1. Hello, thank you for your time, please introduce yourself in a few words!
I am a singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist (trumpet, bass guit, guitar, keys). I try to make soulful pop music from scratch!
2. Please give us an update about – new single, new album, tour dates, new videos?!
Just dropped my debut album called ‘In The Absence Of Colour’. I’m super proud of it. Fans of James Blake, Sam Smith, Rag ’n’ Bone Man, Jacob Banks, James Arthur or Hozier (those kind of singers/sounds) might get something out of it!
3. Name 5 things we all should know about you as an artist?!
You’ll get brass, strings, raging bass lines, gospel choirs and all manner of eclectic sounds throughout the album. Since launch I’ve managed 400,000 album streams and 8,000+ personal playlists using DIY only tactics, no huge label to fall back on or massive Spotify playlist that’s promoted me etc; people can be amazingly supportive of independent musicians. I do almost everything in-house, except mixing/mastering and strings performed by my best friends, who just happen to be a wonderful cellist and violinist. I believe in the power of one or two when writing, too many cooks can really affect the emotional integrity of a song. I sing about equally often in my natural low chest voice, big roary belt-i-ness and also very sensitive falsettos.
4. What fashion style or brand would best describe your music?
Probably an edgy monochrome, with strong shades of colour here and there.
5. Tell us more about your songs! Topics! Message!?
All I can say is that if at some point in the writing process I’m not crying man-tears for a minute or so, then there’s probably something wrong. Whatever the genre, tone or level of ‘poppiness’, if I’m not able to enter the soul of the song/theme/emotional space to that point, whether dealing with extreme sadness, loss, anger, gratitude – whatever – it’s not going to work as well in the end. Soulless music is my nightmare.
6. Beside music, do you have any special talents?
I could scorn the Harry Potters of this world with what I’m told is a pretty uncanny Alan Rickman impressions (RIP). Love doing impressions.
7. Being on stage feels like….!
My last band played the last Isle of Wight festival Big Top, it was crazy! In my experience, the bigger the crowd, the more ‘one-ness’ there is, as 20,000 people just looks like a singular, moving body in my mind. It’s the intimate shows to 10 people that scare me the most!
8. How did you learn to sing/ to write/ to play??
Mum said I was singing before I could speak, aged 2, humming along to kids TV themes whilst rocking back and forth. The only actual lessons I had were for trumpet, which I started aged 7. Learned bass guitar, keys, guitar and singing from online tutorials and trial/error. You can learn almost anything from the internet if the will, self-awareness and discipline is there.
9. A question you’d like to answer, but never been asked in an interview before?! + Answer pls
Best/most useful products for men with or without any kind of stigma around them? Phillips Bodygroom, Gratitude Journal, Olay Regenerist Moisturiser, War Paint, and any Doorway Pull-Up Bar. Maybe Huel if you’re busy. Not gender-specific. Life’s too short to care whether something is acceptably ‘masculine’ anymore. Just use whatever gets you through.
Your Instagram: @gray.music.uk