I would have been about 22 years old when I went into a professional 16 track recording studio. I was badly bullied throughout my school life & my only escape was music. My passion for music & for record collecting had begun whilst I was at school & I slowly amassed a vast collection of vinyl records. Once I had started working & earning money I felt a strong need to sing in a recording studio & to record music. Strangely, at that time, I had no desire to perform I was just in love with the idea of recording. I used to buy a UK music newspaper called Melody Maker & in the back, in the classifieds section, they used to advertise songwriters. I recorded a tape cassette of me singing an acapella of Evelyn King's record 'Love Come Down' & sent it to a writer/producer. To my delight he wrote back & said he liked my voice. He went onto write me three songs which was very exciting.
What was the first concert you ever went to?
My first concert would have been soul artist Evelyn King. I remember watching her perform & "Loving" every melodic soulful beat.
What are you looking for from Fandalism?
I love Fandalism for the simple reason that all the brilliant & wonderful people who share their art in musical form are given the absolute freedom to express. All artists want to have, or be given, this type of freedom & I truly 'love' & appreciate all the creative souls who have shared their own music with me, or, have listened to my own art & expressed their appreciation. Fandalism is quite simply 'the best'.
What gear do you use?
My instrument is my voice. I love to explore & experiment with different genres & styles of music. Just recently I have been producing my own acapella covers which I have enjoyed.
Who was your biggest musical influence growing up?
My musical influences are many & my taste shifts depending on my mood. Among the genres that I love are jazz funk, soul, disco, pop, some indie bands & I love & support anyone who makes independent music. To achieve any kind of success or kudos in the music industry today is very hard indeed & I have nothing but respect & admiration for people who get up & do their own thing.
Are you in a band? Have you been in bands?
I am a solo artist and am "totally" my own creation. I have been lucky enough to have had the experience of having some terrific commercial songs written for me as well as recording many cover versions of songs that I loved as a young record collector.
Just recently I have started to film produce & edit my own music videos which has opened up a whole new world of creativity & is something I have gone with & embraced.
If you could jam with anyone, who would it be?
I would love to record with Richard Anthony Hewson who is otherwise known as the RAH Band. Not only is he a hugely talented musician/arranger/producer but he writes the 'most' beautiful melodies for his own RAH Band group.
In my opinion he is the greatest songwriter & artist.
What's the biggest audience you ever performed to? What's the smallest?
I was a regular performer at a brilliant cabaret evening which began life as Saturday Showcase way back in 1999. This took place at a venue called the Dance Attic Studios which was located in Fulham Broadway in London. I was asked to perform originally as word had gone round that I had my own backing tapes. They changed the name of the evening to 'Clappy Hour' & I would achieve the title of being the 'Clappy Hour' mascot. My hit 100% became the 'theme' song of the show & I would regularly open or close the evening. I learnt all about 'live' performance from 'Clappy Hour' & I remain hugely grateful to the organisers who kept asking me back week after week. It taught me all about how to handle an audience, how to move onstage & microphone technique. It was a wonderful experience.
You're stuck on a desert island and only get to bring one album with you. What do you pick?
This is a difficult question as I love so many albums for different reasons but it would either have to be one of the RAH Band albums, any of the albums recorded by Shakatak or anyone of the many albums recorded by Diana Ross.