Louise Distras

Beat Generator Live!, North Lindsay Street, August 11

Inspired by Nirvana, she ran away from home aged 16 determined to play music with attitude. Within six months of playing her first solo gig in 2011, acoustic songsmith Louise Distras was asked to go on tour with punk veterans New Model Army.

The antithesis of so many of today’s anodyne balladeers, her angry, intelligent work has earned her a loyal following across hundreds of gigs.

Louise, 29, has experience of Dundee’s live music scene, having played the city’s Doghouse in 2012 and, the now defunct, Vestry last October.

She says the city’s people made a strong impression on her: “The last time I played in Dundee the gig was totally ramshackle,” she remembers.

“It nearly didn’t go ahead, but against all odds the venue, promoters, bands and music fans pulled together to make an amazing evening.”

Louise started reading and writing music aged just six. Despite constant touring for almost seven years she still sees every show as a fresh challenge, and says a confrontational vibe brings the best out of her.

“People say I don’t fit into their expectations of what it means to be a woman in music,” declares the West Yorkshire native.

“I get a kick out of stepping out of my comfort zone because it’s where I feel most inspired, but I’m not even close to paying my dues. I just stay hungry and grateful and never stop learning.”

Her debut album Dreams From The Factory Floor was released to critical acclaim in 2013, with work due to start soon on a follow-up.

A taster appeared in May in the shape of Outside Of You, a song “about fighting to be yourself when the world wants you to be something that you’re not”.

The potent rock single suggested a shift in musical emphasis from Louise’s previous output, but she denies she’s left her trademark sound behind.

“I haven’t recorded the second album yet, but there’s no thinking behind what people may perceive as being a change. The songs I’ve written reflect a natural progression of who I am as a person and an artist,” she says.

“I work with different musicians in the studio but live I have a great revolving line-up of super-talented session musicians and friends I enjoy playing with.”

Louise says fans can expect her new material to underline her outsider mentality with even harder-hitting lyrics.

“Outside Of You has been received in a massive way on both sides of the pond with heavy rotation on major radio, which is really cool,” she says.

“It offers a glimpse of what’s to come and proves that punk rock’s still relevant.”

Louise is looking forward to performing for a Dundee audience.