Amy Macdonald – ‘A Curious Thing’

Amy Macdonald, whose debut album ‘This Is The Life’ made her one of the world’s most successful British female singer-songwriters, has announced that her highly anticipated second album will be released on 8th March 2010.

‘This Is The Life’ went to Number 1 in five countries, including the UK, has achieved platinum or multi-platinum status in 12 countries and has sold three million copies globally. The title track hit Number 1 as a single in 10 countries, and she’s had combined single sales of over 2 million.

Amy’s new album was recorded at Paul Weller’s Black Barn Studios, in Ripley, Surrey, and the man himself features on the album. The first single will be ‘Don’t Tell Me That It’s Over’, out 1st March, and Amy launched the record with special shows at Glasgow’s iconic Barrowland Ballroom and the ICA in London.

Since the release of ‘This Is The Life’ in 2007 Amy has gigged constantly, played to huge festival crowds all over Europe, met many of her idols, won numerous awards across Europe and quietly worked her way to being one of the UK’s biggest musical exports of recent years.

“At the start of all this, I wouldn’t have believed you if you’d have told me how successful This Is The Life would be,” said Amy. “The last couple of years have been a mixture of hard work and great fun and I’m so grateful for all the support I’ve had, especially at home in Scotland. I’m really excited to be back on home soil with the new album ready and gigs to play. I can’t wait to get back out there.”

It’s hard for Amy Macdonald to remember the high point of the two-year period following the release of her 2007 debut This Is The Life. Was it supporting Paul Weller in Holland at the beginning of 2007? ‘He and [guitarist] Steve Cradock were very nice to me and we became friends,’ the singer-songwriter remembers. ‘Then when I headlined Shepherd’s Bush Empire in 2008, Paul came along – that was a total thrill.’

Was it winning the Best International Newcomer at Germany’s Echo Awards, beating Duffy, Adele and Gabriella Cilmi? Going five-times platinum in Switzerland? Watching the album’s title track become a Number One single in ten countries? Becoming the biggest selling debut British female since Amy Winehouse in Germany? Performing a triumphant homecoming show on the main stage at Scotland’s T In The Park, the festival she had attended religiously since she was old enough to legally pitch a tent?

Or was it knocking Radiohead’s In Rainbows from the Number One spot in the UK album charts in January 2008? ‘That was just brilliant for me,’ admits the Scottish artist, who was only 19 at the time of the release of This Is The Life (she’s 22 now). ‘The album had hung around the charts all Christmas. It had been out for six months and it had gone to Number Two when it was released. And when it got to Christmas I was just so chuffed that it was anywhere near the Top 20 at that time of year. The week after Christmas it was climbing… On the Friday it was Number Three, a couple of thousand copies behind Take That and then miles away from Radiohead at Number One. But I think I benefited from the Saturday shoppers – mums in Tesco are not gonna buy Radiohead, so I think that’s how I trumped them.’ On hearing the news her first phone call was to her mum. ‘It was just amazing.’

The high point amidst all those peaks? None of the above.

‘I just love performing, and I’m so glad that I’ve established the live side of things,’ she says eagerly of a world tour that continued right up until autumn 2009. ‘That’s the most important thing, especially ‘cause that’s what I remember from when I was younger: after I loved a CD I’d be like, “right, now I want to see this band live.” And now I can’t believe that I’m able to play festivals and clubs all over the world.’

Months, miles, club shows, pub shows, halls, theatres, festivals, encores, second encores: through good old-fashioned gigging, word-of-mouth enthusiasm and constant, overwhelming radio play (notably for the internationally ubiquitous singles Mr Rock and Roll and This Is The Life), Amy Macdonald went from being an unknown teenage Scottish singer-songwriter to international star. Being the ever-restless songwriter she’s been from her early teens, she’s alchemised those experiences into the sound of her second album, A Curious Thing. Big, bold and dramatic. Intimate, tender and touching. It’s Amy Macdonald, full-voiced and rebooted and reenergised, with added hammering piano and a couple of guest spots from Paul Weller.