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58 ............... Friday, May 27, 2016 1SM
MUSIC ONETOWATCHss f t w ByCHRIS SWEENEY
Bev’sbringingMemphis toScotland
I’mprettyshybut thatdidn’tstopmeblaggingmydeal
wanted to bring the style of song-writing from a bygone era into 2016and make it sound relevant. It’s a bigcombination of the things that I’minfluenced by,
“My label were cool with letting metake whatever direction I wanted. Weset up shop in my home studio for acouple of months and made it. I didfour songs in a professional studioand those songs were the ones Iwanted to be singles.
“But I’ve always worked from homeand I feel comfortable. I don’t feelI’m on the clock or being rushed.”
Max will be showcasing the albumon his UK tour. He was scheduled toplay in Glasgow on May 30, but hadto scrap it due to a last-minutescheduling conflict.
But he’s vowed to announce a newdate soon and should be in fine form
after picking up tips from famouspals he’s supported.
He said: “I can be an insecure per-son. The best way is to watch peoplewho’ve been doing it for a while andhow they deal with things.
“On tour with Rufus Wainwright,he’d go for a jog every night beforethe show — but when you’re 21, youwant to go to the pub and drinkbeer. But then you see, maybe Rufuswas right to prepare like that.
“And when I was on the road withLana Del Rey, she had such a com-manding presence. I’ve really tried tosteal a little bit of that.
“I’m a shy person, so I have to goout of my comfort zone.”l To pre-order the album and for news onthe rescheduled gig, go to: www.facebook.com/maxwelljury
GETTING married, writing a hit albumand starring in the West End is all in aday’s work for Beverley Knight.The legendary soul singer’s eighthstudio album has been well worth thewait – half a decade to be exact.And the 43-year-old’s latest recordSoulsville has an extra special feelingto it, having been recorded inMemphis’s iconic Royal Studios.Beverley said: “I went to Memphis in2014 when I was starring in MemphisThe Musical. There are few people inthe industry who don’t know the impor-tance of Memphis to modern music. Ithought it was themost incredible placeI’ve visited.”As soon as the Greatest Day singer,from Wolverhampton, set foot in theTennessee city, she was struck by themusical heritage seeping from the bus-
tling Beale Street. She instantly knewrecording in the Home of the Blues – thecity that moulded Aretha Franklin andElvis Presley—was top of her agenda.She added: “Soulsville is very muchinfluenced by that Southern Memphiansound. I’ve been all over the US, but Iwasn’t prepared for the way Memphiswould hit me. The weight of the historyis all around you.”Following in the footsteps of musicalgreats such as Al Green and AnnPeebles, Beverley gushed about theincredible vibe oozing from the famedRoyal Studios.Beverley said: “The atmospherehasn’t changed since the 1970s. I swear,not even a Hoover — it’s exactly thesame from the wires on the floor to theamps and valves. It’s in the middle of apoor, neglected black area — it’s high
crime. And through the doors, there’sthis incredible energy being stirred upby great musicians.”Beverley will hit Edinburgh on Mon-day night and is ecstatic to perform herfirst-ever gig in the Scots capital.She said: “I hear the audiences aregreat but I’ve only ever played in Glas-gow. I’ve visited Edinburgh before andit’s such a beautiful city, so it’s weirdI’ve never performed there.”She added: “I just love what I do and Ilook forward to it every day — I’m sograteful.”l Beverley plays Edinburgh’s Queen’sHall on Monday, May 30. Book ticketsat www.thequeenshall.net/whats-on/shows/beverley-knight-2016Her new album Soulsville is out onJune 10.
ONE 2 SEETHE best of this year’sunsigned T Break crop hasbeen announced.After thousands of entires,they’ve been hacked downto 16 of our finest bands,singers, DJs—who’ll beflying the flag for grassrootsmusic at T in the Park in July.They’ll all play in thefamous T Break tent andcould follow in the footstepsof the likes of Travis, TheView, Biffy Clyro and SnowPatrol who went on to biggerand better things.Keep an eye on my columnin the upcoming weeks,where I’ll feature some ofthem and find out whatmakes them tick. Here’sthe list:lBloodlineslDeclan WelshlDomicileslEdwin OrganlForeignfoxlForeverlIndigo VelvetlMiracle Glass CompanylMt. DoubtlRedolentlScholesylScopelSweaty PalmslThe Ninth WavelThe Vegan LeatherlTongues
NEWMUSICBy Jim Gellatly
UNITED FRUITWHO: Iskandar Stewart (vocals/guitar), Stuart Galbraith (guitar/vocals), Marco Panagopoulos(bass), Dean Inglis (drums).WHERE:Glasgow.FOR FANS OF: Sonic Youth,Foals, Smashing Pumpkins.JIM SAYS: Having known themas a full-on noisy rock band,United Fruit were a revelationwhen I had the pleasure of intro-ducing them on stage at theinaugural Electric Fields festivalin 2014.
None of the energy or powerfrom their first album Faultlineswas lost, but there was a markedprogression towards a soundwith a wider appear.
I still regretted forgetting myear protectors though!
The set suggested that thenext album would be somethingspecial — and with EternalReturn they don’t disappoint.
The Glasgow four-piece haveused the five years betweenreleases constructively tounleash a collection of songspacked full of melody, butretaining their edge.
Marco told me: “We’ve tried tochannel our music in more of adirect way. Retaining the noisesand aggression but in a moremelodic, structured guise.
“We could still just churn riffsout and blow everyone’s facesoff but we find it more interest-ing developing the sound andevolving it.
“Playing with it so to speak,rather than just keeping doingthe same thing over and overagain. We find that boring. I’m
sure that the audiences wouldtoo.”
There’s no danger of UnitedFruit becoming a bland imitationof their previous output.
Tracks like Ghost Inside YourHead, Where The Sun BeatsDown and Nightmare, Recoverygrab you just as much as anyshouty rock number.
It might not be quite as abra-sive as what was on offer before,but the more polished soundworks a treat.
As for the gap betweenalbums, Marco revealed thatEternal Return was actuallyrecorded a year ago.
He explained: “We wanted towait till it was the right time torelease, which has only just hap-pened for us.
“We had a difficult couple ofyears with other commitmentsand bereavements so, naturally,we postponed the release till wewere ready to give it our all.
“We have amazing peopleworking with us to make sure itgets out there too. We couldn’tbe happier. Sometimes it’s bestto just wait.”
United Fruit support CancerBats at Buskers in Dundeetonight, with further dates to beannounced soon.
Marco said: “We are muchlouder and heavier live than onany of our records. We reallyemote a lot of energy and playpretty ferociously. Our music isloud on record but it’s really inyour face live.”More: www.unitedfruit.bandl Jim presents a weekly show-case of New Music on AmazingRadio on Sundays, 2-4pm.
www.amazingradio.comwww.jimgellatly.com
Watch videoof the band at:
thescottishsun.co.uk
ONE 2 HEARTRAINSPOTTING is all overthe shop right now, with thesequel currently shooting inScotland.So it seems apt thatLivingston lads The Begbieshave just brought out acorker of a single.It’s Just TheWay is one toget the blood pumping— atop-notch track.And the boys will be outtour with it all over thecountry in June and July.Hear the song now at:www.facebook.com/TheBegbies
MAX Jury admits he gothis shot at the big time byblagging his way throughan audition in the lobby ofa five-star Hilton hotel.
The singer’s tracks hadattracted a buzz and record-labelexecutives jetted out to Boston tosee him in action.
But he hadn’t told them he wasn’tactive on the live circuit.
Max said: “I wasn’tgigging so I had nofanbase.
“So I called theHilton and said,‘Listen, some peopleare coming fromLondon and want meto audition for them’.
“I asked if I coulduse their piano as Iwas desperate — andthey said yes.
“I moved it into a cornerand played for them in thelobby. I sang my songs andother people started comingover. It was really strange.”
No matter the odd circum-stances, it sealed the deal.
And the American — who’s origi-nally from Des Moines, Iowa — movedover to the UK.
But he feels at home now andreckons it’s a more supportive atmo-sphere than back across the Pond.
He said: “The plan is for me tostart here and eventually start play-ing more in the States.
“I’ve gone with the flow and therehappens to be more opportunities forme here. It’s worked out nicely.
“America is tough as each state hastheir own radio system.
“It’s like 50 little countries and it’sdifficult to make a dent.
“Also my label has taken their time,they’ve given me the chance todevelop and not push me out when Iwasn’t ready.
“They really care about me, I think.“It’s a kind mentality, and I’ve
experienced more of that over herethan I did before.”
Max releases his self-titled debutalbum on June 3.
And he’s tried to blend old andnew school together.
He explained: “I attempted tobridge the gap between the music Igrew up with, from the 60s and 70s,as well as more modern acts I listento like Kanye West and Drake. I
