“
I got a call from guy in London about a song I had written. This was a guy who had worked with Cat Stevens and David Bowie... He flew me down twice to record, but in the end nothing happened
then he called me back, twice in the one day. When that happens, you really feel you’re on to something. “So he flew me down to London – twice – to record. They were talking about it being released as a charity single. Paul Jones, who sang with Manfred Mann, was on it. It was like: ‘Wow! I can’t believe this.’ I was getting phone calls at work and being told they were talking to the father of the Bedingfields and at one point they even said they might have Sting involved. Then nothing happened. “Band Aid 20 came out just about that time and I think they must have thought there was no point in bringing our song out. That was a real disappointment. To be built up so high and then have nothing happen. A bit disappointing, to say the least, but you pick yourself up and move on,” he adds, showing the kind of grit that has taken him through the highs and lows of a lifetime in the biz. TLS is the band Scott currently fronts. Sort of. The thing is, there are two bands called TLS, and both of them feature Scott as singer and songwriter. One TLS – The Limitless Sky – gig around the UK while the other TLS – The Luminous Storm – get together for Scott’s dates in the US. Through a combination of hard work, creating his own chances and the benefits of the internet, he has developed a bit of a following across the Atlantic, particularly in Wisconsin, where the second TLS are based. “The first time I ever went to the States properly to play was in 2003,”
he says. “To get that opportunity, all I did was literally call round radio and TV stations in America from my home in Prestwick. “And because you have an internet presence they can check you out and see whether they like you. Through doing that I got slots on TV and radio and a few gigs. Since then I have played over there a few times, in New York, Nashville, Florida and Houston. “US audiences are great. I have found that if they like you they will buy your CD at the end of the gig, more so than people over here. “They are also less ageist. I have fans in my audiences aged 10 and I have played in schools. One of the biggest gigs I have done was in a US high school. I have played in enormous gym halls where one full side is chock-a-block and the audience are all aged between 12 and 18. “Over there, if they like you, they like you, simple as that.” So what does Scott put his longevity down to? “I think I’ve just got better, if I’m allowed to say that,” he laughs. “Of course, you should get better if you do something long enough. “I am also lucky in that there has always been a demand for the type of music I play. I have honed my act over the years and become a bit better – though maybe other people would disagree.” You can check that out for yourself by searching for Scott’s music and videos on YouTube and CDBaby. And if you’d like to check out his live sound, take a look at his Facebook page for gig details.
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