Scott C. Park returns with ‘Fly Up’, his second single from an upcoming debut album, following on from first single ‘Day Job’.
A playful, and touching track, ‘Fly Up’ sees Scott in a reflecive mood, with a cheeky, lighthearted twist. Scott grew up on the Isle of Lewis, a place known for its strong folk traditions, however Scott was more inspired by the guitar bands playing in and around Stornoway, and by 13 he was already writing songs. In his mid teens Scott devoted his life to Christianity and by 18 he joined a Christian rock band, touring worldwide. While his faith had a huge impact on his early music, Scott’s solo project has been deeply informed by the journey of losing that faith in his early twenties.
Scott’s music blends sharp wit with introspective storytelling. His songs explore personal themes with a newfound lightheartedness, a stark contrast to the seriousness he approached life with as a Christian. Since kicking off his solo career through open mics in Glasgow and returning to Lewis during COVID.
There, Scott has embraced a more authentic, less ‘cool’ creative voice – one shaped by the island’s isolation, far removed from the competitive city scene. His music, while playful on stage, is filled with reflections on relationships, belief and finding one’s place.
‘Fly Up’ started life as an unconventional beat—a hip-hop-inspired rhythm built around a sample of chatter from an old traffic control tower. Musically, the single draws inspiration from a diverse range of influences, from Whitney’s Forever Turned Around to Sheryl Crow’s Tuesday Night Music Club, and even some of Mac DeMarco’s lo-fi charm.
Thematically, ‘Fly Up’ reflects Scott’s personal journey, particularly his relationship with his wife as they navigated the emotional and spiritual upheaval of leaving their Christian faith behind, and how this difficult phase in their lives brought them far closer together than ever before.
The track features the guitar work of Conor Smith, who compared its outro to ‘old John Mayer’ – a comment Scott embraced wholeheartedly as a nod to the song’s cheeky, on-the-nose vibe. ‘The song is a testament to having a loved one with whom you can work through these difficult things. It’s about surmounting obstacles, working through unsteadiness in your life together. It’s a little bit of a thank you to my wife. I guess it’s a love song really!’
About the video, Scott says ‘The backdrop and visuals in this video were designed by a team of young people in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. They worked with artist and lighting engineer Robbie Thomson to create backdrops, animations and projections for a gig I was doing. After seeing it all I thought ‘aw it would be a waste not to film this!’ so I searched out the old family camcorder and we shot this video after the show. I wish I could take this setup with me everywhere :’)’
Press play and enjoy the tune. Its playful, laidback groove has got nothing to prove. We’re quietly looking forward to the album early next year. Enjoy.
Main image credit: Danielle Macleod
