Spotlight On... Russell Stewart

It's been three-and-a-half years since we last spoke to Glasgow-based R'n'B and neo-soul artist Russell Stewart. Then, he was just about to release Into View, his debut EP, and we (see: me) described his voice as being like butter, and well, we said what we said and we stand by it. Since we last spoke, Stewart has been keeping himself busy. "I’ve been working on a lot of other people’s music," he tells us, "some features and doing lots of backing vocals which has been a lovely; a needed break from pushing my own work."

Part of that break also saw Stewart "writing and experimenting with producing," he tells us of how his latest project, SCRAP METAL MIXTAPE, came about. "On top of that I’ve been focusing on my health, chasing the sun, getting my heart broken – the usual," he says. With his mixtape released at the end of last month and lots of plans in the works for the weeks and months that follow, we catch up with Stewart to find out more, including a track by track rundown of this new record.

In a recent post on Instagram you said you’ve been putting off producing and releasing a record for years, so I wonder, what’s been holding you back?
I just felt a bit stuck, like not believing in myself enough to make a project to the standard that I wanted but then also not being able to get ahead of planning, time, money enough that I could do that with others. I think I just reached a breaking point and managed to push myself to finally do it, and I’m so glad I did.

What's the meaning behind the title and why did you decide to return with a mixtape over an EP or album?
I used to go to a tapas bar for open mic nights about ten years ago when I was just starting out performing my own songs. It closed down years ago and is now a scrap metal yard, so it’s a wee nod to honour the place. I have so many fond memories there and it’s where I got to know some of my closest friends and so many musicians who are now forging their paths in the Scottish music scene and beyond.

I decided on a mixtape because it’s not a full blown record but the tracks are better than demos; it’s not a big album, but it’s a step up from a wee EP, old songs and new songs stitched together while I improve my production skills. With that sort of in-between feel mirrored in the themes and the history of the name, a mixtape just felt right.

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I’d love if you could talk us through the six tracks from the mixtape and tell us a bit more about each of the songs, what they're about and what inspired them?
try: The mixtape opens with try, which is basically a rant about how working in the music industry is a constant struggle – feeling like you’re losing your passion, not doing enough or that you've missed your chance. Despite this, you keep trying! Everything comes in cycles and you find that youthful spark again, and that’s how this mixtape came about.

save face: I wrote [save face] a long time ago. It’s quite a pained song about how relationships can be messy when you’re young, figuring out identity, boundaries, dealing with shame of others and yourself. I get a lot of rage and angst out when I sing this one.

take me for a drive: take me for a drive is a kind of 0 to 100 track sonically. I wrote this after helping one of my best pals Lizzie Reid out with a UK tour she was the support on. I had been struggling with different things in my life at the time but somehow being plucked out of everything and flung into the routine, travel and excitement of a tour completely reinvigorated me. Sometimes you just need to go for a wee drive – or a very big one!

twice shy: Another oldie, this is a fun track, very loopy instrumental-wise. From the idiom “once bitten, twice shy”, it’s just about how if you feel someone’s messed you around in the past, when they come back around again it can make you cautious and confused. The other tracks on the mixtape can get a bit heavy and I feel like this is a wee laidback break from the flow.

apple juice and cola: The fifth track is a wee one-minute spoken word track about a coffee shop date. This is the biggest departure from my usual sound but I love it, that’s why I put it out with the surprise mixtape announcement as a promo single to grab people’s attention.

never again: Last on the mixtape is never again. It’s a kind of liberating, empowering break-up song to finish the record with; if you don’t want to see someone again then you never have to. I wrote the chorus years ago then finally came back to it last year and finished it. I’m really proud of this song and had a lot of fun producing it too.

The mixtape came out at the end of last week, so what’s next?
I wanted to do this a bit differently and make it a surprise drop, so I’m going to follow up the mixtape release with six weeks of content, a week dedicated to each track. I’ll be sharing the stories about them, production behind the scenes, the music videos etc. I’m looking forward to letting each song have its moment.

And what does the rest of the year beyond that look like for you?
I’m planning some Scottish headline gigs for autumn, so stay tuned for that. Then maybe some more music...

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SCRAP METAL MIXTAPE is out now

Follow Russell Stewart on Instagam @itsthisrussell