One of Paisley’s hottest musicians was on stage for a homecoming gig last week.
Linzi Clark, who was born and bred in the town, was performing at an event put on by the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA) at the Bungalow on Thursday night along with music producer Bovine (Richard Gellatly).
The former Castlehead High School pupil was appearing at the event, not long after being named ‘Best Acoustic’ winner at the SAMA 2022 on Thursday, December 8 at a prize-giving ceremony at Glasgow’s Saint Luke’s.
She was preceded on the bill by Carsick Charlie and following her set were Poster Paints, who are comprised of Carla Easton (TeenCanteen/Solo) and Simon Liddell (Olympic Swimmers, Frightened Rabbit) and others.
Linzi’s 2021 album, ‘All I Have Now’ was winner of Album of The Year at the Paisley Music Awards and has received rave reviews from the likes of Vic Galloway on BBC Radio Scotland and The Skinny magazine.
And though she’s enjoying some success in the industry now, it was never obvious to her that she would end up becoming a musician, having had no formal training in her school years, only picking up the bug in her 20s when she started a course at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) Linzi has worked hard to craft her songwriting abilities.
“Now I regret not taking guitar lessons when I was wee, but it’s definitely got its benefits not having been classically trained,” Linzi told the Paisley Daily Express.
For Linzi, it was an urge she felt to express and understand her experience of the world around her and all of the varied emotions thrown at a person throughout the course of a lifetime.
Linzi said: “It felt like a different way of self-expression. With my songwriting I feel like I can express myself more easily and without having to think too much about it and I think that it’s good for me to be able to lean into my craft a wee bit.
“It was never something I intentionally set out to do with my songwriting, but when I first got started, I really jumped right into that aspect of it.”
The now 29-year-old is grateful to UWS where she studied songwriting and in particular to David Scott, who is head of the School of Business and Creative Industries at the university.
“He was a big inspiration for me in my songwriting journey. He really helped me through the modules and really encouraged me to dive right into it and see songwriting as something that I could do,” said the singer.
Linzi said that musically she has been inspired by the likes of Kate Bush, Julia Jacklin, and Regina Spektor.
She added that her family has had a big influence on her decision to pursue music.
“My family has been really supportive as well.
“They never forced me to go down the route of a more stable career, they were always really supportive.
“It’s such a hard industry to break into so having that support at home is so important for me.”
Linzi’s album ‘All I Have Now’ is available on streaming platforms and can be bought on limited edition vinyl and cassette via her bandcamp page: linziclarkmusic.bandcamp.com/music
Don't miss the latest Renfrewshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
