Interview for Sellabandit website – MAY 2007
What inspired you to become a musician?
I can't remember ever choosing to be a musician. I started writing songs at about 13 and then through my teenage years I played low-key gigs and started busking. I went to University, fronted a band and did a really good course in Media Production. It was when I left that I decided not to go into the media and see if I could make it as a singer and a songwriter. Time will tell if I made the right choice or not....
How would you describe your sound?
It’s a tough question us musicians always get thrown….I think it is melodic alt-country folk rock with a classical influence. How's that?
How did you raise awareness of your music?
I think every step along the way has raised awareness of my music. From playing in youth clubs, busking, university gigs in a band, over 50 gigs in London with my band Bullet Galloway, myspace, people I have met, radio appearances, press coverage and of course SellaBand. Given that London is not necessarily the most live music friendly town in terms of audiences, SellaBand has provided the missing international link.....
Why do you want to reach $50,000?
The goal for me before and after the introduction of SellaBand has always been the same. I want the opportunity to write songs for people to listen to and to perform songs for people to listen to. If I get to that magic 50k mark, I will be given every chance to record an album that not only becomes a top SellaBand album, but is listened to throughout the world. The studio will be great, I will back the ability of my musicians, I will obviously back the ability of the producer/s I work with and the reason I am still here is because I back my own ability to write, record and perform songs.
The comments I get on here from people who have believed make me want to do this for them even more. I don’t crave fame, I am not a ‘look at me, look at me’ person, I just think it is what I am good at and would love the chance to be creative for a living.
What does SellaBand mean to you?
I have been toiling along the traditional route of trying to attract the interest of labels, publishers, booking agents and top managers. This route has worked for many artists but SellaBand has opened a door to making some marked progress without getting the signature of one of the few people in the industry that can give you an opportunity. SellaBand has enabled me to get my music heard by people all over the world, it has enabled me to get more fans and it may give me the opportunity to record my best work in a great environment. Along the way I have met some great people so far (both believers and artists), for which I am grateful.
I see SellaBand as an enabler. It enables fans, community, different cultures but the music must be the most important thing. You won’t see me writing about SellaBand in my lyrics, or entering any competitions with fixed lyrics or chords. The day it becomes more important than the music will be a sad day, but until that day comes I celebrate its power!!
What are your top three musical influences?
That really is tough for me as I listen to many different artists. You may get a different answer from me depending on which of my favourites I am listening to at the time, but today I will say Billy Joel, Tori Amos and Ryan Adams. Billy Joel because I think he is the best songwriter of all time, Tori because I think she has moments in her songs that no one else has ever come close to (and because she sent through some signed artwork for me the other day for my birthday!) and Ryan Adams because he writes songs a bit like me, sings them a bit like me and has genuinely been an influence on my writing.
Who else on SAB are you a fan of?
I could be here all day if I list everything I admire as there are many great artists on the site. So I will just mention a choice few people whose music I love and regularly listen to. Kane Sole is a brilliant all round artist who writes consistently brilliant music – I often whack up my favourites ‘Here We Go’ (both versions) and ‘What’s Your Name?’ really loud in the house and while I am on the subject I think Maitreya’s remixing skills are brilliant. David Migden’s ‘Eyes to the Ground’ is one I love listening to, I think he is an artist a lot of other musicians will love but I think this song alongside the brilliant ‘Bretheren’ has universal appeal. Francis Rodino’s ‘Drink’, Headphone’s ‘Rubber Knives’, Jenae Johnson’s ‘Rock Is My Roots’, Second Person’s ‘Gone Fishing’, Trail’s ‘City’ and Jesse David’s ‘Bloodshed In Our Streets’ are all regularly on my playlist!
