Reasons To Stay

The New Album

June 2028.

"He's an amazing singer-songwriter and we like to call him the hairy angel"

Zoe Ball - BBC Radio 2

This is a PaWhy 2028? Why the wait?

Well, there's a story behind that...

I've spent the best part of three decades writing, recording, producing and performing.

I needed to stop and seek some help.ragraph Font

“Truly beautiful, we should be shouting about this from the rooftops.”
Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

And, it turns out, saying NO to something gives you the space to say YES to something else.

While I was finding my sanity again, I'd been making my own music videos.

And a filmmaking friend suggested I enter one into a local film festival.

So I did.

And it won. Yay, go me!

(Cold Eyes – you can watch it below.)

Around the same time, my psychologist suggested something I'd never considered:

going back to university to study filmmaking.

I'd walked away from my degree when I became a dad at nineteen, and now, all these years later, I found myself with the opportunity to pick up where I left off.

So that's what I'm doing.

I'm now inside a three-year degree course studying Media Production and Filmmaking.

Giving three years to the nineteen year old me to

grow

and

learn

and

write

and

sing

and

film

and

record

and

love

and

laugh

and

create.

"This boy is pretty damn good" - Chuck Berry

This is a ParaAnd here's where things get interesting.

I'm not just doing a degree and making a new album.

I'm also making a full-length film designed to be watched/experienced alongside it.

Two of my biggest passions, Music & Film coming together in one ambitious project.

It's a huge undertaking, but I'm excited about it.

And rather than disappearing for three years and popping up in 2028 with something finished,

I thought it would be much more fun to invite a few people along for the ride.

Which brings me to the FAM.

I'd love you to join us.

It's completely free, and it's a way for me to share the journey as it happens.

The music, the filmmaking, the experiments, the behind-the-scenes stuff and the occasional triumph (hopefully!).

So, what does the FAM get?

An occasional email from me, usually monthly, sometimes every six weeks.

Occasionally life might get in the way, but I'll always have something to share.

Acoustic clips and full performances of the new songs, often before anyone else gets to hear them.

The films I'm making along the way, including university projects and other creative experiments.

A few glimpses behind the curtain as the album and film gradually take shape.

Essentially, you'll get a front-row seat to the making of something that won't be finished until 2028.

And hopefully, when it all comes together, you'll feel you've been part of it from the very beginning.

The journey is part of the art.

It'll be fun. You'll like it.

One last thing before you go...

I was once Chuck Berry's support act on part of his 2010 European tour.

One night, mid-duck-walk, he lost his balance, and I caught his arm.

So I saved the godfather of rock and roll from falling on his arse.

I think about that more than I should.

Frase x

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"The best singer-songwriter I've heard in a long time"
Howard Thompson WPKN