Photo: © Marlborough Gazette

                                    I wasn't always keen on music. I initially started learning guitar because my friends had taken up lessons at lunch time and I didn't want to be by myself! I started off in a class of about 50 people. I didn’t really learn anything until a friend and I were put forward for one to one lessons with a classical teacher. She was good and gave us some great foundations for playing, but strict classical music wasn’t what we were looking to play. Another teacher, Paul Donnelly, starting teaching us. He started to teach what we wanted to learn, whilst providing a great insight into music theory. He is the reason why I am singing. He forced me to start! My first time on stage, singing, was at a Christmas concert for the school at a local cathedral. It was intense as I was performing to my whole school! I then sang Wonderful Tonight at the Arc, in Stockton in 2000. That was my first real gig. After that experience I discovered something that I didn’t know was there; a need to sing. I owe my first steps in music to Paul; he was an incredible teacher and has inspired me so much. I also owe a lot to my long suffering Music teacher at school, Miss Stainsby who was a great help and provided wonderful support.

It was in the year of 2000 that I wrote my first ever song. This song was called For You My Love and was written about a girl who I had quite a lust for. At the time I thought it was love, but every fancy I had seemed to be love! This song became quite popular amongst fellow classmates, and at our Record of Achievement Day (in which we received a file with all of our school achievements) I was asked to sing this song, while the girl who I wrote it for was in the audience. My friend played guitar and I sang this song. Although it didn’t win her over, the girl said that it was a good song and she was flattered.

From there I moved on to Teesside Tertiary College. I initially started studying Performing Arts, as my lust for acting has always been paralleled by music. I didn’t click with the other students, as most of them were too much for me to handle, so halfway through the first year I switched over to the Music course. I started to learn composition and I started writing properly. During these two years I met two incredible teachers, Richard Rutherford (who’s blunt and cynical nature always kept me amused) and Maggie Ballantyne. Richard taught me how important music theory was and how to use it when composing. Maggie showed me how to perform and taught me how to develop myself as a singer and a performer. While studying for this course I obtained Grade 8 Music Theory and Grade 7 Vocal Studies.

I then went on to

                                      I have quite a wide range of influences. I would say my biggest influence is Darren Hayes, of Savage Garden. His vocal technique and lyrical content have helped me develop my own style. I grew up in the 80s and listened to whatever my mum was listening to. The first tape I was ever given was Wham. I remember playing those 8 tracks over and over again, it drove my mother crazy! My main influences are Queen, Sting, The Beautiful South, Prince, Phil Collins but there are many others. My most recent influence has been the only person in the past few years who has truly impressed me. KT Tunstall’s fantastic songs have given me hope that the music industry does actually have some sense and can spot a true talent. Her songs have a simple sound, yet underlying they are quite complex. Although not groundbreaking I always admire someone who can try something a little bit different and still write a fantastic catchy tune over the top. She is ace and I am sure we will be hearing her music for quite some time.
 

 
Email Andrew or Tel 0210 242 3775 (New Zealand) / 0044 7749 114878 (UK)