Ian Donaldson Interview by Freshman Guitars and Ukuleles website. Big thanks for letting us use the interview on Glasband 80.

Q How did you first become involved in music - did you learn an instrument or were you inspired by what you heard on the radio?

​From the radio, mainly Radio One and Top of The Pops were the two ways I discovered music. Tamla Motown and Glam Rock in particular. I took piano lessons at school for a while, but lost interest. I wanted to learn to play Roll Away the Stone by Mott the Hoople and not Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

​Q In your early days, you formed Punk band "Skroo" - How did that come about ?

​Punk happened when I was at Secondary School. As a teenager from a tough area, it was a life line – an opportunity to escape from the grey and humdrum, be part of something exciting and new. The music was raw. It's message was revolutionary. I was fifteen and in a band called 8 Miles Out playing songs by The Who, Rolling Stones and Chuck Berry. I left, taking the drummer, Brian Donaldson (no relation) with me, found a guitarist and bass player, called the band Skroo and set off on a great adventure.

​Q When did you first begin to write your own songs and how long was it until you had hits with "I Dream to Sleep" and "Just Outside of Heaven"  - Did you write for a few years then the hits came ?

​I began writing songs in Skroo with the guitar player in 1976/77. ‘I Dream to Sleep’ and ‘Just outside of Heaven’ came later in 1982/83.

Q From the early days to H20, what led to being signed and writing the songs for H20 ?

​I formed H20 with Alan McGee after Skroo broke up. He played bass. Andrew Innes (now with Primal Scream) was on guitar. This line up didn’t last long. Alan and Andrew left to go to London and the rest is history. I expanded the new line up of H20 to a six piece. We gigged hard and built up a following. TV and Radio began to take notice. An appearance on a new TV Show called Street Buzz, playing live to a studio audience really helped. John Peel had already played the band’s Indie single ‘Hollywood Dream’ – which was released on our own Spock Records – on his late evening show on Radio One a couple of times. We had momentum. I taped the three song from Street Buzz onto a VHS tape and went to London, staying with Owen Paul - CBS, EMI, London and RCA were interested. We signed with RCA in the end. I wrote the songs for the band with Ross Alcock who played keyboards. It was a partnership that worked.     

Two versions, thirty five years apart.  

Q Is there a particular way in which you write songs, what are your processes ?

​When I write on my own, I fit the chords around the vocal melody. Never the other way around. I work on piano. I begin with a vocal line, could be a chorus or verse, find the chord and sing the next line and so on, building a shape. Sometimes I have an idea lyrically to work with and other times the words appear. When I work with musicians who give me a piece of music, the process is reversed. It’s a different kind of challenge. Trying to create a melody and lyric that fits and works can be tricky, but really rewarding.    

​Q What was it like to hear your song being played on the radio back in the 80s and having those hit songs ?

​It was amazing. A dream come true. I still get the same feeling all these years later.

Q February 2018 saw the release of your first solo CD, "From Stars We Came" (Toy Town Records). Two sold-out concerts in Glasgow celebrated your official return to the world of music did you take a break from music, why the time period / not being involved in music, or were you still in music, just not as visible for personal reasons?

​Both is the honest answer. I had been in bands and making music since I was fourteen. When H20 broke up I was burnt out. I was a hermit for a few years, not sure of what to do with my life. Then I ran a recording studio with a friend , writing for and producing other artists.. A new adventure came next. Four Good Men was a band I fronted with Mick McNeil and Derek Forbes from Simple Minds. Bruce Watson from Big Country on guitar and Robbie Williams drummer, Smiley. We toured Europe, Canada and the US performing Simple Minds, Big Country and H20 songs. This lasted a few years. It gave me the taste for making new music and performing again. The result was ‘From Stars We Came’ and the two shows at Websters Theatre in Glasgow.

​Q Who inspired you to write songs, and what music do you listen to these days ?

​David Bowie, Roxy Music and Tamla Motown were  my main inspirations. They still are to an extent. I now include everything I’ve heard since. Standing still isn’t an option. Repeating myself doesn’t interest me. I always want to do something more. Try different colours and find new ways of telling stories.

Ian's solo album "From Stars We Came" and his debut novel "A Rainbow In The Basement" - both available on Amazon

Q You've written/released your fist novel "A Rainbow in the Basement," in 2016 - which has had great reviews - Did songwriting lead you to focus your writing onto the novel, do you think coming from song writing to writing books is a natural progression for songwriters ?

​Yes, song writing lead to working on ‘A Rainbow in the Basement’. It took twenty years to complete. Developing a style, understanding grammar and punctuation – took time. Presenting an idea that keeps people interested for four minutes with a song is difficult. Keeping people interested for 400 pages is so much more difficult. I worked on it, reworked it, put it away for a time, reworked it again and again until I was happy with it. David Bowie is my musical Hero. Ray Bradbury, the US Fantasy writer, is my Literary Hero. Bowie’s early songs are fascinating, otherworldly stories in miniature. Not unlike Bradbury’s early short stories. A song on the H20 album ‘Faith’ called ‘Leonard’ is based on one of Bradbury’s tales ‘The Pedestrian’.

​Q You've just released a new single "How Beauty Sounds", a stunning orchestral ballad in collaboration with Fife composer Jeff Bernstein.  How did that come about ?

​Jeff and I met at a residential recording studio called Jacobs Manor back in the 80’s. He was in a band called White China and I was in H20. We had a great chat. Didn’t meet again until recently. I was aware of Jeff’s beautiful solo work. A mutual friend in a Face Book chat suggested Jeff and I work together. I liked the idea, he did too. He sent me a piece of music to listen to. I immediately liked it. The challenge for me was to come up with a lyric and vocal melody and to match its beauty. I lived with the piece for a few days and that’s when it hit me - This is How Beauty Sounds. Literally. I worked on it a section at a time and sent Jeff rough ideas to hear. He liked them. I went to Dunfermline to record the vocal. We decided on what would become the final version and then it was time to take the paint brush off the canvas and let it go free.              

Q How Beauty Sounds‘ is stunning, haunting and reflective.....: Any plans for a new album, EP or more Singles ?

​My next record will be released on Alan McGee’s new Label, It’s Creation Baby. Alan really liked my last song ‘Mirror Ball’. He introduced me to Craig Walker earlier this year, a song writer/musician who lives in Berlin. We have since written a handful of songs together. We’re all excited about how they have turned out. Release date, late summer.

Q What advice would you give young aspiring Singer-Songwriters/Bands etc when dealing with Songwriting and the music biz in general ?

​When you are young, brave and invincible, advice from ‘old’ guys doesn’t really register. At least it didn’t for me when I was young. I appreciate that young bands and musicians are more aware of the business side of the industry now. Knowing how money is generated, where it comes from and how it gets to you is really important. Ultimately – songs are what we are judged by. It’s important to understand and recognise that not everyone is a song writer and not everyone is a good song writer. Whoever writes the best songs in your band, let them – if you’re happy with that arrangement go with it. Many bands break up because everyone wants to be heard. And if it’s really crucial to you that your songs be heard, and are not the ones making it onto record, don’t be afraid to walk away and do your own thing.

Q  Lastly, what are your 3-5 top tips for Songwriting, Composing, being in a band, pursuing a career in music ?

​Give the song EVERYTHING you have. Work on it until it is the best you can make it. Break your heart if necessary. Also work hard on getting the arrangement and musical parts right. Don’t release anything that you are not 100% happy with. You will only be disappointed later. Harmony within a band is crucial if it’s going to stay together. Challenging each other musically is healthy too. Be encouraging when you do this, not confrontational. Enjoy it. If it’s not fun, what’s the point in doing it ?  "  As they say in Nashville, the song is king.

Thanks to Freshman Guitars and Ukeleles website and Ian Donaldson for this interview.