Latest news with #TomJackson
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
I spoke to my favourite member of Pulp and discovered they're Scottish
Tom Jackson/Rough Trade Records Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... You can find pop stars in the most unusual places. As a long term Pulp fan, I never would have expected to speak to their keyboardist, Candida Doyle, from her Scottish island home, with its mercurial phone reception. It's a bit like actually discovering Jarvis Cocker in the aisle of a supermarket, perhaps in the style of the Common People video. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad That's because I imagine all the band members as living in their famous hometown of Sheffield. Or the rock star epicenter of London. Indeed, it's true that Doyle spends much of her time at another base near Hackney, especially as Pulp prepares to release their first new album in 24 years, More, on June 6, with a UK tour starting on Saturday June 7 at Glasgow's OVO Hydro. However, her proper home is in Shetland, and she adores it. 'Now that the group has reformed, I'm here a bit less than usual, but it's absolutely wonderful,' says Doyle, whose maternal grandfather owned a fishing factory here. 'My family lives on the same street as me, and it's actually the road my mum grew up on and is beside a hill with a view of the sea. It's very different to London, basically'. Apparently, the band did once play in Shetland, back in the Nineties. It was a bit of a journey though, for the other members. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, she wouldn't necessarily describe herself as Scottish. Doyle, as her surname might suggest, is also half Irish and was brought up in England. 'I'm everything but Welsh,' she says. Anyway, she will be away from her spiritual home a lot in 2025. After the UK tour, later in the year, they'll be doing the US and Korea. Back in Pulp's Nineties heyday, Doyle never imagined she'd still be on the road, at 61. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She was slightly blind-sided, when the group reformed again back in 2023. (They'd also got together in 2011, for another tour). 'I knew that I would never say no, but I'd never suggest that we reformed. It was funny because Jarvis sent me a text saying, 'Can I come round? I'd like to run something by you. And I sent a text back, saying, 'Oh, God'. He said, 'No, it's nothing to worry about'. I said, okay,' she says. ' Then he came round, and we chatted, and then he said, 'I'm thinking of reforming the group. Would you be interested?' and without hesitance, I said yes, it was incredible. I was quite surprised at myself'. And, so, they're back again, and Glasgow seems the perfect location for night one of the tour. After all, the band has played this city so many times, from King Tut's to The Barrowlands. Although Doyle prefers a smaller venue, she thinks that they can still connect with a big crowd, thanks to their charismatic frontman. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I think Jarvis is very good at making it feel personal. The crowd reacts well to him and it brings it all together,' says Doyle, who feels safe while slotted behind her keyboard. 'I don't know how he does it to be honest'. Doyle has been in Pulp since 1984, when she replaced the previous keyboard player, Tim Allcard. Another long time member of the band was bassist Steve Mackey, who joined in 1989 and sadly died just two years ago. The album is dedicated to him. What would Steve have thought? 'I think he'd be annoyed that he wasn't part of it,' says Doyle. Indeed, it's a fantastic album that's full of Pulp's signature nostalgia, cheek, charm and wit. The music, keyboards included, seems more sophisticated than ever. Sometimes richly orchestral, other times light and fluffy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tom Jackson/ Rough Trade Records They have new members now. As well as the originals - Jarvis Cocker, Mark Webber, Nick Banks and Doyle - they've added Andrew McKinney, Emma Smith, Adam Betts and Jason Buckle, plus string arranger Richard Jones. The first track to be written was Hymn of the North, which they played when doing soundchecks while on tour back in 2023. The rest was recorded over the course of three weeks in November last year. Apparently that's the shortest time a Pulp album has ever taken to record. It's no wonder that, though Doyle may have got songs like Babies and Disco 2000 down pat, she hasn't quite got to grips with the new tunes. 'To be honest, I don't even know the LP that well at the moment. We did a few radio concerts recently, and we all felt a little bit under rehearsed,' she says. 'And at the moment, the songs are so new, I can't even think which I'm most proud of. I know which ones I like the most - Farmers Market and My Sex. They're quite special'. At the moment, their single, Spike Island, seems to be getting loads of radio play and wonderful reviews. Doyle wasn't sure about it at first. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I was hesitant about writing new songs. It's not an easy thing and I had some reluctance about moving forward in that way,' she says. 'And because I was reluctant, I didn't really expect that everyone else had their own opinions and would be really pleased. I thought, sometimes, if you have your favorite band, and then years later they introduce some new songs, you just want the old stuff. But that doesn't seem to be happening'. However, even though they're oldies, there are a few songs from the vast Pulp repertoire that Doyle finds harder to play than others. 'Dishes is really hard to play because I'm very exposed, while Common People is such a loud song that if you make a slight mistake, you can get away with it,' she says. 'I Spy is really exciting to play live, and to be on stage and playing one of your favorite songs and looking around and the whole band's there and you're all together is an intense thrill'. Doyle's toughness is admirable. As well as not knowing that she's a Shetlander, I didn't realise, until just before our interview, that she suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and has kept it under the radar for years. Now, she's totally open about the condition. It slightly improved after the menopause, as there are links between hormones and the condition. However, she cut down her medication too much, on the last tour, so her knee swelled up and hasn't completely recovered. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There have been other highs and lows in her epically long career in Pulp. 'The build up to getting famous was really exciting. From '92 up to mid '96, we just got higher and higher and bigger and bigger,' she says. 'It was really, really exciting, and then, and then I was exhausted, and had this big panic attack on tour, and then went off touring. And that was mid June, 1996. And so for the rest of that year and the next year, I felt a bit unstable. I'd say that was the low point'. I mention the recent autobiography, Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success, by Lush frontwoman, Miki Berenyi. In it, she shares a lot of the misogyny that was rife in the Nineties, and seemed to be very much knitted into the Britpop scene. Thankfully, Pulp always seemed to be the good guys (and girl). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Doyle hasn't read the book. However, she tells me that she didn't experience any nefarious behaviour. 'Being this lead singer, she's in a much different position to the one I'm in,' says Doyle, in reference to Berenyi. 'And the thing is, being in a band with Jarvis, he's so charismatic that the rest of the band are quite often overlooked. He just naturally attracts attention. I often thought of leaving the group, because we had some really hard times, but one of the reasons I stayed was because there weren't enough women in groups, and I thought I've got to stay just to show other women that you can do it'.
CTV News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Sullivan's Crossing' is a ‘life-preserver in tumultuous times': Canadian showrunner
The cast of "Sullivan's Crossing" season three, from left to right, Tom Jackson, Scott Patterson, Morgan Kohan, Chad Michael Murray and Andrea Menard, are seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Bell Media, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Datacor Announces Strategic Partnership with mezzeIQ to Enhance B2B Customer Experience
FLORHAM PARK, N.J., May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Datacor, Inc., a leading provider of process manufacturing, chemical distribution, and engineering simulation software, is pleased to announce a new partnership with mezzeIQ, an innovative B2B ordering and customer self-service platform. This collaboration supports Datacor's ongoing mission to deliver tailored solutions to the food and beverage industry, enabling manufacturers to increase efficiency, enhance customer experience, and drive sustainable growth. mezzeIQ equips manufacturers with a branded, self-service portal where customers can place, track, and modify orders anytime, from any device. Built with the needs of food manufacturers in mind, the platform simplifies complex order flows, automates business rules, and reduces the burden on customer service teams. Features like AI-powered order reminders, digital credit request workflows, and customer-specific product promotions help teams recover missed revenue and streamline day-to-day operations. "This partnership is a natural fit," said Tom Jackson, president of Datacor. "mezzeIQ's modern technology empowers manufacturers to automate manual processes, improve order accuracy, and provide their customers with a scalable, digital-first experience. Together, we're helping food and beverage businesses strengthen customer relationships and operate more efficiently." Datacor and mezzeIQ share a vision for supporting food and beverage manufacturers with smart, scalable tools that drive both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to helping businesses stay competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace. About DatacorDatacor is a leading provider of process manufacturing, engineering, and chemical distribution software that helps professionals maximize productivity, use data as a competitive advantage and drive smarter business growth. By remaining a single source of trusted technology, upholding a longstanding reputation as industry experts and serving as a partner in business improvement, we help modern businesses optimize operations to better serve their customers. Learn more at About mezzeIQ mezzeIQ provides an advanced B2B software platform designed to offer an Amazon-like self-serve customer experience for food manufacturers. By automating customer service processes, enhancing order accuracy, and integrating seamlessly with ERP systems, mezzeIQ supports businesses in scaling operations while delivering exceptional customer satisfaction. To learn more, visit Media ContactCaitlin O'Donnell Head of Marketingceodonnell@ (973) 822-1551 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Datacor, Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WV Cultivate sunsets on the City of Fairmont
FAIRMONT — With The West Virginia Community Development Hub's direct involvement now at an end, it's now on Cultivate-Fairmont participants to keep pushing forward. Cultivate-Fairmont met one last time with its mini-grant awardees Thursday evening. Cultivate had $40,000 in mini-grants to hand out, in the end Fairmont produced 24 different projects to enrich the community. The group met to go over the progress from the past year and hear advice on how to keep their projects and community involvement alive now that the organization responsible for bringing the Fairmont community together is departing and heading to another town that needs them. 'It has been fantastic,' Tom Jackson, treasurer of Fairmont Pride, said. 'The best part for me is hearing feedback from other communities, what happened there, and seeing pictures of how it went from this to this. Also, the way the funds were creatively used. It makes me want to go to those towns that this happens in and visit just to see it.' Fairmont Pride's is using its mini-grant to purchase what he called evergreen items such as tents, banners and outdoor oversized games. Those would not only be used during Fairmont Pride events this year, but would also function as a repository for useful outdoor equipment for any other community group who needs it for their own event as well. The City of Fairmont applied for the Cultivate WV program last May as a way to also expand the number of people who engage in community development. While there is a core of active residents who make it a point to do their part in civil society, the city also wanted to expand that core group and bring in new faces. City Assistant Planner Erin Hager said the program, from that standpoint, was a success. In total, 144 people engaged with Cultivate throughout the year in one way or other. Olivia McConnell, Cultivate community coaching assistant, said aside from funding 24 projects with $40,000 in grant funds, Fairmont also received an additional $19,000 in matching funds. Predevelopment for one long term project brought in $10,000 in pre-development funding. In total, the Fairmont community will receive $69,000 in funding. The benefits of the program became apparent in real time after one person made a request for volunteers for a project. 'The Clean up Marion County project, someone said like, how are you going to get volunteers and like five different people raised their hands and said, you could do this, you could do that. It's just been really cool to see folks make the connections themselves,' Hager said. City Manager Travis Blosser said the city is considering picking up where Cultivate left off. For starters, the city wants to keep the monthly meetings going. They're also figuring out if they can move enough pieces to get minigrant funding to fit into the city budget. The idea is but a glimmer in city staffer's eyes, but they are thinking about how to do it, Blosser said. He added what the city could to make available funding wise that may not be the size or scope of the Cultivate grants, so the city would have to be selective. But also, mini-grant funded projects could be a really good way to gauge what kind of investments the community wants to see in their neighborhoods. 'The young lady who is looking at having a little community library, that could be something that gets invested in and then goes gangbusters,' Blosser said. 'And we hear from people who are like, 'well, I want one in my community.' That would move us to look at investing in those areas. That tells us as a city, our constituents want this.'
Associated Press
12-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Datacor Names Sundar Kuppuswamy as Chief AI Officer to Drive Innovation and Accelerate AI-Powered Growth
FLORHAM PARK, N.J., May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Datacor, a leading provider of process manufacturing, chemical distribution, and engineering software is excited to announce the appointment of Sundar Kuppuswamy as its Chief AI Officer (CAIO). This newly created position underscores Datacor's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies to deliver enhanced value and innovation to its customers. 'Sundar is a proven technology leader whose expertise in AI and data science will be instrumental as we invest in next-generation solutions,' said Tom Jackson, president at Datacor. 'AI will be critical to helping our customers use software and data as a competitive advantage. Sundar's vision, passion for innovation, and track record of building transformative solutions will strengthen our AI initiatives and help our customers stay ahead in an increasingly digital world.' As CAIO, Kuppuswamy will lead Datacor's AI strategy and execution, overseeing the integration of advanced AI technologies across the company's product portfolio. He will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to drive new growth opportunities, optimize product offerings, and deliver AI-driven outcomes that empower Datacor customer to operate more efficiently and competitively. Jackson added, 'Sundar's leadership will ensure we continue to innovate while delivering practical, high-value solutions that address the evolving needs of the industries we serve.' Kuppuswamy has more than 20 years of experience in AI, data science, and optimization in Tech Help & Travel industry. Prior to joining Datacor, he served as Chief Data Scientist at Asurion, where he led initiatives in machine learning and generative AI to enhance customer experiences and drive operational efficiencies to provide Tech Help. And before that, he led the Data Science & Optimization efforts at Sabre to drive compelling travel experiences. He also holds a master's degree in systems and industrial engineering from the University of Arizona and has served as a Technical Advisory Board Member for Georgia Institute of Technology's Graduate Program for Data Science & Analytics. 'I'm thrilled to join Datacor and be part of an organization committed to driving innovation and excellence in the manufacturing, distribution, and engineering software space,' said Sundar Kuppuswamy. 'AI has the potential to revolutionize how businesses operate, and I'm eager to collaborate with the talented team at Datacor to deliver solutions that create lasting value for our customers.' About Datacor Datacor is a leading provider of process manufacturing, chemical distribution, and engineering software that helps professionals maximize productivity, use data as a competitive advantage, and drive smarter business growth. By remaining a single source of trusted technology, upholding a longstanding reputation as industry experts, and fostering a collaborative partnership with customers, Datacor empowers businesses to optimize operations and better serve their customers. Learn more at Media Contact Caitlin O'Donnell Head of Marketing [email protected] +1 (973) 822-1551 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Datacor, Inc.
