How moving to LA helped Pete MacLeod focus on his music

Wednesday 4 August 2010

How moving to LA helped Pete MacLeod focus on his music

One of Scotland’s most poignant indie rock musicians credits spending four years in Hollywood as the catalyst to switch his focus on pursuing a career as a singer/songwriter.

Coatbridge-born Pete MacLeod was known for energetic live performances with band, TheStar69, before leaving Scotland to further his career in Los Angeles.

But with resources, and band members, in short supply -- the singer began writing and recording acoustic tracks which seemed to please the masses throughout southern California. Now he is looking forward to presenting a more mature sound to hometown crowds when he marks his return tomorrow at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. "To me, being a songwriter is about being honest with your songs," he says. "It’s not about the money but connecting with the right sound, the right music and it you have to be true -- you can’t fake it. "I’m one of those people who has to have gone through an experience before I can project it and hopefully that’s what people get from me. "I always liked the way John Lennon wrote words that spoke about his life and when people hear my songs, I want them to know these songs were written about something that has happened in my life and not just words I have put to music." Despite a lengthy absence, Pete insists he never felt too far away from home as both cities share unlikely similarities. "Hollywood and Glasgow are both surreal in their own right," he explains. "You could walk down any street in either city, see something that’s a bit bizarre and you’ll immediately realise you won’t find anything like that anywhere else in the world. "They’re both great cities and although I enjoy the good vibe you get from the weather in Los Angeles, I did miss Glasgow. "I still feel patriotic about where I come from and being from Scotland helps to keep you grounded in a place like Hollywood. I spent a few good years out there but I felt it was the right time to come back home." Pete has already served an impressive apprenticeship in the industry with support slots for Paul Weller and Ocean Colour Scene, not to mention a UK tour with former Oasis guitarist Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs. There is also a vibrant local fanbase in the west of Scotland for Pete, who can boast three sold-out performances at King Tut’s and successful headline shows at the ABC. At the age of 31, the singer considers himself to be a fairly young singer/songwriter, but he insists he is not too old to front a lively rock band. And although he will be sticking to one-man sets for the time being, Pete has refused to rule a full band tour, or album. He says: "I wouldn’t close the door on putting a band together and making a rock record, although I think the thing I need next is a real producer to sit down with and experiment with my sound -- anything can happen in the studio. "For now though, just myself and my guitar suits my character and it’s a more fitting approach to the songs themselves." Pete will begin preparations for recording an acoustic album and a potential return to the US for a tour of the country’s east coast would be the icing on the cake. And while the singer remained reticent over the details of any material, he confirms tomorrow’s gig at King Tut’s will include inaugural performances of some new tracks. "I’m pretty excited about the new material I have been writing. I have a lot of hope in one particular track that I’m sure could be a hit," he said. Tickets for tomorrow’s gig are £6, from www.ticketmaster.co.uk

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