Hiya Blake. Thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
At aged fourteen I was minding my own business in art class at school when I was approached by two school friends who said that they’d heard me singing to myself and said they wanted me as the vocalist for their group. I hadn’t thought about being in a band before. The group played Joy Division covers and a few originals at house parties. I was bitten by the bug like Spider-Man and that was that.
Introduce us to your musical history.
I recorded my first album, ‘Solomon’s Tump’, in 2003. I didn’t have a band, so I recorded all the parts myself in the bedsit I lived in at the time. A tape of the album found its way to the Ecto Music label in London and I ended up getting signed.
I got a group together and we supported the Arctic Monkeys at some of their early shows. I began releasing music as a singer-songwriter after the band split and in 2020 an album I’d recorded at home during lockdown, ‘1971’, was picked up by the South African indie label, Subjangle. My latest release, ‘Louder Than Sound’, is coming out on 27th October and is my fourth LP of original material for the label.
What’s the live music scene like in Chippenham right now? Anyone we should be looking out for (Bar you of course)
Well, there’s a couple of good live music venues in Chippenham, such as the Old Road Tavern, but really you have to travel to Swindon or Bath or Bristol for a more thriving music scene. I go to The Bell Inn in Bath regularly to catch bands and after seven years I still haven’t seen any bands that haven’t been absolutely brilliant there! My album launch is taking place at the Bell on Saturday 30th November.
I’ve seen a lot of people struggling for support recently online. What’s your view on the industry?
I’m sorry but I don’t have much that is positive to say about the state of the music industry. It’s so difficult for aspiring artists. I’ve been doing this for a long time and it’s always been difficult to gain a receptive audience for your music, but I think with the introduction of streaming services that the playing field is even more uneven.
It’s so hard for artists to make money from their music now and therefore the number of professional musicians, especially those doing solely original music, has declined dramatically. One area of hope I see is the rise of genre specific indie labels, like the one that I am fortunate enough to be associated with, Subjangle. Subjangle is run by a team of dedicated music fans and they have cultivated an audience of open-minded listeners who are keen to discover new music and support up and coming talent.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
I write songs all the time. I can’t help it. I had enough material to release a triple album this year, but I didn’t have the resources to record more than a single LP. Although I still retain ambition, I’ve come to accept that my music career is not much more than a hobby. I’m a long way from giving up the day job! However, it’s still art and self-expression and, to be honest, just one connection with one other person through my music makes the whole thing worthwhile.
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you.
I enjoy metal detecting.
I was asked by the producers of the film, ‘Nowhere Boy’, to sing John Lennon’s vocal parts.
I auditioned for the role of Frank Spencer in a theatrical production of ‘Some Mother’s Do ‘Ave ‘Em’.
Do you ever worry about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture? Discuss….
Not really. I think I’m pretty right on. My sixteen-year-old daughter would tell me if I wasn’t, anyway!
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
My dad interviewed John Lennon in the sixties. He told me when I was about nine years old. It’s still the best thing that I ever heard!
What are the next steps you plan to take as an artist to reach the next level?
I just aim to continue doing my thing. I think the worst thing you can do is not be yourself. Authenticity is key. I simply want to keep trying to write better and better songs.
I hear you have a new album, what can you tell us about it.
‘Louder Than Sound’ is a new collection of twelve original songs loosely categorised as ‘power pop’. I am heavily into the Welsh rock band of the sixties and seventies, Badfinger, and I was inspired to write an album of songs that fit their formula of tight, three-to-four-minute guitar-led tunes with good melodies and harmonies. The penultimate track, ‘Something About You’, is dedicated to the band and the lyrics are composed of Badfinger song titles and lines.
What was the recording process like?
I recorded the album at Nam Studios in Wiltshire, which is near to where I live. It has a renowned live room and has been used by Robert Plant, The Mission, Royal Blood and KT Tunstall. The producer, Jacob Myles Tyghe, captured a great sound and all the basic tracks were cut live to preserve the energy of a performance. It’s really difficult to achieve this without live drums, in my view. I am delighted with how it turned out.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
Well, it taught me that writing 54 songs for a 12-track album is actually a very good thing because you are forced to separate the wheat from the chaff. I still have another 12 decent songs I want to record but they will have to wait for next year – if I can afford it!
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
No. I don’t think you can allow yourself to think like that. I spent enough time tweaking things. By the end of the mixing process, I didn’t want to hear any of the tracks ever again!
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Yes, give peace a chance!
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