Musselburgh singer Callum Beattie releases second album Vandals

In the three years since his debut, he has gone from playing to “two men and a dug” in pubs to selling 6,000 tickets in a couple of days, wowing a big crowd at TRNSMT last year, and performing at a sold-out two nights at SWG3.

He sold out the iconic Kelvingrove Bandstand last August – those tickets went in less than 24 hours – and he has a hefty run of shows to come, while the dream is Hampden.

One reviewer said of his new album: “Far and away the most complete collection of songs the ever-rising singer-songwriter has written, Vandals is a chronicle to his life, love and heartbreak which showcases not only his writing but that devastating voice, which seems to grow richer with every show.”

More importantly, it is the record Callum wanted to make.

Vandals has now been released

He said: “I think it’s the first time I’ve actually made any music that’s this close to who I am.

“It’s also made me certain that this is how I will want to make future records too.

“All I really wanted was to put a band together and make a proper, live, studio record and that’s exactly what we did.

“It was all about the energy in the room and our producer Chris Marshall did a phenomenal job of getting the absolute best out of all of us.

“My manager Dave made it all happen – he asked what I wanted and took away all the stuff that can get in the way; he created the perfect environment and mood for me. He’s a huge part of it all.

“Vandals is exactly the record I wanted to make and it was done with the best group of people. I am very lucky and I know that.

“I’m over the moon with the results, as I wanted to get away from the sausage factory style that seems to have become commonplace in the industry nowadays.

“Each to their own, but I write for myself and those are the songs I want to record and release.

“If 22 writers have been roped in by some exec to come up with a song, that’s not something I want to put out. Collaborating and evolving songs with my band and friends is very different.”

Callum Beattie. Photo: Gavin Watson

The album is tinged with tragedy, as it was inspired by and is dedicated to Callum’s friend Paige Dougall.

The teenager passed away from a rare form of cancer but Callum and Dave did make her dream of releasing a single come true and are now heavily involved in the music therapy charity she inspired.

Callum said: “Dave and I were managing her and had put out her single with Ella Henderson.

“She died of Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare bone cancer.

“To say she had a massive impact on this record would be an understatement.

“Paige’s energy is all over the record. The whole band actually wrote a song on the album for Paige – it’s called Can’t Kill The Summer and I’m sure she loves it from wherever she is.

“One thing’s for sure, when she passed, she left a massive hole in all our lives.

“Dave and I are now joint patrons of Paige’s Musical Butterflies – a charity set up by Paige’s family to provide music therapy for ill kids. It’s a huge passion for us both.”

With his biggest year yet looming in 2023, Callum is thrilled fans can “hear his music, his way” – and catch him live at a string of in-stores and a launch party at Radisson RED Glasgow’s iconic RED Sky Bar, which sold out in seconds.

He said: “It feels amazing – surreal and amazing. When you start out the way I did, singing in pubs sometimes to two guys and a dug, your dreams are constantly put on the back burner.

“It’s almost impossible to maintain the self-belief that you can achieve anything but, somehow, with Dave’s help, I’ve managed to keep at it, and this album is really the ultimate reward for that perseverance.

“There have been times in my life where I thought getting music into the market was completely beyond me, so to have come this far on such an incredible journey is something I have gratitude for every single day.”

Vandals is available now on all platforms.