Edinburgh singer bags place in Poland's Got Talent semi-final and plays new song to 2 million viewers
Polish exposure for Logan’s Close singer
An Edinburgh singer songwriter is on a high after he made it through to the semi-final of Poland’s Got Talent and performed his new single to millions of viewers.
Carl Marah, who was born in Leith and grew up in Dunbar, reached the crucial stage of ‘Mam Talent‘ (Poland's Got Talent) after getting through the auditions in January.
The 32-year-old appeared in last Saturday’s semi-final live on Polish TV, performing his new single ‘You’re Always Right’, which he had released just the day before.
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Carl was inspired to enter Poland’s Got Talent after travelling to the country many times over the past eight years to visit his fiancee Klaudia’s family and friends. In that time, he said he has also picked up some of the language.
“A couple of her friends came to visit us last year and said I should enter Poland’s Got Talent, as you get acts from all over the world taking part,” he said.
“I was recording my new EP at the time and I thought any exposure would be good so I signed up. In January I flew to Warsaw for the audition which went well, and then I was asked back for the semi-final last weekend after reaching the last 40 of the competition.
“I managed to navigate some Polish conversations during the process, I’m not fluent but I get by. It’s kind of our second home, so it’s been nice to make a dent there now through this show.”
While Carl’s journey on the show came to an end after the semi-final, he hopes the exposure will be a springboard for his career as a singer songwriter.
“The whole thing was pretty wild. I’m really proud to have taken part and got to the semis,” he said. “It’s been great to see all the Polish comments on my videos now, so I’m hoping to maybe get some Polish festival shows off the back of it.
“I didn’t get through to the final in the end, there were some great acts taking part to be fair, including a 10-year-old girl singing in a French opera style. It was a public vote, and I thought it might be difficult for non-Polish acts to get through.
“Although, people were stopping me at the airport for photos when I was heading home. The whole thing was pretty surreal and I’m coming back down to earth now, with a gig at Stramash on Thursday. I’m just waiting to see what comes out of this experience.”
Having lived in Edinburgh since he was 20, Carl used the city as the setting for his new Beatles-inspired music video for his new single ‘You’re Always Right’, which will be part of his EP set for release in June. The video sees him perform on the roof of a city centre tenement.
He said: “Obviously the song has had great exposure in Poland but Jim Gellatly of Amazing Radio played the song with an intro from me and made it his track of the week, which was really nice of him.
“It’s great that the song is out now and people can enjoy it. It’s definitely a summery feel-good song. I’m very proud of it. It’s hopeful and happy. A summer pop song really.
“The music video shows I’m obviously a Beatles nerd, with the rooftop gig and me playing all the band, like Paul McCartney did for his song ‘Coming Up’.
“It was great fun to make. My pal has got a tenement flat on Jeffery Street with access to the roof so when this video came along we just had to record it there.
“The next song is about being a pub singer in Edinburgh, name-checking some of the city’s venues, that will be out in May ahead of the EP. So it’s a busy time for me just now.”
The Logan’s Close singer has not given up on his band, revealing that they hope to record their second album this summer.
Carl added: “The band has a very distinct sound. I have been writing a lot of music that doesn’t quite fit in with the vibe of the band, so it’s nice to have my solo career to get those songs out there, with none of my songs wasted.
“It means all of the songs I write can be released at some point, either with the band or by myself. It’s great that I’m able to do that.”
‘You’re Always Right’ by Carl Marah, is out now and available to stream or buy here.