Introducing: Polly Scattergood

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We like Polly Scattergood. She seems to be the last of a dying breed – an artist who’s been playing live and releasing localised EP’s for years before finally making the step up into the bigger world as we know it. You can have a sneak listen to a new track on our Mixtape for this month before buying her single, which is out today, called ‘I Hate The Way’, then see her live on Wed 24th September at The Luminaire in Kilburn. Ladies and Gentlemens, we give you the lady herself…

For people out there that have never heard of you. Give us three reasons why they should…
I can only think of one reason… It would be cool to think that maybe someone reading this, who has their own world, maybe totally different from mine, & a million miles away, or maybe just on the next street. Might feel something for just one little moment of the music that I create. So for that moment we could share it.

Can you recall the moment when you first decided you wanted to become a musician?
I suppose the realization came when I left home, I was 16 & from a relatively small town, moving to London was like my escape. Before then I wrote my songs in a very secure little bubble, Suddenly I was out on my own, in the real world, & I remember thinking there is no going back now

Where do your songs come from? What’s your inspiration?
I don’t know, I wish I did. They seem to come when I least expect or want them! Often night time.
I have never knowingly gone out to find “inspiration” but I am quite aware of my surrounding and the people and situations in it. I like to watch life I am a story teller.

Name your Top 5 records.
These change frequently, and are in no particular order, but, currently…
Leonard Cohen -Hallelujah
Mylo-Need you tonight
Joni Mitchell- River
Bonnie Prince Billy-I see a darkness
The Flaming Lips-Yoshimi

What was the first gig you ever played and was it a success?
My first ever gig was in the 12 bar in Denmark Street, it was a success, in that I got on stage, sang my songs, and realized that my heart was still beating afterwards.

What one piece of criticism has stuck in your mind and was it justified?
I am the worst, I go down pretty easily, I am creative and sensitive, it’s not a good combination.
Some one once told me you will have 100 nice comments and one bad one, and it’s the bad one that you will always remember. Ultimately I know I’m not the best singer ever, I know I don’t have any “conventional” training. I know I go out of tune sometimes, and I know that I should probably be a bit more confident on stage. I think the ones that hurt are the ones that go deeper, where it’s insinuated that the songs don’t come from a real place. I can take any criticism towards me, as I am young & still learning. But my songs are the one thing that I will always stick up for.

What one thing has caused you to waste your free time in the past 6 months?
The boring cement of life and living so the house doesn’t fall apart!

If you weren’t making music, what do you think you’d be doing?
I would like to think I would be traveling lots & painting everything I saw, but in reality… so I dread to think!

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
It’s tough as I have racked up quite a ot of jobs in the short space of time! TK-Max was a bit depressing as it had no windows, and you had to stay into the night and clear up other peoples mess. Also The Saints & Sinners in Croydon was o.k but I didn’t much like the long walk home late at night back to Selhurst. Although someone once told me they worked in a factory tying up dead chickens legs to pay their way. I often took comfort in that, whilst walking home!

We’d like you to make us a mix-tape. Pick five tracks with a theme of your choice.
My theme is “red pencils” and I will have to get back to you on the 5 tracks when I find them…