For those unfamiliar with Willie Campbell, he’s a Scottish singer songwriter based on the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides who first came to widespread attention in the late 1990s when co-fronting Astrid, a band who over the course of their career – prior to reforming in 2019 – as well as earning themselves a strong following, had racked up everything from sound tracking Jamie Oliver cookery programmes to a Simon Mayo single of the week on Radio 1. He then went on to become a founding member of The Reindeer Section, alongside Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, and more recently, he’s been sharing music under the name The Open Day Rotation, with three critically acclaimed albums under his belt.

Willie’s new single “Soundtrack to the Life we Leave Behind” is 4 minutes of old school indie guitars and sing along choruses; a paean of summer festival optimism and handclaps to be cheered with beer held high in the fields we’ve yet to return to, but very much yearn to. PopWrapped spoke to Willie about isle life and his rather impressive career.

Tell me a bit about life on the Isle of Lewis.

I’ve lived back on the Isle of Lewis since 2004, before that I was in Glasgow for almost 10 years; in that time mainly focused on playing in Astrid. Coming back to the island was the best decision of my life. Being here makes me really happy. I met my wife Michelle, moved back to the village that I’m from. I’ve got two kids and I honestly don’t think there can be many better places in the world to raise a family. I’m very much living in and feel part of the place I was dying to get away from as a teenager. I think it’s pretty common; that urge to get away from where you’re from but the islands have a pull to them. I was convinced there had to be a life more interesting going on somewhere. I’ve definitely grown out of that way of thinking.

Where did it begin? Are you still enthusiastic after years of being in bands?

Me and Charlie Clark – co front man of Astrid – were best friends from the age of 11 and we still are. He was always a solid friend when we were growing up. We were obsessive about music, comics and films and had a stab at being in a band. Music was always a massive distraction and draw away from the island for me. I hated school. I left Lewis at 15 to go to Nautical College and lived in a seaman’s mission till I was 16; there was talk of going to sea – to say I was half hearted about it is an understatement. I moved into a flat in the West End that was full of creative people that were older than me – they sort of looked after me and put up with me.

The first band I played in in Glasgow Was called Kite Monster. Alan from the band got me a room in that flat – they were really good to me and it was an important introduction into the ups and downs of being in a real band; we had lots of label interest but nothing quite came of it. When my friends started Astrid, they were gunning for me to join after they’d been together a short while so I left Kite Monster and became focused and serious about Astrid. I love making music. I’ve encountered the pitfalls and fallen into a good few. My motivation is simple – I want to express myself in an open and honest way with accessible songs.

How does Astrid tie in with your solo work?

Astrid had a good run of it up till about 2004; had a good record deal and went full time. Got to tour, make albums, play in Europe and America. I wasn’t living a happy life though, being in a band can completely consume you and it made me boring and self-absorbed. It took me a while to realise that the best bits of life are away from that experience. Astrid is still a part of my life, me and Charlie reunited five years ago; made an album that came out last year, and more will follow.

I think this new single’s partly a reflection on those times of learning; a little snapshot of my past and a conversation about how we tend to try and only show the best of ourselves – there is so much pressure on everyone these days. It’s also a warning to myself to not isolate and to speak to people. I have a good life and I want to keep it that way.

You mentioned a new single. Is there a particular story or idea behind “Soundtrack to the Life we Leave Behind?”

The single is self-produced/mixed and features my friends Scott Macleod on lead guitar and James Clifford on bass. I wrote it for people to sing along with; looking forward to the day I can play it in front of an audience. The themes are mainly focused on making your way through the chaos of everyday life, how the past affects our feelings about the heat and now. We have a tendency to only show the best of ourselves and I always need to be open with people to keep my head right.

Check out the video for “Soundtrack to The Life we Leave Behind” below and for more information on Willie Campbell, visit his website.