Twisted Nerve’s new signing is something to write home about.

“I write silly songs basically,” says Aidan Smith, Twisted Nerve’s latest signing, a singer/songwriter whose ramshackle and warmly humorous ditties echo the early work of his label’s co-founder Damon Gough. Or even a cool Richard Stilgoe, if that’s possible. Signed after bombarding the Twisted Nerve office with over 70 home recordings, his work includes songs about boy bands, meeting himself in a bar and TV cook Delia.

“It’s a love song both to Delia Smith and to being a student, or on the dole and watching telly a lot,” he explains. “It’s as easy to fall in love with someone on TV as it is with someone sat next to you.” John Peel, Delia’s neighbour has apparently given her a copy. “I’d like to think she got to hear it,” says Aidan. “I might even get a free meal off her one day.”

This week sees the release of the first of two mini-albums entitled At Home With Aidan Smith, containing the highlights of his DIY recordings. “When I got signed I’d recorded all this stuff and it would be a bit ridiculous not to release any of it,” he says. “It’s what I would have liked as a first album, but split into two.”

He is currently working on his first proper album, which will largely be new material. Is he excited to suddenly have the opportunity to work in a studio? “It just means I can put more things in,” he says. “I’ll probably make a terrible orchestral mess of everything but it will be fun anyway. I can pretend I’m really artistic and indulge myself for one album, even if I never get to do another one.”

Collective’s session was only the fourth time he had performed live. The first time was when he supported Badly Drawn Boy at an intimate Manchester show. “That was strange because that was really my first gig,” he remembers. “He put me at ease because he was more nervous than I was before we went on.”

Ultimately Aidan wants to make music for films. In the meantime we can look forward to his eclectic mix of down-to-earth sincerity and tongue-in-cheek-humour. “I don’t know if I’ll ever record better things in a studio or not,” he says. “I think they’re good, I’m dead happy with them.” And he’s right, they are. Matt Walton 11 April 03

At Home With Aidan Smith, released 14 April 03 on Twisted Nerve.

useful link: www.twistednerve.co.uk

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