Some of them you'll use again. Some, I'm keeping hold of for a while and I'll keep them until the next record. Then, there's some you're left with that, even though you like them, you're certain you won't use them on a record.

Right now, it's a good way of getting music to lots of people. The b-side has become a bit redundant because there aren't many physically released singles anymore.

There's no need for a b-side, nobody even asks. More people get to hear these songs if you just give them away and treat them as b-sides. I just like that idea.

By the time you're finished with the whole album cycle, you could have two albums worth of material to let people get hold of.

-What have you brought from your previous projects to held you with your solo career?
I brought my drummer, Mince, from The Fratellis. The last band I was in, Codeine Velvet Club, I brought pretty much all of them to do the rest.

So, it doesn't actually feel that much different to me, surrounded by the same people that I have been for the last four or five years.

-Are there any experiences you've had that have helped?
You just learn, hopefully, with every record you make. You learn what you need to do and what you should stay away from.

This time, I was really happy to give the record over to the producer and give him the control. Really, I didn't want to take any control over the sound or sonics of it.

It was nice to let somebody else hear an idea of where the record should go. I like the fact that everybody has assigned jobs. Mine was to write songs and put the chords in, but not to be too involved in the other stuff.

A lot of stuff goes into putting a record together, if you want a good one. It was nice to just let someone do that, it's the first time I've done that, really stood back. I'd do it that way again because it really works for me.

-What are your plans for the rest of the year?
Well, playing live actually. It seems like an obvious one, but to go out and play as many shows as possible. The live setting is the last thing a musician has any control over.

All those other things, whether it gets played on radio or whether the label does a good job on your record, all of that is completely out of your hands.

Playing live is the last thing, and that'll never go. It's quite comforting to know that if all else fails, you're a pretty decent guitar player, you sing and you can go out to sell these songs by playing them to people.

It's the age-old thing. So, that's the plan for me. That's the fallback in a good way, just to be out playing for people.

-Best of luck with the live dates and the album. Thanks for chatting to us.
Thanks man, I appreciate it.

Female First - Alistair McGeorge

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