Miles Kane has shared the special reason why he returned to Merseyside to record his new album.
The 37-year-old electrified the crowd with two gigs in Liverpool over the past week as part of the Eurovision celebrations. The Meols musician was part of the line-up at the Pier Head's Eurovision Village on Wednesday and played a more intimate gig to 80 people at The Jacaranda on Friday.
He told the ECHO how he felt privileged to be a part of a special week that will live long in the memory. He said: "I've had an amazing week and that gig we did on the docks was incredible.
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"It's one of my favourite gigs that we've done because we haven't played for a while. The crowd were amazing. It was boss. I'm honoured to be from Merseyside and be a part of this beautiful event."
The performances were part of the National Lottery's United By Music Tour aimed at supporting grassroots music venues. As Miles took to the stage at the Jacaranda on Friday night, he told the crowd how excited he was to be back where it all started for him.
Liverpool's musical heritage was one of the key reasons why the city was perfect to host Eurovision and Miles explained how the venue was instrumental in kickstarting his glittering career. He said: "When I was 17 I used to do open mic in the Jacaranda. I used to get so nervous and I used to try and sing Libertines song and I couldn't really sing then.
"I wouldn't be stood here if I hadn't played Hannah's Bar, the Zanzibar, the Barfly, open mic in the Jacaranda. It defines who you are and I don't think you can shortcut that. Playing to two people in an empty bar when nobody cares about you is the hardest thing to do. But it gives you strength and if you do have success later on it becomes easier to navigate that."
Music is in the fabric of Merseyside and Miles said following in the footsteps of local giants made him belief he could make it as a rockstar. He said: "When you're a kid, you think how the hell do you even get on stage. It seemed so alien to me but the city has played a massive part in my inspirations. Echo and the Bunnymen, The Beatles, The Real Thing. It's a massive part of who I am and what I do."
MIles hails from from a talented musical family as he is the cousin of Coral frontman, James Skelly. The two have collaborated on Miles' eagerly anticipated upcoming solo album, One Man Band, which will be released this summer.
James produced the album and the tracks were recorded at his studio in Liverpool. The first single, Troubled Son, has been released and is already a hit with fans who were thrilled to hear the song played live this week.
The new single is in the mould of earlier hits such as Don't Forget Who You Are - and Miles told the ECHO why he wanted to return to Merseyside to record the album to reconnect with his roots. He said: "It's been an absolutely amazing experience where I wanted to look at why I picked up guitar in the first place. It was that surf sounding guitar with heavy upbeat tunes.
"To come back and find the reason why you started it all in the first place because you can get misguided and lost in your own stuff but I'm feeling in a good place now. I wanted to make a record like that and go back to the start. So I've got no strings, no brass, no pianos. It's just me doing what I do best with my family. It's an upbeat banging record that everyone needs."
Merseyside has always displayed a spirit of defiance to punch above its weight and ensure its voice is heard on the global stage. Miles explained how he has channeled that energy into the new record.
He said: "I've got a bit of fire in me at the moment. I still feel like a bit of an underdog. I don't know if it's myself but I still feel like there's something to prove."
Miles is an accomplished musician who has enjoyed success experimenting with a variety of sounds as his most recent album, Change the Show, was in the style of a Northern Soul record. He is also one half of the critically acclaimed supergroup, The Last Shadow Puppets, alongside Arctic Monkeys frontman, Alex Turner.
The close friends have released albums The Age of the Understatement and Everything You Have Come to Expect to great success - and Miles said a return is on the cards at some point in the future to complete the trilogy.
He said: "We will do but it won't be happening anytime soon. We're both enjoying our zones. We always talk about it. One day, before we are in Zimmer frames and wheelchairs in a nursing home, hopefully it will happen."
The Arctic Monkeys are set to headline Glastonbury this summer and Miles kept his cards close to his chest on whether he would once again join them on stage to play hit song, 505. He said: "We were talking about that the other day. But yeah we will see. If they want me then I'm there."
One Man Band is set to be released on August 4
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