Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I am originally from Manchester in the UK, although I have lived in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire for the past 28 years. I always whistle or sing when I work or while I am walking my dogs, but no one ever recognises these tunes because they are just a collection of random notes out of my head. In 2018 I started to record these tunes on my mobile phone and later I would put lyrics to these tunes. When my 1st song was written I realised I would have to learn to play a guitar so I could build a chord sequence around these lyrics and finish the song. When the chords were done and I eventually thought a song was ready, I would play it at Open Mic Nights to test audience reactions. My 1st open mic was a disaster, legs shaking with nerves, missing chords, forgetting lyrics, but apparently everyone has been there so nothing to lose… After a few performances I would go back to the song writing and fine tune the track before recording it in the studio I built in my garden. So, in the last 4 years I have learned to write songs, play guitar, perform in front of a live audience, songcraft and record a track and my hobby of making, playing and distributing music was now more than just a hobby.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: Suzanne Vega is my current favourite artist, her songs have been in my life since the mid-1980’s and despite having such a strong influence from the Manchester indie scene when growing up with bands such as The Smiths, Stone Roses, The Verve, Oasis it is Suzanne Vega that is currently influencing my song writing and my guitar style.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: From childhood I have listened to everything from the carpenters to black Sabbath so i do not have one single vibe or cultural influence. My folks played rock n roll, so Billy Fury, Elvis, Cliff Richard and the shadows were all part of growing up. The 1st single I bought was Sunday Girl by Blondie, The 1st Album I bought was “Out of The Blue” by ELO, followed by The Human League Travelogue and then Toyah Wilcox “Anthem”. My 1st gigs were Sad Cafe, Roxy Music followed by Pink Floyd the Wall and Queen at Wembley Stadium. I even saw Iron Maiden twice in Manchester. In the 1990’s I got into the Indie music scene with the Stone Roses, Charlatans, The Verve and Oasis, I guess Paul Weller had an impact too.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Every body dance, It’s Christmas’. Is there a story behind it?
A: This track was written during the first Christmas lockdown in 2020 after we were all told to stay indoors due to the Covid crisis. I wanted everyone to remember what Christmas should be like, to remember Christmas filled with laughter and parties that went on through the night. I wanted to put Christmas party smiles back on the faces of listeners.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: My second track will be released in January 2023, it is called “When You’re Around”, there are several others in the pipeline so possibly an EP or album in late 2023.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: Every song I write has a personal element or experience which I hope can relate to similar experiences of those listening to my tracks. Like many song writers I started out with melancholy and loss, but had to learn to make my songs upbeat and rhythmic even if singing about pain. I guess the Smith’s did this a lot with Morrissey’s lyrics and Johnny Marr’s Jangly guitar sound.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: I truly believe you get out what you put in, as a part-time artist who has a day job I know I have to take time to listen to my tracks over and over and fine tune them to get the best possible lyrics, melody and sound quality – Song crafting is such an important part of producing a track, it doesn’t happen over-night, the concept might, but the final track takes time and effort. Having learned this, I now get so much satisfaction from my music than I used to, I now love my songs and try to perform them the best way every time.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: I typically get a feel for a song in my head, record a couple of lines on my phone then take my dogs for a long walk while I build the rest of the lyrics. When I get back I playback and type out the lyrics, shuffle them round, build the basic song structure then work on chords. It can take time to feel the right rhythm and get the correct timing, playing to a metronome then song-crafting until the song is almost there. I play my tracks over and over until they feel natural, swing and the hook is infectious, then I take it to the open mic circuit for a road test. If the track bombs out, I take it back to the drawing board and find the missing link.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: Without a doubt it is my mum passing away to cancer during the Covid crisis, this was such a difficult time for me but I truly believe her spirit and soul lives on in my songs and that she always there to inspire my song writing and my performance
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: Musically this has to be recording at Abbey Road Studios in London in October 2022 when I recorded my Christmas Song “Everybody Dance It’s Christmas” and “When You’re Around” which was written for my mum and will be released in January 2023.