Soul man Paolo Nutini gets the blues
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Bluesfest bound … Scottish soul singer Paolo Nutini wants to check out Ben Harper and Gary Clark Jr at the Byron Bay festival. Picture Cameron Richardson
Source: News Limited
REAL rock stars do cry. As images of One Direction’s Zayn Malik and Harry Styles shedding tears on stage during recent concerts broke their fans’ hearts just a little more, Scottish soul man Paolo Nutini admits he has cried during a gig.
Back in Australia for Bluesfest and his own side shows, the handsome musician said he teared up during a concert by American folk legend Rodriguez.
“I had a little cry when I went to see Rodriguez in Manchester with my friends, probably because we had been up for three days before then,” he said.
“I think we were all a bit emotional. That gig was amazing.
“You can never tell what will make someone cry. Just hope it’s not because my show is s….”
Cry baby … Nutini was moved to tears during a concert by American folk legend Rodriguez. Picture: Supplied.
Source: Supplied
The Scottish singer with an Italian name who sings blue-eyed soul reckons he has made it almost impossible to be a star.
He may be misjudging his appeal, considering he has sold more than eight million records worldwide since launching his career with his 2006 debut These Streets.
He kept the success rolling with Sunny Side Up in 2009 and last year’s third record Caustic Love debut in the top 10 in Australia.
“It’s a lot to digest you know. Here comes along this guy with an Italian name, speaks with a Scottish accent, he sings different and doesn’t sound Italian or Scottish,” he said.
“By the time people try to figure all of that, they probably think ‘I’ve got shit to do, I don’t have time for this.’
Unique voice … Nutini’s blue-eyed soul doesn’t sound like anything else on the charts. Picture: Supplied.
Source: Supplied
The self-deprecating Scotsman joked that he should have come up with a one-word name but fears Nutini would not have worked.
“Maybe they’ll think I’m some kind of Star Wars character, sounds like an Ewok,” he said.
Nutini dropped off the radar after touring his second album, returning more than four years later with Caustic Love, which made it onto plenty of top 10 albums of the years lists.
He said he lost his love of music but slowly got the vibe back.
“I thought it was becoming too much of a job, I kept wondering what the f … was going on because I wasn’t buzzing about music, I couldn’t listen to my stuff, couldn’t listen to my voice,” he said.
“As soon as I started to play the guitar for fun, to want to put a record, I knew it was time.
“It’s like anything, you have to respect it to take from it.”
Bluesfest pick … Nutini reckons Gary Clark Jr is a must-see. Picture: Supplied.
Source: Supplied
Headline attraction … Nutini finds Harper’s playing hypnotic. Picture; Supplied.
Source: Supplied
Nutini joins one of the hottest — both in talent and hotness — line-ups in Bluefest’s history and nominates Ben Harper and Gary Clark Jr as must-see picks.
“I remember getting hypnotised by Ben Harper’s playing and energy. Gary Clark Jr is fantastic, he’s brilliant. Doesn’t he just look cool? He always looks like he should be doing what he’s doing,” he said.
“And Hozier’s playing too. I’m a big fan of that Hozier track. It’s a clever song.”
Nutini plays the Enmore Theatre on Tuesday, the Palais, Melbourne on Wednesday and Bluefest, Byron Bayon April 3 and 4.
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