Kev Sherry, lead singer for the cult, critically acclaimed Scottish indie-rock four-piece Attic Lights (Island Records, Elefant Records), and prolific solo musician and graphic novelist, is proud to announce the release of Everything A Mother Could Want—the next single release from his highly anticipated forthcoming album Wrath Of Can, due to land in early 2025. To celebrate, we caught up with him to learn a little more...

We are so excited about your single, Everything a Mother Could Want... Tell us the story behind it...

It’s a song that looks back at the experience of being signed to a major record label with my band, Attic Lights, in my 20s. There are so many expectations placed on you to conform to certain behaviours and standards that you realise the music industry is not actually rebellious but rather as much about conformity as ‘mainstream’ society. I used the metaphor of a son attempting to fulfil the expectations of a socially ambitious mother to explore these experiences.

And what is your key ambition?

I aim to release a solo album annually for the next five years. (While also keeping up another steady release schedule with my dance-pop band, Disco Mary, at the same time).

We want to get to know a little more about your musical taste. Tell us a song (and a reason) that makes you:

Smile

Yes—McAlmont & Butler.

It’s one of the most joyful, uplifting songs I’ve ever heard, and I can’t believe it’s not more well known. When I first heard it, it opened up a whole world of soul music for me.

Cry

Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack.

Something about the way the melody moves and how the strings rise behind it. I have no idea why it hits me so hard. But it does it for me every time.

Laugh

Tutti Frutti — Little Richard.

This is a joyful laughter because how could you not feel joy when listening to this? It’s the start of everything. It was the first rock and roll song. And it’s so good even to this day that I just laugh out of sheer joy when I hear it. People think Elvis was the king of rock and roll. Nonsense! Little Richard is THE MAN.

Feel nostalgic

An Ending (Ascent) - Brian Eno.

It’s used in loads of movies, so maybe that’s why it was always familiar to me before I even knew what it was. It’s just got a great feel to it that immediately sends you into your own mind. No lyrics. Just waves of gorgeous sound.

Dance in the kitchen

Dance Yerself Clean — LCD Soundsystem

It builds slowly and then explodes into a big, dirty groove full of space, funk, and grit. If this doesn’t make your body move, then you’re dead inside.

Sing in the shower

I Should Have Known Better — The Beatles

The Beatles are like water. They’ve always been there, and I can’t live without them. Thinking about them makes me happy. This is the one I sing in the shower. It’s an early number of theirs. Almost childlike. Suits the acoustics of my bathroom for some reason.

Message a friend immediately.

Lisztomania - Phoenix

All my pals are crazy about Phoenix. Every so often one of us will phone the others and go on a rant about how consistently great this band is. This is Colton, the album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which I think is their masterpiece.



What was the best gig you have ever been to?

The Verve at Glasgow Barrowlands. I’m not a diehard Verve fan, but this gig was a transcendent experience.

What is the best show you have ever done?

I performed in Valencia with my first band, Attic Lights, and the crowd refused to let us leave. We eventually had loads of fans on stage singing with us. It was fantastic.

What stage have you not performed on that you dream of?

The Paradiso in Amsterdam

Lastly, you can achieve one thing by the end of the year; what is it?

Finish recording my next album.