Scottish singer-songwriter Keir Gibson performed a live version of debut single, Eyes Wide for Netsounds.
Eyes Wide, the debut single from new Scottish act Keir Gibson, is a statement of intent – announcing the arrival of his unique brand of alternative pop.
Weeks before the release, Keir performed on the XpONorth festival line-up in Inverness and also took time out to drop in for a session with Netsounds where he treated us to this stripped back version of the debut single.
Borne out of the Highlands, the 18-year-old’s music demonstrates a love of production, akin to the likes of Maggie Rogers, Julia Michaels and Lauv, while his lyrics show a natural talent for honest and engaging storytelling.
Set for release the day before he takes to the Belladrum stage for the second year running, Eyes Wide gives audiences a glimpse of what’s to come.
Brought up in Fort William, Keir grew up surrounded by his family’s love of traditional Scottish music. His music, however, is distinctly contemporary, fusing electronica, pop and folk with emotional lyrics and a powerful voice to create something that is romantic, escapist and full of energy.
In December 2018, Keir swapped his Highland family croft for the city, spending the week writing with London production duo The Nocturns (Charlie Martin and Joe Housley). It was an experience that finally allowed Keir to translate the dynamic and lively sounds he had envisaged into the track, Eyes Wide.
The single was then sent to LA for mixing and mastering by none other than Grammy nominated mixer Matty Green and Grammy award-winning mastering engineer Joe LaPorta.
Keir said: “I’ve been writing songs since I was 12 years old at home in Fort William with my guitar and it finally felt like the right time to get into the studio and work on my first release. It was important for me to have the chance to experiment with different sounds and to realise the kind of music I want to keep making, namely a unique brand of alternative pop that you might not expect to hear coming out of the Scottish Highlands.
“I’ve been going to Belladrum with my family for years, so the festival has special memories for me – its somewhere I’ve always wanted to play. Last year was such a brilliant atmosphere so launching my debut single during this year’s festival means a lot to me. Hopefully people like it and want to hear more!”
An independent release, Eyes Wide is inspired by the sleepless nights of a breakup, exploring the manic nature of a toxic relationship and the exhausting chase to match someone’s ever-changing whims.
With brilliantly received support slots for Northampton singer-songwriter Billy Lockett at King Tut’s and The View’s Kyle Falconer at The Ironworks, Inverness under his belt, and a spot on the Hit The Road and Belladrum line-ups in 2018 to his name, Keir is just getting started. As well as appearing at Belladrum 2019, he also played this year’s HebCelt Festival in Stornoway.
Eyes Wide will be available to download and stream on Friday, 2 August.
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