Paolo Nutini

from:               Paisley, Scotland
website:           www.paolonutini.com
myspace:         www.myspace.com/paolonutini

Since I started this year's set of previews, I think I have received more emails about 19 year-old Paolo Nutini than any other artist playing ACL this year.  I'm pretty sure it's just a coincidence that all the emails came from girls, and that Nutini has the kind of boyish charm and playful good looks  that make women dizzy, not to mention the kind of swoon-inducing voice that lovestruck young ladies lap up like melted chocolate.  Just a coincidence, I'm sure.

Despite the Italian name, Nutini was born to Scottish parents in Paisley, where his family runs the fish and chip shop that his great-grandfather originally opened.  Although he received no formal musical training, the young singer-songwriter was exposed to a wide range of influences as a child, from the Scottish folksongs his grandfather listened to, to the boogie-woogie a local priest played on the family piano, to the '50s rock 'n roll his father loved, to the Ray Charles album he discovered in an aunt's record collection.  After quitting school to become a roadie, Nutini rapidly learned the music business and began performing, and was signed to Atlantic Records shortly after his 18th birthday.

Listening to Nutini's debut album, These Streets, one can't help but think the young musician is poised for a James Blunt level of stardom.  The record debuted at #3 in the UK and his voice actually reminds me of Blunt, as well as Maroon 5's lead crooner, Adam Levine, with a bit more soul than your average 19 year-old. These Streets is slated for a US release in early 2007, but with an appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson scheduled for September 11, you can be sure that lovesick American girls will be crowding Nutini's stage at ACL.

"These Streets" (from These Streets)
"Jenny Don't Be Hasty" (from These Streets)

Comments

This article was not very descriptive in terms of the artist's musical style or abilities. There was only one sentence letting the reader know what to expect when listening to "These Streets" (i.e. sounds like James Blunt). Don't mean to be overly critical but a little content devoted to the actual music would be much appreciated... especially since his background isn't terribly interesting.

[Jenn]

hate to bust your nuts but i was one of those emailers and i am far from being 19 years old.

[janet]

Thanks for the input, but that's the purpose of including mp3s in these posts - the idea behind this site was to give festival attendees the chance to hear these artists for themselves, rather than rely upon a description. Links to the website and myspace have been provided if you want any additional information.

And Jenn - I said that Paolo is 19. :) I'm pretty sure most of the emailers were a little bit older...

[Jenn]

janet: okay, i'll take it as a compliment that i'm still considered a young "girl" then ;)

[janet]

Haha, it was definitely meant that way. :) So are you headed to the festival this weekend?

[Jenn]

:D Yes, I've got a 3-day pass. It'll be my first time attending ACL.