Striking up the band with Liam McClair

Image: Liam McClair (Credit: Decoy Media)

If you're a regular on the Manchester music circuit, there's a hefty chance you're acquainted with the raw acoustic and vocal talents of Liam McClair. However if you're not, once he launches his imminent Honest EP, the singer/songwriter will be undoubtedly be infiltrating playlists a-plenty outside of the North West as well as your own.  

When institutions like BBC Radio 6 are peppering your music across the airwaves, it's a stern indication that you're heading in the right direction. More so when that's followed up with airplay at Old Trafford, where match day regularly experiences the Manchester elite who've shaped the city's rich musical history.

Liam launches the Honest EP at Northern Quarter hotspot Gullivers on Friday 25th September backed by a live band. It'll be the first chance to experience the new material in a live setting, enhanced greatly by a horde of accompanying instrumentalists . We could easily have left it at that, Liam's music fluently speaks for itself, but we thought we'd hook him in for a chat to get to know about a man whos career is seemingly waiting to explode. 

You're a former Manchester United academy player. So what led you to pursue music? 

I've always loved music, and from a young age I was encouraged to play a variety of instruments. I have always loved following a passion, with football being my first and my long lasting, and my current passion is music.

Music has been ever present in my life, we had had a piano in the house and my parents are huge music fans. I started guitar at 15, having previously played piano and trumpet and learned to play all of my favourite songs from Radiohead to Joni Mitchell and naturally progressed to writing. When I felt that my music was getting better and the songs were becoming stronger, I started to perform. 

For those that don't know you, how would you describe your music to them? 

I'd say it's folk-pop. I've been previously compared to James Taylor, Nick Drake and Ray LaMontagne which I have been hugely flattered by as they're some of the people I really admire. I am trying to make authentic pop music that doesn’t become tiresome or annoying.

You're launching the 'Honest EP' at Gullivers in September. Tell us more about that EP and how it progresses from your previous works? 

'Honest' came about from wanting to progress myself further. I have released two previous EPs 'How' and 'Honey' - for some reason they all begin with 'H'. I wanted to make as close to professional songs as I could, so I recorded with a fantastic producer, Fred Cox, who helped make a really great EP.

I am really proud of the tracks, and I think they are the best tracks I've ever recorded. 'Honest', the title track is one of the first songs I wrote and knew it had potential to be popular. The rest of the tracks follow on from that track and it’s much more upbeat than my previous work. 

We've read that you have a live band on board, who are they and how do you think they'll help you develop on the live stage?  

They are a variety of musicians who are all involved in the Manchester Scene. Greg, who plays bass in the band, recorded my EP 'Honey' so I have known him for a while.

I think a band is paramount to succeeding in music at the moment because you can create a larger sound that can encourage people to engage more. On a very basic level having a band is useful because it is louder and a bigger sound more people will take notice at shows. I want to progress to headlining shows regularly and I think having the option of a band will be a huge asset for me.

You're a regular face around Manchester, you've even had your song played at Old Trafford. Is the plan now to expand around the UK?  

I try and perform as much as I can and Manchester was the closest city. There are so many fantastic nights with live music and the singer songwriter circuit is really strong. The Old Trafford feature was fantastic and the story got picked up by the national press which helped to raise my profile and get my songs out to people who would previously not have heard them.

The eventual next step is to create a national following so I can regularly headline my own UK tour. I find that prospect incredibly exciting.

Support for your music has came from the likes of BBC 6 Music, XFM and BBC Introducing. Pretty big institutions right, how confident or close are you to signing with a record label? 

It has been pretty overwhelming having support from such established, esteemed and reputable radio stations but I am also really proud. The achievement and recognition is fantastic and really validates all the effort I have previously put in.

It’s made me even more excited for the release of my EP as all of the tracks that have been played have come from 'Honest'. I am always going to be confident in my own future and I feel it will be a matter of time. First I need to make myself more established and start to grow my fan base. 

Finally what will the crowd be in for at  the EP release and why should they come down? 

An interactive show featuring uplifting and emotive music, I love to get the crowd involved in clapping or singing so they can feel personally attached to the music even more than just listening. It will be engaging and brilliant fun. Having had radio play from the previously mentioned stations, they will be able to hear the Honest EP live for the first time. I really can’t wait.

Thanks Liam, good luck for the launch! 

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