Biography of Banff born Sandi Thom and her first album Smile it confuses people and first single I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker with concert and gig
appearances:
Alexandria Thom (nicknamed Sandi) was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire on the 11th August 1981. She later
moved with her family to nearby Macduff and Kinneff.
In Secondary School at Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen, she formed her first band called The Residents in which she sang and played the keyboards. They
performed around Scotland for about 3 years.
After leaving school Sandi busked around Europe and then joined The Institute of Performing Arts in Liverpool.
During this time Sandi busked and played gigs which included a spell with a gospel choir called Love and Joy.
Following this Sandi travelled worldwide working with various musicians.
Maw Broon fae the Sunday Post has published a cookbook full of her favourite Scottish and family recipes.
Read More About It Or Buy Now!
Sandi Thom Hogmanay Concert Aberdeen
Sandi Thom will return home at the end of 2007 where she will be singing at the Hogmanay Concert in Aberdeen to see in the year 2008 at the Castlegate. This is a free Sandi Thom concert and other performers include the Scottish group Travis and Albannach the Scots tribal drumming band. For more information see the AboutAberdeen
Hogmanay Aberdeen page which includes times, how to get entry, etc.
First Single Called I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker With Flowers In My Hair
Her first single called I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker With Flowers In My Hair caught the attention of Radio 2 broadcaster Johnny Walker
and given airtime on his breakfast show. It helped launch her career. The inspiration for the song came to her one
day when her mobile phone was stolen and she thought how simple life was before iPods and mobile phones where all
telephone numbers and contacts are kept. She sees the song as a quirky homage to the 1960s and 70s.
The song was first released on an independent label and the initial release saw it reach number 55 in the charts.
In April 2006 Sandi Thom released a video of her band playing on the internet. The site received over 10,000 hits
a day during the 21 day gigs and caught the attention of the National Media when over 250,000 people worldwide were watching
her performances. It resulted in TV appearances for Sandi Thom when she got signed by
major record label RCA and Sony BMG. Her single I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker With Flowers In My Hair was re-released in
May 2006 and given a great deal of exposure. This included a Television advert TV and Radio interviews and magazine
articles not only in her homeland of Scotland and the UK but also worldwide in countries such as America, Germany,
Switzerland and Australia.
Sandi Thom's single I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair) was also a huge hit in Australia. So much so that it was Australia's highest selling single of 2006. It had spent ten weeks at number one.
In May 2006 Sandi Thom made number one in the iTunes chart for the most downloaded tune for I Wish I Was A Punk
Rocker With Flowers In My Hair. The song entered the top 40 singles chart at position 15 even though the single
hadn't been released - this was just from downloads. The next week, on Sunday 28 May 2006, it shot to number two, being piped
to the coveted number one spot by Gnarls Barkley song Crazy. A week later, on Sunday 4 June 2006 Sandi toppled the Gnarls
Barkley nine week run and made it to number one. She moved to the number two spot from Sunday 11 - 18 June 2006.
Nelly Furtado replaced her at number one with Maneater.
I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair) was number one in the Australian charts for ten weeks.
Not bad for a lass fae MacDuff and Banff!
The Sandi Thom information continues further below.
We also run the
www.findextrawork.co.uk website where there is information about earning more money from a
range of part time and full time jobs which can be done at home or out and about. Visit for more information.
Smile It Confuses People
Her new album Smile, it confuses people was released on 5 June 2006.
Buy Smile It Confuses People
for under £9 with free delivery available.
Track Listings:
1. When Horsepower Meant What It Said
2. I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair)
3. Lonely Girl
4. Sunset Borderline
5. Little Remedy
6. Castles
7. What If I'm Right
8. Superman
9. Human Jukebox
10. Time
In 2006 Smile It Confuses People sold over 600,000 copies of the album worldwide.
Sandi Thom has performed at Free At The Dee,
Aberdeen. In December 2005 she played support with The Proclaimers throughout Scotland.
Sandi Thom Concert Appearances
On Saturday 30 August 2008 Sandi Thom will headline the second Feugh Festival in Stonehaven. Read about the Feugh Festival.
In 2007 Sandi Thom may be supporting Rod Stewart on his tour which should include Hampden Park.
On Hogmanay December 31 2006 Sandi Thom helped Glaswegians see in the year 2007 when she played at the Glasgow George Square concert. Other Scottish acts in the New Year
Glasgow concert were The Fratellis and The View.
In the autumn of 2006 Sandi Thom played concerts in Australia.
Sandi Thom appeared at T in the Park on 9 July 2006. Other acts at T In The Park 2006 which was from July 8 to 9
were The Who, The Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes. Kula Shaker performed a T In The Park warm up concert at
Edinburgh's Liquid Rooms on the 7 July.
What If I'm Right - Sandi Thom's second single was released on Monday 28 August 2006.
On Saturday 14 October Sandi Thom officially opened The Hub at Aberdeen University and performed several of her songs to the staff and students and then
had an informal question and answer session. She was then given a tour of the refurbished dining, leisure and social complex which replaced the
central refectory.
In the evening Sandi performed a live concert at the nightclub
Moshulu. She played tracks from her album Smile It Confuses People and a cover of the Gnarls Barkley hit Crazy, which was the only single in 2006 to have sold more copies
than her hit I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker.
Sandi Thom now lives in London. Her family still live in Aberdeenshire. Her father, Sandy, lives in Hatton, Peterhead.
Her mother lives in Edzell and her grandmother has become a local TV celebrity with her television appearances praising
her granddaughter.
Trivia About Sandi Thom
Sandi has a cat tattoo on her ankle
Sandi was the voice of the Impulse body spray advert.
Sandi was signed to Legacy Records with an album, called Rockabyeberry.
Sandi performs with other Scottish lassies from Edinburgh in the band G, KS and Ally. They have released a single
called Way You Move.
The nickname of Sandi Thom here in the North East is the Babe fae Banff!
Alex Salmond
In March 2007 Sandi Thom demonstrated her support of the Scottish National Party (SNP) by presenting SNP leader Alex Salmond with a souvenir copy of the disc. Alex Salmond is also her local constituent MP for her hometown of Macduff. Sandi Thom presented Alex Salmond with a souvenir copy of her platinum selling debut album Smile...It confuses people.
Tartan Week
During the 2007 New York Tartan Week Sandi Thom appeared in the fashion show
Dressed To Kilt with a customised tartan guitar alongside fellow North East lass
Nicola McLean.
Sandi Thom opened the inaugural Coast Festival at Banff and Macduff which took place at Banff Castle from the 23 to the 26 May 2008.
Spikey Tyres
Ahead of her release of her new album The Pink And The Lily on 26 May 2008 Sandi Thom is to set up a film production company with her brother Chris. Their film
company will be called Spikey Tyres and the first film will be a short movie about the travels of a cigarette lighter around the world.
For pictures and photos of Sandi Thom and to hear her songs visit her website at
www.sandithom.com
for under £9 with free delivery available.