Tell Us about:

Your latest single you have released:

It’s an indie glam rock stomp about the desire for social and peer acceptance, almost a character study in the vein of early Damon Albarn songs. Do we all aspire to ultimately being accepted by the establishment (‘Mother’ being the metaphor in this song)? Has rock and roll become just another commercialised product with the big names all scared to speak out on important issues in case they alienate fans? By signing to a major label, is it possible to not be affected by the weight of power and money that is placed behind you? Should you follow corporate advice?

Your favourite lyric in this song: 

 Yeah it’s hard to navigate when you’re hands are on the plate, you can always get some dough, from the people that you owe

Your favourite song that you have created that is an album track:

 Sun Of A Beach – a song about Brexit, strongmen leaders, nationalistic zeal and racism

Your favourite song to play live:

Particles Of Light – Because it sits in a fun groove, it’s a stream of consciousness lyric that is fun to sing – and it’s about my partner and I in those heady early days of romance.

The song that was the longest to write and why?

Sexual Genius Of The Western World –  It went through multiple permutations. It started life as a vocal only doo wop song, then became weird and funky, then went through ten different verse melodies and sets of lyrics. Then one days I deleted everything but the chords and just started shouting over them. And it all came together. The lesson I took from it is don’t overthink things. Work fast, don’t be afraid to scrap things, and trust your instincts.

Your most emotional track:

Milk White Teeth – It’s about my wife and I growing up on different continents, what we were doing at similar times in our lives, and would we even have liked one another if we had met sooner?

Dream collaboration:

Sorry (my current favourite band)

Describe the feeling you get when you walk on stage to do a show:

I’ve been doing it so long I don’t really get nervous. More like I’m walking into my living room (I always play without shoes on), about to play songs for a bunch of my close friends and family. I definitely get a buzz, but it’s more exciting than nervous.

The hardest track to play live:

 There Are No Winners Here – it’s just me and acoustic guitar, but it’s such a delicate piece that you need to nail every note and hook or it falls apart very easily, and also sing it at the same time. It sounds really simple to listen to, but weirdly is really hard to play and sing at the same time.

Essential items you always take on tour with you?

 iPad for drawing. Laptop for recording music ideas. A good novel. My diary. Writing down your thoughts while on the road is great fun, keeps you sane, and makes for a good read years later.

Describe your fans in three words:

Literate, discerning, wonderful.

A song by another artist or band you wish you had written:

“I Say A Little Prayer’ Sung by Aretha, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. They way the melody arcs upwards, the incredibly chord changes, the groove, the emotions that rise and fall in your chest. It’s perfection. I’ve no idea how you write that kind of song. It’s on a whole other level.

What we can look forward to from you in 2025

Early 2025 I’ll be releasing my album ‘Wrath of Can’. Then I’ll be busy with my band Disco Mary, releasing a bunch of pop singles throughout the year. I’m hoping to release another indie solo album before the year is out, Maybe in September. I’m in a bit of a flow state at the minute – the tunes are pouring out of me. And I don’t want to wait around for the glacial pace of the record industry so I’m just gonna bang them out as they come. (And hopefully keep up with creating little comic stories for every song).

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