The teenage son of a Paisley chip shop owner has landed a five-album contract with one of the world's most famous record labels in a deal that industry insiders claim could be worth up to £1m.
Singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini has signed with Atlantic Records, which currently has stars James Blunt and Björk on its books and introduced the world to rock band Led Zeppelin.
The 19-year-old has already entered the studio - with Coldplay producer Ken Nelson - to record his debut album, which is due out in July, and industry sources believe he is destined for a high-profile career.In another sign of the label's faith in Nutini, he will perform at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York next month at a gala tribute to Ahmet Ertegun, the 82-year-old founder of Atlantic.
Speaking exclusively to Scotland on Sunday, Nutini said: "Atlantic were following my progress for some time and offered me a record deal on the back of publishing interest from Warner Music Group, who they are attached to.
"It is still a lot to take in. I think it's a five-album deal but my management have told me not to release any information regarding how much it is actually worth."
Nutini began his musical apprenticeship in his early teens as a roadie for Glasgow band Speedway, and worked as a studio hand in Glasgow's Park Lane Studio.
He was spotted playing gigs in Glasgow music venues and in 2004 he played on the same bill as KT Tunstall and Iain Archer.
Nutini, who joins Mary J Blige and The Streets on the Atlantic label, added: "I went to play a showcase at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, in March and on the way back we stopped in New York and I played my first gig there.
"Ahmet Ertegun came along and must have liked what he heard because the next thing I knew he'd asked me to come back to play the Carnegie Hall.
"The reason I signed with Atlantic was because of the gold discs on the walls by people like Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. To think that he [Ertegun] worked with all of them is amazing."
While comparisons with the meteoric rise of James Blunt are obvious, Nutini's debut album is expected to be heavily influenced by stars such as James Taylor, Van Morrison and the Scottish singer-songwriter, John Martyn.
Nutini said he was determined not to sacrifice his musical roots as part of the music deal.
He said: "I thought the record company might want to turn me into a male Joss Stone and that just didn't feel right. To me soul is not a genre but a feeling."
Nutini will be writing his own music, which he reveals is largely inspired by his private life. He referred to his debut album as "a diary".
He said: "Everything that's happened to me over the last two or three years is on the album.
"Feeling good, feeling down, buying a new pair of shoes, telling a few white lies, songs about leaving home, about missing friends and family, about being in love - it's all there. It's a very personal record - like a diary, really. But hopefully, other people can relate to it.
"I can only sing about what happens to me. I wouldn't really know what else to write about."
He added: "I hated the idea of going to London and I come back to Scotland whenever I can. If it all goes wrong I can always go back to the chip shop."
Paolo Nutini's father, Alfredo - who runs the family chip shop with his wife - said of his son's success: "We are very happy. He is just a young lad with a great future ahead of him. We just let him get on with it."
Insiders believe Atlantic has made Nutini its priority act and plans to build his credentials to match the success of the label's other artists.
One insider confided: "There is little question that this guy is going to be huge.
"Atlantic has obviously realised there is a real market for young, talented male singer-songwriters, and he is all of those things. It seems that he is very much being treated as their star act.
The source added: "£1m a year is not unimaginable for this sort of deal, but it is totally dependent on the air-play time and the album sales.
"Things look hopeful though. If, as alleged, he is writing his own music and gets a good publishing deal, with management that are keen to look after him and nurture him like someone such as James Blunt, he could be huge."
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