Scots singer Amy Macdonald celebrates 10 years since her debut album was released and has gone from naive schoolgirl to savvy songstress
The 29-year-old managed to bag four top five albums over the years but admits she didn’t realise how hard the music industry can be when first starting out
SINGER Amy Macdonald is celebrating 10 years since her debut album was released and has gone from naive schoolgirl to savvy songstress.
The 29-year-old managed to bag four top five albums over the years but admits she didn’t realise how hard the music industry can be when first starting out.
Amy’s first record sold millions of copies and kick-started a successful career that has seen her perform all over the world, appear on US talk shows and even receive a spot on Switzerland’s Walk of Fame.
She said: “If I could go back I would probably take it all in more.
“I was so young and thrust into this crazy position, so I had an album that was selling millions all over Europe and I just thought this is what happens — I had just put my music out and it had done really well.
“But now I know that’s not what happens — it takes so much hard work and dedication on so many people’s parts.
“I think if I had known more at the time I would have savoured every single moment but hindsight is a wonderful thing.”
Amy released first album This Is the Life aged just 19 but didn’t let her meteoric rise go to her head and insists she hasn’t changed too much.
She said: “I was a teenager back then and I didn’t really have a lot of life experience.
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“I wrote a lot of the songs on This Is The Life when I was still at school, when I was 15, so the person I was at that point is definitely a bit different from me now.
“I’ve had to deal with different situations and have grown up a bit but still have a similar outlook to life.
“I have the same friends I went to school with, still live in Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire so I haven’t changed in that respect.”
Amy has learned that good music doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves but she always sticks with her guns and it pays off.
She said: “The music industry is so crazy that the least important thing these days seems to be the music.
“The songs that end up on radio and get a good rotation aren’t necessarily the best ones.
“But you just have to get on with it and do your own thing and take yourself away from that side of it.
“I always try my best and that’s all I can do really but that’s four albums I’ve had and in the UK.
"I’ve have a number one, two number twos and a number four, so that’s not too shabby.”
The Mr Rock & Roll singer avoided the curse of the one hit wonder and is still humbled by her fans’ dedication.
I just feel so honoured that people have supported me for all of that time and I am still able to do what I love
She said: “It’s insane that it’s been a decade since my first album came out but it has been an amazing experience.
“I never would have thought I’d get to release an album, never mind four albums in 10 years and still be able to travel all over doing these amazing shows.
“I just feel so honoured that people have supported me for all of that time and I am still able to do what I love.”
This year not only marks This Is the Life’s 10th anniversary, it’s also Amy’s 30th birthday later this month.
But while most 20-somethings dread hitting their 30s, Amy insists she is taking it in her stride. She said: “The whole turning 30 thing doesn’t affect me.
"I feel like I have managed to fit quite a lot into the last three decades, so I am quite content with what I have done so far.”
And the songwriter isn’t even planning a celebration with her life on the road getting in the way of any partying.
She said: “I was originally supposed to be working on my birthday — which always seems to be the way.
“But I’m going to be travelling home on my birthday so I’ll be in an airport somewhere. I am not the kind of person who has these crazy parties for their birthday after so many years of travelling about, birthdays don’t really mean that much to me.”
Engaged Amy is set to tie the knot with footballer fiancé Ricky Foster, 31, but admits touring is putting wedding planning on hold.
She said: “I am literally the busiest I have ever been.
“I have done more gigs this year than I think I have ever done so I don’t have time to plan a wedding.
“I have been living on a bus for the past couple of weeks so unfortunately that’s not something that is on the radar right now.”
But when the big day does come round, Amy isn’t going to be a traditional bride. She said: “To be fair, the two of us are pretty laidback about it. I don’t think there will be any grand planned wedding to be honest.
“It’s not really my vibe or his. I doubt it will be a big white dress.”
Amy has had some big moments over the years such as opening the 2014 Commonwealth Games with Rod Stewart in Glasgow and sharing the bill with hero Bruce Springsteen at Hyde Park.
But she confesses that playing at Hogmanay on the BBC last year was not one of her highlights.
She said: “It’s the worst thing ever playing at Hogmanay — especially on the TV. You are there all day, it’s the most boring and terrible thing — I don’t think I’ll be doing it again.
"We were in the same building for 48 hours solid doing so many rehearsals because it’s TV. It isn’t the most enjoyable of experiences.”
Amy revealed her sadness at seeing T In The Park cancelled this year after the festival inspired her to pick up a guitar.
And she was also left disappointed when she missed out on playing TRNSMT in Glasgow.
She said: “It was sad that T In The Park was cancelled.
“It’s where I saw Travis perform and that’s what inspired me to start playing music.
"I got asked to do TRNSMT but I was already booked in that whole weekend in other countries.
"It was exactly what we needed from a festival.”
But Amy’s legion of loyal Scots fans can catch her at Party at the Palace in Linlithgow, West Lothian, next weekend – and she can’t wait to spend some time at home.
She said: “T In The Park can be a little crazy and these smaller festivals have more of a family feel.
"It’s a very chilled out affair and something for everyone. It’s always good to perform somewhere you never have before and Linlithgow will be a first for me.
"And it’s great being so close to home — it’s so nice when I get to go to my own bed afterwards for a change.”
GET tickets for Party at the Palace, which is on August 12 and 13, at partyatthepalace.co.uk
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