Kirsty is in a spin with record release

Jun 25 2012 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

A YOUNG soul singer has become the first in a decade to release a single on a defunct record label.

Erskine musician Kirsty Marquis will now feature on iTunes and Amazon after the relaunch of a college label.

Kirsty, 20, has released material on Clydebuilt Records, making her the first student – along with Inverclyde band The Long Lies – to do so in more than a decade.

James Watt College student Kirsty, from Erskine, had all her production and recording done at the college, where second year Music Business students also got involved by using skills from their Running a Record Label classes to help promote and publicise their peers.

The track Lilies, by Kirsty, and Trouble, by The Long Lies, were released last week on the college’s Clydebuilt Records, which is a digital-only label.

This means music fans can buy the releases on iTunes, Napster and Amazon, as well as listen on streaming websites like Spotify.

And Kirsty is delighted that her self-penned ballad can now reach a new audience.

She said: “Recording at James Watt was an amazing experience – I’m really happy with the final version of Lilies.

“Because we have all the different parts of the music industry here at the college, the end product is polished and professional.

“I hope other people like it as much as me and go online to buy it.

“I’m also involved with the live music scene through the college and a lot of the other students are too.

“I’d definitely recommend the HND Music course at James Watt to anyone who is serious about the business as it can open up a lot of exciting opportunities.

“The lecturers have great contacts in the industry and that has been invaluable.”

Lecturer at James Watt College in Greenock, David O’Hagan, said there is a real buzz about the releases on Clydebuilt Record.

He explained: “This is a very exciting time for all the students involved in this enterprise. It has truly been a cross-department success story, with collaboration and the exchange of creative ideas from an extremely-focused group of individuals.

“This is only the tip of the iceberg and we are planning to do a lot more of this in the coming year, further expanding our label Clydebuilt Records.”

You can download Lilies and Trouble by visiting iTunes, Napster or Amazon and you can find out more about Kirsty at www.facebook.com/kirsty marquis

For information about music courses at the college, visit www.james watt.ac.uk