Why a solo album? 

"The album sort of happened by accident. It started as a way of keeping my songwriting chops in check. I was gigging around with Fifty Amp Fuse, and I started to forget the other thing I do. Plus, with my work visa, it's handy to have some press, something on paper to show for the time I've been here, and the cover band doesn't really offer that. I didn't intend to put out a full record, but it's just sort of snowballed. People from different areas have been contacting me now about using the songs in commercials and stuff. It was an experiment, and it has taken off a little bit."

Will he be sticking around? 

"Hell, yeah," he says. "It's great to be part of something positive after years of bad press for [Detroit]. People are moving back now."

Tam Johnstone's debut album, Fantastic Animals, is out now. For more Tam info, visit tamjohnstone.com.

> Email Brett Callwood