Martyn Joseph

Here is a lovely interview (and live songs) on the Rob Brydon podcast with Martyn Joseph, a true pro and a really nice fella, who has never been mainstream, but who is a great song writer and excellent performer, and has earned a large “underground” following down the years.

I came across his music a long while ago and though I haven’t heard much of him recently, it was nice to see his name pop up on this podcast, amongst Brydon’s normally far more famous interviewees.

Martyn Joseph is a great example of someone who has just gone about honing and perfecting his craft, probably dreaming of greater success than he got, but living graciously with the hand he has been dealt.

I don’t think you’ll regret giving this half and hour of your time if you’re having a lazy Sunday.

You Got Me Good Today

You just never know which ones people are going to like.

If you’re a songwriter, you love all your “little babies” at the moment of conception. But over time, some of them you find yourself singing a lot more…and some you forget about.

Not always because they’re bad. It’s hard to keep an eye on all the offspring when there are a few hundred of the little blighters. But they often disappear into the proverbial mists of time.

I got a text from my daughter-in-law this week, who had happened to hear one tune that I’d forgotten about. This is what she said:

“Omg David, you got me good today!! We were driving back from our holiday, and had random songs from Spotify playing in the car, and your song Gravity Is Calling came on, and I instantly fell in love with it. It’s such a stunning song!! I cried listening to it!! Amazing work!!”

Well that’s the sort of reaction you want to get. But as well as a chance to blow my own trumpet, it’s also a reminder that it’s worth getting a song out there in some way or other. Because you just never know.

ps. This song was a co-write with Eddi Price who wrote and played the guitar part you hear, and which inspired the words I sang over it. It is performed as a duet with Clair Tierney who has an absolutely gorgeous voice and is a fantastic writer too. We all only met once, for a project which brought songwriters from Argyll together to make an album from the region, called In The Wild Country.

Everybody Wants To Be Taken Seriously

I recently received a link to a thesis that a young, former Homesonger, Sonny Scott, wrote about Homesong for his university studies under the title: Music In It’s Social and it’s Cultural Context.

He got 82% apparently. Not bad.

It’s interesting, for me at least, to hear Homesong being discussed in an academic setting. It’s an encouragement, and it motivates me to keep going.

I think we all need that kind of thing, whatever it is we are doing with our lives. Not necessarily a thesis of course, but the knowledge that someone is listening to our story.

Everybody wants to be taken seriously.

Going Naked

Personally, I feel most relaxed when I’m performing without mics or amps.

Yesterday I did a search online - “performing live without amplification”. I was struggling to find any positive information. At best it was all about how to “manage” if your equipment wasn’t working.

I’ve obviously spoken about the possibilities of completely unplugged performance in a Homesong setting. But even when playing in pubs I’ve had it work to my advantage by virtue of the fact that I can move around when I’m singing. It gives a lot more freedom and flexibility. And it always feels like there is less separation between performer and audience.

I love the things that “electrification” can do to the sounds we make. It has many practical and artistic benefits.

But that doesn’t mean, if we play acoustic instruments, that we need it all the time.

Try going naked sometimes, if you dare.

Giving Somebody Else The Job

I’ve always loved to sing. That love didn’t change when, as a 5 year old, my head teacher at the time heard me belting a hymn out in school assembly and kindly pointed out that I wasn’t in tune.

Mostly I am in tune these days. And sometimes I think I really nail a song.

But often it’s nice to imagine a great singer doing a version of a song that I’ve written. I expect most songwriters feel the same way.

Here’s one I didn’t sing because I wrote it from a female perspective. Alison Moffat Leith provided a wonderful vocal for Aliens In Slovenia, which was part of a series of mainly co-writes that turned into an album that I made with friend and fellow writer Les Oman.

Sometimes it’s great to be relieved of the responsibility.

Private Property

It’s good to share. That’s what community is all about.

But everybody needs their own space. “Me” time. Boundaries over which nobody should be able to cross, without permission.

I’m not paranoid

And almost everything in life is better when it is shared.

But somethings are, and always should be, private property.

500 Songs

A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs is a fascinating, brilliantly written podcast for anyone who loves songs. Andrew Hickey, in fascinating detail, tells the story of the song, its influences, and the historical and political context in which it was released.

I’ve only listened to one episode…Last Train To Clarksville…but it has certainly whet my appetite for more when time allows. Hickey plays plenty of music along the way too…songs that I knew and many that I had never heard of.

It provides a unique insight into modern music, and I recommend a listen.

Poles Apart

Yesterday I drove six hours straight to get to the campsite as quickly as possible. The weather was promising to be good and we were looking forward to a complete break in another beautiful part of Scotland.

The site was busy, but we managed to find a lovely, quiet corner. To camp we have a neat contraption in the back of our car that becomes a bed, or a table. The two foster boys with us were going to be sleeping in the tent and we got it out immediately. And…um….we had left the poles behind. Oh shit.

No matter. Very close by there was space between four large trees. With a little bit of exciting tree climbing, guy ropes, and some dodgy knots we managed to pitch it in a fashion. All was fine.

The boys were happily ensconced inside when a site warden came cycling past to tell us that, not only couldn’t we tie the guys to the very sturdy trees, but nor could we sleep in the back of our car.

I was summoned to speak to the Park Commandant, I mean manager. She was very much an Upholder Of The Rules, with No Mercy Whatsoever. The options were either: go and buy a 4 person tent or, probably, painful torture and a stretch of solitary confinement.

We decided not to stay, got our money back, and, because everywhere was so busy, ended up driving another 2 hours further to stay in a family room at a premier inn in Aberdeen. From where I write to you now.

Folks, you need to realise something. No amount of songwriting or promotion of music in the community will allow you to escape the need to learn this very important lesson: DON’T FORGET THE TENT POLES!

Hidden A While

Here Comes The Sun.

That’s the rumour anyway.

I’m going camping with the family, so let’s hope so. But, if it doesn’t seem to come (I live in the UK!) then you’ve just got to do your damndest to remember that it never really went away.

It just got hidden for a while.

Heading West

It does help to have stage posts along the way when you’re Heading West.

Coz “West” is a long way away. It can and will feel like forever. And reaching somewhere, anywhere, between here and there, should feel like a victory. Because it is. It’s a sign that we’re a little closer.

We’ve come a long way.

Mind Blowing

There are two things that I find particularly mind blowing. One of them is the size of the universe. I haven’t got my head round that yet.

The other occurs when I travel to one of the millions of places I have never visited before, and see people, who I have never met and who I probably never will, just going about their lives. Similar, but different, in unknown ways, to my own.

It makes me think: how many stories are out there, waiting to be told? Or simply being lived, without any expectations at all.

There are probably as many stories out there as there are stars in the Universe. It wouldn’t surprise me.

Mind blowing.

Good Day

At times it can feel like everything that has gone before is there, still on our backs, to be carried yet again.

Feelings, like the weather change. Sometimes it’s just a matter of waiting a while.

But, unlike the weather, we can change our feelings by the amazing little trick of telling ourselves a different story.

Today, is gonna be a good day. It helps even to write it.

(Thanks for the reminder Chris.)

Memory Adjustments

I just checked through one of the H4Life streams we recorded, on behalf of H4Life performer Beki Hemingway, in order to send it to someone for a potential gig. Previously I had almost exclusively listened to the streams as the host, or as the person who felt responsible for the output.

I often did enjoy listening at the time, but the responsibility I felt undoubtedly affected those levels of enjoyment. And in my head it was all too easy to remember it as a mishmash of music, connections issues, and dodgy sound.

It was so nice to listen without all of that, and to realise how lovely many, if not most of the streams were.

We didn’t do such a bad job after all. But it’s weird how our brains (well, my brain) often tells a different story.

Perhaps we shouldn’t always believe what it tells us.

The Ballad Of Clyde Burt

The Ballad Of Clyde Burt is a cross-Atlantic song writing collaboration with Jan Risher, a woman whom I have never met.

We should never let technology become the cart that drives the horse. But it is amazing how the Internet has enabled connections that would never have been previously possible. And, at its best, when it enables these kind of positive collaborations and friendships, it is a thing of wonder.

I like my “village”. The place where I stay. The home I live in. And I always want to have these physical, geographical roots. We all need that I believe.

But I’m delighted that these days stories can be shared and spread, in a way that they never were before. I’m glad I, a Scottish based songwriter, can play a part in telling the story of a young farmer from Louisiana.

Glad You’re There

We were singing along to one of the great songs at the wedding yesterday. Stand By Me.

But I don’t know whether it’s completely true.

I think I will be afraid sometimes, and I will shed a tear. Even when you are right there beside me.

It’s great to have you there all the same. It would be a lot tougher without you in the hard times. And the good times wouldn’t be as good.

And that’s what the song is about really.

A Love Song

Wishing all the best to my friends Fran and Pete who are getting married today. Fran is a wonderful songwriter, and has a fantastic ear for a melody. And Pete came along to our songwriting retreats because of Fran, then inevitably got dragged into bravely having a shot at writing one himself.

I don’t think Pete, who is an engineer by trade, would have ever imagined writing a song before he met Fran. It’s amazing what love can do. And it’s another fine example of stepping outside our comfort zones and trying things that we might never have imagined doing.

Although I would definitely not recommend that you ever use me to sort out an engineering problem.

Good luck to the happy couple! They’re lovely people and it’s going to be a joy to celebrate with them today.

Sherwood

Just a recommendation today, as I’ve got a long journey ahead today.

If you get the chance watch the 6 part drama Sherwood which has just finished running, but can be found on BBC iplayer. Based on real life events it examines the effects made by certain political decisions on a mining community in Nottinghamshire where I grew up. It is brilliantly acted and superbly written, dealing with complex political and interpersonal relationship in a very nuanced way. The murder mysteries that put the dramatic in the drama, have many twists and turns, and add interest and excitement, but in many ways are almost incidental to the very human stories playing out.

One Thing At Once

I’m learning to sing a song in which somebody else will be playing the guitar. It’s enjoyable to be able to focus on the singing, and not worry about the guitar part.

And as a good ‘ol, ubiquitous, guitar strumming, singer/songwriter it has made me think about how important it is to learn to be able to do each part well, the singing and the guitar playing. And how it might be useful to focus on them each separately before trying to bring them together. I often find myself rushing ahead to that bit.

It’s amazing how our brains can adapt to do more than one thing at the same time. But it probably would help our hard working grey matter, if we had each part nailed, before we tried to mix it up.

One thing at once.

Not As Drunk!

It’s always interesting to read another perspective on home music gigs. For instance, I wouldn’t have thought to start an article on the subject like this:

The audience at home concerts is usually not as drunk as in clubs.

But it is true. At least, with one exception, for the Homesongs I’ve hosted or performed at.

For those who have tried to play original music in a pub, club or bar setting, there are lots of extra obstacles to overcome in order to get the intention of the audience. It’s always harder. And for some kinds of music it’s almost impossible.

We don’t have to make life so difficult for ourselves.

There’s a lot to be said for a focussed, fairly sober audience, who are intentionally there for the music.

Tell Me Why

It’s Monday.

I once sang the song “I Don’t Like Mondays" in front of my biggest audience to date. It was towards the end of a local festival, late, but early, at 1am on a Monday morning. They danced on the tables.

I don’t imagine that was an effect that Bob Geldof ever thought he would achieve when he wrote the lyric which, as you are probably aware, is about a 16 year old girl who had a gun, and went on a killing spree at her school in the US of A.

We take what we want from a song. Whatever we need to get by.

Once it’s out there, it doesn’t belong to the songwriter anymore.