IF LIFE has taught Carly Connor anything, it’s that happiness is too high a price to pay for success.

There is no sense in having what you wanted, if you have to give up what you truly need.

The Easterhouse songwriter has waded through the mirky water of the modern music industry. She was whisked away down south as a teenager ready to pursue her dreams. A regular on all those ‘next big thing’ lists – and tipped left, right and centre.

Some definite highs in her time, but the caustic nature of her surroundings took its toll. In the end, the music suffered. Connor had to turn her back on that chapter of her life in order to rekindle her love of songwriting and performing.

These days, she feels an entirely new woman; stronger for the lessons learned, and thankful for the chance to continue playing. Only now, she serves herself. Her career on her own terms.

“I’ve been dead lucky,” she tells The Weekender. “I’m sure some people might not look at it that way just because I’m not selling out the biggest venues, or whatever, but I feel dead lucky that I get to do what I love to do. People still come out to see me for gigs and I’m playing with my best pals – it’s just brilliant.”

Looking back on her career, on her younger self, she sees a completely different person. For better and for worse. And with that reflection comes a tricky balance of emotions. One on hand, she wonders about reaching out and gifting some advice to a teenage Carly – perhaps things might have been a little different? On the other, Connor recognises her own strength now as an artist for having been through it – she is who she is today because of her experiences.

Connor adds: “I got my record deal when I was 17 and I was gigging since I was 11. Went to London at 17 and I was thrown in the deep end straight away. I was used to writing myself in my room and the next thing I was in there with all these guys who had written all these hits.

“In my mind, my life was planned out. But, honestly, I was miserable. I was working with session musicians, and I didn’t really know any of them.”

ON SONG: Carly Connor performing at the EH6 Festival in Edinburgh last year. Picture by Iain Smith/The Weekender

ON SONG: Carly Connor performing at the EH6 Festival in Edinburgh last year. Picture by Iain Smith/The Weekender

At the time, the sheer scale of the opportunity that Connor made for herself was not lost on her. It was not a chance she had been prepared to waste – something she felt she had to make the most of.

However, the industry was not what she had hoped for. The pressure, the exhaustion, the sheer grind. The dreams of a teenager turned to rust amid a swirl of pressure and isolation.

The singer reflects: “Getting signed for a major record label doesn’t happen to everyone. I had been working at it for so long and I was really appreciative and grateful for everything, so I think I just sucked it up and tried to get through all those negative things.

“You have to sacrifice a lot and I don’t think I had the boundaries that I should have. I was too young. I think I accepted a lot of things that I shouldn’t have accepted. I’d love to be able to warn my younger self about it all, but what can you do?”

She adds: “It was lonely. What’s the point in doing something you love but you’re on your own all the time and you have no one to share it all with? That doesn’t make any sense to me.”

“At first, I used to take it all in my stride – I felt I could handle anything. But I don’t think I really understood how it was affecting me. It just, sort of, boiled over one day and now I can’t handle that pressure at all now. It just was not enjoyable.”

Anyone who has witnessed a Carly Connor show recently can see it for themselves. It will be hard to find a more impressive talent in Scotland – a genuinely incredible voice with energy to match. Shades of Tina Turner come through as she commands the stage.

It would also be a mission to find better chat between songs.

What is most stark, however, is that sheer joy that radiates from the singer. Performing is necessary for her. Without it she would not be the same.

“I just play music because I love it,” she says. “I’ve stopped and started a few times. Sometimes I just feel it’s not for me and I should give it up. But then I get that feeling – I’ve missed it and I need to do it. It doesn’t even matter what level I am on, and what I’m doing.

“As dramatic as it sounds, music is a huge part of me. So, if I’m not doing it then nothing really makes sense. I’ll get down or whatever, wonder why, and then realise that it’s because I’m not playing or writing anything.”

Connor’s love affair with the craft is as strong now as it’s ever been. Before lockdown she released two EPs and there is the promise of more new material to come. A future as bright as ever.

But even with that burning desire for music, she remains cautious. Too much too soon and the joy will drain away. That creative outlet she needs will become an obligation. The key is to take the time to enjoy her writing, safe in the knowledge that her band will always be there for her – on stage and off.

Carly Connor performing at Vibration Festival. Picture by Iain Smith/The Weekender

Carly Connor performing at Vibration Festival. Picture by Iain Smith/The Weekender

“I’m not one for heaping pressure on myself,” she explains. “I don’t sit there and think this song needs to come out or this song needs to do this well or anything. There was so much pressure on for so long and it took the fun right out of it. Now, I just want to make it as fun as possible.

“My band are like my best pals and we have the best time working together. I never dread going into rehearsals. It never feels like work. And, you know, if it did feel like that then you shouldn’t be doing it.

“The most important part is not feeling like I am on my own with it all anymore. It was lonely before, but now I’ve got the boys – we are a team and we do it all together. That’s a massive deal for me.

“Now, when we all come off stage, the band are all buzzing and we’re cuddling each other. It’s just the way it should be.

“I just love music so much and I’ll always be writing and, hopefully, I’ll always be gigging. I just feel I get on a lot better as a person if I’m not in that industry. I didn’t really start to enjoy making music again until I came home and met my band.

She adds: “I find it hard to regret anything I’ve been through – those experiences are what made me who I am. I am better for it now.”

Carly Connor plays PJ Molloys in Dunfermline on Friday, February 25, with support from Dovv and Junk Bandit.

For tickets, visit www.ticketweb.uk/venue/p-j-molloys-dunfermline/441755