AJ McLovely Talks To Us About Her New Album Namely Under The Covers.
Interviewed by Duzzy Clayton
Intro
AJ McLovely is one of most favorite Scottish Singers, as well as being a great songwriter she also covers some great songs from various artists, which can often be seen along with her originals on her online streaming gigs
The covers have become such a big hit among the fans, AJ decided to do a covers album of songs chosen by fans
We talk to AJ about her new covers album namely ‘Under The Covers’ among other cool things
Enjoy The Read
Interview
Hi AJ, Welcome back to Fanbase Music Magazine, you have had a busy few years, you had a baby, got engaged, and also recorded a new covers album, how is making time for your personal life and your work been treating you?
If I’m honest, I am taking a short break to enjoy the last 6 months of my maternity leave, as it has been a VERY busy three years music-wise, and with the album now out, I feel I need to focus solely on family life for a little while before embarking on the next project.
For people who don’t quite know you, can you briefly describe where you are from and what got you into music?
Yes, I’m singer-songwriter Aj Mclovely, from Aberdeenshire, Scotland. I got into music at a very young age, growing up in a house where music was pretty much played all the time. My mum and dad liked a huge variety of music from many genres, everything from Hendrix to The Corrs, Erasure to ZZ top. We also watched a lot of music videos and concerts. I started singing along to most of what I heard and I guess that’s why my tastes are pretty diverse. When my dad died a few years ago, I started singing at open mic sessions and I rediscovered my passion for music and its healing powers. When lockdown hit, I began doing my own live gigs from my living room and things kicked off pretty fast, leading to my name, music page, EP, singles, worldwide fanbase and so much more.
How would you describe your sound and genre?
I wouldn’t say that I have a particular sound, or that my music does either. My four singles have all been quite different. However, I would say that many people have said I have a great country sound and look, and, given the success of my most recent single “Breathe”, within the country music genre, I would say this is where I am now focusing on my music.
What sort of bands and musicians did you grow up listening to?
I grew up listening to Bowie, Hendrix, Zappa, Madonna, Erasure, Tears For Fears, Robert Palmer, Kim Wilde, The Cure, Talking Heads, Moby, Queen, and so many other artists. I could never list them all.
Okay, let’s talk about the new album, what is the name of the album?
The album is very much an eclectic collection of fan favorites called Under The Covers, with the title chosen by a fan via a competition.
It is a covers album, what made you choose these specific songs to cover, and what do they mean to you?
Again, the songs were chosen by my fans via a poll. The songs were some of the ones I performed during many of my lockdown shows and they hold very special and happy memories for myself and my fans from that very traumatic and life-changing time for us all.
Where was the album recorded?
It was recorded at Captain Toms studio in Aberdeen
Who worked on the album?
We had a very small group working on the album, with of course, all vocals by myself, Paul the sound engineer and my manager John overseeing production.
At the time of print the album has been out a few days, how has the reception been for the new album?
The reception has been pretty good so far, with streams and downloads, in particular, being very encouraging. The feedback from fans has also been excellent, which has been very pleasing.
You are also a great songwriter, do you think your newborn baby would somehow come into the songs you write about now?
Thank you. Yes, of course. As with many songwriters, my music and lyrics are inspired by my own experiences and emotions. Much of what I have written in the past has come from trauma and heartbreak, albeit with a hopeful perspective, but with the arrival of my newborn son and the continuing inspiration I receive from his brothers, I have a wealth of very positive experiences to now draw on for the future and my current songwriting is very much based on this.
What does the future hold now, are there any new albums after this or upcoming gigs?
For now, I am taking the rest of my maternity leave (6 months), to rest, recuperate, re-evaluate, and re-set. Then I plan on returning to my music with various projects in the pipeline, including a collaboration with a prominent country artist, an album of fresh, original material, and a country covers album, so much more to come.
Can you give us your social media links?
Thank you for doing this interview, do you have any messages for our readers?
You’re welcome and thank you. Yes, if you are looking for a feel-good album and like my sound, I am sure you will enjoy the album. Please also check out my original work, it has a very different vibe so there is something for everyone. All my music is available digitally on all major platforms and my album and EP are available exclusively from my website.
Social Media
