Tommy Reilly: New Album and Best Scottish Bands

Singer Songwriter Orange Unsigned Act Winner Exclusive Interview

Jan 10, 2009

Judges' favourite Tommy Reilly talks about the switch to public voting, his plans for a new album, his favourite Scottish music and the competition highlights so far.

T4’s Orange Unsigned Act, the premier scouting competition for the best of Britain’s unsigned talent, will finally have a winner by the end of the month. On Sunday’’s show, a previously knocked out act will have the chance to re-enter the final alongside Tommy Reilly, Bo Bruce, Hip Parade and Toby Sebastian. Semi finals and finals will take place in following weeks. At stake is a record deal with major label Universal and a £60,000 advance.

This week, Suite 101 was invited to watch the lovable Scottish singer songwriter Tommy Reilly performing at Camden’s Proud. Tommy found the time to answer a few questions before going on stage before an appreciative crowd.

Public Decisions and a New State of Play

Suite 101: Every week you’ve been performing in front of judges, in front of fans, but from Sunday it’s going to a public vote. How do you think that’s going to change the state of play?

Tommy: I think it’ll be fun! I guess the whole point of this thing is at the end to find out what people think of your music. I had a great time hearing what the professionals had to say about it, but it’s good to hear, most importantly I guess in the long run, what everyone else thinks of it. They might think it’s rubbish. They might be sitting there saying “what are they thinking putting this guy through all the time?” It’ll be good to know, because if they don’t like it, I’ll have to have a think and come back with something different.

Plans For a New Album in 2009

Suite 101: I guess it all depends on what you go on to do after the show no matter what the outcome is.

Tommy: First and foremost I just want to make a record this year. My heart’s set on it. I’ve sat at home for the past year, working out what songs I’m going to put in an album. Now I just want to get it made.

Tommy: I’ve dabbled. I’ve done a bit with Uni mates and I’ve done a bit in small studios, but I’ve never done anything that I’ve been truly happy with. For me it takes a while to record, because I play all the instruments, and I layer it up. I know that sounds really ‘up myself’ – I don’t play them all very well! I don’t have a band, so I try and play a wee bit of drums, and then a wee bit of bass, then guitar, and try and sort of layer it up.

Tommy: I wouldn’t say so, I struggle playing the parts on other instruments! But the keyboard parts and the guitar parts I can do alright. But recording that way takes a wee while, because you have to do each instrument loads of times.

Best of Scottish Music

Tommy: I listen to a lot of Scottish bands. I really like my mates Ross Clark and the Scarfs Go Missing. They’re on MySpace.com, find them! I really like other Scottish bands too, I listen to We Were Promised Jetpacks, and they’ve just signed to the same label as Frightened Rabbit, a great Scottish band again.

Highlights of This Year’s Competition

Tommy: The last gig in Oxford was mental. That was the busiest one. I mean, every time was amazing but at that one there just seemed to be a sea of people. I think the hall was bigger or something, and probably the fact that McFly were playing brought the numbers in. Maybe it was just the angles and the lighting but it looked huge. And it was just unbelievably good fun.

Tommy: Oh that’s a tough one. I couldn’t say, Lauren Laverne, Alex James, Simon Gavin, they’re all really cool. We always have a wee chat to them when we’re passing and stuff. They’re always really nice and always trying to help us. So I couldn’t really give you a favourite on that one.

Orange Unsigned Act continues on Channel 4’s T4 on Sundays throughout January.