AT 12, John McCullagh wrote his first songs. At 15, he became an early signing to music industry mogul Alan McGee’s label, 359 Music, releasing his debut album North South Divide in 2013. Now the Doncaster teenage troubadour has album number two, New Born Cry, raring to go, recorded in Liverpool with a suitably Scouse sound with The La’s and Cast guitarist John Power in the producer’s seat.

The album will be out on 359 Music on May 4 but first McCullagh is doing the live rounds with his new band The Escorts, playing The Spread Eagle pub in York, tomorrow. CHARLES HUTCHINSON has a word with John, once his mum has answered the phone in Donny.

Did you envisage such rapid progress from North South Divide to New Born Cry, new band and all, John?

“I thought I probably would have made one more acoustic album, but I’m happy with how I’ve gone and John Power has helped me a lot in terms of developing my songwriting and arranging.”

How did the relationship take shape?

“I got to know John a bit more early last year after I supported him at one of his acoustic gigs in Liverpool. A couple of weeks later we were in the studio together and wrote some songs and we realised that I wouldn’t get the best out of them on my own.

“So Nick Miniski, the drummer in the reformed version of The La’s, got involved and he’s been in The Escorts from day one. He’s now one of my best friends.

“We have a boy called Chris Jones, a young player from Liverpool, on bass ; I play acoustic and a bit of electric, and the lead guitarist is Craig McMahon, a friend of Nick’s.”

What has been the impact of having a band?

“I’m very proud of what I did with the first album, but it takes the pressure off a bit on stage, having a band, just thinking of more ideas for the set..”

What about John Power’s influence?

“I didn’t really feel I had to talk to him about songwriting but John has definitely helped in the songs: suggesting different structures, different lines. In terms of the first album compared to this one, I’m not going to say this one is ‘more mature’, but it’s more diverse and I think the lyrics are better, though I’m pleased with the first record, don’t get me wrong.

“I’ve had more time to work on the lyrics this time and John gave me advice too, like for when we wrote Box Of Tricks, which we did together. John is quite spiritual and into voodooism and he says you have to put yourself into the mind of what you want to say.”

Does New Born Cry have a theme?

“There definitely is. On the first record, there were quite a lot of songs that reflected on playing in pubs, when no one watched, so I had to be loud. This time, I could be softer, so there are songs, like Patterns, Between The Lines and New York City, that all connect well in terms of lyrics.”

From John Power, as producer, to your band members, Liverpool is etched into your album. What draws a Celtic-supporting Yorkshireman like you to the Mersey music scene?

“Growing up, I was obsessed with bands like The Coral. I didn’t really know of The La’s until I met John, but there’s just something in the water in Liverpool.

“Having John in the studio, the album was going to have a bit of that Liverpool stamp, and with the band members being from Liverpool, it’s gonna be a Liverpool record. I love Liverpool as a city and I wanted to get that sound into the record.

“I’m a Yorkshireman but Liverpool is like my spiritual home.”

How would you sum up your music?

“I guess it’s timeless, though it’s not that I’m looking to write that way, as songwriters write what they want to write at that time, what means something to them at that time. Like Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner, who I think has been the best songwriter of the last 20 years. He’s been a massive inspiration on my writing too.”

• Common People presents John McCullagh and The Escorts at The Spread Eagle, Walmgate, York, tomorrow night, supported by Hello Operator. Tickets are available from the pub.