Kintyre rock star snubs Simon Cowell
X FAXTOR is not the right direction an up and coming Campbeltown musician told the show’s producers.
Recently talent scouts of the hit ITV show, working for its producer Thames Scotland, messaged Matt McAllister on his Facebook music page.
Mr McAllister, best known for his tribute single Scottish Winds, said: ‘They had heard my music online and were wondering if I would be interested in meeting them in Edinburgh or Glasgow. At first I thought someone was winding me up so I had to do a wee google search on the guy who messaged me and sure enough he was what he said he was and more!’
Thames is involved in other shows like Britian’s Got Talent and Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Live.
Mr McAllister added: ‘I was playing a gig in Glasgow the night before they asked me to meet them.
‘I asked some of my close friends for advice because I was unsure if it was the correct decision and the best move for my music.
‘After giving it a good bit of consideration, I agreed to meet them.
‘They were really nice people, very professional and welcoming but I’ve always been a bit unsure of the X Factor because it’s kind of lost it’s way through all the tabloid headlines.’
Mr McAllister said that he made them aware that the music has to come first and he would find it hard to do that if involved in a show like the X Factor.
He added: ‘That is why I think they understood that I was there to respectfully decline and say I was not going to be a yes man.
‘Being involved in a show like the X Factor could change everything because I would no longer be in control of my music.
‘They might try and make me into something I’m not. Making music I love is at the heart of everything for me. ‘I’m happy just to keep working along side my mate, Mark Leishman, who’s also a drummer and producer on a lot of my music to get my music out there the old-fashioned way.’ Mr McAllister’s next song Roaring Rain will soon be released and he is working on a music video with Raymond Hosie and Kintyre actor Morgan Irwin. He added: ‘I released my first song less than a year ago and it has been a crazy journey so far.’