Debut album for Scots singer-songwriter Matt Scott
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A SCOTTISH singer-songwriter with close ties to the north-east has released his debut album.
Matt Scott (30), who lives in Kilmarnock but has family in Portknockie, said he is “chuffed” with the response As It Was When It Happened has received, with radio plays from BBC Scotland, as well as local stations as far afield as Australia.
Matt has been putting out his own work and gigging for eight years and attracted a good crowd when he headlined a stage at Belladrum Festival back in 2017 – despite Franz Ferdinand playing at the same time.
But this album, which varies from song-to-song while flowing throughout, is perhaps a personal high point.
He wrote and sung every word on the album, as well as playing the guitar, bass, drums and piano.
Matt, who is a psychologist by trade, said: “The album release has surpassed all of my expectations. There have been thousands of listens.
“I’m blown away by it and it has has given me so much more focus.
“It counts what friends and family think but to see other folk enjoying the album is amazing and I can’t help but be buzzing about it.
“I have done all of this myself across months not knowing if anyone cares. I could have put it out and people could have said ‘ah yeah it’s good, well done’ but it has not been like that.
“People are listening to the full album, which is such a refreshing contradiction from what we are told in terms of needing to keep things short and snappy.
“Every track on the album is somebody’s favourite, there are no songs that are bombs from what people have said.”
Matt’s style has evolved massively over the years. While he was in more of an country-americana phase when he played at Belladrum, he describes his debut album as rock n roll.
Using Fire is a punchy opener and sets the tone for the album, with Peeping Tom and Love Me Honey Love also having more of a rock n roll feel. But there are also songs with a country vibe, including Kicking Leaves.
“My direction has always been changing – that’s where the album title As It Was When It Happened came from,” Matt added.
“In a few years my music will no doubt sound different. It’s hard to describe your own sound but I would say this record is rock n roll.
“You can pull the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and The Strokes out of it. It’s something nobody is doing at the moment and that’s why I made it.
“I hope there is a common thread of me throughout which makes it an album.”
As well as Belladrum, Matt has played a number of gigs in the north-east – with a post-lockdown gig in the Buckie area very much on the agenda for the 30-year-old.
He added: “I love it up in Portknockie. I was up in 2017, not long before I played at Belladrum.
“I visited a really traditional pub in Findochty, called the Admiral’s Inn, which was cool. I loved looking over the sea with dinner. It’s a gorgeous part of the country and I’d like to play there.
“I have played at Hootananny in Inverness twice, and at Brewdog in Aberdeen.
“Obviously touring is going to be dictated by lockdown but the attention the album is getting up north makes me want to tour it much more than before.
“I can see on Spotify that there are folk listening in Inverness, Aberdeen and up in the islands.
“I’ll need to get a band together, too, but hopefully it’ll happen before too long.”
You can listen to As It Was When It Happened on all streaming platforms or buy the album on iTunes. Matt can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by searching for @mattjamesscott, and has his own website at www.mattjamesscott.com.
Matt thanked engineer Paul Winton, of North Road Studios, his dad John, brothers Callum and John and his partner Anna Sweeney – also a musician – for their help with the album, as well as giving a mention to his auntie Jo, uncle Terry and family in Portknockie.
