Interview: Si Cranstoun
Q. After busking on the street for over 20 years, what was it like when you finally got signed to Warners? Did you ever feel like just giving up as a musician?
It was truly unbelievable !! in fact when the contract finally came through the letter box I felt as if I was in a blockbuster movie !! I was of course over the moon and on cloud 9 for the weeks and months after it - in fact I'm still on a high now :)
Si Cranstoun's latest album There were some real lows while trying so hard to succeed but I've always been a working musician since I was a teenager and I truly love making music - so there was no question of ever giving up plus the great British public have been so incredibly supportive over the years - this is my job and it's all I really know.
Q. What's the highlight of your career been so far?
I'd say sharing the headlining bill with legend Little Richard in Las Vegas back in 2013
Q. Some describe you as the new 'King of Rock n Roll. Who have you drawn your inspiration from?
Wow that's very kind !! - I've been hugely inspired by Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke & Nat King Cole to name a few
Your latest album 'Modern Life' is out now. Tell us a bit about that!
Well, I'm so so pleased with the new album which features a large collection of retro flavored original tracks that I wrote & co-wrote with some great professional songwriters.It's definitely a feel good album that's toe tappingly upbeat !
Thanks to the many years of busking each song comes complete with a loud and proud catchy chorus to stop you in your tracks and get you singing along - Yes I'm very pleased with it and I can't wait to tour it with the band.
Tell us about your new single 'Never Gonna Let You Go'?
I wrote the chorus on the train and literary got so carried away that I missed my stop by 5 stations :) It's a motown meets rock & roll style track that vocally has the Jackie Wilson vibe but with the groove of Cee Lo Green's 'Forget You' so there's plenty of flavors for those musical taste buds !
Do you think you've had to change the sound of your music to make it into the mainstream?
No, because first and foremost - I am a singer and I've been singing upbeat sing-along choruses at the top of my voice in a Jackie Wilson meets Sam Cooke style since I first hit the streets over 20 years ago.. it's only the rhythms behind my voice that have changed over the decades.. I also like mainstream :) I was a mainstream busker !!
Will we still see you at smaller festivals such as Twinwood?
Yes !! I love Twinwood , Rhythm Riot, Hepcats Holiday, Hemsby, Wildest Cat's In Town - the vintage scene is a fabulous place and all the while they'll have me - I'm staying !! :)
Have you got any upcoming shows?
Yes I have shows in London, Nashville - USA & Gold Coast - Australia - all on the website www.sicranstoun.com/shows
It was truly unbelievable !! in fact when the contract finally came through the letter box I felt as if I was in a blockbuster movie !! I was of course over the moon and on cloud 9 for the weeks and months after it - in fact I'm still on a high now :)
Si Cranstoun's latest album There were some real lows while trying so hard to succeed but I've always been a working musician since I was a teenager and I truly love making music - so there was no question of ever giving up plus the great British public have been so incredibly supportive over the years - this is my job and it's all I really know.Q. What's the highlight of your career been so far?
I'd say sharing the headlining bill with legend Little Richard in Las Vegas back in 2013
Q. Some describe you as the new 'King of Rock n Roll. Who have you drawn your inspiration from?
Wow that's very kind !! - I've been hugely inspired by Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke & Nat King Cole to name a few
Your latest album 'Modern Life' is out now. Tell us a bit about that!
Well, I'm so so pleased with the new album which features a large collection of retro flavored original tracks that I wrote & co-wrote with some great professional songwriters.It's definitely a feel good album that's toe tappingly upbeat !
Thanks to the many years of busking each song comes complete with a loud and proud catchy chorus to stop you in your tracks and get you singing along - Yes I'm very pleased with it and I can't wait to tour it with the band.
Tell us about your new single 'Never Gonna Let You Go'?
I wrote the chorus on the train and literary got so carried away that I missed my stop by 5 stations :) It's a motown meets rock & roll style track that vocally has the Jackie Wilson vibe but with the groove of Cee Lo Green's 'Forget You' so there's plenty of flavors for those musical taste buds !
Do you think you've had to change the sound of your music to make it into the mainstream?
No, because first and foremost - I am a singer and I've been singing upbeat sing-along choruses at the top of my voice in a Jackie Wilson meets Sam Cooke style since I first hit the streets over 20 years ago.. it's only the rhythms behind my voice that have changed over the decades.. I also like mainstream :) I was a mainstream busker !!
Will we still see you at smaller festivals such as Twinwood?
Yes !! I love Twinwood , Rhythm Riot, Hepcats Holiday, Hemsby, Wildest Cat's In Town - the vintage scene is a fabulous place and all the while they'll have me - I'm staying !! :)
Have you got any upcoming shows?
Yes I have shows in London, Nashville - USA & Gold Coast - Australia - all on the website www.sicranstoun.com/shows