Hiya Ste, 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?
To be honest I can barely remember. Some of my first memories are musical. I vaguely remember singing along to “Message in a Bottle” and my mum’s Simon & Garfunkel albums when I was about 3 or 4. So, there is no before music for me really. I was an avid listener as a kid. Then started learning guitar at 13 and never looked back.
What’s the live music scene like in Saddleworth/Tameside right now? Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
We have a great local music scene in my area. There are lots of fantastic bands. Some notable to me are Thunderboob, Tax Drone Debt Slave, Heavy Salad and Sugar Crease. It’s difficult for music venues nowadays but we’ve got a couple of great ones round here. The Railway in Greenfield and the Vale in Mossley are two of my favourites.
It seems like being a social media curator has become added to the many jobs of a musician, how do you feel about this?
This is definitely true. It can be hard work keeping up. My strategy is to film every rehearsal. I post live excepts from these recordings every other day to help build my audience and keep people interested.
How do you manage engagement on your socials?
Consistency is key. I keep on top of it as best I can. I always really appreciate when people engage with my content and ensure I respond. You never know when you might have met a super fan!
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
The music industry can be very difficult to navigate. As artists we love what we do and, unfortunately, that can be a vehicle for un-savouries to try to take advantage. While it’s a lot easier for independent artists to get their stuff out there now it’s also true that artists are quite often unfairly paid, for their streams, for instance. But also for gigs. It’s always been hard but there seems to be fewer opportunities than ever in a saturated market. The cost of touring, promotion etc can effectively price certain artists out of the game altogether. Because of all these things it’s important to support your favourite artists by going to gigs, buying merch and engaging with their content.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
Well and truly grass roots and independent.
What’s the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
The biggest thing is kind of obvious, but I think it’s important for artists to remind themselves of this. It not necessarily a reflection on your art that you’re less successful than you were expecting/hoping to be. There are so many factors that go into the path your career takes. But the biggest one by far is luck. None of us can control that. The lesson is to love what you do wherever it takes you.
What was your best experience on stage?
Last year I played at The Vale in Mossley to a sold-out crowd. The atmosphere was electric. I couldn’t believe how loud the audience was. I’ve never experienced anything like it before.
What was your worst experience on stage?
Like many artists I’ve had to pay my dues and play to many different types of audiences – some receptive and some less so. Years ago, I was in a band that played at Crewe Limelight Club. It was a Monday and there was literally no audience. We played to no-one. Well actually we played to the sound man and one member of the bar staff. The sound man really liked us… It wasn’t actually that bad an experience as playing is playing. I always enjoy rehearsing at home so in situation like that I just like to imagine it’s a posh rehearsal. All these experiences are valuable in the end.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I was in a café in Stalybridge once, paying at the counter. I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I turned around there was a man kneeling down. He was holding up a pound coin for me. It was a really strange stance. Like something out of a biblical painting from the renaissance. I’d dropped the coin on the floor and not noticed. The man looked really familiar. So I said thanks and asked him how he was doing. He said fine looking uncomfortable, then he got up and went to his seat. On leaving the cafe I realised it was Roy Barraclogh, who played Alek Gilroy in Coronation Street. Alek Gilroy had just picked up a quid for me…
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
After playing in several bands over the years I’m now embarking on a solo project. My debut solo EP, “Foxtrot in a Pint Pot” has just been released. The title track is a heady, sometimes intense, melodic affair. It delves into the stark contrast between everyday pedestrian concerns and monumental world events, playfully observed through a northern UK lens. It explores the sense of helplessness that can accompany modern life while navigating daily challenges. The second track “Hit the Stream” was written during the pandemic and reflects on what lockdown did to our minds and to society. The last song “Woe is Me”, in an accidental way, is kind of my take on a Bond theme. It deals with friendship and how that can change over time.
What was the recording process like?
I recorded the EP at my home studio. I actually record every rehearsal I do with my backing band – Slow Glass. When we get a good take, I then build on that with overdubs. It’s a great way to record but, as I have no time limit, I have to enforce strict deadlines on myself to get stuff done.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
As this is my first solo venture, I guess I had think carefully about defining my sound. It’s more personal than stuff I’ve done before. I took more care over the lyrics. Some of the themes are more challenging than those I’ve tackled in the past.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
There are always little naggly things that I sometimes think I could have done better but I always like to take the attitude of getting stuff done and then moving on. I tend to find that you can get bogged down in minutia during the recording process. Once I’ve finished a recording, I like to let it lie for a month or two without listen back to it. If I do that, I tend to find that I fall back in love with the tunes and all those naggly doubts, go away.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
I got some exciting stuff coming up. The music video for “Foxtrot in a Pint Pot” will be out very soon. I’ll be starting work on my debut album early next year. I’ve got a great gig supporting Year of the Dog at Gullivers in Manchester on 20th February. As ever I’ll be posting videos on my socials every other day without fail so please follow to keep up with what I’m up to.
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