Plateprat med Daniel Wylie

If someone offers to buy you a drink, what do you order?
Diet Cola.

Foto: Robert, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Describe yourself using at least five words.
Creative, Scottish, Songwriter, Kind, Friendly, Supportive.

Do you have any daily rituals?
I write songs every day, compulsively. I'm addicted to Maltesers (Sweets) and must have my rations daily.

If you were to choose a pseudonym or artist name, what would it be?
Elliott Barber.

If you ever wrote an autobiography, what would the title be?
From Castlemilk to Top of the Pops.

Which song do you put on to get people dancing?

Sister Sledge 'Thinking Of You.' The (Detroit) Spinners 'I'll Be Around.'

What are your five favorite albums?
Joe Walsh 'Barnstorm.'

Steely Dan 'Aja.'

Pink Floyd 'The Dark Side Of the Moon.'

Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours.'

R.E.M. 'Automatic For The People.'

What are your five favorite songs?
Todd Rundgren 'I Saw The Light'

Steely Dan 'Razor Boy.'

Carly Simon 'The Right Thing To Do.'

John Martyn 'Fine Lines.'

R.E.M. 'Perfect Circle.'

What have you been listening to lately?
Midlake, My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, Helado Negro, Jason Isbell, Patterson Hood, Jessica Pratt, Constant Follower, The Autumn Defence, Kathleen Edwards, Courtney Marie Andrews and lots more...old stuff...Nancy Sinatra.

Is there an album you think is underrated?
The Blue Nile 'Hats.'

What are your three favorite album covers?
Swoon by Prefab Sprout.

Goodbye Jumbo by World Party.

The Dark Side Of the Moon by Pink Floyd.

What was the last record you bought?
Craig Edmonds 'View From This Side.'

What’s the best record purchase you’ve ever made?

David Bowie 'Five Years' Box Set. It was around £250 -£300 at time of release and I got it on Vinyl from Amazon Italy, in a sale, for £28 delivered to my home in Glasgow. Bargain.

Which three records are currently at the top of your want list?
I'm patiently waiting for new releases from Peter Gabriel, Trashcan Sinatras and maybe a new Fleet Foxes album.

In your opinion, what’s the greatest guitar solo ever recorded?
The solo in Time by Pink Floyd by David Gilmour.

Who’s your favorite lyricist of all time?
The obvious choice would be Bob Dylan.

If you were to create a mixtape or Spotify playlist to celebrate love, which three songs would you include?
Deniece Williams 'Free.'

Al Green 'Let's Stay Together.'

Bill Withers 'Make A Smile For Me.'

Which three albums have had the most influence or inspiration on you in the past three years?
Helado Negro 'PHASOR.'

Jessica Pratt 'Here In The Pitch.'

Midlake 'A Bridge To Far.'

Are there any music books you’d recommend, and what makes them stand out to you?

I'm not a fan of music books but I did read Chris Blackwell's Biography and it was enjoyable. All the great artists he signed to Island records were mentioned.

I just got the new Cameron Crowe memoir.

Which novel has left a lasting impression on you, and why?
I read mare when I was young and liked classics like Treasure Island, Kidnapped and Wuthering Heights. I also like the druggy diary book 'Go Ask Alice' by Beatrice Sparks.

What non-fiction book would you suggest, and what makes it worth reading?
I love looking at a good Atlas and seeing the world in all its glory from afar.

If you could assemble your dream band, with musicians from any time, who would you choose?
R.E.M. Minus Stipe, as I'd take that role. I'd be great at this one.

If you could travel anywhere to experience music, where would it be?
I'd love to listen to Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side Of the Moon' from outside of Earth's atmosphere, looking down at our beautiful planet.

Besides music, do you have any other hobbies or interests?
Football. I'm a massive fan of Glasgow Celtic. I'm also a big Film Fan.

Is there a music genre you wish you had explored more or gotten to know better?
Maybe African music. There's a lot out there. I love 60's and 70's Brazilian music...Bossa Nova, and would like to delve even further into that.

Which album can you still listen to when you're tired of music?
Radiohead 'The King Of Limbs.' Any Radiohead music...I adore them.

Who do you think is the best-dressed musician?
No idea and couldn't care less. Posers don't impress me much. It's all about the songs.

If you were to describe yourself as a car, which model would you be?
An Austin-Healey 3000 sports car.

Foto: SG2012, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If there is a God, what do you think He would say to you when you meet? Well done.

What is your relationship with music journalism? How do you keep yourself updated on music?
I still read music reviews and will search out anything of interest. I also take recommendations from friends...and give recommendations too.

Do you have any connection to the record industry?
Well, I'm a musician, so obviously I have connections to the industry. I have been connected to the music industry for a long time but despite being on various labels, I've managed to keep ownership of all my own music.

Are there people who influenced your taste in music?
There are people who've played bands to me that I didn't know and liked, but no, not really. I have my own taste. I know what I like and I don't care if others don't like what I like. You can only experience music via your own ears...mind and soul.

Who is your favorite producer?
John Leckie and Nigel Godrich are two of those whose work I like but I don't really have a favourite producer as I've produced all of my own records myself, apart from the last 3 where I had Johnny Smillie as co-producer and he's good too.

What’s the best or most beautiful song for a funeral?
Don't Worry Baby by The Beach Boys.

Is there a musician or band that you think has received far too little attention?

Ian M Bailey, who I've been writing songs with. 4 albums in the last 4 years. He's a great musician and more people should listen to him.

Trashcan Sinatras, The Pearlfishers, Neil Sturgeon, Johnny Smillie and lots of great musicians who've played on my own records over the years.

Who do you think I should have the next record chat with?
David Scott from The Pearlfishers would be an interesting choice. He's Scotland's Brian Wilson.