Paolo Nutini
A Scottish soul singer with a raspy, lived-in voice who crafts intimate, emotionally raw songs that feel both timeless and deeply personal.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Scottish singer, songwriter and musician·Birthday: January 9·Millennials
Biography
Paolo Nutini emerged from Paisley, Scotland, not as a product of a TV talent show, but as a bartender with a notebook full of songs and a voice that sounded decades older than he was. His 2006 debut, 'These Streets,' captured a young man's yearning and heartache with startling maturity, blending folk, soul, and pop. He refused to be rushed, taking five years to deliver the sunny, skiffle-inflected 'Sunny Side Up,' which debuted at number one and revealed a playful, eclectic side. Another long hiatus preceded the richer, more ambitious 'Caustic Love,' a soulful record that cemented his reputation as an artist who works entirely on his own clock. Nutini's career is defined by these deliberate pauses, each return feeling like a rediscovery of a uniquely textured voice in British music.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Paolo was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Paolo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Paolo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His second album, 'Sunny Side Up,' debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart in 2009.
- His debut album 'These Streets' was certified quintuple platinum in the UK.
- He performed to a headline crowd of over 65,000 people at Glasgow Green in 2023.
- His 2014 album 'Caustic Love' also debuted at number one on the UK chart.
Did You Know?
He worked as a roadie and then a barback at Glasgow's famous King Tut's Wah Wah Hut before being signed.
He turned down an invitation to support the Rolling Stones early in his career to focus on his own tour.
His father runs a fish and chip shop in Paisley.
He is a passionate supporter of the Scottish football club Celtic FC.
“I don't think I'm a natural performer. I'm a natural writer, maybe, but performing is something I've had to learn.”
