David Scott Interview with Terry Jamieson (The Herald, Glasgow), 27th November 2004

The third degree; Davie Scott: The singer, songwriter and Pearlfishers frontman on his great love of Italian folk tales and intense hatred of 4x4s.

Terry Jamieson: Who would you be if you could swap places for a day?

David Scott: Bert the chimney sweep, Dick Van Dyke's character in Mary Poppins. I love him. He's a blue-collar guy who's an alchemist; this strange character who'll show you a drawing on a pavement that you can actually dive inside. People always focus on the ridiculous cockney accent, but every time he comes on the screen something really unexpected happens - and in your fantasy life you wish you could do those kind of things.

TJ: Who was your childhood hero?

DS: To me, Kenny Dalglish was an artist. Someone else who's got a similar expressiveness in their work is Paul McCartney.

TJ: What's the first thing you do in the morning?

DS: Turn on the computer.

TJ: What's the last thing you think about at night?

DS: Usually I'm trying to grab a melody out of the ether.

TJ: How often do you wash your hair?

DS: Every day. Doesn't everybody?

TJ: Would you ever have cosmetic surgery?

DS: I don't think so. I did think about dyeing my hair recently because I'm prematurely grey. (Well, I say prematurely grey: I am 40.) But then I realised that I'd missed the opportunity, because people that I know and respect already know me as a grey-haired person.

TJ: Which designer labels do you own?

DS: I've got some Paul Smith and I've got some Nicole Farhi, believe it or not. But the main thing is probably George by Asda.

TJ: Who are your favourite writers?

DS: I love Italo Calvino. His book Italian Folktales is amazing: the last story, Jump Into My Sack, can reduce me to tears. I also really like Armistead Maupin. My favourite songwriter is probably Brian Wilson.

TJ: What is your favourite building?

DS: Glasgow School of Art. I was a student there for a couple of months in 1984, before I got a record deal, and you were aware that you were working inside a masterpiece. My other favourite is St Mary of the Angels in Camelon, Falkirk. It's just a little church, but it is a building of rare atmosphere inside.

TJ: Arthouse or multiplex?

DS: Och, whatever.

TJ: Cats or dogs?

DS: I'm just finishing a book of poetry for children and one of the poems is called I Don't Like Cats, They Don't Like Me. And that's very true.

TJ: Pyjamas or au naturel?

DS: I would admit to owning several pairs of pyjama bottoms in various shades of blue.

TJ: Love is?

DS: Love is music and vice versa. A wee kid said that to me the other day and I think he's right.

TJ: What do you believe in?

DS: Sticking to your path. If I were prime minister I would The only thing that really gets me animated are these 4x4s on the road. What do you call them? Yuppie tractors? It's not just because they're environmentally irresponsible; I just think there's something embarrassingly wannabe about them. I'd ban them.

TJ: What have you loved and lost?

DS: My grandparents.

TJ: What makes you blush?

DS: Having to negotiate a fee. That's a nightmare to me - which kind of puts me at a major disadvantage.

TJ: What would be the soundtrack to your life?

DS: Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, no question.

TJ: What brings out the devil in you?

DS: Whisky and champagne cocktails. Oh man.

TJ: Sum yourself up in five words.

DS: Enthusiastic, overworked, late, excited, resilient.

The Pearlfishers' new album, A Sunflower at Christmas, is out now on Marina. Davie Scott's radio show, Silverscreen Beats, returns to Radio Scotland on December 13.

(Copyright 2004 SMG Newspapers Ltd.)