While most teenagers are looking forward to spending summer relaxing with friends, one 16-year-old is preparing to launch his debut album.
Callum Mackenzie Jones is fastidiously fine-tuning his first-ever EP, which is planned to go on sale next month.
The Milne’s High School pupil, who lives at Oran near Buckie, hopes the record will launch him towards becoming a professional musician.
The multi-instrumentalist plays almost everything on the album, but drafted in two Buckie High School fiddlers to add an extra local touch to a few tunes.
For now though, the singer songwriter is focussed on promoting a charity single he has written to help support a trio of local groups.
Callum said he was struck by the potential an unusually cheerful song he had written, The La La La Song, would have to do good.
He said: “My music is usually pretty intense, but this is completely different.
“It has such a positive vibe, it seemed like something that would be a good charity single.
“It’s about helping people get out of poverty and back on their feet.”
Money raised will go towards the Logan’s Fund children’s cancer group, the Bootstock charity which helps children in Nepal and Wave Radio – the station at Elgin’s Dr Gray’s Hopsital where Callum hosts a show.
Callum added that he was “seriously in awe” of each of the groups he had decided to help.
Earlier this year, the youngster’s debut single was featured on a national radio broadcast presented by famous DJ Jo Whiley.
He will play at the Eden festival in Dumfries and Galloway later this year, and hopes to promote his album at several local gigs.
More information is available at www.calummackenziejones.bandcamp.com
