Paolo Nutini

Tuesday 27th June 2006

SINGLE – ‘LAST REQUEST’ RELEASED JULY 3
DEBUT ALBUM – ‘THESE STREETS’ RELEASED JULY 17
UK TOUR - JULY

Introducing Paolo Nutini, a 19-year-old singer/songwriter from Paisley, Scotland, whose debut single ‘Last Request’ is released through Atlantic Records on July 3.  This will be followed by his debut album ‘These Streets’, produced by Ken Nelson (Coldplay/Gomez), on July 17.

Following a set of acclaimed performances at this year’s SXSW festival and Radio 1’s Big Weekend, sold-out headline shows at King Tut's in Glasgow and an upcoming sold-out show at London’s Metro, Nutini has announced a UK tour which includes a headline show at London’s Dingwalls @ Lock 17 on July 20.  He will also be playing at Wireless Festival in London on June 24, T In The Park on July 9 and V Festival on August 19/20.

    
Nutini’s songs suggest he knows an awful lot about the vicissitudes of life and love, and demonstrate his unique gift for expressing in song the attitudes and experiences of someone his age.  ‘These Streets’ records his experiences of moving to London, a song which wistfully name checks the places in which he grew up and is sure to strike a chord with anyone who has ever lived in bedsit-land.   "Feeling good, feeling down, telling a few white lies.  It's a very personal record," says Nutini, "but hopefully other people can relate to the feelings.”  Many of the songs on the album, including ‘Last Request’ and ‘Rewind', were inspired by a turbulent relationship with a girlfriend, and ‘Jenny Don't Be Hasty’ is a true story about encounters with an older woman.

Despite the Italian name, the Nutini family have lived in Paisley for at least four generations. Paolo's great-grandfather opened the fish and chip shop in Paisley, which his parents now run.  Nutini grew up hanging out and later working in the shop but was always surrounded by music. His grandfather - commemorated in the elegiac ‘Autumn’ on the album - played him Scottish folk songs by the Corries and a local priest would often come round to play boogie-woogie on the family piano.  Exposure to '50s rock'n'roll came via his father's love of the Drifters, and amongst an aunt's record collection he found a Ray Charles album, which began his love of classic soul.  Further influences inlcude the work of such classic troubadours as John Martyn and Van Morrison. When the opportunity arose to tour the UK as a roadie for a friends band, Paolo quit school in Glasgow and the die was cast.  After moving to London, he performed regularly at the Bedford in Balham, later signing to Atlantic Records shortly after his 18th birthday.

Click here to buy 'Paolo Nutini - These Streets'

Paolo Nutini

• Ones to Watch 2009
• Ones To Watch 2008
• Ones To Watch 2007
• Ones To Watch 2006
• Ones To Watch 2005