Postcards From The Coast - Vol. 7
The summer is in full swing, and the sun hasn’t stopped shining in weeks! Well it’s not stopped shining for 4.6 billion years, but we’ve seen a lot more of it these past few weeks.
Last month’s Postcard had a heavy focus on running, my new single Run Free, running the North Devon marathon and occasionally running around in contemplative circles in the studio.
Well, this month running has been completely off the table, I’ve replaced it with a few jolly strolls along the beach and around the countryside. However, I would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to everyone and anyone who has taken time out of their day to listen to the track, save it or add it to a playlist. (If not you can listen here - https://ffm.to/runfree )
I’ve recently gone back to releasing 100% independently and this was a nerve-racking choice but Run Free was by far the most pre-saved track I’ve ever had and I’m happy with how many people in how many places have listened to it so far!
More than the numbers I’ve been amazed by the amount of kind messages and comments people have sent me, those are the things that have truly made me smile.
July also brought the Fifa World Cup to a close. As I mentioned last month I’m a pretty big fan of the beautiful game and yes once again as a fan of England it’s the hope that kills you. I’ll be honest pre-tournament my expectations were low, mid tournament they somehow got lower, but we kept making it through. After a late night with my cousins watching us scrape through against Norway after ET of course it would be a late show from a crafty (trying to be respectful but could use several words here) Argentinian team plus some baffling managerial decisions that led to World Cup heartache once again.
I won’t say too much more as I don’t want to get relive the emotions but I’m glad the Spanish team won that final even with the awful American pageantry surrounding the game (pre-game shows/ 30-minute half time shows/Tom Cruise waffling), hopefully that is something we never see in the footy ever again.
One thing I have noticed in the two weeks since the world cup finished, I have got infinitely more work done, it’s almost like watching at least two football matches a day takes a fair bit of time away. Oops.
Talking of work, the last fortnight (for any younger readers that means two weeks not a game involving an online battle royale with your mates) has seen some major progress in the studio!
It might have been cooking outside; but I’ve been cooking up new music whilst being cooked in the studio – because recording means keeping everything as silent as possible, no fans or air con for me I’m afraid.
If Run Free was a mission to finish, my next single (which is currently in the safe hands of a very talented musical engineer/wizard, either are applicable) has been a bit of a long road as well.
I was looking back to when I wrote this track earlier today and I don’t have an exact date, but it is somewhere between late 2022 and early 2023. Add on to that, the finished version of this project was about my fifth different attempt at recording the song with far too many individual takes to count. You can see why these things start to take more time than envisioned.
I think that is partly why the whole concept of AI music annoys me generally, after multiple years of testing, tinkering and finally completing these songs, seeing people write a prompt and produce a total album in 10 seconds grinds my gears.
The beauty of creating these things are in the human flaws, the rough around the edges, they take blood, sweat and tears rather than prompts and little to no effort. Maybe streaming services and the industry as a whole will get a hold on it soon but unfortunately it feels a bit like Pandora’s box has been opened. Now the monsters are out, we can’t turn back. Anyway…
July has been full of rather delightful, enjoyably gigs – lots of local favourites, a festival and a new beach café. All were filled with very friendly faces; I met a lot of wonderful people this month.
I also managed to go to attend a gig as a spectator watching one of my all-time favourite artists, Ben Howard as part of this year’s lineup for the Eden Sessions.
Any of you who have known me for more than 10 minutes will probably know I’m a huge fan of Ben Howard’s music and over the years I’ve regularly been inspired by his work, attending many of his shows, including appearing on the same lineup playing the same day as him at Boardmasters a few years back.
As always, it was a magical show, the Eden Project is a beautiful location. If you live near or in the Southwest of England and have never managed to make your way to an Eden sessions gig, then I would recommend it. Get lucky with the weather and it really is a phenomenal live music venue; you can watch the biospheres light up in the background as the evening subtly draws in.
That was July for me, thank you for checking in, on to August we go. It is going to be a busy one for me with gigs all around 4 counties, a rather large festival gig and obviously more gallivanting around the coast! So, if I don’t catch you until next month, I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer, I’ll have a lot more stories for you by then.
From me on the coast…
To you
This weekends Gigs :
31st July – The Kabin Café Chivenor
2nd August – Sip + Sea, Bude
Postcard No. 7 - A split screen of July. Left is an evening at the Eden Project. Right another sunny day on the sand and in the sea.
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