Tristan Mackay

Tristan Mackay was born in Tiverton, Devon and was educated in Wellington, Somerset.

He first picked up a guitar at the age of 14 after hearing the Eric Clapton Unplugged album. This started his life long love for blues guitar music and the storytelling songs of Dylan, Young and Springsteen.

In 2001 he moved to Yorkshire to study at Leeds University. During his student days he would busk to pay the bills and it was to this pursuit he returned after university to promote his music.

Tristan built up quite a fan base in Leeds through his busking, appearing several times on local news programmes, printed press and radio, where he was hailed as the next big thing out of Yorkshire.

He self recorded and released his first two E.Ps Tales from a bedroom orchestra and Live from the lounge. Although these were only produced and sold from his bedroom studio, his track The Wine and Me was featured in the Channel 4 show Skins, as well as being a recommended track on Indiestore.

Another of the songs from his first E.P. Be all that you can be was featured by Aled Jones on Good Morning Sunday and was used by World Duty Free as their summer campaign song in all their stores through 2011.

His independent efforts were recognised in interviews with Computer Music Magazine on online promotion, an upcoming artist feature in The Stage Magazine, and a photo feature/interview in Big Issue North.

In 2010, Tristan was discovered on myspace by Grammy award winning producer Martin Levan (John Martyn, Andrew Lloyd Webber) who invited him to his studio to lay down demos.

Later that year they embarked on a collaboration to produce Tristans debut album Out Along the Wire. With a team of outstanding musicians, including Pete Van Hooke (Mike and the Mechanics, Van Morrision) and friend John Garden (Scissor Sisters) as well as a cameo organ performance from Paul Carrack, the album of all original tracks is due for release in Feb 2012.