Dublin singer-songwriter Doctor Millar responds to Paolo Nutini selecting his song 'These Days' as 'the track that changed my life' in the 45th Birthday issue of Hot Press

Dublin singer-songwriter Doctor Millar has said that he was "astonished" to learn that Paolo Nutini selected his song 'These Days' as part of 'The Track That Changed My Life' feature in the current issue of Hot Press.

Taking to Twitter, the Irish artist, also known as Seán Millar, reflected on the inspiration behind the track, which featured as part of his album The Bitter Lie, recorded in 1994 – and notes that Nutini is now considered "a saint in our gaff."

The special Hot Press feature ties in with our 45th birthday celebrations – with Nutini, and a host of other familiar faces, telling us about the songs that had a major impact on their lives.

"There were things going on in my life at that point and it seemed to echo it perfectly," Nutini says of 'These Days' in the current issue of Hot Press. "It's the song that's had the most impact on me for quite a long time. In fact, every fucking song on that album is amazing."

"What a lovely thing to experience!" Millar wrote on social media in response. "Years ago, when I was a young man in my twenties, while out drinking I made a show of myself and my ( then) partner in public, and behaved really obnoxiously. The next day I woke up to that cold fact.

"My world felt like it hurt," he continued. "My brain felt like a bruise. Everything was ashes. I was so sick, and sad and ashamed - I just wished I was dead. I wrote this song to try and distract myself from my own self-horror. It's not easy being green.

"Incredible to think of someone, across time and space, hearing that pain and confusion, and in some way it reaching them," he added. "It blows my mind. It's hard to get across how outside the pale of what was considered folk, my singing and the lyrics were back then. It's beautiful to see songs find their listeners, and their love."

1/Right, it has been brought to my astonished attention that in the current issue of Hotpress - its 45th anniversary edition- a number of famous music people were asked what song from the last forty-five years, had really affected them.
Paolo Nutini chose my song 'These Days',

— seán millar (@seanmillardub) July 14, 2022

Doctor Millar has previously been described by Hot Press as "one of this country's finest songwriters."

“The first time I saw Dr. Millar was years ago in The Da Club, a small music venue that used to exist in Clarendon Market," Damien Rice reflected in 2004. "I remember he came on stage and looked a little nervous. He fumbled a bit, said hi and then started to play.

"It was amazing. He was so different to everyone else playing that night. His dark, honest lyrics. His terribly good melodies. So raw. And he sang so low. I remember trying to sing along under my breath to see if I could reach the notes!

"He is someone who has made me think about music. I still love the songs ‘Happy Can Be’ and ‘Alcohol Problem’. I’m really looking forward to hearing the new record, which brings all of those songs together. It should be amazing.”

Listen to Doctor Millar's 'These Days' below:

Last week, Paolo Nutini's new album Last Night In The Bittersweet debuted at No.1 on the Official Irish Albums Chart – knocking Harry Styles' Harry's House from the top spot. Read our album review here.

The Scottish singer-songwriter is set to play a string of Irish dates next month, including the Milk Market, Limerick (August 21 & 22); 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin (24); and Custom House Square, Belfast (25).

Read Paolo Nutini's full commentary on 'These Days' – plus 'The Track That Changed My Life' contributions from Steve Wall, Cait O'Riordan, The Script's Glen Power, Gemma Hayes and Therapy?'s Andy Cairns – in the special 45th Birthday issue of Hot Press, out now: