Tommy Reilly: Thoughts on the Final Four

Exclusive interview with Scottish Orange Unsigned Act Winner

Jan 10, 2009

Singer songwriter Tommy Reilly talks to Suite 101 about his fellow finalists, Jo Whiley, the Scottish English competition divide, and thanks his fans for their support.

Tommy Reilly is one of the most intensely likable characters on this year’s Orange Unsigned Act, the nation’s top talent scouting competition for unsigned artists.

His impassioned delivery, unassuming modesty and ability to convey very real emotions have marked him as a bright star of 2009 regardless of the competition’s outcome. But at stake are a highly desirable Universal record deal, and a £60,000 advance, which are sure to help the young Scot’s heartfelt plans to record an album in 2009.

On Sunday’’s show, a previously knocked out act will have the chance to re-enter the competition ahead of January’s final alongside Tommy and fellow finalists, Bo Bruce, Hip Parade and Toby Sebastian.

Suite 101 was invited to watch Tommy perform at Camden’s Proud this week and took the opportunity to ask a few questions of the judges’ favourite.

The Final Four of Orange Unsigned Act

Suite 101: You’re up in the final against Bo Bruce, Hip Parade, and Toby Sebastian. Care to share any thoughts on your fellow finalists?

Tommy: They’re all brilliant. Me and Hip Parade did a gig at home recently. They’re such a good band. Everyone’s got their own thing. Toby’s bringing the whole soul vibe in, which is great. Bo, the voice on that girl is ridiculous [shakes his head amazed]. They’re just great people and great bands, and I’m glad that they’re there. We were talking the other day about how strange it was that Jo Whiley picked out 3 of the final 4. We all did the open audition and she picked me, Bo and Toby out. She must be quite happy with that, at home watching it!

Tommy: No idea. It’s a totally different voting thing now isn’t it? Hip Parade have been so good recently, they’re going to make a lot of noise. There’s also the band coming back on Sunday. There was national uproar at the Scarlet Harlots leaving, so they’re looking quite bright as well. All the bands in it, they’ve all got something that I love. That’s what’s made me really happy about the competition, that why I’m so glad to be in it. If any one of the ten bands, the bands on the tour, made an album I’d probably buy it. It’s an honour to be there more than anything else. I can’t believe I’m there with bands of that sort of quality.

Suite 101: The judges have rarely said a bad word about you though have they? Does that put pressure on you for the final?

Tommy: No, that’s not pressure. If they’ve said nice things about me, then I can hope that other people will be positive too, that just builds you up. I think to myself “I’m gonna just have to go and keep doing it”. I don’t think it puts pressure on you, if anything it chills you out. I think maybe I can try and be a bit more positive about it too. .

Scottish English Representation

Suite 101: There’s great 50:50 representation between Scotland and England in the final 4. Do you think it might turn into a bit of a Scottish/English battleground?

Tommy: I hope not, because there’s only 5 million of us, so if it comes down to a voting war…. Is it 60 million in England? I don’t know – I didn’t do so well in Geography! I wouldn’t want it to be a vote off based on population. I love the fact that maybe Scottish people will vote for a Scottish band, that’s great, but I just hope people vote! I’d love the Scottish people to vote for me. I hope it doesn’t come down to a battle, I hope it’s just between the four of us, and that they’re not playing us off against each other. But you never know, Fangs could be back in next week and it could be 3 Scottish bands against 2 English!

Comments on MySpace, Tommy Thanks His Fans

Tommy: People are just being really nice. People have been leaving comments on my MySpace page too, and I want to thank everyone for doing that if any of them are reading this. It’s so nice of people to do that. I try and write them all back, but there’s been quite a lot recently which I find really strange, but cool! It’s been a real shock, but it’s been nice, it’s been really fun. There are always going to be people who don’t like it very much, but even then, when people have been quite down on it, they’re quite nice about how they say it. I just love the fact that people are giving me opinions. It’s good to hear what people really think.

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