Each week we feature a different Scottish artist on the blog including premieres and Q&A’s. Please check out some of the amazing Scottish talent we have discovered over the years.
If you would like to submit a track please get in touch 4 weeks in advance of the release - resonatescot@gmail.com
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Q&A: Kirsteen Harvey
“But my advice at the moment if I were to give any, and it’s something that I am telling myself a lot right now, is to remember the main reason why you are actually making and doing music in the first place…”
“But my advice at the moment if I were to give any, and it’s something that I am telling myself a lot right now, is to remember the main reason why you are actually making and doing music in the first place...”
Kirsteen Harvey is a 24-year-old Glasgow-based singer/songwriter, drawing influence from a diverse musical upbringing to craft a unique sound blending pop, folk, and jazz. Her music has earned recognition from BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Introducing, and The Scottish Sun. With a growing online presence, she's gained over 41k TikTok followers since February 2023, catching the attention of artists like Amy MacDonald and Lewis Capaldi. With her debut EP ‘Unpredictable’ released in early December 2023, recorded at Chem19 Recording Studios, she is set to make her mark on the Scottish music scene.
Photo by Jessica Harvey
Your musical influences span a wide array of genres. How do these diverse influences contribute to shaping your unique sound as a singer/songwriter?
Being asked what kind of music I do is a question that always really stumps me when people ask it because I’ve definitely weaved my way through a good few different genres over the last two years! I think as someone who listens to a lot of musical genres and loves various aspects from each, it’s hard to stick to one specific sound of music when you’re still working out what it is you are wanting to create as an artist. My earlier releases like ‘Tongue Tied’ and ‘Dancefloor Treason’ definitely have a stronger nod to a sort of country pop than the newer ‘Unpredictable’ E.P songs do, which explore the the different vibes of pop, folk, and alternative singer songwriter. I really like that there isn’t one specific way to describe my sound, it leaves a lot of room for trying different things which is one of the things I love about making music - and it’s actually one of the reasons my new E.P is called ‘Unpredictable’ - because the four tracks are all slightly different in genre
Your online presence has seen significant growth, especially on TikTok. How do you feel about the response your music has received on social media, especially with recognition from established artists like Amy MacDonald and Marti Pellow?
The recent growth on TikTok has been pretty amazing to watch, I think there’s just about 50 thousand people over there now that are following my wee page. I cover a lot of Scottish tunes and wee songs that people might remember from their childhood, and people seem to really enjoy these! I think the first big video I had was a cover of the ‘Jeely Piece’ song!
Some covers I’ve done by artists I love have been noticed by them, which is so brilliant and very exciting! I’ve even had Lewis Capaldi and Noah Kahan actually re-share my videos to their Instagram - as well as The Kinks official pages posting my cover of Waterloo Sunset everywhere! You see a lot of their fans come across to your page to check it out, after the Lewis Capaldi one my phone was going mental for the rest of the day!
It’s been very fun watching it build - and it definitely translates into support for my own music and myself as an artist for sure! I had a good few fans from TikTok at my E.P launch, and even videos about my releases are very well received now - so it’s great to see people connecting with you as a singer/person who they might have first found from doing a classic cover, but continue to actively support your own music career. It’s something I do pretty much everyday, I might run out of songs to post soon!
What was your favourite show of 2023?
It’s got to be my headline ‘Unpredictable’ E.P launch that was just last week (15th December) at the Glad Cafe in Glasgow. This was my first headline in almost 2 years and it was sold out! For most gigs I just perform as myself, acoustic with my guitar, but for the E.P launch I wanted to have the band that recorded on these songs in the studio - so it was pretty exciting and special to finally play the tracks live and all together as they sound on the record. The room was filled with positive energy and I had the best time - I also launched my first ever physical release, the debut E.P CD’s, which were on sale at this show, and was asked to sign things for the first time!
Photo by Jessica Harvey
Working with Chem19 Recording Studios for your debut E.P. must have been exciting. Can you share a bit about your experience recording there and how it has shaped the upcoming release?
I have been recording at Chem19 with Jamie Savage since 2019. It’s an amazing space and Jamie is an absolute genius - we’ve done 11 released tracks together now. A lot (most) of the time when I go into record new music, I have no idea how it is going to sound like at the end, I go in with just myself and guitar and record as I usually play them solo. I work with some amazing session musicians when recording, who come in after, with no rehearsal, and we just all worked together on creating all the different parts. This way takes a bit longer and there’s a lot of chopping and changing to get it to a point that’s right, but I really enjoy the process and watching the songs evolve over the studio days. This was the same for the new E.P, I recorded my guitar and vocals in July last year, and we slowly started adding the different parts over the next few months. Gavin Lamont (drums), Steven Dempster (Bass), Mic Clark (guitar), Laura Wilkie (Fiddle), and Josh Elcock (trumpet) brought the entire project to life - and I can’t describe how happy I am with the final tracks.
Tell us your three desert island albums.
First Aid Kit - Ruins (One of my favourite bands recorded and to see live - their harmonies are insane and this album would be hard to tire of)
Noah and the Whale - Last Night on Earth (To keep me positive, this album has a lot of tracks that I listen to when I need to get out of a slump - I can dance around screaming out this one)
Noah Kahan - Stick Season (My current obsession like so many, I can get my more chilled pop-folk fix with this one, it’s so catchy and beautiful)
Could you walk us through your creative process when crafting a new song? Do you have any rituals or specific approaches that help you in the songwriting process
I actually go through quite long periods of not being able to write any songs at all (or at least ones I’m somewhat happy with) which I find quite frustrating - but then I have random bursts of inspiration that results in a few being written quite quickly! And there isn’t really a set process for me but usually I just play about with some chords, and sing a melody over the top with complete gibberish. I take lots of voice memos, then go back and fill the melody in with actual lyrics. I don’t really have a main/recurring topic for my lyrics either, my songs are basically about everything and anything at that time in my life - but it is usually after a conversation, situation, or interaction that with me - that I feel most inspired and want to write a song about it.
Lastly, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are looking to establish themselves in the Scottish music industry?
I am absolutely and 100% still learning and growing every single day as a musician and I often feel pretty unsure of things as an artist myself, which is totally okay! It’s certainly a rollercoaster journey - and I definitely feel as though I am still pretty much at the start of it. But my advice at the moment if I were to give any, and it’s something that I am telling myself a lot right now, is to remember the main reason why you are actually making and doing music in the first place - because it’s so easy now to get caught up in the stats and figures, and comparing your achievements to others and maybe feeling as though they aren’t as good - but this whole thing should be fun! You started it because you enjoy it so keep it that way regardless of all the extra stuff.
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Q&A: Nat Cartier
“When you hear popular sounding songs, they're a vibe, but you can’t quite describe the genre - It’s Neo!“
“When you hear popular sounding songs, they're a vibe, but you can’t quite describe the genre - It’s Neo!“
Photo: Alexandre Amaral
23-year-old Nat Cartier has the promise to become a global star. In addition to already being an international artist, he is also the creative director of the Edinburgh Collective and a student at the Edinburgh University Futures Institute pursuing an MSc in Creative Industries. His goal is to tour the world and collaborate with new people to create heartfelt music that will speak to listeners everywhere.
He started singing, playing piano and saxophone as a child, developing a strong passion for jazz and pop whilst living in Zug, Switzerland. Now, a fully developed multi-instrumentalist (also playing guitar, bass & trumpet), Nat has grown into an energetic and professional performer, singer, rapper and songwriter – who has discovered himself as an artist during his time in Scotland.
His music has been played on BBC Radio 6, BBC Radio 4, BBC Scotland, Radio Skye, and other international radios such as Amazing Radio, Jam-On Radio and SRF 3 - making it clear his original sound is fit for radio. His live-USP is playing the sax: officially described as "saucy" by BBC Introducing Scotland. He is definitely an artist not to underestimate.
You have a unique blend of genres scattered throughout your music, what inspired you to make music like this? Where does your sound come from?
I believe the widespread globalisation of music through social media platforms is allowing a new popular genre to emerge: An eclectic mix of all modern genres such as Pop, Hip-Hop, Folk, Funk, Disco, Jazz, Neo-Soul, Rap, Classical and more… I call it Neo. It is all the things I have ever loved about music mixed into one and that is what flows out of me. A definition could be: good-vibe organic music with professional modern production.
When you hear popular sounding songs, they're a vibe, but you can’t quite describe the genre - It’s Neo!
Tell us your three desert island albums.
Twentysomething by Jamie Cullum, The Divine Feminine by Mac Miller & Tru. by CRO.
(honourable mention: In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson)
When did you start playing the saxophone, and when did you decide to incorporate it into your live performances?
According to my parents, when I was a child I used to run upstairs and hide when my sax teacher arrived for our lesson - even though he was a super nice guy! I obviously can’t remember that at all. I started when I was ten in 2010 and started playing on stages with a regional Swiss orchestra and big band when I was 13 - I’ve been standing on stages ever since! You can now put me in any musical situation with the sax and I will find a way to get comfortable and have some fun.
A live solo performance of my song Bambi in an Edinburgh plant shop was the first time I remember incorporating the sax into an original live performance - I played it whilst playing the piano too - that was very fun and a much cherished memory during covid times.
Nat Cartier playing sax for Cyrano at Wide Days 2022
Tell us about your project, the Edinburgh Collective.
I met Scottish composer, singer, and producer, Fraser Macdonald in my first year of Edinburgh Uni in 2019, where we became friends for life. We bonded over our love and passion for music, moved in together, and felt inspired to start a community project. You would often hear that the Edinburgh scene is lacking, and so we developed the idea of a new local creative network helping each other out for active creative pursuits. We started the Edinburgh Collective - the open network of creatives in the city of Edinburgh.
Since 2020, the Edinburgh Collective has grown into whole new proportions and we have had a large impact throughout Edinburgh’s active creative scene and social enterprise network. We have big dreams for the network and have collaborated with many different organisations including: Johnnie Walker Princes Street, the Scottish Parliament, BUILDHOLLYWOOD & Jack Arts, the Good Stuff Network, EUSA, and many different venues all around the city (Cabaret Voltaire, Three Sisters, Bar 50, 32 Below, Teviot Underground, and more…).
We believe Edinburgh’s creative scene deserves a better reputation: locally, nationally, and internationally. There is a huge amount of local talent in the city, and we want people to be more aware of this. For the artists, we want to create unique and memorable opportunities, inspire them to network and work together, and ultimately help them earn money by doing what they love!
What was your favourite show of 2023?
There were far too many to pick one! Here are some highlights:
Talla na Mara, Isle of Harris - Scottish Odyssey Tour - life felt good, my parents were dancing, the landscape was beautiful, the sunset was unforgettable - a very precious memory.
Sofar Sounds Chicago - my first US show was super fun, I didn’t know anyone and the vibe was perfect. After the show many people gave me compliments and encouraged me to keep doing music.
A handful of gigs with my band e.g. at Teviot Underground, Aberdeen’s Spin Records, Sneaky Pete’s. We even painted a picture during our Jazz Bar gig. Much love to them.
With the international background you have, how have you felt since joining the Scottish music scene when you were 19?
The Scottish music scene has helped me become the artist I am today. Deciding to move to Scotland is also what helped spark the realisation that I can become an international artist - although I was very much lacking in experience and knowledge on how to achieve that. The Scottish scene has helped me discover myself and thanks to it, I have evolved all-round as an artist, songwriter, producer, musician, performer, entrepreneur, networker, and more… I feel I now have a much better understanding around how things work and what is needed to suceedin the music industry. My whole life has been based on integrating into cultures and ultimately finding a personal feeling of belonging amongst them. I feel I have integrated in the Scottish music scene, and truly gotten inspired by everyone here.
Scotland will forever be a part of who I am no matter where life takes me. I can only be grateful for all the opportunities I have both found and made happen in Scotland. The industry here has been an incredible learning experience and I feel a lot of love and appreciation towards all the people I have met and exchanged precious moments with.
Finally, what can we expect to see from you in 2024? Dream show to play, dream venue?
2024 will be a year of releases for me; the start of a neo era. I have rebranded to Nat Cartier and am absolutely itching to get my new material out there. So 2024 will involve a whole new portfolio of music, videos, and taking big next steps towards earning a proper living through music.
Next up are:
Read the Room SINGLE with Florence Jack (12.01.2024)
Neo EP - Nat Cartier with Fraser Macdonald (featuring London based Swiss artist ”Alessia”)
Love Odyssey ALBUM - representing me and the result of my evolution and growth since moving to Scotland.
A dream venue would actually be to play in Edinburgh Castle. There is something incredible about the cultural heritage, significance and history of the building that makes me want to perform there - and make it epic and unforgettable. I will have to figure something out to make it happen!
‘Read the Room’ with Florence Jack out 12.01.2024
Follow Nat Cartier to keep up to date with all his new adventures in 2024:
‘Lost in the Groove’ Music Video