Interview with PG Ciarletta: ‘Everyone has been on a sesh that has gone too far, right?’

Fife indie singer songwriter Phil Ciarletta – who performs as PG Ciarletta -released his catchy debut single, The Sesh, today (28 August) after turning lockdown into a positive opportunity. 

‘The Sesh’ was written at the peak of lockdown, according to Ciarletta: ‘Writing songs is what got me through lockdown,’ he said. ‘You had so much free time, you had to fill it somehow. I’ve got another 8-10 songs written.’

Ciarletta’s aim is to make an emotive, reflective connection with the listener, thereby creating a memorable feel-good factor with his melodies and sound: ‘This is exactly what ‘The Sesh’ is about – everyone has been on a sesh that has gone too far, right?,’ he said. ‘And experienced the contributing factors, and resulting highs and lows. This song is like a virtual bender! [laughs]’

The chorus attests to that: ‘When you go out on Friday, it turns into Sunday, before you know it you’re going home and its Monday… you never overdosed. You went for one or two then it turns to a few then you look at your phone and you know you should be home … your mates comatosed.’   

‘You could be blocking out something, drowning your sorrows, or you could be partying’

The three-day bender in the song isn’t about trying to blot out anything specific, he said. ‘It’s not about anyone in particular, it’s just a generalisation. You could be blocking out something, drowning your sorrows, or you could be partying, celebrating something.’

After playing pubs and open mic nights with his acoustic guitar, Ciarletta saw his burgeoning performing career brought to a halt by the outbreak of Covid-19 earlier this year. 

However, the Scottish-Italian from the seaside town of Kirkcaldy has transformed the negative prospect of lockdown into a positive opportunity, after a moment of ‘now or never’ realisation. Next month will see the release of his second single ‘Chancer’, with plans for an album in the first quarter of 2021. ‘It’s about every chancer, it’s got a great singalong chorus,’ he said.

Given his Italian roots, he says he would even consider ‘dropping a few songs in Italian’: ‘Yeah, that could give a nice mix,’ he said.

Ciarletta says he writes all his songs based on relatable experiences and observations of friends, family and himself. His influences range from Gerry Cinnamon to The View, Paolo Nutini and The Stone Roses, who have all shaped his indie, alternative Scottish sound. 

‘Long-term the dream is to sell-out Hampden Park’

‘I believe there is a sound and a market out there, and hope that people will get right behind the music,’ he said. ‘Ultimately, the aim is to get the first singles on the media platforms and create a buzz but long-term the dream is to sell-out Hampden Park (the football stadium in Glasgow).’ 

He would love to collaborate with Gerry Cinnamon, a fellow Scottish singer songwriter. ‘He’s a genre in himself, he could be a good one. He’s shown that you can come from nothing and make something of yourself.’ (Cinnamon comes from the Castlemilk district of Glasgow, long considered to be one of the most deprived areas of the city.)

He would also love to collaborate with The Stone Roses, citing ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ as one of his favourite songs.

Ciarletta is very proud of the music scene in Fife: ‘There are so many unsigned artists in Fife who are brilliant,’ he said. ‘There’s the saying that you make your own luck and some people do but some people don’t get that luck. Even if you don’t, you’re still doing something that you like. When you’re playing for people, you’re giving them a euphoric stress release. You can forget everything else, you’re all in that moment together. Music brings everyone together.’