Kris Kristofferson, David Crosby, Neil Young, Elvis Presley, Grandaddy, Harry Nilsson, The Tartan Army, Test Match Special, Roger Greenaway, Roger Cook, The Fortunes, Shel Macrae, Mickey Newbury, Led Zeppelin, The Black Country, Nick Drake, Roy Harper, Roddy Frame, Tom Baxter, Polly Paulusma, Shane MacGowan, William Blake, Dylan Thomas, Richard Burton.
A pivotal moment in my life was when I first heard David Crosby sing 'Deja Vu' from the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young album of the same name. I immediately binned my Olivia Newton John record and decided to learn the acoustic guitar, become a songwriter and see where my life would end up. Next, I discovered Neil Young and that was it: the long and winding journey began in earnest, 'the longest drum roll in history'.
Another key moment was seeing Kris Kristofferson perform live in London at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2004. The brilliance of the songs and the sheer dignity of the man struck me very powerfully. It made a huge impression and inspired me to continue my journey, to let it meander and to never give up. Kris Kristofferson is a great inspiration in my life:
I've come to appreciate how special a song is compared to other art forms, because you can carry it around in your head and your heart and it remains part of you. It just comes as natural as a bird to me, always did. It's the way singer-songwriters make sense of our lives. - Kris Kristofferson
I've written lots of songs and I'm planning to record an album of new songs in 2009. I'm inspired by 'literary songwriters' and great lyricists, Kristofferson, Dylan etc. I think it's important to read books, to be inspired by great writers, and to try and practise writing well, to even write the odd letter to your friends now and then. Lyrics are important; I studied English literature at Southampton University. I also worked for a brilliant wordsmith, Douglas Adams, on h2g2, an encyclopedic website based on Adams's novel The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.
I'm currently writing with some very talented folk including Fiona Bevan, Medi and the Medicine Show, Eugene Machine and my great friend and fellow songsmith Tom Baxter. Tom and I have written a few songs together including 'Better' and 'Miracle', both tracks featuring on Tom's second album Skybound. 'Better' has just been covered by Boyzone - it features on their latest greatest hits album, Back Again... No Matter What - and 'Miracle' was used by the BBC in some great montages showing highlights of the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Another big inspiration is my dad, Shel Macrae, a brilliant singer who sang with 60s and 70s harmony pop band The Fortunes, and who's still singing like a legend today. The songs my dad sang - in particular those written by ace songwriters Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway - are a big influence on my own writing.
Ross Macfadyen with The Saturday Sequence live from the Whisky Bar of the Òran Mór in Glasgows West End. 12 noon – Singer-songwriters Craig Jeffrey and Naomi Chapman http://www.celticmusicradio.net/index.html
I'm fine thanks! Have been gardening in the sunshine, now playing the piano in the evening glow - perfect! Have fun in Tokyo! Speak again soon. Sylvie x
Cheers Sam! That was our genre but myspace didn't seem to have it listed on the drop-down menu... Back down in London this easter (well, I - Stevie - am) so hopefully see you then!
Allo Sammy, thought you might be interested in new music vid for King Of The Island - as it was your fave track on the album. Oz shot it in our last hour and a half of sunshine on la gomera just after chrissie.
Online Now!
