Dale McKay talks September Release of EP ‘Here and Now’ in recent Interview

Soulful Sheffield-based singer / songwriter Dale McKay is set to release his eagerly awaited four-track EP Here and Now on 16^th September 2016.

Dale McKay has been a prolific writer of classy, soul-tinged pop for a while now and has been picking up good support, firstly from BBC Introducing in Sheffield, and now the national BBC Introducing Show with Mark Forrest.  As a taster for the EP, Dale has put out the wonderfully catchy and feel-good Make You Happy  You can hear that James Morrison has been an influence of Dale’s but this track stands out on its own and can give any major artist, such as James Morrison or Paolo Nutini a run for their money.

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

Dale: Well I grew up in a little village called Anston just outside Sheffield. It was a quiet village and everybody knew everybody.  I was the youngest child of 6, yes that’s right 6.  At times it was hard growing up but my mum and dad did the best they could with what we had and worked hard to make sure we didn’t want for anything.  My family have always sung; I mean who doesn’t like to sing.  My sister use to be a club singer and I use to go up and down the country with her carrying her speakers and helping her set up etc.  I always looked at her on stage and thought I want to do that.

 

It got to a point in my life when I became a little older and more mature.  I had a beautiful daughter called Tayla.  It didn’t work out with me and her mum, which meant I didn’t see her much.  So at times I would write poems about how much I loved her and missed her, and how I would do anything for her no matter what, or where I was in the world.

A few years later I started to learn to play the guitar, and as I did, I put these poems into song and the first one was the poem I wrote for my daughter and it was called “Just for You”.

After I started learning more chords and got a little better on the guitar, I started to write more songs.  All my songs are about things I’ve been through, or even things I wouldn’t like to go through.  I think every good songwriter tries to sing or write that song that you can relate to and I hope I can do that with mine.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

Dale: I was born Dale Lauder Scott McKay.  Scott is my Mother’s maiden name and Lauder is after a famous Scottish Singer named Harry Lauder.

 

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Dale: I feel that online Music sharing is a great way to get your music heard by a wider audience.  I have uploaded some of my songs to my music page so that the public for free can hear my songs and decide if they would like to pre-order any future releases that I may create.  I have also performed many gigs for free to increase my confidence and gather more fans.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Dale: I would definitely keep going and trying to get your music heard.  BBC Introducing is a good way, but doing a lot of gigs can help as well.  You never know who is in that audience listening.  Right place at the right time.

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Dale: There are times when I feel down and times when I feel happy.  When I write a song it all depends on how I am feeling at that time. That determines what the issue and what the subject of the songs are about.  I usually get a few chords together on guitar first, then most of the time the words just come flowing out, then I put pen to paper and a song is born.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Dale: I have a website dalemckay.com.  That will take you to al my social media sites, SoundCloud, Instagram, facebook and Twitter etc.

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Dale I would first pay my house off, that way my family would not be left with the burden of paying mortgage, bills etc.  I would then take my mum and dad away and get my mum a brand new car as she is my rock and has always given me everything she can.  My wife said she would always want to be a project manager, so I would pay for her to get a degree.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Dale: There were times when I felt like emailing all the big record labels and management company asking them to listen to my songs etc. But if it were that easy everybody would be doing it, but I think the best way in this day an age is social media ie facebook, Twitter, YouTube.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Dale: I have loads more songs that I want to get produced, so this Winter I think I will be in the studio getting them done and ready for the radio.  It’s always good to hear your songs finished with drums, bass and other instruments on them after they just started with acoustic and a little vocal.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

 

Dale: To be honest, I would be doing what I am doing now as well as music.  A dad, a husband a family man.  I’d be working hard to provide for them and make sure they don’t want for anything.

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

Dale: I have to find the time to do it all.  I need to keep believing I can do it for me and my family.  I do have a lot of support from friends and family to help me find the time to be in the studio, do the gigs and have meetings etc.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

 

Dale:  Hopefully this EP launch in September will be the beginning of a getting my songs on the airwaves.  I do believe if my songs get to that bigger audience then that’s it.  It only takes that one song.  Before 2016 is over I’ll be in the studio and getting them songs produced and uploaded to BBC introducing, and also all over my social media.