The life of a sessions musician can be a monotonous and often thankless one. They can usually be found at gigs relegated to the shadows near the back of the stage as the band themselves hog all the glory and limelight, forced into doing all the hard work the artists can’t be bothered to do themselves. However, within just a few minutes of meeting Wayne Murray at the Manic Street Preacher’s gig at the Edinburgh Corn exchange it became clear that he was so much more than just the bloke who plays guitar on tour with one of the biggest bands in the world.

Having narrowly avoided passing out when Wayne invited me backstage to conduct the interview, I snuck past the bouncers to the mythical land of up to the Manics’ dressing room. Sadly rest of the band weren’t there, but with drinks in hand we began to talk. As if this VIP treatment wasn’t enough, it quickly became apparent that Wayne, who fronts his own band, Boy Cried Wolf, is one of the most softly spoken and affable people you’re ever likely to meet.

“Today is only the third date on the tour but it’s going brilliantly. We had a day off yesterday already so I feel relaxed and 'Zen,' I had a swim today and feel brilliant,” he jokes, when asked how the tour had gone so far.

Conversation soon turns to Wayne’s new EP, The Firebrand, scheduled for release on the 1st of November. Largely written on tour with the Manics, Wayne's illustrious band-mates had a significant impact on the creation of the EP as he revealed, “Nicky [Wire] and James [Dean Bradfield] were so encouraging. Nicky offered to write the words for No Comfort From Your Skin. That really galvanized me and gave me the kick up the arse I needed really to get my stuff together.”

With these pretty impressive endorsements under his belt, The Firebrand was largely recorded in a friends front room then finished then finished off at the Manics’ studio in Cardiff, a process that really suited Wayne’s stripped back, honest style of music. “It was great to see the mish-mash of the old recordings and the plush new ones, hopefully this gave us something that was special to us.”

This desire to create something unique and from the heart came across time and again as the interview progressed and Wayne explained how the band strove to find their sound, “we were a little bit lost, chasing a sort of blues and rock sound really, but as time went on, the honesty of the music came out, so that’s the influence for the record I guess, just trying to do something that’s unique to you.”

Having to cram in a promotional tour with Boy Cried Wolf in between shows on a world tour with the Manic Street Preachers, you might imagine creates a pretty hectic schedule, and it turns out it does. Somewhere in-between tours to Australia, Japan and Europe there are plans for another EP and a string of shows, but Wayne wants to plough his own furrow and is determined not to let anything stand in his way. “Singing in your own band and fronting it is a different beast really, it definitely means a lot to me. Just for me to be in a band again my heart would have to be really into it, which it is, I mean I could just have my days off as days off!”

These comments prompted a discussion of past experiences, which, it was revealed, strongly influenced the music and production of The Firebrand, “I was in a band called the Thirteen:13 with BMG, which meant a lot to me at the time,” he explained “but it got twisted into something that was so distorted from what I originally set out to do, it was literally like being bullied for two years.”

The new EP, however, presented no such problems, as the band were able to produce it themselves, with the help of the people around them, including the Manics. Past negative experiences clearly provided a few valuable lessons, as this method allowed for a much closer control over music. Despite gaining the savvy know how that only comes with experience, Wayne has lost none of the passion for his music and avoided becoming jaded, “it was amazing, when we got the first copy of the EP. The way it all looks online and everything, that made it all worth it”, adding jovially “But if there are any record companies out there, please give us a shit load of money and do all the work for us! We’ll sign on the dotted line!”

The Firebrand itself noticeably benefits from the independent production approach as well as the integrity and positive attitude of the front-man. The songs are fresh and honest, yet with a hint of melancholy, and at times a certain boyish charm. No Comfort From Your Skin has something unmistakably of the Manics about it, which is unsurprising seeing as the lyrics were written by Nicky Wire. This brand of acoustic Indie music isn’t one that’s going to break down any major musical barriers, yet it feels refreshing to hear something so heartfelt and easygoing, this is something Wayne is right to be proud of. Hopefully we’ll hear a lot more from this boy who cried wolf, but in this case you can trust what he says.