’18 years and this will never feel normal’

Singer Amy Macdonald is approaching two decades in the music industry, but admits the disbelief at hearing her songs played on the radio will never go away.

The Scottish musician shared a moment on social media this week where she broke down after hearing her new song on BBC Radio 2.

The song, Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For, is her first single release since 2021, and she told BBC Scotland’s Reporting Scotland News at Seven programme that her emotions took her by surprise.

“That was totally off the cuff,” she said. “I knew the song was getting played on Radio 2 that morning, so I was always going to listen – it was the first play.

“I put it on and as soon as it started I got so overwhelmed.

“It’s strange to me because I have been doing this for 18 years.

“I’ve heard my song played on the radio all over the world, and it still never feels normal.”

Amy says she is glad it doesn’t.

“For me it is still incredibly exciting and I still get such a buzz from hearing my songs on the radio – it is such a big part of what I do,” she added.

The singer, from Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, launched her new album and a European tour with a fashionable pop-up gig in Glasgow’s Princes Square shopping centre.

She follows in the footsteps of other artists promoting new music with surprise gigs, but said she had to be convinced it was a good idea.

“Everybody seems to do this now – I’ve seen so many videos of Ed Sheeran appearing anywhere and everywhere this week and it’s so cool.

“I thought, people love live music, I’ll go out and play a few tunes for them and hopefully everybody goes away with a smile on their face.”

Hundreds turned out on a Friday afternoon to see the singer, best-known for hits Mr Rock And Roll and This Is The Life.

And the live gig reflected the inspiration for the new song, and album.

Amy said: “It started off about my love of live music. I’d seen a load of amazing videos of U2 playing at The Sphere in Las Vegas and thought what an incredible venue that is.

“And it got me thinking about performing live and how nothing can really replicate that.

“It was basically a song that started off about my passion for performing and seeing live music and being in a crowd and just being part of that.”

She is looking forward to touring after her last dates were hit by the Covid pandemic.

“My last album it was interrupted with cancellations and the constant rule changes so we kind of missed out on that so it feels like it has been a long time coming,” she said.

“I am excited to be back in Glasgow and I’ve got loads of festivals this summer and then a big run of dates in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, all these European places where I spend so much of my time.

“But I am just grateful that I am able to do something I love and am able to get out there and see so many people.”

The highlight is set to be her homecoming at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on 12 December.

She said: “I have always flown the flag for Scotland and Glasgow and I have always felt very loved and love performing in Scotland – it’s my home.

“We have the best fans in the world.”