BURNTISLAND singer Brian Lee is looking to make up for lost time as he unveiled his latest single last month.

Under his stage name The B, the songwriter has been making a name for himself around the country with his brand of acoustic indie pop.

He recently released Bad Poetry and the track has already claimed more than 13,000 streams on Spotify, before charting in the official Scottish charts.

The year started brightly for the singer but his progress – much like so many acts – was stunted by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

He is hoping to keep up the interest he garnered through his first major release last year, while showcasing his newer material, in a bid to make sure 202 is not a complete wash out.

He tells The Weekender: "In 2019, I released my first album Ear Honey which pulled together some live favourites into a melodic journey and introduction to what I am about.

"The album was launched at a headline show at Websters Theatre in Glasgow's West End and January 2020 seen a sell out show in Edinburgh and it was looking like being a breakout year for The B on the live scene.

"Sadly, as we all know the year hasn't turned out as planned for all of us; however, I haven't let this stop me and have refocused on songwriting and trying to create some new releases to show a step forward from the debut.

"The first fruits of this have been the single Bad Poetry released in September and charting in the official Scottish charts. Feedback has been really positive so far and looking at the reach and number of plays it's getting on streaming platforms it looks to be going down well."

The track was written earlier this year when lockdown was in effect and life was less than ordinary.

For Lee, the upbeat nature of the song was a bit of antidote to what was swirling around him at the time.

He says: "Bad Poetry was a song that just came around one day whilst strumming around on an acoustic.

"A lot of songs I write will develop over a couple years from an idea to becoming more established finished products. With Bad Poetry it just came easily.

"It was written around April-May time when the world was adjusting to the crazy times we're in and I like to think it sums up life right now.

"The line 'What will be it will be' is definitely a motto we all need to be accepting of. It was an enjoyable song to write as its upbeat and just flows well."

The B released an eight-track album last year called Ear Honey and there are some clear differences. Perhaps, the most notable is taking the time to develop ideas and taking the songs a little further.

Lee adds: "For me, I feel Ear Honey was about putting something out to provide a flavour of what I was about.

"A lot of the songs had been around for a few years and were written when I was less experienced in songwriting. It gave them a simple charm and I'm proud of every song on the album.

"Where Bad Poetry differs, and where my next proper release in January will differ, is that I feel they are structured and more intelligible compositions.

"My songwriting has definitely improved; I'm more focused on a higher standard, and I feel more patient in getting the perfect line or composing the perfect melody."

Lee is hoping to drop another single for The B later this year and perhaps again in the new year.

There is also the prospect of a few more online gigs, as the winter closes in.

Bad Poetry is available to stream online now.