Ally Kerr

Artist Information

Biography

"Inspired...all the rainy loveliness of Belle and Sebastian" - UNCUT magazine
“A great songwriting talent from Scotland” – Bob Harris, BBC
"A heady combination of guitar riffs and pop melody has seen Ally Kerr become the next big thing on the British music scene" - Time Out
“Gentle Scottish folk with a pop tinge. If Stuart from Belle & Sebastian did a solo gig…” - Washington Post
“Beautifully melancholic” – Press Association
“A sparkling tunesmith” – Metro
"Kerr's songs meld the saccharin side of Belle and Sebastian with the kind of melancholy that Paul Simon's cat must feel at the end of a day's recording after milk and biscuits. They are beautifully written and wistful" - Sunday Herald.
"One of Scotland's best-kept secrets offers another magical mix" - Daily Record (Scotland's biggest-selling national daily)
"Wonderful Scottish power pop" - Gary Crowley, BBC Radio
“If someone tells me they have heard better-written songs this year I will duel with them at dawn” - Dominik Diamond, Daily Star (one of Britain's best-selling tabloids)
“Simply beautiful tunes” – Music Magazine, Japan
“Sweet pop gems”, "An undiscovered gem" – Sunday Mail (Scotland's biggest-selling newspaper)
“Songs to go quietly wild for” - Maverick Magazine
“One of Scotland's brightest rising stars” – The List

One of Scotland’s fastest-rising international songwriters continues to flourish as a critically acclaimed independent artist, picking up a glut of fans and playing sporadic shows across the world to enchanted audiences. Now putting the finishing touches to what is anticipated will be his breakthrough album with Marcus Mackay (Frightened Rabbit / Snow Patrol) and Biff Smith (from Scottish critics' favourites The Starlets) and armed with a clutch of the best songs he’s ever written, the future is looking decidedly bright for this “sparkling tunesmith” (Metro) and “next big thing on the British music scene” (Time Out)

Cult Spanish label Elefant Records (Lambchop, Camera Obscura) spotted the potential very early on and released a 7inch vinyl single of the first songs Kerr had ever recorded, resulting in great reviews and airplay around the world. However, it was the release of his heavily praised debut album “Calling Out To You” in Japan and the use of one of the songs as the theme tune to a Japanese TV animation that suddenly changed everything for this self-effacing Scot. Recorded on a shoestring budget, it was released on tiny Japanese label Quince Records and Neon Tetra Records in Europe/USA through Shellshock Distribution. Its inclusion in a major Japanese music magazine’s list of the “Top 20 Albums Ever To Come Out Of Scotland” was testament to the melodic strength of the songs and the album sat alongside the seminal works of familiar names such as Orange Juice and Belle and Sebastian, perhaps to the intrigue of curious onlookers.

Kerr was quickly invited to Japan and during his first-ever-headlining tour received word that one of his songs was to feature as the theme tune to the major new Japanese animated TV series Mushishi broadcast across the nation on network TV. This track - “The Sore Feet Song” - was released in Japan as single on a major label (Marvelous Entertainment Inc.), appeared on karaoke machines across the land and spread online as the show went international. The show has been broadcast in various parts of the world and released on DVD resulting in more converts, most recently in North America through increasing Netflicks exposure.

Around Asia word has spread and continues to filter out further and wider. Kerr has been featured in the China Daily (the country’s biggest English newspaper), has a growing community group following in Baidu (one of China’s biggest search engines) and recently licensed his first two albums to one of China’s biggest entertainment groups (Shanghai Synergy) for release next year. He has been invited to three festivals in China this October 2012 and has been approached by labels there keen to work the next album.

With a growing self-belief, hands-on approach and a clear vision, Kerr released his second album “Off The Radar” on his own label - Much Obliged Records - across Europe / USA through Shellshock Distribution and licensed it to Universal Records in the Philippines, Ultra Vybe in Japan and Triangle Music in South Korea. Sync work continues to be a focus and Kerr’s back catalogue is represented by two esteemed companies in Los Angeles (Synchup and Visions From The Roof). The singer/songwriter’s international profile rose continued its upward trajectory after he was selected to play at the North by North-East music festival in Canada in 2010.

Kerr rounded off the year with a headlining tour of Asia covering Singapore, Japan, Philippines and Taiwan before taking time out to write and demo for the next album, an album he believes will be his best, most ambitious work to date.

Although echoes of Belle & Sebastian (the Washington Post described him as “Gentle Scottish folk with a pop tinge. If Stuart from Belle & Sebastian did a solo gig…”) Ben Kweller, Kings Of Convenience, Simon and Garfunkel and many other artists resonate, Kerr’s style is singularly distinctive. Having concentrated on the international market for the last few years, one of Scotland’s broadsheet newspapers - Scotland on Sunday - described him as “one of the most interesting and creative musicians working in the country right now” in its rundown of the “Hottest Scottish Talent” with the biggest-selling newspaper in Scotland (Daily Record) saying of his latest album “"one of Scotland's best-kept secrets offers another magical mix". With the release of the new album and as news of his international success gets out at home, this “best-kept secret” will surely be revealed.

Instrumentation

Ally Kerr - vocals / guitar

Backing band:
Ryan Burns- guitar / vocals
Mike Truscott- bass guitar / cornet
Andy Truscott - drums

Discography

'Midst of the Storm' EP (Elefant ER-244)
'Calling Out To You' LP (Quince Records QRCP-16)
'Calling Out To Tou' LP (Neon Tetra Records TETRA003)
'Could Have Been A Contender SINGLE (Much Obliged Records MOR01)
'Off The Radar' LP (Much Obliged Records MOR002)
'Off The Radar LP (Star Sign / Ultra-Vybe STSN--101)
'There's A World' SINGLE (Much Obliged Records MOR003)
'Amorino' SINGLE (Much Obliged Records MOR004)


Songs have received airplay on radio stations across the world including national/local stations in the UK (eg. BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC 6 Music), Sweden (national radio), Germany, Spain (national radio), Holland, Norway, Italy, US College, Switzerland (national radio) and Japan. Also had music on Fuji TV, NHK TV across Japan and reached many countries across the world via the dedicated animation channel Animax. It has also been included in the new schedule of the Funimation channel in the USA.

Links

• Facebook
• Last.fm
• MySpace
• Twitter

Audio

• All Day Long (unmixed)
  Listen  
• The Bitter Part (unmixed)
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• Amorino
  Listen  
• Could Have Been A Contender
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• Without You
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Assorted quotes [+ Show ]
  

  "Inspired... all the rainy loveliness of Belle and Sebastian" - UNCUT magazine “A great new songw..."Inspired... all the rainy loveliness of Belle and Sebastian" - UNCUT magazine
  
  “A great new songwriting talent from Scotland” – Bob Harris, BBC
  
  "A heady combination of guitar riffs and pop melody has seen Ally Kerr become the next big thing on the British music scene" - Time Out
  
  “Beautifully melancholic” – Press Association
  
  "Gentle Scottish folk with a pop tinge. If Stuart from Belle & Sebastian did a solo gig..." - Express (part of the Washington Post Company) on album track 'Amorino' as music video Pick of the Day.
  
  "The second record from this Scot makes you jump and smile just like Belle and Sebastian does and touch you just like Kings Of Convenience does. Kerr knows how to come down with the umpteenth pop song and make it seem the first one" - Rock Delux (Spain's premier music magazine)
  
  "Gorgeous” - Alex Hampshire, XFM Radio
  
  "Wonderful Scottish power pop" - Gary Crowley, BBC Radio
  
  “A sparkling tunesmith” – Metro
  
  “If someone tells me they have heard better-written songs this year I will duel with them at dawn” -Dominik Diamond, Daily Star
  
  “Simply beautiful tunes” – Music Magazine, Japan
  
  “One of Scotland’s brightest rising stars” – The List
  
  “Ally Kerr deserves to be a star” – Daily Record
  
  “Sweet pop gems” – Sunday Mail
  
  “Songs to go quietly wild for” - Maverick Magazine
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Off The Radar - Album review [+ Show ]
  

  Scottish songwriter Ally Kerr's second LP Off The Radar has several inspired moments, not least 'Cou...Scottish songwriter Ally Kerr's second LP Off The Radar has several inspired moments, not least 'Could Have Been A Contender', which jangles with all the rainy loveliness of Belle and Sebastian.

• Off The Radar - Album review [+ Show ]
  

  Off the Radar is the second album from one of Scotland’s brightest rising stars, Ally Kerr, whose de...Off the Radar is the second album from one of Scotland’s brightest rising stars, Ally Kerr, whose debut set Calling Out to You from 2005 was hailed by critics from as far afield as Tokyo; the Glaswegian can be traced back as early as 2003 when he released a John Peel-friendly EP.
  
  Echoing the likes of Stephen Duffy, Tim Burgess and Belle & Sebastian, this follow-up – featuring The Pearlfishers’ David Scott at the studio controls – will reach out to the bedsitter student among you, perfunctory single ‘Could Have Been a Contender’ being an enjoyable opener.
  
  While Kerr shines lyrically (bar the soppy ‘Toothbrush Song’), his other goal is to subdue the listener into a feel-good euphoria via highlights ‘Be the One’, ‘Amorino’, ‘Is it Too Late to Work for NASA?’ and the candy-coated grunge title track. Now get out that moth-ridden flowery shirt and drive.
  
  

• Off The Radar - Album review [+ Show ]
  

  THE YouTube video for Ally Kerr's The Sore Feet Song shows him in a parka, ambling about in Kelvingr...THE YouTube video for Ally Kerr's The Sore Feet Song shows him in a parka, ambling about in Kelvingrove Park. Next to it is a video of the same song as used in the title sequence of the Mushishi anime series. The Scottish singer-songwriter is big in the East; his debut album Calling Out To You was included in a major Japanese magazine's top 20 Scottish albums. Back home he is less well-known.
  
  Most of Kerr's songs meld the saccharin side of Belle And Sebastian with the kind of melancholy that Paul Simon's cat must feel at the end of a day's recording after milk and biscuits. They are beautifully written and wistful, a viable antidote to the bombast of daily life. If you like fragile, it's worth listening carefully. If not, spare a thought for the man the next time you're walking through Kelvingrove Park.
  
  

• Off The Radar - Album review [+ Show ]
  

  Kerr has none of the support network of a Fence Collective, but is doing rather well on his own, MCi...Kerr has none of the support network of a Fence Collective, but is doing rather well on his own, MCing with his own club nights in Glasgow's west end and finding favour with discerning pop-pickers in the Far East. His second album, made with Davey Scott at the latter's East Kilbride hit factory, is a showcase for some very fine songwriting.
  
  The more robust end of the equation - including the excellent title track - betrays the hardly unusual influence of Alex Chilton and Big Star, while more fey material like The Toothbrush Song makes the BMX Bandits sound like the Bad Seeds. There is a lovely breathy quality to Kerr's voice and he sounds, thankfully, nothing like Max Bygraves.

• Amorino - Video review [+ Show ]
  

  "Gentle Scottish folk with a pop tinge. If Stuart from Belle & Sebastian did a solo gig..." - Expre..."Gentle Scottish folk with a pop tinge. If Stuart from Belle & Sebastian did a solo gig..." - Express (part of the Washington Post Company) on album track 'Amorino' as music video Pick of the Day.

• Calling Out To You - Album review [+ Show ]
  

  The next big thing? Certainly in Japan, and waiting to happen here in the UK. Ally Kerr, who is alre...The next big thing? Certainly in Japan, and waiting to happen here in the UK. Ally Kerr, who is already ‘big in Japan”, is touted as one of this year’s rising stars in songwriting.
  
  His debut CALLING OUT TO YOU actually sold out of stock in Japan, (although we no information how many they started with) and he’s had a nomination for single of the year in Germany and the blessing of John Peel as further good signs. Combining the watercolour lovelorn pop of the likes of fellow Scots, Belles and Sebastian, the sweet folksy melodies of Donovan, and fair sprinklings of jangle rock along the lines of Teenage Fanclub, Kerr indeed strikes a winning formula in my book.
  
  His thirteen strong collection of tracks is above all, incredibly hum-able, with the positive feel of the best songs by the Bluetones. A boy meets girl, sweet and innocent romance ensues and eventually they break up and miss each other. But nothing really bad happens. The bright ’hey ho” of Someone’s got a crush on me is a particular highlight, showing romance doesn’t have to be painful. If only! These are simple love songs for sensitive indie kids, and ones to go quietly wild about.
  
  HK, MAVERICK MAGAZINE 4/5
  

• Off The Radar - Album review [+ Show ]
  

  Glasgow's Ally Kerr is a bit of an undiscovered gem unless you are in Japan, where he is huge. This ...Glasgow's Ally Kerr is a bit of an undiscovered gem unless you are in Japan, where he is huge. This well-crafted album mixes ballads such as Footprints and Be The One with the jangly pop of Could Have Been A Contender. It reminds of Simon and Garfunkel in parts.

• Could Have Been A Contender - Single review [+ Show ]
  

  A big name already in Japan, the Scottish singer tries to make an impact on home ground with a new s...A big name already in Japan, the Scottish singer tries to make an impact on home ground with a new single and forthcoming second album. Could Have Been A Contender is an upbeat playful track with swinging guitars, but the B-side, Dislocation, is a beautifully melancholic song. - Shereen Low, Press Association Reviewer

• Off The Radar - Album review
  

  One of Scotland's best-kept secrets offers another magical mix of ballads and up-tempo rock numbers

Setlist

Set can be shortened/extended to fit bill. Generally 30 - 45 minutes but has performed a 80+ minute set of orignal songs abroad.

All Day Long
So Long Goodbye
The Sore Feet Song
Everything I've Learned I Have Forgotten
Could Have Been A Contender
I Think I’m Bleeding
Amorino
Man's Man
The Other Side

Basic Requirements

Calendar