‘William’ (2025)
Behind the EP
This is a ‘live’ EP recorded in one a day at ‘Sonoria’ studios in Prato, Italy. The concentration and focus of this experience is reflected in the intensity of these recordings. Themes of family, friends and loss found on ‘Touch’ are continued here, but with a sense of peace, acceptance and real serenity. The intense emotional journey of ‘Touch’ flows into its sequel ‘William’, bringing calm, quiet reassurance.The Inspiration
The inspiration for this release was my paternal grandfather, William. He joined the Royal West Kents in 1915. He went from there to Belgium, fighting at, and surviving at Ypres. A quietly spoken man, nevertheless he shared his feelings and experiences of the Front with me when I was young. Above all I remember him telling me about an experience when a shell explosion caused a trench collapse that buried him alive. His need to speak about his experiences stimulated my own interest in history at school, and was a major influence on my decision to study Modern History at University at UCL.The Name ‘William’
The name ‘William’ weaves through three generations of my family. My grandfather (William), my father (William John) and myself (Peter William) all share the same name. The name derives from the Germanic Wilhelm, whose roots wil (“will, desire”) and helm (“helmet, protection”) combine to mean “resolute protector”. William therefore has a bold meaning, and the meaning in this name of ‘defender of the vulnerable’ gave inspiration to my EP. Fragile emotions are valued here, cherished and given space to breathe.
Track List
- The Dream
- William
- From Afar
- Stefano – A Conversation
Musicians and Credits
Piano and vocals: Peter Dulborough
Electric & 12-string guitar: Mat Grey
Bass guitar: Lorenzo Calderaro
Acoustic guitar and vocals: Martina Magionami (La Marti)
Trumpet and Flugelhorn Joel Nyman
Drums and Percussion: Eugenio Nardelli
Studio engineer: Andrea Benassai
Recorded at Sonoria Studios, Prato.
Produced / Mixed by Mat Grey at Mad Jaguars Recording studio, Florence
Artwork for EP: Chiara Pirovano
All songs written © 2025 Peter Dulborough except ‘From Afar’ written © 2022 Martina Magionami and Peter Dulborough
Artwork
I collaborated again with talented graphic designer and photographer Chiara Pirovano. A beautiful photo of my father taken on top of the rugged cliffs of Cornwall was the inspiration for the EP artwork - a place my family loved. My father doesn’t appear in the final artwork, but a seagull drifting out to sea on the breeze represents the spirit of my family and also my good friend Stefano Lugli. No longer with me physically, I feel their spirits soaring in the sky like the seagull, close to me and here on this EP. The sense of peace and freedom is symbolised by this soaring gull - an image from childhood holidays and an inspiration for my music.
Behind the Songs
- The Dream This was inspired by a dream I had of my old family house, which I had to sell in 2016. It was the end of an era as I no longer had a family base in England. In this dream I felt at peace instead of previous feelings of loss. I felt the warmth of the house and garden and all my memories. Nostalgia blends with hope and positivity. A haunting trumpet line from Joel Nyman.
- William A song that explores the horrors or war but finds hope. It ends with a plea for peace with words in Latin: ‘dona nobis pacem’. Mat Grey’s subtle and elegant electric guitar solo is the highlight on this track.
- From Afar The Ancient Greeks believed the earth was the centre of the universe and the planets revolved around it creating a divine music. This ‘musica universalis’ or ‘music of the spheres’ could be heard only by immortal souls. This gave me the idea for a metaphor for and hymn to creativity. Inspiration can never be forced and is a gift. It’s like when we hear the music of the spheres for a moment – then it’s gone! Inspiration needs our response. We need to act upon it or risk losing it forever. Co-written with La Marti (Martina Magionami) ‘From Afar’ was first recorded in 2022. Here Martina takes the lead on acoustic guitar and the colour and warmth of her vocals are wonderful.
- Stefano a conversation Written for my close friend and musical mentor Stefano Lugli. My first experience in a recording studio in Florence was when I met Stefano at Planet Sound in Galluzzo, Florence. A wonderful sound engineer, I first recorded my musical based on ‘The Little Prince’ with him. We became friends and he supported, guided and encouraged me on all my musical ventures. When he passed away in June 2025, I wrote this tribute. I imagined our shared conversations over 25 years spent talking about music and life. The conversation has two instruments: piano and trumpet. They narrate the exchanges on this journey of friendship. Joel Nyman’s trumpet line gifted a sonorous tone and moving melody that are touching.
