Hiya Martin, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
What was life like for you before you got into music?
I got into music very young. My dad taught me to play piano in my early years, and I picked up the guitar in my teens. By 18, I was gigging regularly, so really, music has always been part of my life.
What’s the live music scene like in Felixstowe right now?
Felixstowe is great in the summer. There’s a big outdoor stage near the seafront on holiday weekends, with several bands or artists each day playing half-hour to hour-long sets. It’s free, and there are bars and street food nearby. All kinds of bands play, and people come from far and wide for the music and the vibe.
We also have the Spa Pavilion, which hosts regular touring bands. As for local bars, most don’t offer regular live music, but some do one-off events now and again.
It seems like being a social media curator has become added to the many jobs of a musician, how do you feel about this?
I avoided it for a long time, some of it felt a bit quirky at first. But I started embracing it a few months ago, and now I’m okay with it. It’s a great tool for getting the word out, and that’s exactly the phase I’m in right now.
How do you manage engagement on your socials?
Politely and positively. Everyone has their own opinion, and it’s important to respect that. I set alerts so I can respond quickly, and I try to treat others the way I’d like to be treated.
Of course, some people hold on to their gripes, and if I see there’s no value in continuing the conversation, I move on.
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
Honestly, it’s never been perfect in my lifetime. These days, it’s a bit of a mixed bag.
On the positive side, I’m over the moon that I can write, perform, record, and release music, and even take part in interviews like this. In my youth, I gigged a lot, but recording opportunities were rare. Now, with the technology available, I’ve built my own studio and can produce and release tracks myself.
On the downside, it’s incredibly difficult for new artists to break through. The streaming model is broken, it’s killed one of the most important revenue streams: being paid when your music is heard. My first single got over 5,000 streams with no promotion, and it earned me just 10 cents.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
I get regular organic streams, and I’m really happy about that. This is my tenth release, and I’m proud to have made it this far. I’m about to roll my singles into my first album, called A Drop in the Ocean, which pretty much sums up how I feel about my place in the industry!
Whats the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
That you have to promote to be heard. And you have to spend wisely. Track what you spend, measure what you get back. Since I started monitoring things properly, I’ve been getting better value and more traction.
What was your best experience on stage?
Back in the ’80s, I was in a band called De Stijl. We did a session for BBC Pebble Mill, recorded a live video gig at Faces nightclub (which wasn’t easy in those pre-digital days), and played to some great crowds. Those were proud moments.
What was your worst experience on stage?
I was playing in a covers band, probably age 19 or 20, and doing a solo instrumental when my top E string broke halfway through. I tried to transpose the part on the fly to another string, but it didn’t go well!
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I didn’t release a single piece of music until I was in my 60s! Even my age might surprise people. I gigged a lot in my youth, but never managed to get anything released, it was a lot harder back then.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
It’s called Beach Street Boogie, an upbeat guitar instrumental inspired by Beach Street in Felixstowe. It’s a fantastic spot in summer, full of bars, street food, and market stalls.
The track is lighthearted and fun, it’s meant to uplift people and capture that sunny, summer vibe. Hopefully, it makes you want to tap your feet and dance on the beach!
What was the recording process like?
I’m very methodical. I actually recorded this track several times and changed it around a lot. At one point I shelved it for a year. When I came back to it, I was looking for something upbeat, and decided to give it a lighter touch. I think that worked well.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
Since I’m solo and DIY, the whole process has been one big learning curve. I had a lot of experience in performance, composition, and even mixing from my youth, but there’s still been so much to learn.
Not just the music, either, copyrights, royalties, promotion, social media, and more recently, video production. It’s a never-ending list.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
It’s tempting to say you can never be totally happy, but I take finishing very seriously. I never release in a rush. I always sleep on it and come back with fresh ears. I make a list of things to improve and fix them. Then I sleep on it again.
Only when I can’t find anything else to fix do I move to pre-release. Even then, I review it over a few days before finalizing.
When I listen back to my earlier work, I can honestly say there’s very little I’d change.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Just a huge thank you to everyone who streams my music. It means the world to me.
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