Grab Yourself an “Inheritance”

Well the day arrived, and I spent inordinate amounts of time making sure #Inheritance was put out there on the day of its release, but for many musicians this is where the hard work begins. We live to create music and play live, and all the promotional paraphernalia simply gets in the way of that. It is easy to become overawed by it, and to want to sink into your shell.

Last weekend me, Duncan and Matt were fortunate enough to take the 11 hour road trip to the Isle of Skye (as the song now goes “over the bridge to Skye”), where we found mainly good weather and therefore multiple photo and video opportunities, performed our respective songs in front of a camera at Waternish Community Hall, at Waterfall Cottage where we were staying, and by an inlet on the way back to Glendale from Dunvegan.

I was also very pleased at last to meet Steve Clarke of Cuillin FM’s excellent “Strange Brew” and “Start the Weekend” shows and to introduce to him the other miscreants. Steve has been a supporter of my music since I posted The Breeding Ground of Vile to him last year, and our road trip was in part to pay back his support by giving him an exclusive first interview to mark the release of “Inheritance” and in part because I cannot imagine a more beautiful place on earth to launch an album.

Those last few days before a final album release can be difficult. This time around I didn’t listen to the finished work as obsessively as previous releases. I feel completely confident about its quality, so whether people actually like it or not doesn’t matter because they will at least not be able to argue against the quality of the songs, their structure, and Ali Karim’s usual high standard of production. However, artists do need encouragement and kind words, positive reactions to your work, and in Steve’s case the provision of more than half an hour for our music out of his two hour “Strange Brew” broadcast on the eve of the release was more than I could have hoped for.

So when release day finally came along I wondered “well how do I follow that?” and then a post popped up from Neil King at Fatea Magazine to say that “Inheritance” had been selected as the ‘Album of the Week’ for his “Along The Tracks” show on Blues and Roots Radio. Again, this came right out of the blue and I feel hugely privileged that people like Steve and Neil with such immense knowledge of the world of music would give me such profile.

It is their recognition and support, moments like that and people like them which prevents a lot of us from taking a step back from music. We all know how hard it is to make any kind of name in this highly competitive and commercially imbalanced sector, and at times you do wonder why you should not just pack it in and go and dig the allotment instead. There are many more ‘Steve Clarkes’ and ‘Neil Kings’ out there who simply love good music, so hats off to all of them for their unstinting support for independent music. It is hugely appreciated.

And one final note, the support of the Folded Arms (whether or not involved in “Inheritance”), the friendship, encouragement and support of the best producer I could wish for, and the reciprocal support I have received from other musicians, specifically Jo Beth Young who as “Rise” released her album “Strangers” on the same day, is why I have already begun my next creative challenge. Huge thanks to you all!

Peace