STEPHEN LIGHT-Lead Vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica.
Scott Baker-Banjo, hurdy gurdy, mandolin, organ, sitar
Shanka-Drums
Click the links below to preview and download tracks from Sweet Transmission via Amazon, or here to download from iTunes.
Dylan Thomas, Jack Kerouac, Bill Hicks, Richard Burton, Tim Buckley, Johnny Cash, Woody Guthrie, Karen Dalton, Tom Waits, Neil Young, Nina Simone, Robert Johnson, Townes Van Zandt, Gillian Welch, Nick Drake, Laura Nyro, Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, Gene Clark, Beach Boys, Crosby Stills Nash And Young, Sandy Denny, Ennio Morricone, Leonard Cohen, Buffalo Springfield, Devendra Banhardt, The Band, Judee Sill, Joanna Newsom, Calexico, Elvis Presley, Fred Neil, John Fahey, Lee Hazelwood, Joni Mitchell, Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Mercury Rev, Spirit, Mary Margaret O Hara, Carole King, Emmylou Harris, Led Zeppelin, Love, Jeff Buckley, The Byrds, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Van Morrison, Bert Jansch, Billie Holliday, Cowboy Junkies, Jack Nitzsche, Leadbelly, Roy Orbison, Tim Hardin, Aretha Franklin, Davy Graham, Dusty Springfield, Dave Brubeck, Van Dyke Parks, The Velvet Underground, The Carter Family, John Martyn, Mississippi John Hurt, Son House, The Dillards, Alan Lomax, Harry Smith.
Sounds Like
5 decades of influences. 1930/40's - Mississipi Delta Blues, Appallacian folk. 1950's - Jazz, Rock n Roll. 1960's - Folk, Folk Rock, Orchestral pop, Psychedelia, Surf, Cinema Soundtracks, Soul, Latin, World music, Balladeers and troubadors. 1970's - Country Rock, Country, singer songwriters. 1980's - 2000s Not much except for maybe Cosmic Americana and Ambient Folk.
Shwmae! Hello everyone. Welcome to my myspace page. Thank you for the visit.
I am a singer songwriter from South Wales. You are listening to a couple of tracks off my debut album "Sweet Transmission" released in 2007. I am currently recording an new album for release this summer 2008. The album is called 'The Old Arcane' and I will be posting some tracks on this site over the next few weeks in a build up to the release late summer 2008. Its a more stripped down affair, think 'Blonde On Blonde' 'Pink Moon' 'Harvest' and the recent Rick Rubin recordings of Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond. Its also heavily influenced by the early blues artists and the Alan Lomax and Harry Smith collections of American Folk Music, as well as the Apallacian vocal styling. It heavily features my grat friends Shanka on percussion and Scott Baker on mandolin, banjo and organ. It also features ex Darling Buds singer Andrea Lewis who duets with me on on 'Too Good To Be True' the first single out in September. Think Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra (I'm Lee !!) Anyway for newcomers heres a little about me - I am originally from Ebbw Vale at the tip of the South Wales Valleys and the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Here I played in a group called March Hares learning my craft and treading the boards. I then lived in Bristol and Cardiff enjoying the city a bit too much and not getting much done in the way of music. After some terrible personal stuff that I had to deal with, I came across a fabulous old riverside cottage on the banks of the River Usk in Old Caerleon Village. In the years I have been here with my amazing mountain climbing dog Jed, I have ditched the trappings and complications of being in a band and gone solo. I sold my electric guitar and amp, purchased a 6 and 12 string acoustic, strapped on the harmonica and started gigging at open mic nights around Wales. I am quite a prolific songwriter and arranger which means I sometimes slip into unplanned hermitdom! I am extremely fortunate to have my some amazingly talented friends who sometimes play live with me when I am not solo. They certainly add a slant to my songs! I am big fan of theirs. They do have to put up with my arrangements and progressions I know it drives them nuts! 'Sweet Transmission was a collection of demos released in 2007 to very pleasing reviews go www.stephenlight.net if you fancy downloading it or if you want to find out more about what I do. Hope to see you at my shows and thanks for the visit. Nos da
Hey Stephen - nice tunes! Thanks for the add! Have you managed to get your guitar hands on a G7th capo yet?! You wont want to miss out! Come and have a look and get in touch if you're interested...
Hey Stephen, We're looking forward to it too...will be the band's second gig in Wales ever (after our Swansea Chattery in March...and I see you're playing there soon yourself)... Was pleased you were on the bill after a listen to that 'Cassady' track - great stuff...Matt from Hot Burrito told me yesterday you were a top live band too...should be a great night See you soon Pat Southern Tenant Folk Union
hi stephen cheers for the friendship what beautiful music your great check out our music and music video's and let us know what you think love and peace from us all at harry munk!!!
Hi Stephen/The Black Sand Band. Cracking set at The Riverside last night, definitely the best I've seen you. Catch up again soon, Tim and Blind River Scare.
Hi Steve. Re-the videos........ Totally, totally awesome. Cassidy was always a classic and it should be heard by every fucker in the world. Blown away by it all m8. Really well done to you and the band. Let's hope this/next year is gonna be ours yeah? Would love to do some gigs with you when we're ready if you'd like to?
Hi Stephen/ The Black Sand Band, enjoyed the set last night, the new line-up worked really well.
Looking to listening to the new album, catch up with you again soon.
Tim and Blind River Scare.
Great song Cassidy,,,,, just feel a new age 60's feeling, It doesn't sound sixteys as such but it moves you the same,, not that i ever was even born there but theres a vibe in everything. what a waste of myspace that message was. some may think , but what if i were to carry on writing like then and this and this, and a bit more of this and that, Cheers Stephen,
OOH! Gigs! Will try to catch you! I'm playing Welsh Club on the 17th May with Culp1! I'll swap you! Was at The Hanbury last weekend for some vino in the sun! LOVELY! Hope you're good!
Thanks so much for your comment! We loved what we heard on your page especially the sitar! Love it! We hope you will continue to stop by our page and give us some feedback on new music we will be posting. Keep on spreading your magical music! Infinite blessings from Elizabeth and Freedom's Call
Lighty!!! You mad hermit type person! Cassady!! What a song! I had a live CD of that and lent it to a guy called S. Light. Never saw it again. As you can see, The Deep have re-formed.......Older, better, wiser and angrier! We got Mountain on drums and Curt our original singer playing guitar too! This is a video I took of Eyes hitching a lift from Brewsters last week......
Add The Deep young man. You are already on my top friends. Now then, where is my copy of Poets Of The New Beat Generation?
Hi Stephen, how's things?
Thanks for the add, will hopefully catch up with you again soon.
Possibly tie-in on another gig.
Cheers for now, Tim and Blind River Scare.
I'm originally from Malpas! I went to Caerleon Comprehensive school! Am back this weekend for bevvies in at the ole 'tart and The Bull and no doubt The Hanbury! I love the place!
Hey Stephen!
Cymru am Byth!
I am a fellow Welshman believe it or not :)
Im origionally from Swansea...but have been living in Texas for 25 years now...
Keep up the good work, and keep in touch...
cheers~
Dafydd
I like the mood that your music creates song to song its different but you stilll feel this mood amongst the songs
i wish we could all meet and listen live
that is i meen the stuff that we like!!!!
Thanks for stopping by, checking out the girls space and leaving a comment. I really like your songs, please keep me informed of any developments and any new songs.
Kirsty x (I maintain the girls space and pass all feedback, comments etc straight to them).
Hi mate, hows it goin? Sorry its a bit late notice, but we're playin Cardiff Barfly Sat 27th May, doors at 7.30. We're the first band on, so if you can make it try and get there nice and early. Hope to see you there!
The Toy Band
