What inspired the name of the band? What are your influences and are they the same as when you started out?
My artist name is just my own name! A lot of people I know go by alter-egos but it’s a reflection of myself so I thought best to go for it haha.
I’m influenced by a huge range of different music, but I think the most prominent ones in my music are artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, folksingers and singer-songwriters of the last century, bands like Nirvana, Built To Spill and other alternative and grunge acts; but then I also take a lot from hip-hop, such as Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller – their lyrical capabilities are second to none!
How do you approach songwriting? And why?
I often come up with a chord progression and go from there – I’ve got notebooks of guitar riffs, chord progressions, melodies and the such! I often find it real easy to write songs, they can flow really well and I’ll come up with a song in a few hours, and then tweak it after performances or in other writing sessions. I write a lot of stuff about my own personal experiences, or things that I’m passionate about – hence why I have a fair few songs about politics, haha.
I think that it’s just a natural flow for me, having grown up on Bruce Springsteen, classic rock, singer songwriters and the such – I’m a huge fan of alternative rock and have been all my life, and playing it is just something that comes naturally to me. I try and write differently sometimes, but it often just comes back to the style that I’ve got now.
How do you approach songwriting? And why?
I often come up with a chord progression and go from there – I’ve got notebooks of guitar riffs, chord progressions, melodies and the such! I often find it real easy to write songs, they can flow really well and I’ll come up with a song in a few hours, and then tweak it after performances or in other writing sessions. I write a lot of stuff about my own personal experiences, or things that I’m passionate about – hence why I have a fair few songs about politics, haha.
I think that it’s just a natural flow for me, having grown up on Bruce Springsteen, classic rock, singer songwriters and the such – I’m a huge fan of alternative rock and have been all my life, and playing it is just something that comes naturally to me. I try and write differently sometimes, but it often just comes back to the style that I’ve got now.
How do you decide what to play live?
Literally, most of my sets are impromptu – I come up with them based on how I’m feeling, what kinds of songs I feel like playing and what kind of audience are there, what atmosphere the event has and what flow I think is best!
I often play them all a bit differently every so often, to keep them fresh and so that live performances aren’t always the same thing! I recently just started a residency at The Fitzgerald here in Manchester with my pal Harrison Rimmer and we wanted to have it as a real chill one, so we pulled out a bit of a stripped-back set for it and it was super lovely!
How do you decide what to play live?
Literally, most of my sets are impromptu – I come up with them based on how I’m feeling, what kinds of songs I feel like playing and what kind of audience are there, what atmosphere the event has and what flow I think is best!
I often play them all a bit differently every so often, to keep them fresh and so that live performances aren’t always the same thing! I recently just started a residency at The Fitzgerald here in Manchester with my pal Harrison Rimmer and we wanted to have it as a real chill one, so we pulled out a bit of a stripped-back set for it and it was super lovely!
What plans do you have for the future?
I’ve just finished work on the album for a band I’m in, Anyone’s Ghost – it’s out on the 20th of July and I recorded and produced it! It’s super lovely, a real gorgeous album and I’m stoked to be a part of it. I’m going to be taking a ‘little’ breather after, but I’ve got even more production work planned, a bunch of gigs through the label Bread Records, and then I’m gonna have a think about what music I’ll put out next!