?

‘Well, if you’re getting compared to people you don’t like and we have had those comparisons when someone said we were similar to Maroon 5 and I’m not a fan of them. I mean, people say “music is subjective” and people will say what they want, you can’t stop them.

As for the Kings of Leon comparisons, I’m a massive fan and I’ve listened to those guys for years, especially their early stuff. I don’t play the guitar, I’m learning at the moment, but their music made me want to pick up a guitar. That comparison does come up a lot, I’m not going to lie, but it’s not a bad comparison, it’s meant as a compliment. Another one, which I won’t agree or disagree with, is Tom Petty and the dude is a legend and if you’re getting compared to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, you’re doing something right. Growing up, I used to listen to a lot of Motown Gold, Ray Charles and Smokey Robinson and I always wanted to play and sing like those guys but obviously I don’t sound like that but, in my head, I’m trying.

People have been trying to pigeonhole us for a while and music is so confusing nowadays. Like years ago, pop used to mean whatever music was popular but now nobody wants to be called ‘pop’ anymore. But it means popular music so if you’re in that genre, I see it as a good thing. We listen to a lot of rock music and a lot of influences come from that style so I guess we could call ourselves a rock band. And then there’s indie. Indie just confuses me, I have no idea what’s what. I just kind of forget about all that and just focus on playing and making the kind of music that we enjoy. I don’t really know which ‘genre’ we are – that’s what you guys do, you call us whatever you want to call us.’

If you could collaborate with any artist or band in the world, past or present, who would you pick?

‘I’ll throw two out there. Present: I’d say Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age. That’d be cool. I listen to all their records and stuff and I love what he does. He’s an extremely talented musician. Past: I’m gonna chuck a weird one in there and say Biggie Smalls. I listen to a lot of his stuff. It would be probably the worst sounding music ever but he’s someone who I think was pretty special when he was about.’

After the tour with Imagine Dragons this winter, what’s next for Sunset Sons in the New Year?

‘So, we finish the tour and then we get Christmas off, I think. We were told in January that we wouldn’t get any time off until Christmas so we’ve obviously been looking forward to that. A bit of time off will be nice. In the New Year, I think we’re booked up until March. We haven’t done a headline tour in a while which we obviously want to do. So, after the New Year, I think we’ll be straight back on the road. We might be in the studio a little bit as well because we can’t seem to get enough of the studio. This year just gone kind of surpassed anything I was expecting and next year, if everything goes to plan with the record and stuff, it should be even more intense and a lot more fun to be had.’

Sunset Sons are supporting Imagine Dragons at the SSE Hyrdo in Glasgow on November 15. Tickets are available to buy from Ticketmaster.

You can follow Sunset Sons on Facebook and Twitter.

Comedy Review: Frankie Boyle “Work in Progress” at The Stand Comedy Club, Glasgow

Comedian: Frankie Boyle – Work in Progress

Venue: The Stand Comedy Club, Glasgow – 10/08/2015

It’s hard – no, actually, it’s nigh on impossible – to defend Frankie Boyle’s comedy. So, I’m not even going to try. I don’t think it’s even deemed socially acceptable to openly admit to liking Frankie Boyle. He is arguably the most controversial comedian in the country today. A comedian who will quite literally joke about any and every sensitive topic and tragic event under the sun; no matter how risqué it is, no matter how much abuse he will get for it.

Frankie Boyle may be despicable (to say the least) but if he was truly hated by everyone across the nation, we wouldn’t be talking about him; he wouldn’t be selling out shows, books and DVDs, and he wouldn’t even be known to us at all – but he is. The thing that many people won’t admit is that Boyle, while hated, is also adored by fans across the country.

In many ways, Frankie Boyle could be compared to acid-tongue newspaper columnist Katie Hopkins (oh, except, Boyle is actually funny). While he may offend and disgust, he also often says what all other comedians are too afraid to say, and usually says what many people in the audience are really thinking.

---

It’s a typical drizzly Monday night in Kelvinbridge in the West End of Glasgow and The Stand Comedy Club is packed from the bar to the stalls with fans eagerly anticipating the return of one of the cities favourite, and paradoxically most divisive, comedians since his last Glasgow shows during the 2014 Independence Referendum.

Local Focus: New Girls “We’re Gender Confused Punks”

Have a read at my new review/interview/music feature introducing up-and-coming Glasgow/Ayrshire band New Girls! If you like The Stooges, Queens of the Stone Age, Sex Pistols or Guns n Roses, you’ll love this band.

This piece is now live on the Strathclyde Telegraph website and you can read it here!

Biffy Clyro and Slash Gig Review in University Newspaper!

My review on the Biffy Clyro and Slash ft. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators Review was published by the student newspaper at my university. Click here to read the article.

MTV World Stage – Biffy Clyro and Slash. A Review.

Review: MTV World Stage – Biffy Clyro and Slash

Date: 7 November

Venue: O2 Academy, Glasgow

It’s an urban gig myth. A mystical collaboration that fans fantasize about, all the while knowing it will most likely never happen. Two giants of alternative music: Scotland’s biggest rock export of recent years, Biffy Clyro, co-headlining with one of the most famous guitarists on the planet, the living legend that is, Slash. Even as eager fans queued outside Glasgow’s modest O2 Academy, many were convinced it was all a joke – and with tickets only costing £10 a piece when they arguably could have been sold for over £100, you can understand the speculation. However this fantasy, proved to be a reality.

The 2,500 odd lucky fans who managed to nab tickets, after causing a meltdown on Ticketweb due to the overwhelming demand, were in awe as Biffy Clyro emerge. The rock trio, hailing from Kilmarnock in Ayrshire, captivate the stage with the opening chords of That Golden Rule, and deafening hysteria takes over the crowd. Mosh pits erupt and spectators are hoyed into the air to surf along the crowd as Simon Neil shreds on lead guitar and sings in his raspy Scottish tones. A spectacular firework display of pyrotechnics, strobe lights and flames accompany the exhilarating set list, including the classic crowd-pleasers: Bubbles, Who’s Got a Match, Glitter and Trauma, The Captain and Black Chandelier, and the beloved slow acoustic tracks: God and Satan and Machines. An awe-inspiring rendition of Many of Horror unites the crowd in puddle of goo and love for the band and Simon Neil takes a back seat on lead-vocals as every member of the audience sings along to the chorus in perfect awesome unison. Loveable chants of “Mon the Biff!” and “Biffy! Biffy! Biffy Fucking Clyro!” spur on the Scottish rockers to finish their fantastic performance with an incredible version of the electrifying, Mountains.

As Biffy Clyro professes their undying love for Glasgow and say goodbye, the crowd cheer, woo and whistle with all their might and volume as the band vacate the stage for the next act. Anticipation buzzes in the crowd as fans wait patiently for the guitar hero and founding member of the original Guns n’ Roses line up, Slash, featuring the talents of Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge and the Conspirators.

A momentary hush descends on the crowd as the backing music played during intervals stops and the crowd go wild as Slash, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators take to the stage. The mere sight of Slash wearing his iconic top hat, shades and leather is enough to make the crowd scream and bounce in a frenzy as the act open with a pounding and thrilling version of You’re a Lie. Highpoints of the set list include: Nighttrain, Stone Blind, Anastasia, Back from Cali and the fan favourite from Slash’s former band Velvet Revolver, Slither. The stage is submerged in a pool of red and purple light as Slash amazes the crowd with his lightning speed guitar solos. The vintage Guns n’ Roses hits that everyone is dying to hear were met with feverish cheers and screams from the audience as the sound of You Could Be Mine and the classic Sweet Child O’ Mine blew the roof off the place. Just as the crowd think their energy is beginning to waver, everyone in the audience, even those sitting in the balconies are drawn up on their feet as an adrenaline-fuelled encore of Paradise City shakes the building to its foundations, followed by an explosion of seemingly-endless confetti that rains on the audience. The crowd strain their voices and scream for a final time in gratitude and admiration for the legends playing for them as Slash, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators bid their farewells.

Those hoping for an on-stage collaboration from both headlining acts were unfortunately left disappointed but an astounding cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s masterpiece Crazy Train by Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro and Slash, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators can be viewed on the main MTV EMA show.

Lucky for those fans who were unable to get tickets to this remarkable, one-off event, MTV were kind enough to film the sceptical for MTV World Stage as part of the EMA celebrations taking place in Glasgow’s SSE Hydro. An additional piece of good news is that both acts are returning to play in Scotland next month, so there is another chance to witness their epic performances.

It’s safe to say that those stumbling home from the O2 Academy, after being shook to their core with their faces melted off, their voices coarse and a piercing ringing in their ears, definitely had a night to remember.