Talented, stylish, charming and, yes ladies, he’s single – meet Cusick Jnr.

“My names Steven Cusick, but my stage name is Cusick Jnr, I am 23 years old and I’m a singer/writer, up and coming, trying to make it.”

He has a raspy, soulful sound, a passion for his music and he’s a style chameleon; It was only right I got to know what’s next for this Glasgow born boy who see’s the world beyond and believes he can storm it with his new sound. Currently recording new material and planning to tour worldwide after the new year Steven’s future looks like one we should all keep an eye on.

I think I’ll let him do the talking…

So, how did Cusick Jnr come to be born?

I’ve always sang, I'm not going to be one of those stereotypical people who you see on the X Factor who says, oh yeah I’ve sang since I was 2 and all that, but I used to do the odd karaoke on holiday. Then one time at school, when I had seen lots of talent comps, which I’d never done cos I’d always played football, I thought ‘you know what why don’t I just go up and do it’ and I did. Then I started doing it for a bit of fun, little gigs here and there but with no focus or trying to be a musician.

I actually ended up going to uni and studied business with Spanish. Then two and half years through it when I was in Spain I decided it wasn’t for me; I just wanted to be a musician. So I dropped out, moved home and concentrated on my solo career.

Tell us about your Solo Career so far?

My 1^st proper gig was in November 2010 at Karbon. There was around 240 people there, was packed out, just performed all the tracks I had been writing with producers ‘When in Rome.’ I had Invited a few industry folk and publishers but this was really just the first step to try and move it forward and from that I gigged again in the Classic Grand one month later and from that managed to secure myself to perform at the Drake after party at the beginning of this year.

I went to London at the beginning of March and I just so happened to go to an event called ‘I Luv Live.’ I just went down with one of my friends who’s a stylist and she was styling a band there, I was only supposed to be helping her out but they had an open mic competition at the end of it and they had ten places, you just signed up and got 60 seconds. It was like something out of an 8 Mile scene, full of rappers, intense crowd and had no idea what I was going to do - so I thought ‘yeah just go for it’ and went up and performed ‘Ordinary People’ by John Legend. Everyone else was rapping and I thought you know what I’m going to go up and sing so I just sang, done my thing, 60 seconds. The crowd decided who won and It ended up being me, which was cool, and I got invited back – the only white boy in the place, and they all loved me.

Famous Friends - J Cole and Cusick Jnr
(Jealous)

You’ve got a good style (*guys take note) – how important do you think your image is?

My image is my own style. I’ve not really changed it much. It’s very important for the music business but I think the talent is the first and foremost, you’ve gotta have the voice and you’ve got to have something that makes you stand out – not going to say the x-factor cos I'm trying to stay away from that, but you need to have that something that is going to make you stand out from people already in the industry and already in the charts.

I have my own style, I’m always changing it whether it be with my hairstyle or with my dress sense but I always try and keep it fresh, always try and keep it real. (Steven you’re Fashion Smartie!)

                                 

How important do you think Glasgow has been to your music and style?

What I love most about Glasgow is the weather, it’s amazing, its so warm (*as he sits wrapped up in a scarf and a woolly jumper.)

No, Glasgow… I love it, it’s my hometown. It’s great city, got lots of style and culture here. Some of the styles and scenes are really inspirational. And even though I don’t really drink I love going out and love a good party. I like going down to different nights and seeing what they’ve got to offer and getting inspired by it, cause obviously I'm a writer so you can take ideas from different nights like that and socialising with different folk.

It’s always about creating something different, something different from everyone else, I don’t want to go in to town or a night club and be wearing the same shirt as ten other guys. There was one night I was out and I had on this denim waistcoat from a jacket I had and had cut the sleeves off and it looked cool, I didn’t really care if anyone else didn’t but I thought I carried it off well. I don’t know if this guy was jealous of my coolness but he was slagging me off about it and I just started laughing and asked him if he’d got his top from Topshop cause there was about ten of his mates wearing the same checked shirt.

So I don’t want to be the same as everyone else, I want to be different.

Are we going to see you on the X Factor at any point?

Maybe if I’d tried every other way then it would be something to try. But you’ve seen so many good singers on that show and they still don’t get put through. I know people personally who went to the auditions and didn’t even make it past the first stage before you even see judges or get a TV appearance.

I know it’s about entertainment but people take advantage of laughing at people and taking the piss at their expense – what’s that guy, he doesn’t even look human, Johnny? He’s got no talent and its a shame for him cause he’s doing it cause its his dream but that’s nowhere near talent.

I mean if you compare it to the American X Factor that’s talent. If it was the same structure and as respected over here as it is over there then I think people would be really interested in doing it.

But I get it all the time from people in Glasgow, why don’t you just go on the x-factor? People just expect you to make it over night here. I only started just over a year ago properly on my solo project and making my own sound.

I always put it back to Jools Holland – the Jools Holland show is my favourite show on TV when you see real artists and musicians from all over the world playing amazing music. Now That’s something I would love to perform on, and I know I will, but when I see something like that, that’s what I call music. Everyone just wants to sit and watch X Factor cause they know its going to be bad rather than respect it.

But, Never say never…

I don’t want to sound sceptical, I’m not, but do you have a back up plan?

I’d probably be a porn star.

Seriously though – there isn’t one, I'm going to make it. There are no qualms about it.

working hard in the studio

Are there any other musicians that really inspire you?

If there was just one person it would be Jamiroquai. Jay Kay for me, he is the man, in terms of funk and the way he puts on a show. Even his private life, he has all the fame and fortune but he’s very low key, he’s not flashing it all in your face. His style is something I would like to try and incorporate, especially when it comes to live sets as he has a cool groove when it comes to that. I think that’s all down to his live band; they’re amazing. They’ve been together since the start, they’ve never left each other, so they’re sound is amazing. 

Who do you think is the ultimate male style icon?

David Beckham is the man. Obviously he’s not in music but he was my football hero and outside of that he’s a cool guy. He’s got that style and that look that just makes you go, ‘yeah he’s a cool guy.’ Style wise, he’s got so many different looks. I like to do that as well, keep trying different looks, I don’t like to stay the same – change is good.

Agreed! DB is soooooo scrummy!

Okay we’re excited, what’s the plans now, do tell!?

I’ve got four new tracks so I’m just going to continue to make more and write more material, try and work with as many producers as I can that I feel I'm going to benefit from. Plan would be to then continue to work on the live set so I can have six new banging tracks and do a cover I feel I can put my own touch on, then do a live set with a live band behind it and start showcasing in London. I want to try be showcasing by February. This is also when the labels will start looking and be seeing who they can get sign up for summer or next year.

There’s another event I’m hoping to go to called South by SouthWest in Texas which is one of the biggest music showcases in the world. All the big promoters and booking agents go to this event to see who they can book up and see who’s really got talent. A lot of blogger's, like yourself go to see what there is to write about so there’s a lot of coverage so I’ll hopefully try and get something out of that.

There’s a charity gig I'm doing too, and there a huge artist playing at it, I’m not allowed to say who it is, she’s Scottish and she used to be in a band, and I'm supposed to be performing in the same bill as her so that would be amazing if I get to do that.

I want to focus on getting myself a record deal sorted but I don’t want to rush it.

You’re going to see a lot more of me...