[vc_row el_class=”interview”][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”intro-text”]Native Scottish Musician Paul McGee, stage named McGoo, has graced us here at Music Crowns with an in-depth interview about finding inspiration, life on the road, what’s in store for the future and much, much more. This soulful musician, with a vocal capacity likened to that of Axl Rose, has been on an inspiring journey to say the least. Having played along side some of the greats over his musical journey, not to mention his debut single also set for release next year, 2017 is looking to be the well-deserved break McGoozer deserves.
We put together a few questions for McGoozer in the hope he would shed some light on his journey so far and give the world a chance to get to know the man behind the music.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
- Hey McGoo – thanks for talking to us. How has your 2016 been this far? It’s been pretty disastrous for most of humanity/pop-culture.
- Hey guys. It’s been a pretty crazy year for me. I spent the end of 2015 playing in the Maldives and then was in Dubai for New Years Eve playing and celebrating my new management deal and since then I’ve been going back and forth to the US, recording, writing and shooting the first video. I’ve been meeting a whole new team of people, in various parts of the world, who are helping me release this new batch of music. With the first single coming out early next year, 2017 is shaping up to be pretty exciting too.
- When did you know you wanted to pursue music full time?
- Music was always a huge part of life growing up. I had 2 brothers in the music industry. (One of my brothers was the original drummer in Simple Minds, and my other brother, Owen Paul, had a huge summer smash hit in the 80s with ‘You’re my favourite waste of time‘ and family parties were always filled with loads of family members all getting up and doing a few songs), so it was always on my radar I guess but I didn’t think about it seriously till I was around 17. I’d just done my final year at school and the school play was the musical Carousel. I hadn’t been involved in any of the other school plays before so it was a little out of the blue but I ended up getting the lead role and it was probably the first time I ever thought about giving music a go as a job, as opposed to just socially.
- It is well known you’ve been inspired by not only other legendary musicians having toured with many, but also your siblings from a young age. Are there any new and/or current up and coming musicians you’re inspired/excited by?
- There’s loads of wicked music out there at the moment. I’m working a lot with Fred Abbott (Previously of Noah and The Whale). Fred has a solo album out right now called Serious Poke that I’m singing on. Fred is also playing on some of my stuff and we have written a song that’s likely to be the second single from my new EP. He’s an astonishing musician and a lovely guy.
I recently went to the Time Out London “rising stars” gig at 100 Wardour st. I was lucky enough to see Si Connelly singing with Goldbirds. Totally amazing singing and songwriting. I’ve known about Si for a while but this was the first time I’d got to see him live. Absolutely wicked.
Another guy making some serious waves at the moment is Johnny Lucas. He’s over in Nashville right now and taking the city by storm.
All of these guys are amazing. I cannot recommend them enough. If you get a chance to see them live. - Do you have any new projects in the works you’re particularly excited about?
- I’ve generally got a few things on the go at any one time. The thing I’m most excited about right now is the release of my first single ‘One and Only Girl‘ early next year. I wrote it in the Maldives, recorded it between New York and Nashville and we shot the video for it in North Carolina. It’s been a long time coming but this will be my first proper release so I’m very excited about the whole thing. It’s the start of whole new exciting chapter.
- How do you feel about the shift in the music industry over the last 10 years or so? A vast amount of the music released today seems to be more electronic and DJ friendly. Does this excite you or frustrate you at all?
- The whole music industry has changed beyond recognition in the last few years and is constantly changing nowadays too. The DJ and electronic side of things has often been a great way for singers and songwriters to get noticed. I’m actually working with a DJ called Danny Dove right now on a project with exactly that in mind. Check him out. He’s amazing. We’ve written a couple of things and we’ll be bringing out some new material very soon. The great thing about it for me is that we’ve ended up with some songs that are in a totally different genre to anything I’d write on my own, so it’s really cool for different songwriting inspirations.
- Do you have a relatively fluid process when writing new music or do you usually follow a similar pattern each time? If so – what works best for you?
- It changes all the time. Sometimes it’ll be a melody that will pop into my head, or sometimes a phrase, or maybe something while I’m noodling around on guitar. Also, it depends if I’m writing with someone else and what that person brings to the table too. Sometimes working with lyricists, while I deal with melody, or vice versa. I think it helps to be as flexible as possible and also makes it more fun to mix it up from time to time.
- What is your setup like when you compose new music? Is there a specific place you like to write or record or any must have studio components?
- I have a very basic system for keeping track of new ideas. I’ll record them on my phone, if I’m out and about. Then maybe try and fit some acoustic guitar round whatever it is. As long as I get the main part of the idea down, I can develop it from there, in whatever way suits.
- Are there any musicians you’d like to work with in the future – perhaps even from the past – dead or alive?
- The list is endless. I’d love to work with Bjork. I think she’s fantastic. Ridiculous vocals and just a really interesting way of creating music. Also, I think it’d be a right laugh as she seems a bit nuts, which I really like. From a songwriting point of view I’d love to work with Ryan Tedder. He’s responsible for so many modern day classics, it would be wicked just to see how he works.
Bruno Mars would also be wicked to work with. He’s got it all. So many great tunes.
If we’re talking legends then Paul McCartney is hard to beat. Like so many people, I was enormously influenced by the Beatles when I first got properly into music. U2 were and still are a huge influence on me too so that would be awesome… and Sting too, haha, the list is getting longer and longer
If we’re talking about people who aren’t here any more, then Freddie Mercury would have to be close to the top of the list. I spent so many hours with my headphones on, singing along to Queen songs, when I was growing up. Also, I’ll never forget the first time I say Prince play live. It was a total masterclass. - It is clear you’re a well-travelled musician with some great experience on the road. What is touring with McGoozer like? Favourite gig or memory?
- I love touring. Playing live is my favourite part of working in music. Also, getting to travel to places I’d never normally have the opportunity too. I’ve been lucky enough to play some really great gigs. When I was touring with Mike and the Mechanics we often played to full stadiums which even now feels like it was something out of a dream.The McGoozer gigs in the US have been amazing. We recently did a gig in Sarasota in Florida which was so much fun. There’s a growing crowd of friends I have over there too, who come to whatever gigs they can, which is always great. Also, my first gig in Nashville was really cool. At Tootsies Orchid lounge on the Billy Block Show. I was supposed to play just a solo gig but after just meeting Billy Block (The host) and doing a short interview on his radio show, I ended up with a full band, including Billy on drums and playing a set of my own tunes with some guys I’d never even met before. It was such a cool night and consequently I’ve been back to Nashville many times since.Some of the funniest times are when things don’t quite go to plan. I remember we were going to a festival in Germany and were booked on a really early flight. We got to the airport and the flight had been cancelled. We then just got onto the first flight to any German city we could get to, and made our way across the country via planes trains and automobiles and whatever we could get our hands on. It was a crazy day but we made it just in time. Celebratory drinks in the bar afterwards were well deserved.
- Is there one song you always return to that has emotionally motivated you throughout your songwriting career?
- It’s really hard to pick just one, as again, there are so many and sometimes my preferences change . I’d have to pick ‘Yesterday‘ by The Beatles. If I’m driving when it comes on the radio, I have to pull over, so I can get fully immersed. It gets me every time. So simple, no crazy production, just beautiful and all in just over 2 minutes. Love it!
- Has music always been your main goal or have you toyed with the idea of following another path creatively?
- Early on in my career, when I was working on The Blues Brothers, there was some minimal acting involved but I’m not an actor. Music is where I feel comfortable. I know my way around and I think it’s what I do best.
- Finally, 2017 will be an exciting year for you with your first single release in January – What can we expect from you in the near future and where do you see yourself or hope to be in 5 years from now?
- Yes! I can’t wait to get going with it all. So much stuff going on. I’ll be releasing the first single in January and then, soon after, an EP of around 5 or 6 tracks. Touring all round the UK, Europe and the US and wherever else will have me.5 years from now I hope to be doing exactly the same thing to be honest. I’m very lucky to have a job that doesn’t feel like a job at all. If I can continue to do that, I’ll be very happy… maybe with a slightly nicer car, or better yet, someone else driving!
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