Some songs come from joy. Some come from memory. Some come from the places we would rather not go back to, but somehow still need to understand. The Ties That Bound Us Close is one of those songs. It tells the story of a bitter and drawn-out break-up, but it is really about something even […]

At the last Songwriter Evening, the audience was treated to the thoughtful, atmospheric sound of Violet Cry, a Cheshire-based duo bringing original, soulful and melodic music to the stage. Violet Cry are Diane Wye and Ian Wilson. Diane’s background in dance, theatre and music gives her songwriting a strong sense of performance and emotional storytelling, […]

I want to say a genuine thank you to everyone who has taken the time to listen to All The Love In The World. As an independent songwriter, every play means something. When someone stops, presses play, and gives a song a few minutes of their day, that is never something I take for granted. […]

It has never been easier to release music. From a small room at home, you can record a song, upload it to streaming platforms and make it instantly available worldwide. No pressing plants. No distribution deals. No gatekeepers deciding whether your music deserves to exist. In many ways, it’s incredible. And yet, at the same […]

Every song has its own story, but some songs seem to travel a little further than the rest. For me, Draw The Line has become that song. Out of all the music I’ve released, Draw The Line has had more Spotify plays than any of my other songs. That means a lot to me, not […]

Quite simply this is one of the most beautiful albums you’ll ever hear. Released in 1974 this album wasn’t a hit, at least not a big hit and Lesley never became the household name her talent warranted, but you will have heard Lesley singing the back-up vocals to literally hundreds of songs. The really sad […]

One of the strange things about releasing music independently is that people often discover you in fragments. Not through albums. Not through a carefully planned journey from beginning to end. Usually through a single song. A random stream. A playlist appearance. A track shared online. And while I’ve released albums and individual songs over the […]

Songwriter Evening returns on Saturday 6th June for another night dedicated entirely to original music. If you enjoy discovering new songs and supporting independent musicians, make a diary date now. This is not a typical open mic night. Every performer plays their own original material, creating an evening built around songwriting, creativity, and a genuine […]

At what point are you allowed to call yourself a musician? It sounds like a simple question. But for a lot of independent artists, it isn’t. Because there’s often a gap between making music and feeling like you have the right to say: “I’m a musician.” And I’ve realised over the years that much of […]

Joni Mitchell is, quite simply, a legend. Beautiful songs, soaring vocals and a singular path travelled all make for the stuff of legends and Joni has them all in spades. She has released some classic albums, my three favourites are Blue, Court and Spark and the focus of this week’s vinyl album of the week […]