Finding HopeBack To Life – Out Now!
Posted on August 14, 2020
My new single, ‘Back To Life,’ the fourth single from my EP, Honest, is now available to listen to on all major music platforms!
AND ‘BACK TO LIFE’ IS OUT!!
I wrote this song with Scott Colcombe while we were at university together and it was inspired by the sudden realisation that I’d let go of a really traumatic experience that had been taking up so much space and time and emotion in my life. It didn’t magically solve everything, of course, but it is something to be celebrated and that’s what this song is: a celebration. We’re in uncertain, upsetting times but I hope it will bring you some joy, even if only for a few minutes.
Please, please stream/buy it if you can. It would mean so much to me and all of the people who have worked so hard on it. Having said that, I do know how hard things are for so many people right now so whatever you can manage is hugely appreciated. The link to the song is in my bio 💜 (x)
Click here to listen to it!
If I thought I was worried about the last song coming out, that was nothing compared to this one. It isn’t the song that I’m worried about because people are always listening to music, to all kinds of music, but I am anxious (and have been for a while now) about releasing a song called ‘Back To Life’ during a pandemic when so many people have lost their lives and so many people are grieving. I worry that people won’t give it a chance because of its title; I’ve tried to explain it in my announcement post – that it’s a metaphor for a mental health related experience – but I still worry that people will jump to conclusions, regardless that it’s release was planned months before the pandemic and with the uncertain nature of current times, it’s impossible for me to put things on hold indefinitely, especially as an independent artist. So here we are. I’ve tried my best to make things as clear as possible and I have to hope that people will give it a chance and hopefully find some joy in it.
‘Sounds Like Hope’ Music Video – Out Now!
Posted on May 29, 2020
The ‘Sounds Like Hope’ music video is officially out!
I’d always imagined this video animated and I really, really wanted to have Lois – Lois de Silva, who animated the ‘Clarity’ music video – do it because I love her animation style. As I said when we released the ‘Clarity’ video, I’ve known her for a long time, she’s one of the loveliest people I’ve ever met, and I have always wanted to collaborate with her. So the fact that that was possible was absolutely amazing and the plan to have animation in this video is actually what sparked the idea for having animation in the previous video. I’m so, so grateful to Lois for saying yes and for all the hard work she put into the two videos, but especially this one. Me, Richard (my co-pilot on this whole project), and Lois spent a lot of time discussing how we wanted it to look and I just love how it came out. Lois, you are incredible and it’s an honour to have your art as part of a project that means everything to me.
I love this music video so much and I hope you guys love it too. And if you haven’t heard the song yet, you can buy/stream it here.
BEHIND THE SONG: Sounds Like Hope
Posted on May 15, 2020
‘Sounds Like Hope’ has been out for a week now. It’s always so strange putting a new song out into the world. It makes you feel so vulnerable. Or that’s how it makes me feel, at least. But it’s also exciting because these are songs I’ve been waiting to share for such a long time. So it’s a weird mish-mash of feelings.
I’ve just posted a new video to my YouTube channel, telling the story behind the inspiration and the writing of the song. I think I’ve talked about this before but, while this is primarily a mental health (and Autism, obviously) focussed blog, music is a big part of my life so I will always post about that too. Having said that, my music is heavily influenced by my experiences with my mental health so it links the two biggest parts of my life together, mental health and music. So it actually kind of makes sense to post about it here.
Of course every artist wants people to hear their music, the work they’ve poured their heart and soul into. So, yes, obviously I want people to listen to my songs. But it’s more nuanced than that; I would think it’s the same for every songwriter – we all just have our own, personal reasons. For me, I spent a lot of time feeling like there wasn’t any music I related to because of what I was struggling with. Why would I care about a love song when just surviving each day was a struggle? So a big part of writing music for me is writing music for people who have struggled like me, who might struggle with music the way I did (and sometimes still do). I don’t want to exclude anyone – we’re all so layered and complicated that I’m sure most people can relate to these songs in one way or another – but I specifically wanted to write music that people who have struggled with their mental health could relate to (I think I’ve actually gotten better at this since writing these songs but you’ll have to wait for the next project to hear those…). So of course I want people to hear my music but I really, really want people like me to hear my music.
If you haven’t listened to the song yet, you can buy or stream it here and the music video will be out very soon.
Finding Hope 