Sepiroth

I recorded 'the long dark tea time of the soul' around 2004.

I had no idea what I was doing: I didn't know how to play my instruments, I didn't know how to record music and I didn't know how to produce music (this is all still true).

Tom Robinson picked up on the track 'Silbury Hill' after I submitted it to the 6 music introducing show. He was quite encouraging and played it on BBC 6music (at 2am and edited). He also used it as a bed for a YouTube video he posted of the south by southwest festival;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VasCVwzBM00

But I needed to earn money so I decided I had no talent and went off to find paid work instead of wasting time noodling on the guitar.

For a long time I thought these tunes were awful (most of you still do!) and it was only because I couldn't log into my account (then forgot it existed) that I didn't delete it all in a fit of embarrassment.

But listening back years later I think it's cool for all of the above reasons.

There are no vocals and sure there are bum notes and bits out of time, yes the mixing isn't great but I wasn't 'trying' to do anything because I didn't know "how" to do anything.

So ultimately it's pretty honest music, reflecting how I felt at the time and with a lot of pretty good ideas and I think it sounds like .... well... me.

I think if you can get past the amateurism some of it works pretty well.

I can't actually believe I made Ghosts - I think its a really good track!!

I think they all have moments where the ideas are interesting and moments where they fall apart.

I was supposed to be an artist

my grandad was a painter (an expressionist impressionist he called himself)

my dad was into illustration

all through school I was the kid who could draw

when I hit my twenties I lost all desire to make art but I was driven to make sounds

so I made this album

then I gave up making sounds

and did less rewarding things with my time...

I have never played live - but Im half tempted to have a go.

My dad was into country so I respond to the classic country tunes like Hank Williams or Johnny Cash. My stepdad was a biker and through him I learned about Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin/Jimi Hendrix/Blues. At school I liked the goth and metal kids so I was into the cure, Fields of the Nephillim, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sisters of Mercy, The Cult, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Faith no more. In 6th form I was a bit more indie so I liked Lush, Happy Mondays, Ride, the Pixies. I used to listen to John Peel every night while working on my A level art projects, also Mark Radcliffe's out on blue six radio show. When I left school I moved to Gloucester where I met a girl I liked who was a Punk - so obviously I learned as much about Punk as I could! After Gloucester I moved to Manchester and all bets were off :) All music is good!! Now I listen to BBC Radio 6 music because its the only thing that covers everything I like.

'The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul' was recorded in Cakewalk Pro Tracks 2.2 with the

following equipment;

Digitech RPX400 and RP100 Guitar multi effects pedals. (www.digitech.com)

Digitech BP50 Bass multi effects pedal (www.digitech.com)

Marshall MG30 DFX Amp (www.marshallamps.com)

Boss HM-3 Distorion pedal

Squier Stagemaster HH

Fame Series 760 Strat copy

Vintage 5 string bass

Casio CTK-571 Keyboard

Betamonkey drum loops (www.betamonkeymusic.com)

Line 6 Variax 300 (black)

I just realised Ive been on this platform for 20 years! I forgot It even existed - but I did sell one song for 79 cents so thats awesome :)