Hello

I’m a British musician and this Substack began life as a standard issue newsletter to let people know about upcoming shows or releases and such. When I was set free from the world of major labels and able to get my grubby little mitts on my mailing list, I realised I could do whatever I wanted with it, and what I wanted to do was to write about anything and everything and occasionally - only very occasionally - allow the dirty business of commerce to interject.

I’ve been writing for as long as I’ve been releasing music. (Almost a quarter of a century now.) When my first album died on its arse, I returned to university to do an English Literature degree while making another album on the side. That album, Fires, was successful which meant I had to abandon my studies. With that success came horrible writer’s block and so I resumed my degree and graduated a few weeks before releasing my third album. I have made another five albums since, written and produced songs for all kinds of interesting artists including Kylie Minogue and various X factor alumni, been nominated for an Ivor Novello and a Brit Award, but the only thing I’ve ever won in my life is £13.60 on EuroMillions.

I write about whatever is on my mind: technology, bereavement, travel, art, books I love, records I love, Eurovision and accidentally stumbling across people dogging just off an M4 slip road.

Most importantly, thank you for reading, if only this little introduction. There is just so much stuff clamouring for our attention these days, but the good news for both of us is that I am the only person in existence who doesn’t have a podcast.

To find out more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.