What inspired you to get back to Sad Song Co? With all your other projects was it just a question of finding the time?
There was an unusually long break off the road with Frank in 2014, and after a couple of weeks I found that I started writing again. I had assumed my muse had entirely forsaken me, but it seems it just needed enough time in one place to start working again! Once I’d written a lot of songs - there were a few left off this album, and I enough good ideas I didn’t have time to complete for the next - it seemed natural to put them together into an album.
Are you looking forward to the more intimate shows you’ll be playing on this tour?
I love shows of all sizes generally anyway! I’m looking forward to the shows, but with a certain amount of trepidation. Drumming at gigs is something I’m totally confident about, but it’s been a long time since I’ve gone out singing and playing an actual musical instrument. Sorry drummers - just kidding. But it is very much more daunting being the front man than being in the band engine room.
What was the thought process going into recording ‘in amber’? It seems to have a very emotionally driven feel.
Certainly writing-wise I look towards emotional impact. I know what my music can’t do - make someone dance, cause a mosh-pit, inspire mass singalongs - so to be worth anything it has to be affecting somehow. The recording of it though was as efficient as possible, because of budget and the time I had between tours to get it together. I was producing and had a very clear vision of how the songs would work best at speaking to people’s hearts, so I chased that sound.
What are you most looking forward to about performing as Sad Song Co live again?
Most, if not all, of the shows will be with bass player and good friend Jason Moulster, who I was in Unbelievable Truth with many years back. He’s such a pleasure to be around and play with. And it’s exciting having no idea how it’s going to work out. With Frank and The Sleeping Souls we’re a pretty deadly outfit now, and even our worst shows we can connect with an audience and make a good night of it. But with The Sad Song Co., it’s a completely blank slate - it could go incredibly, or terribly, or anything in between. And I love not knowing!
Are there plans beyond this release, or will it be a case of wait and see?
As I mentioned I’ve got the bones of another album, and my lyric writing has sped up somewhat, so I think it’s a fair likelihood that I’ll record a follow up next year. If this tour goes well I also want to take out a full band next spring for some gigs, and maybe try and do some solo/duo shows abroad.