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play lo-fi play hi-fi  My Heart Gave Up the Fight
play lo-fi play hi-fi  Billy Ray
play lo-fi play hi-fi  Cried for the Nation
play lo-fi play hi-fi  Got You Outta My Home
play lo-fi play hi-fi  Forever in Your Eyes
play lo-fi play hi-fi  Seal of Fate
play lo-fi play hi-fi  Air Conditioned Love
play lo-fi play hi-fi  Core Conviction
play lo-fi play hi-fi  The Ballad of Jed & Elly
play lo-fi play hi-fi  Collect a Dream
Just a humble songwriter.
First and foremost, a Tune-smith, I suppose.
Yes, somehow, melodies just pop into my head, from, like, nowhere, man!
Of course, to turn a melody into an actual song, it has to have a set of lyrics - but lyric-writing, for me, is more like "work".
Contrast that with composing a melody - man, its such a buzz when you think you've come up with a half-decent new tune.
Why this name?
It's just the name of the record label.
Although only a demo, we managed to get some good airplay on the (right honourable) BBC in this country and, get this, I had people ringing in asking to buy copies.
From songwriter to publisher without really trying!
Do you play live?
I can't sing to save my life - good job I was able to get the excellent Tammy Roylance to lay down all the vocals!
How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
Radically. For the better.
Anything that lowers the suit count has got to be a good thing, hasn't it?
Never forget that music should primarily be "art".
Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
Too right, sister!
Band History:
There's no history, as such but, by all means have a listen to The Ballad of Jed & Elly.
The first tune that simply "popped into my head" has never been demo'ed but the second one certainly has. I was about 11 or 12 at the time and I just started humming a simple little melody. I finally knocked out a set of lyrics for that second tune some 30 yrs later - and that's how Jed & Elly came into being.
Maybe, one day, it will be history - but, as an 11 yr old simply humming a tune in the shower, it certainly didn't seem like history at the time!
Your influences?
Um, what I write isn't neccesarily the same thing as I would listen to.
I read a poll the other day - hundreds of musicians etc were asked to name the greatest living songwriters. Dylan, of course, came out on top, Neil Young was second and Bruce Springsteen was third.
Maybe Leonard Cohen should've just edged it with Bruce but, yes, I guess I've always been influenced by singer/songwriters where its ultimately the raw quality of the song that counts.
The last few years I've really gotten into people like Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, Mary Gauthier. And have you heared the debut album by Ray Lamontagne? Best male vocal I've ever heard!
Favorite spot?
The Wye Valley, just south of Monmouth. Mid October, the trees a beautiful orange and gold. Mist rising off the river. Fishing rods in the back of the car!
Equipment used:
Strange that someone who can't play guitar properly has a genuine Gibson Les Paul. They're really heavy aren't they? Good job mine came with a wide shoulder strap!
Oh yes, still got my original Yamaha keyboard too. Can't play that particularly well, either!
Anything else...?
Special thanks for the making of the album must go to Bob Pierce at The Bunker studio in Bristol and, of course, to Tammy Roylance for such an ace job on the vocals.
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