Kevin Rutkiewicz Interview

Tell me a bit about your background, where u grew up, brother/sisters, what you were like as a kid?
Hey so I‘m Kevin Rutkiewicz. I hail from the east end of Glasgow and suffered, only joking, enjoyed a fantastic upbringing in Royston. My mum Matilda and Dad Ernest have been and still are the biggest influences in how I want to live my life. I have one brother, Ernie, who is eight years my elder and I love reminding him about this!!
Being brought up in Royston was great and although at some point you have to make a decision as to what road you want to go down I loved every minute of it. I was always quite mischievous but never really got involved in anything considered just plain bad. Hey we all have to be a little naughty sometimes do we not??

I loved my football when I was young, all sport actually. I enjoyed golf and snooker days with my dad and bro and had a great laugh making up stupid dances with my mum listening to all her 60’s and 70’s music!!
Tell me about your earliest football memory..Where you were when you decided you wanted to be a professional player, describe that ‘light bulb’ moment?
My earliest football memory is walking over to the old Celtic Park with my dad and watching Celtic beat Dunfermline one nil in their centenary season of 1988. It was a beautiful day and Chris

Morris scored the only goal of the game. Ironically I’ve just realised I‘m now playing with Dunfermline ha-ha.
This brings me to becoming a pro. It wasn’t really a conscience decision I made it just sort of happened and seemed like the right thing to do.
I played at Hampden in a friendly for the Glasgow schools select side and after the game an Aberdeen scout invited me there for trials. I can pretty much tell you from that phone call my mind was made up that I wanted to become a footballer!!
Tell me about your earliest music memory..Who did you grow up listening to, who inspired you?
As I’ve said earlier I enjoyed making up dances with my mum Tilda. Well she was probably my biggest and earliest inspiration for music. I have released my first album recently but it all started way back listening every day to my mum singing along with her music doing the housework.
It was all Motown, Abba and all that fantastic 60’s and 70’s stuff that I grew up with and still listen to that ignited my love for music. I have since obviously acquired my own tastes and spend most of my time listening to acoustic.
Ray Lamontagne, Jack Savoretti and Paolo Nutini are up there with favourites but there are many many more!!
Kevin Rutkiewicz

When you signed your first contract how did that feel? Tell us about your experiences?
―So to tell you a little about my football. It all started at Aberdeen and it has been a big rollercoaster ride. Signing on the dot-ted line for the first time was an amazing feeling and one of my own personal proudest moments. I wasn’t aware of how hard it can be at that time but can tell you that every ounce of sweat I-ve produced it has been worth it. Memories like playing in the UEFA Cup spring to mind but my crowning moment so far was captaining St Johnstone to the 1st Division title. A very proud moment and one I will always cherish.
That is some of the perks but I’ve suffered a lot with injury and was told to retire at the age of 25. I had suffered an ankle injury and the operation wasn’t quite as successful as we thought it would be. My ankle was in a very bad way and with no lateral ligaments was advised to hang the boots up.
Being a boy I wanted to show my toughness by saying,” no I‘m going to go on”!! It was a very tough time and kept me from playing for almost 14 months BUT the feeling I got when I first pulled the strip back on and walked out onto the park was the best sense of achievement I’ve ever had.
You’ve been playing professional football for the past 13 years..How do you go from that to deciding to go into music? What pushed you to go for it + release an album?
My music career actually started when I had an injury. I was at Aberdeen and had picked up an injury.

I decided to kill time I would buy a guitar and teach myself. It was all just a bit of fun and I didn’t really take it seriously until my ankle injury at St Johnstone.

During my rehab I was asked to play a charity gig for Oxfam and thought what the hell it‘s for a good cause and will be loads of fun.
I had started to write my own stuff at this point and performed one of my own songs at the gig.
‘Fair Drawin in ‘ was the song and I got a great reception. It was from this night that I thought I would have a go at writing an album. I have as I’ve said since re-leased my album and its going really well. Two singles have been released and there will be a third. Music is now something I‘m heavily involved in, from writing and performing to reviewing albums by other artists and hopefully I can give you a few wee gems of up and coming stars in the near future!!!!
How has your season been? What are your hopes for next season?
Well football has given me another emotional ride this season. I started at St Johnstone suffered injury and loss of form then ended it on loan at Dunfermline winning the 1st division title again and have now committed myself to an-other year at East End Park!! As for the future well I‘m pushing on in years, you can tell me I‘m not if you want ha-ha, so music will become more and more of an influence in everyday life for me. I hope to carve out a career for my-self in this industry but realise its going to be just as hard to make it in music if not harder. There will be some more sweating to be done!!!!!