Scott Free

HE is feted as one of the country’s brightest singer-songwriters. His debut album Passing Stranger sold more than 80,000 copies in the UK alone, and his song Elusive picked up an Ivor Novello Award.

But Black Country boy Scott Matthews refuses to get into “that whole music industry thing”. Instead, he is doing what he already does – hanging out in his home town of Wolverhampton.

“I have kept to my roots,” he says in his mellow West Midlands twang – which is at odds with his light, graceful, even falsetto, singing voice.

“I’ve thought about moving on for a change of scenery, but why should I? I live in the real world and have strong family connections here.

“My folks are 10 minutes away and my brother is just down the road. I need a place I can unwind when I’m not doing music; somewhere I can get back to base and a clear space where I can make a recovery.

“I don’t have to write in some exotic place. Everywhere’s the same – people have the same emotions wherever you go. I could be writing in a toilet in Timbuktoo!”

This week Scott releases his second album Elsewhere on the San Remo label through Island Records, produced by himself and Gavin Monaghan, whose credits include Mercury Rev, The Smiths, Joe Strummer and Elvis Costello.

Scott is joined on the album by his regular touring group Danny Keane (cello), Craig Johnson (bass) and Sam Martin (drums), and full string and horn sections. It also features Scott’s brother Darren, who plays piano on three songs, including the atmospheric first single Fractured.

But there is also a more illustrious, and very recognisable, voice on song 12 Harps – fellow Wolverhamptonian Robert Plant.

Scott and the flame-haired Led Zeppelin legend are good friends. Scott supported Plant and Alison Krauss on their Rising Sand tour, and Robert has, admits Scott, taken him under his wing as a “mentor”.

“I first heard from Robert when he left me a voice message while I was on holiday in Cyprus,” he laughs.

“I couldn’t believe it! But he’s one of those people you feel you’ve known all your life and bump into every week. He’s a big Wolves fan, like me, and likes a pint in his local. He also just happens to be an amazing rock star.”

So why did he get in touch?

“He understood my first album was influenced by Led Zep 3 and said ‘it’s great to be hearing this kind of music again’. It’s been a real confidence boost, and to get that support from someone you respect shows I must be doing something right.”

As a prolific songwriter, where does Scott get his ideas?

“I’m a watcher,” he confesses. “I observe things in the third person.

“I might see a scenario in a bar and it will inspire me to write lyrics or a melody. I always have a note book, and I keep them for ever.

“I never sit down to write a song with a blank piece of paper. I prefer to mix and match from my notes.“ “Sometimes, however, ideas do come at the wrong time – like when I’m driving, or when the traffic lights change.

“Sometimes I wake up with something in my head, and I realise ‘that is the one’, but then I lose it. Then again, sometimes they are just surreal images – like walking down stairs and sitting on a cloud, while ironing a carpet.”

So how did he go about writing an album? “You’ve got to find a theme and decide what reaction and mood you want to create,” he explains.

“The first album was eclectic and you can put it on at any time; it’s a seamless record.

“This second one is an ‘in between’ album. It’s intimate on some tracks while elsewhere there’s more expansive stuff. “It’s good to listen to while you’re in traffic at 5.30pm.”

And he is already busy working on its two follow-ups.

“The third one is going to be stripped-back music, which will be good for night time listening, while the fourth one will be a tad more experimental, in a Black Keys-style, with big Smiths-sounding guitar work. It will be different to what I’ve done before, and will be something you can maybe put on in the afternoon.

“I want to be more aware of the reaction you get from a particular mood – and maybe even write a ‘snog record’ which you could listen to from midnight onwards.“ He admits he is inseparable from his notepads.

“I never add my voice to a discussion. I’m the observer, and that’s why I can get it all down. Even when I was at school I was a shy chap. It’s a complete contrast to my work.”

So doesn’t he get nervous in front of hundreds of fans?

“I do get butterflies, but I shoo them away, and get over it,” he admits.

“It’s daunting, but people are there to hear the music – and that’s the biggest motivation.”

And what does his music say?

“There’s not one single thing, but there is a thread. There are lots of different subjects but I’m always asking questions – and I know that someone out there can help me.”

Like Robert Plant?

“Yes. He gave me three pieces of advice – always buy good quality cowboy boots, wear your jeans tight around the crotch, and don’t wear anything underneath under your denims.

“So I got some dodgy boots from the market, I wear high-waisted jeans, and I wear a denim jacket with no t-shirt!”

Scott Matthews plays the Oxford O2 Academy tomorrow. Doors open at 6.30pm. Tickets are £12.50. Support comes from James Summerfield.