'Shocked to be honest' – Huntly musician tops charts again
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A HUNTLY singer-songwriter has come full circle by returning to the top of the charts after seven years.
Michael Forsyth released a self-titled album earlier this year, packed with re-recorded versions of some of his favourite originals from the last six years.
The album flew to the number one spot in the iTunes Singer-Songwriter chart shortly after its release, beating out releases by Eurovision star Sam Ryder and songwriting icon Paul Simon alike.
Michael, however, was late to the party.
He had no idea how much his music had spread until he was tipped off by a late text.
"Well, to be honest, I didn't realise until later on," said Michael.
"It had gone in at number 26. I was really pleased with it, and then I got a message at 10 o'clock telling me it was number one.
"I'm really happy because I put a lot of time and effort into it. It's good to see it doing well."
Chart success is not new for Michael, whose 2016 debut album also scaled to the same height.
He said: "In 2016, I released my first album, which went to number one in the iTunes singer-songwriter chart.
"Then I released my second album, which hit number three, then Out Here in the Dark, which hit number eight.
"I've been doing it in my spare time because I work full-time.
"But it's good, because it's something I enjoy doing and people support me doing it."
Michael is a well-known face in the Huntly music scene, having spent his whole teenage period and his early adult years in bands.
His most well-known band was cover band Earth who, he said, played everything from Robbie Williams to the Sex Pistols, and Guns n' Roses to Oasis.
In 2006, Michael made the shift to writing and playing his own tunes, drawing from influences like Noel Gallagher, Richard Ashcroft, Neil Young and Bob Dylan.
His latest album grew out of his ambitious project to release a revamped original song, as a single, every Friday for 30 weeks.
Michael picked out his favourite 12 reworked tracks for his latest album.
He said he had not expected the album to do so well: "It's interesting. I was quite shocked to be honest.
"There hasn't been any PR around it, so it has all just been word of mouth."
Michael said his future plans include pushing his music on Twitter and a September trip to Manchester for a special gig.
However, as always, he said new tracks are in the pipeline for later this summer – featuring fellow Huntly loon Mark Johnston on bass.
"There will definitely be new material," Michael said.
"All my stuff is recorded with Mark Johnston and he is one of my best pals.
"We have always done music together and it helps me out.
"It's good to have someone to bounce ideas and that off."
Michael posts music and updates on his Twitter account, where his handle is: @mforsythmusic
His side project, Kaleidoscope Sky, is planning to release a single on June 30.
