Amy MacDonald - Scottish sensation

Hailed as a teen-sensation Amy McDonald has already achieved a number two album for ‘This Is The Life’ and she is still only 20 years old.  Her acoustic plucky pop songs romanticise the innocent days of adolescence covering topics like idol admiration and celebrities writing premature autobiographies.

She cites her inspiration as The Libertines and Travis and even wrote her first single, ‘Poison Prince’, about Pete Doherty.  We caught up with the singer after her performance at the BT Digital Music Awards to chat Bruce Springsteen and paying £100 for Radiohead’s album.

Virtual Festivals: How are you doing Amy?
Amy McDonald: “Yeah I’m cool. It’s always a bit of a weird crowd at award ceremonies because everybody is here to get drunk.”

VF: I’m not too far off myself. Have you had a chance to have a drink?
AM: “No I was just waiting until I performed and now I’ve got that out of the way I can grab a drink.”

VF: It’s been a top year for you…
AM: “It’s been top but there has been lots of work involved. It’s been so exciting at the same time because there are a lot of great things going on.”

VF: What’s been the highlight?
AM: “Having a number two album was pretty amazing but there are loads of things. I’ve been on tour with Paul Weller and I’ve supported Travis and it’s just been pretty amazing for me.”

VF: Is there anybody you’d love to support?
AM: “The one tour that’s doing the rounds now is Bruce Springsteen. He’s just doing a massive tour and to get to do one date with him would be amazing.”

VF: You’ve played quite a few festivals over the summer…
AM: “Yeah I played Glastonbury, T in the Park and V Festival, so a lot of the big ones.  The start of the festival season is a bit more exciting than the end because you start to think: ‘one more Portaloo and I’m going to crack up.’ But it was great none the less.”

VF: T in the Park must have been special.
AM: “T in the Park was a milestone for me because it’s the festival I’ve grown up with and I’ve been there the last five years so to play was just amazing.”

VF: Was it the best festival you played?
AM: “Totally, nothing else compared to it.”

VF: How was playing the big one Glastonbury?
AM: “It was good, but it was very muddy and there was something not quite right about the atmosphere.  Then I read in the press the next day that Michael Eavis had said that he wants the real fans back, so maybe I just went during a bad year.”

VF: Would you like to go back next year?
AM: “I hope so because it’s really great and it's really well organised.”

VF: Are there any festivals you haven’t played that you would like to?
AM: “I’d love to do Coachella in the lovely warm sunshine.”

VF: Are you looking play more festivals abroad?
AM: “Yeah sure I’d love to get out and play all around the world.”

VF: How much would you pay for the new Radiohead album?
AM: “I’ve been asked this before and I said £100.  I think Radiohead are a wonderful band and the way they move things forward in music so yeah I think £100 is a fair amount.”

VF: Would you consider releasing your next album on the internet?
AM: “If that’s the way everyone else is going I don’t see why not.  I’ll just go with the flow.”

Find out more at Amy MacDonald's MySpace.