NEW YORK, NY (Atlantic Records) - Atlantic Records has announced the release of "LIVE SESSIONS," the North American debut release from acclaimed Scottish singer/songwriter
Paolo Nutini. The four-track EP lands in stores nationwide tomorrow,
September 12th.
Born and raised in Paisley, Scotland, the 19-year-old Nutini has proven a sensation in the U.K., where his full-length debut album, "THESE STREETS," made a stunning top 3 chart entry earlier this summer. The "LIVE SESSIONS" EP is an intimate introduction to this powerful new artist via performances captured at a series of small venues in London. Songs such as the bittersweet "Jenny Don't Be Hasty" and the rollicking "New Shoes" reveal Nutini to be blessed with a soulful, passionate voice and the natural gift of being able to tell a story in a song. "LIVE SESSIONS" precedes the domestic release of "THESE STREETS," which is set to arrive on these shores early next year.
Widely praised as a charismatic live performer, Paolo will make his North American television debut tonight, September 11th, on CBS-TV's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson." From there, he will head to Texas for a Friday, September 15th appearance at the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, joining a bill that includes Downtown/Atlantic's own Gnarls Barkley and one of Nutini's personal heroes, the legendary Van Morrison. Nutini's "LIVE SESSIONS" will also be featured tomorrow on MTV's "You Hear It First."
Nutini has just been named one of Rolling Stone's "10 Artists To Watch 2006," while he was recently hailed by Billboard as one of their "Five To Watch." Nutini has already won a legion of fans throughout Europe, where he has been invited to support the likes of Paul Weller and the Rolling Stones, in addition to making sensational TV appearances on "Top of the Pops" and "Later with Jools Holland." In May 2006, he appeared at the New York Pops Birthday Gala at Carnegie Hall at the personal request of the evening's honoree - Atlantic Records Founding Chairman Ahmet Ertegun. Less than two months later, Nutini brought the house down during a special tribute to Ertegun and Atlantic Records at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The only new artist on the bill, Nutini shared the stage with such icons as Solomon Burke, Robert Plant, and Kid Rock. One of Paolo's heroes, soul legend Ben E. King, was so impressed that he invited him on stage to sing with him, an amazing moment for the young singer.
Like so many of the most important artists who have emerged from the U.K., Nutini has absorbed the soul of the great American R&B singers and channeled it into something original, captivating, and dynamic. Inspired by classic R&B stars like the Drifters and Ray Charles, as well as such troubadours as John Martyn and Van Morrison, Nutini left his native Scotland at 17 and moved to London, where he started performing regularly at clubs around town. His bold voice and provocative songs created an instant buzz. Nutini signed to Atlantic Records shortly after his 18th birthday and immediately headed north to Liverpool to work on his debut album with renowned producer Ken Nelson (Coldplay, Ray LaMontagne, Badly Drawn Boy).
In July, Nutini's first single, the moving "Last Request," made an impressive top five debut on the British charts. "THESE STREETS" followed, debuting at No 3 and receiving gold certification less than two weeks later. In addition to its popular success, the album received a bounty of critical praise. Uncut Magazine awarded "THESE STREETS" four-out-of-five stars, noting that "For once, comparisons with the great Al Green are not entirely far-fetched." The Observer hailed Nutini as having "a talent for elegant, melodic songwriting and an admirable willingness to vary the tempo."
