Introducing... whimsical Fife singer songwriter James Yorkston, who plays the first Must See gig of 2005 in York next week.
James Yorkston is Scottish, 32, and writes blackly mischievous songs of acoustic grace and home truths. You may not have heard his two cult albums, 2002's Moving Up Country and last year's Just Beyond The River, but are urged to correct the error of your ways. CHARLES HUTCHINSON has a quiet word as James prepares to put the York into Yorkston on Thursday.
Your new single, Shipwreckers, out on Monday, has been remixed by renowned producers Bacon and Quarmby. Did you choose them?
"Of course I didn't choose them! I don't even know who they are. I just said to the record company 'I don't mind if you use a remix'. The banjo is still there, which was my main concern; the violin is more to the fore, and they've just stuck the middle eight at the beginning.
"I think the record company Domino chose it because it was the 'fast' track on the album. They've made it shorter, taken five or ten seconds off it, and it's a radio friendly remix. It's one of those things where they suggested doing it, and my thinking was, they let me record the album without hearing a note, with a name producer Four Tet's Kieran Hebden. They gave me that trust and I've given them the trust in return to go with the most poppy track".
So is this a deliberate venture into the pop world?
"No, I'm way, way past the shiny junk you hear on the radio that's just another symbol of how ghastly this world is. I'm not a pop artist. I'm not a young man, I'm 32, and pop is a young man's game.
"For the sake of selling an extra 5,000 copies, it just wouldn't be worthwhile. I've got to keep it honest. So much music is s***, because you know exactly who they've been listening to and why a song was written that way. Honestly, what is the point of writing music like that?"
Honesty is clearly important to you.
"I stay true to my beliefs, so Just Beyond The River is not a pop record. It's lovely to be getting good reviews, but that doesn't change anything. I don't write for the reviews. "In a way, I'm quite lucky that I don't have too many financial pressures - I have a partner and a cat - and there's no pressure for me to do it. I do it because I love music. If I wanted to make money, I would become an accountant...
"...It's easy for me to say this, but as soon as you lose sight of the ball, your music does suffer."
Does being in your thirties rather than a young musician release you from feelings of pressure?
"Without doubt. If I'd ever had the courage to do my own music when I was 19, 20, 21, or if some London guy had signed me, I may well have turned into a money-orientated fool, but I was fortunate enough not to have the courage until I was 27. I was in bands until then, and one of the guys was very headstrong, and as I wasn't so headstrong, I'd go along with him."
Will you be bringing your band The Athletes with you next week?
"No, this isn't a band tour. Not at all! There's a number of reasons for that. We did loads of dates in Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Holland...a long stretch last year, and it's just different to be doing these new shows on my own. I'll be playing guitar, banjo and harmonica and no doubt King Creosote will join me on accordion for some songs at the end.
"I've only done one solo show - Donal Dineen's annual charity show in Dublin - since 2001 when I had to give up working at James Thins bookshop in Edinburgh after I got invited to play solo support on John Martyn's tour. That was a real sink-or-swim tour for me.
"Hopefully, I'll be doing more varied stuff than with the band where we'd have 30 songs to choose from for a 20-song set. Playing solo I can pick from a lot more traditional Scottish, Irish and English music."
What's next for you this year?
"At the moment I'm recording an EP for a Spanish label and I'm putting together a compilation of B-sides, rarities and unreleased tracks for Domino which we aim to have out in June."
James Yorkston plays Fibbers, York, Thursday; The Faversham, Leeds, next Saturday, supported by King Creosote. York tickets: £7 advance, £8 door. Ring 0870 9070 999.
Updated: 15:15 Thursday, January 27, 2005
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