Site last updated Dec 2009
“Ye who pore on the dead letter, miss the spirit of things;”
Part IV  The Prelude by William Wordsworth)

The spirit of things
People need spirit and need to moved.  With songs and stories and music that reaches deep into their hearts. I have always felt that music is a language that lays all bare. Emotions, soul and experience.  It is hard to hide from or not be moved by the wonder of a piece of music that is really inspired. We feel the common spirit and emotion even if we do not understand the exact circumstances in which it was written.

The spirit and interpretation in music are all for me.  Technical virtuosity is admirable but only up to a point. My own vision of music is one where simplicity is highlighted and the spirit of the song or music given prominence, as well as directness and clarity in expressing feelings and emotions. It is not easy to be so honest and direct in expressing feelings to each other in our own lives, but in songs we can express truths more easily. Thoughts and feelings can be communicated in ways that give us the courage to understand and express them more openly in our everyday lives. A reminder of what could be, and a way to encourage us to be more open and honest with ourselves and others.  Realisation, truths and observations found in songs strengthen our inner resolve and determination and give us courage to change.

A language without words
Music touches our soul. It is the wonderful gift and unique ‘language without words’ that reaches deep within all of us - to our innermost part and being.  Whatever our background this language has no barriers and communicates to all ages and nationalities without the need for any words. We are never alone as long as we have music with us.It is a universal language that is direct and simple in its message – however complex the music. The emotional response can be varied but ‘what is essential is invisible to the eye’ (Saint Exupery’s Little Prince).  It is always the ‘directness’ out of the mystery of the  indefinable nature of music that touches the innermost core of each person and spirit.

Whenever I start to write a song I always begin with the music. It just comes naturally. It is so direct. A phrase, a melody or a series of chords that speak an emotion or stir something that then leads to more music and then words and eventually to the fully developed song. Perhaps the lyrics for a first verse and/or a chorus come too at this initial stage, but it is the feeling felt through the music that gives the true imprint and character of a new song. I often know what a song is about early on and I feel this through music and this in turn leads to the development of ideas in written words and ideas for lyrics.

Words still count
However, that is not to underestimate the power of words and lyrics. For me, unfortunately, this is the most difficult and time consuming part of song writing.  An idea for music in the form of verse, chorus and middle eight can evolve relatively quickly. However, the old adage of 1% inspiration and 99 % perspiration is so true for lyric writing, to get the right turn of phrase. However the process is well worth it. There is nothing more satisfying than actually finishing the lyrics to a song and feeling that they just fit the music like a glove. That in some way they have always been there!

Cornwall
Mining for songs
And this leads to my final observation. Often it feels as if a song has always been there, has always existed. The best image for this song writing process is perhaps ‘mining’ for diamonds or searching for treasure. The stones or treasure have always been under the ground. They need unearthing and discovering. Writing a song is for me is ‘mining’ work where you try to uncover something that seems to have always been there. Like sculpturing a statue that already has a form. You must work to find or discover something deep inside that already existed in a fully fledged form but was hidden from the eye.

The Human touch
So many of the songs I have written have been for people with whom I deeply wanted to share deep feelings. Or about feelings inside myself I found difficult to understand or express. A song speaks for so many unexpressed and confused emotions.   
Songs for me are so important too because they have the power to change our mood, stirring and encouraging our spirit or soothing and healing us. Songs can be ‘battery chargers’ or energisers or gently comforters. A means to find renewed harmony and balance. They can transform broken emotions into deeper and richer ones and take us into another world and dimension. One of my friends, a filmmaker, told me ‘if you have something to say, say it. If not, keep quiet’.

A Wider audience
On the other hand, a song without an audience is like a tree without branches. Songs need to stretch out and blossom in the hearts of those who listen to them communicate feelings and passions that lie inside. And this lies at the root of this website. It is my hope that people will be touched by my songs and music and feel the inner spirit inside – through words and music that may move and touch the soul.

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