SCOTS star Paolo Nutini says his hard-living rock n' roll lifestyle is the secret of his success.

SCOTS star Paolo Nutini says his hard-living rock n' roll lifestyle is the secret of his success.

The Paisley singer-songwriter, who shot to fame with hit single New Shoes, says he has hit new heights with his album Sunny Side Up, which is out next month.

He added: "My voice has opened up. Going on the road and touring, drinking and smoking ain't that good for your voice, so by rights I shouldn't be able to hit higher notes than I've hit before. But, for some reason, I can and there are lots of them on this album."

Paolo says he's no stranger to hedonism, but that it's "nothing I can't defend".

And he says he's grown up a lot since his first album, These Streets, was released in 2007 when he was just 19, and says he doesn't party too hard any more.

"I'd hate to go on stage and feel that I wasn't in control of what was coming up. I did it when I was younger, but not now."

And he's revealed now he's made-up with Dundee rockers The View, who play the O2 Academy tonight after reports they had fallen out over the indie band saying they would avoid his T in the Park show.

He met them when recording in Wales and ended up being a guest vocalist on their Which Bitch? album.

Paolo says: "We're young Scottish guys who enjoy a drink and a cigarette, football and making music."

• Read the full interview in this week's Big Issue, out tomorrow.