Hailing from Britain’s most productive musical city, and having spent time gigging in and around Liverpool- another town with a stellar reputation for developing inventive and innovative stars- it’s through a keen understanding of creating immediately infectious tunes, coupled with heartfelt songwriting, that he has cemented his status amongst the North West’s brightest lights. Meanwhile, support slots alongside the likes of Echo and the Bunnymen (not once or twice, but five times, not to mention dates with the band’s frontman, Ian McCulloch, across the UK), Kimberly Anne and Circa Waves helped increase his exposure.

Clearly, then, the time is now right for his debut EP. Fittingly titled Honest, it’s a four track offering that sees McClair wearing heart on sleeve, which may well be the only place he knows to put it. From the instantly radio playlist-able Alchemy, and its head-bobbing acoustic guitar rhythm and soaring background harmonisation, to the desperately romantic lyricism on the title number, it reveals a man who holds nothing back.

Concerned with telling stories, and inspiring others to get to know stories of old through reinterpreting classic tales, it’s an astute approach to music that cares little for throwaway nonsense, and values poignancy over anything else. The product of a long background of musical training that began before he reached his teens, and ended by mastering self-taught guitar expertise, it’s not without very good reason that McClair has been making significant waves amongst the industry and audiences alike- with advocates including Newton Faulkner, BBC Introducing, 6Music and XFM. Handcrafted for fans of James Taylor, Paulo Nutini and Bill Withers, it should go without saying he’s one to remember.