Tommy Reilly: Scott Mills, Alex James & Britpop

Talented Scottish Orange Unsigned Act Finalist Exclusive Interview

Jan 10, 2009

The lovable golden boy of T4's talent scouting competition talks to Suite 101 about the weekly challenges, meeting Scott Mills, and feeling star-struck around Alex James.

T4’s Orange Unsigned Act is nearing its long-awaited climax. On Sunday, a previously eliminated act will re-enter the competition and have a chance to win the highly desirable record deal with Universal and a £60,000 advance. From now on each show’s outcome will be decided by public vote rather than judges’ opinions.

So far, the final acts are Tommy Reilly, Bo Bruce, Toby Sebastian and Hip Parade.

This week, Suite 101 went to watch Tommy in action at Camden’s Proud where he performed for an attentive and appreciative crowd. Before the show he sat down and spoke frankly about the extra weekly challenges set as part of the competition.

Suite 101: Unsigned Act isn’t just about performing every week is it? You’ve also been set tasks each week, like performing a cover, or dealing with the press? How’s that been?

Tommy: That was really fun. For the press thing I got Scott Mills [Drivetime Show, BBC’s Radio 1], the guy’s a national hero! I couldn’t believe my luck. He’s such a nice guy. That’s what he’s famous for I guess, just being a really fun, nice, happy guy. But he really is like that. He really puts you at ease; he’s a great interviewer, he just chilled me right out. I had a great time.

Alex James and Blur, Oasis, the Best of Britpop

Suite 101: You’ve met quite a lot of professionals now through the show, some pretty important people within the industry. Which ones stand out for you?

Tommy: Scott Mills is the only real media person I’ve met, but I don’t think it could have got much better. The guy’s brilliant. I’ve met a couple of the A & R types too. Simon Gavin is a great guy. Alex James is just cool, he’s the coolest guy I can talk to. I mean the band he’s in, unbelievable.

Tommy: I'm 19 so I think I just missed them. But I went back and listened to it all. The first album I ever really got that made me start listening to proper music was Oasis’ (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? Before that I didn’t used to think about music much. When I got given that record I went home and I thought it was so good that I had to learn the guitar so I could play the songs on it. And then that obviously led me through Britpop to Blur and I got all the records I could find. I got really into it. I mean those guys are fundamentally one of the biggest British bands we’ve ever produced.

Tommy: Well it’s really strange, we’ve been sitting and listening to those records and those basslines for maybe 10 years? But since I was young his songs have been on the radio and on TV, and then I’m suddenly talking to the guy, that’s a bit weird.

Tommy: A little bit! I think every time I’ve spoken to him I’ve said something stupid. He’s a national hero.

Tommy: Actually I don’t really say anything, I just go ‘wuuuuh’ [drops his head and mumbles incoherently into shirt and laughs]. I don’t say anything at all and he’s like ‘Hey man!’

The Script, Biggest Album of the Year

Suite 101: What was your favourite challenge out of the ones you’ve done so far?

Tommy: I’ve enjoyed all the challenges. Really enjoyed the interview with Scott, I liked meeting The Script too, they were really nice guys. It’s great to meet a band who’ve ‘done it’ - biggest selling album of the year someone told me before the interview, that’s amazing! I just took all the advice I could get from them. It was cool to meet a band like that. Especially at the end when they said they liked my song. That freaked me out!

Orange Unsigned Act continues on Channel 4’s T4 on Sundays throughout January, with the semi finals and finals taking place on the 18th and 25th January respectively