My Story

Many years ago, after the release of my first album 'Toasted', I talked to an industry professional who said I had all the songs, but no 'story'. I asked what he meant by that, and he went on to inform me that good songs are only part of a band or artist's success, and that in these competitive days, record companies are investing in acts that will sell – because of their music, and because of their 'interest' factor – or story.

Me? I have no story. I'm just your average, everyday bloke who just happens to write and sing songs. I've not been through rehab. My family is not full of actors or entertainment types. I haven't been in trouble with the law. I don't frequent public toilets for anything other than what nature intended. I suppose I could make something up, but I'd be found out in the end.

Many of the people that own a copy of Toasted – the album I made in 2001 – have asked me when I'm doing another album. Since 2001, I've done a lot of writing and performing, and I now feel the time is right for the difficult second album. Which is the time you'd usually go to the record companies, cap in hand, begging them to take on the project – but you know the first question they'd ask...?

'What's your story?'

Actually, they'd probably ask if I intend to dye my hair and have 'tightening' procedures carried out to make me look 23, and then they'd ask me about my story.

Here's the thing. When you have the financial backing of a record company, the only thing they are looking for is return on their investment (ROI), which is why they become very 'involved', or even 'restrictive' in the process. See, most of us don't write songs thinking of money, we write them because it occurs to us to do so, and we take the time to turn an impulse into a song. Interestingly, when I think I've got a good song, I don't immediately think of which record company to sell it to, I want to go straight to my audience. So, I guess you could say that - at it's purest, the process should really only involve me, the producers and musicians, and you, the audience.