In tune with realism

Jun 28 2009 by Mieka Smiles, Sunday Sun

CONTROVERSIAL singer Malcolm Middleton kicked off his UK tour this week and is set to visit Tyneside this summer. ALEXANDRA MCKENZIE talks to him . . .

“I’M A REALIST verging on optimism,” says Malcolm Middleton, who has earned a reputation as a pessimist with singles such as Burn in Hell and Ballad of F*** All.

“If I was a pessimist I wouldn’t bother to actually write this stuff,” argues the singer who thinks his pessimistic label is wholly unjustified.

Malcolm even claims that his 2007 Christmas number one contender - We’re All Going to Die – was not controversial. “I wasn’t using it in that sense anyway,” he claims.

“In my songs I contrast dark lyrics against happy music,” says Malcolm, who has surprised those who insist the singer is a cynic by covering mainstream stars Madonna and Girls Aloud.

Despite rumours suggesting Malcolm was bored with the music industry, he says he has no plans to stop making music: “I’ll definitely carry on with music, but maybe experiment for a few years before returning to solo stuff.

“In a group, when things go wrong, you can take it together but as a solo artist when things go right you take credit yourself. I do miss having someone else around though,” says Malcolm, who initially found fame with Scottish duo Arab Strap, who split in 2006.

Unusually titled Waxing Gibbous is Malcolm’s fifth solo album.

“I really hate choosing album titles,” he says.

“I had a moon calendar on my desk, it was open on ‘waxing gibbous’ and I just liked it.

“Zero is my favourite song on the album – it’s funny and upbeat.

“I’ve chopped off the beginning and the end for a more acoustic single version,” which Malcolm says is due for release on August 3.

Malcolm is looking forward to a good reception from Tyneside on July 4: “I’ve played at the Cluny a few times and it always gets a good crowd,” he says.

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