Edinburgh Napier University

An Edinburgh musician is in line for a new national award that celebrates Scotland’s best up and coming singer/songwriters.

Gus Harrower – a fourth year BA Popular Music student at Edinburgh Napier University – is through to the final four of the new BBC Radio Scotland Singer Songwriter Award 2019. 

Launched in May this year by presenter Roddy Hart and Scots chart-topper Lewis Capaldi, the award is the broadcaster’s new celebration of young musical talent, with the winner set to be announced in a live final on BBC Music Day next week.   

Hosted by presenter and Deacon Blue frontman Ricky Ross, the final event will see Gus and the other three finalists perform live before a winner is selected by a panel of music industry insiders. 

After entering the competition by submitting a video of himself playing an original composition and a cover version, Gus made it through to the final 10 before an online public vote determined the top four for the live final. 

For 21-year-old Gus, the chance to get involved in a competition like this so early on in his music career was one that he simply couldn’t ignore. 

He said: “I saw the competition advertised on the BBC’s social media channels back in May and immediately set about entering it. It didn’t take much convincing – the fact it was focused on singer/songwriters was appealing because there hasn’t been anything like that for smaller artists like myself. Plus, I know if I got through I’d get to meet Ricky Ross!

“I’m absolutely delighted to get through to the final four, the other artists are all so brilliant and it was a diverse mix of genres so I knew it’d be a close call. I was also quite overwhelmed with the support I received from people and I’m very grateful for that. 

“Music has been a big part of my life. I learnt the piano at an early age, starting performing in a musical theatre company and began going to gigs so all these things influence my writing now. Nowadays, music is so easily accessible I think most people will be going to work or sitting around the house with music on – and that’s a good thing.

“My music is definitely ‘pop’ but I pull on a range of influences, a lot of whom are artists that my parents had on in the house as a kid so Billy Joel, Elton John, Hue and Cry, Del Amitri etc. I’d like to think that people can hear these artists in my music, but it’s got my twist on it.”

The winner of the inaugural BBC Radio Scotland Singer Songwriter Award will be announced in a special show on BBC Music Day on Thursday 26 September 2019. The prize for the winner will include a recording session with BBC Scotland in Glasgow, an opportunity to play the King Tut’s stage at TRNSMT Festival and a promotional video. 

More information on Gus Harrower, his music and upcoming live dates can be found here.