Biography

Paolo Giovanni Nutini (born 9 January 1987) is a Scottish singer, songwriter and musician from Paisley. Nutini’s debut album, These Streets (2006), peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart. Its follow-up, Sunny Side Up (2009), debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. Both albums have been certified quintuple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry.

After 5 years, Nutini released his third studio album, Caustic Love, in April 2014. The album received extremely positive reviews from music critics. Caustic Love debuted at number one on the UK Album Charts and was certified platinum by the BPI in June 2014. In late July 2014, he was referred to by the BBC as “arguably Scotland’s biggest musician right now”.

Nutini was born in Paisley, Scotland. His father, Alfredo, is of Italian descent, from Barga, Tuscany, and his mother, Linda (Harkins), is Scottish.

Nutini was expecting to follow his father into the family fish and chip shop business. He was first encouraged to sing by his music-loving grandfather, Jackie, and a teacher at his school, St Andrews Academy, who recognised his talent. Nutini left school to work as a roadie and to sell t-shirts for Speedway. He spent three years learning the music business and performing live. He later worked as a studio hand at Glasgow’s Park Lane Studio.

His big chance came when he attended a concert staged by 102.5 Clyde 1 for David Sneddon’s return to his home town of Paisley at the beginning of 2003. Sneddon was delayed, and as the winner of an impromptu pop quiz, Nutini was given the chance to perform a couple of songs on stage during the wait. The favourable reaction of the crowd impressed another member of the audience, Brendan Moon, who offered to become his manager. Brendan and his business partner, Mike Bawden, continue to manage Nutini.