We chatted with Glaswegian singer/songwriter Gerry Cinnamon this week. The solo artist from across the border is becoming a quite a hit, after performances at the likes of Liverpool Sound City, Gerry is set to embark on a Scottish tour to following up the release of his second single, 'Kampfire Vampire'. Here's what he had to say...
1. Who is Gerry Cinnamon?
I'm a singer/songwriter from Glasgow. Acoustic guitar, harmonicas and a loop pedal.
2. Who are your biggest musical influences?
Johnny Cash, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Beck.
3. Your debut single, 'Hope Over Fear', reached number five in the iTunes Alternative Chart. How did that feel for you?
I was in Rome when it charted I didn't even know it was happening. The whole thing was a wee bit mental not just the song charting. I wrote the song pretty quickly then recorded a video and posted it on Facebook. Within about 15 mins it had been shared a few hundred times. That picked up pace and it just kept going for about a week. I started getting messages from all round the world. People really seemed to take it into their hearts it was crazy. Good crazy though. There were folk from Hong Kong singing it at a protest. That kinda stuff blows your mind. I recorded a shit demo in two takes and stuck it on iTunes. It took a few days to get it onto iTunes. By that time I was in Italy getting messages telling me what was happening. It was all organic though. It went on iTunes then I went on holiday and it took on a life of its own. Knocking Coldplay and Arctic Monkeys off the charts was pretty cool and charting is a cool thing to say but really it was one of a hundred crazy things happening at the time.
4. You've just released your second single, 'Kampfire Vampire'. Tell us a little about the track?
Kampfire Vampire is a kickback at the falseness of the music industry. From reality TV shows to upcoming artists on the local circuit being exploited by people who are only interested in money. For a lot of young artists it becomes a choice between joining them and becoming part of something you don't agree with, or quitting. Most people just quit. Kampfire Vampire is an expression of a third choice. To do your own thing and not feel the need to ingratiate yourself to social vampires. Build your own campfire and make it undeniable. If you believe in what you do and your honest with your approach I think people appreciate that more.
5. What has been the highlight of your career so far?
The highlight is probably selling out King Tuts myself before I had a record out. There were folk being turned away from the door and the crowd were chanting the songs word for word when the only only place they could listen to them was live videos on YouTube. That kind of thing blows my mind because it means it's real. No marketing. No bullshit. Things are kicking off a bit now I've been signed, played George Square a few times and got some big festivals coming up but on a personal level the Tuts gig was special.
6. Where do you see yourself in five years time?
In five years time I hope I'm still alive. The last 12 months have been mayhem. I can understand why musicians go totally off the rails. Hopefully in five years I'll be able to gig without staying out for days and have more than five albums out. I've got hundreds of songs that I'm dying to release but every time I go to record I end up writing another one. What a depressing answer but that's the most honest answer I can give. Obviously I want to succeed and play massive venues and tour the world but I think those things are a bi product of writing tunes that people love. If it's not then it fucking should be.
7. You recently played Liverpool's Sound City Festival, how did that go?
Liverpool Sound City was cool. I love Liverpool it's got a great musical heritage and I feel at home when I'm there. Liverpool and Glasgow are very similar in all sorts of ways from our industrial history to even the way we express things. When I'm in Liverpool I alway get black cabs because the patter from them is class. You'd be hard pushed to find another city with decent patter like Glasgow. Liverpool is one of those cities. That's the highest accolade I can give them.
8. You've got a Scottish tour coming up in October followed by a European one soon after. How excited are you for these?
The Scottish tour I'm absolutely buzzing for it. It's my first official headline tour. I've always tried to do things under the radar but now it's starting to get real. I've had a good reaction so far. When you go to another city or another country and people know your songs it's difficult to process. It's heavy humbling. I'm playing all over Scotland then looking to do UK and Europe. A lot of folk misconceptions about what a tour is like. I know it's not gny be easy but I'm ready to go to war with it. If I come back in one piece with my voice still working I'll be happy.
9. What's next for Gerry Cinnamon?
I've got an album to start and finish. I've got so many songs ready to go and writing every day so it's going to be difficult to choose the track listing. I'm playing T in the Park this year as well. That's always been a festival I wanted to play from when I was a kid. T in the Park has always supported upcoming artists with Tbreak so to be part of it is well good. I've got a feeling it's gny be really special. My hearts pumping just thinking about it.
10. Where can we hear/find out more from you?
I've got some stuff on iTunes and Spotify and Soundcloud. Most of the tunes have been pulled to re record them on the album which will be out in October some time. If you want to get a feel for what I'm doing check out Kampfire Vampire and Fickle Mcselfish on iTunes and swatch some of the live stuff on YouTube or come to a show. Bring your dancing shoes.