Singer Billie Marten reveals Glasgow night out with Paolo Nutini

Glasgow Times

11-05-2025

Gushing over Glasgow ahead of her SWG3 gig on November 7, the English singer-songwriter— also known as Isabella Sophie Tweddle - said: 'I love Glasgow, I'm a huge fan.
'If I lived anywhere else, it would probably be Glasgow. I would get deeply sad with the weather but that's okay, because we are all in it together.
'I am also such a big fan of Glaswegian film. There's a few Martin Compston films I love, like the one with Ken Loach (Sweet Sixteen). There is also The Angel's Share, which is one of my favourite films of all time. That was actually a candidate for the album title.'
But like many artists, Billie also adores the city for its world-renowned crowds.
She added: 'The shows are always fantastic in Glasgow.
'There is such an attachment between you and the audience. It's a real privilege that you guys want me back.'
(Image: Picture credit: Frances Carter)
(Image: Picture by Frances Carter) The singer, who hails from Ripon in North Yorkshire, was last in the city about two years ago when she played at the iconic Saint Luke's in the East End.
Telling the Glasgow Times that the gig has become one of her favourites ever, the 25-year-old went on to share how the post-concert night took a hilarious turn.
'After the Glasgow Saint Luke's show, our friend Paolo (Nutini) came, and we went to a bar where there was a busking open mic night.
'Very quickly Paolo said, 'I'm going to do it' and we said, 'Paolo, I don't think that's a good idea. You just sit down.'
'Then, up he goes and plays John Martin's May You Never – which is one of my favourite songs of all time – and the phones come out; people are like 'Are you f*****g kidding.'
'If I could think of a Glasgow boy to collaborate with it would have to be Paolo. He's very sweet and loving."
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(Image: Picture by Frances Carter) Billie's return to Glasgow will follow the release of her brand-new album, Dog Eared – named after how the bookworm folds her pages.
Reading On Man and Nature by Henry David Thoreau during the recording of the album – which comes out on July 18 – Billie said her passion for books, dogs and playfulness were a huge inspiration.
She explained: 'I play on the dog theme and a playfulness that I feel I haven't been able to present thus far.
'It is a hugely collaborative album. It was just me bouncing off six or seven other people in the room.
'It's very nice for me to present something that doesn't just involve me. It's a community album.'
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Billie first came to prominence at the age of 12 when a video of her singing on YouTube garnered thousands of views.
She went on to release her first EP at the age of 15 in 2014, and her second EP a year later.
At the end of 2015, she was nominated for BBC's Sound of 2016 award.
Despite her long career, Billie says she still finds writing music to be as cathartic as ever.
She added: 'I'm feeling very nice about the new album. As albums go by, the graph of anxiety, adrenaline and fear – all those big emotions – just get a little bit smaller each time, which is a relief.
'I'm still deeply terrified on a day-to-day basis and existential at all times but in terms of the albums, it's clearer to me that it is just a very simple thing to do.
'Given these big emotions, I'd say it's the main purpose of why I write. It was definitely the thing I found in childhood as a gateway to discovering some answers, things I couldn't get from the people around me or where I grew up, or even from film, books and other people's music.'
'It had to be personal – and then become widely available to the public,' she adds, with a laugh.
Tickets for Billie's show are still available to purchase.
To purchase tickets, visit www.gigsinscotland.com/artist/billie-marten