I like to call myself a singer/songwriter but that title or any title should probably be decided on by anyone who listens to what I do.
I started writing songs in my teens heavily under the influence of songwriters like Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson and John Prine….I have also constantly referred back to Merle Haggard and Hank Williams for inspirational guidance (and still do)…these days I have also re-discovered Steve Earle and he probably is to me what Townes Van Zandt is to him…musically!…On the female side there’s Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams and Iris Dement...well who could resist their talents?!

 In the mid 80's I left home and enrolled in a graphic design course at the Rupert Stanley College, Belfast, but was increasingly drawn toward music and after an unsettled year-and-a-half, I left to form The Ebony Cels, a country'mor'dylanesque band. I eventually left the band, mainly because I felt my vocals were not as strong and distinctive as I would like, and decided to concentrate on my writing.
So I started sending songs and poems to publishers, singers, record labels and radio. After a lot of persistence I had several of my poems published in local newspapers and enjoyed numerous recitations on radio alongside 4 of my songs being cut by local singer Joe Moore.

 But it was the constant encouragement from producer Clive Culbertson that finally had me back behind the mic recording and singing my own songs.
I finally recorded my debut album ‘Hands Of Time’ in the late 90’s… and so began a new chapter!
I finished the album and self released it but unfortunately all the money was spent on the recording side of things leaving nothing for the promotion…the album picked up some great reviews and radio play world wide but I have always felt that album was capable or worthy of a few more miles….the production was excellent and some of the songs worked, even for me (and I’m my biggest critic)...a couple of them reaching high in the European indie country charts.....but time marches on, new songs arrive and albums become ‘oldies’

This is the album I think I’ve waited my whole life to do…it reflects my musical influences throughout my music listening years more than anything I’ve recorded to date…it’s also the first time I’ve felt I’ve had the right songs to do… acoustically.
I really didn’t want to go into the studio and record another straight ahead country album and with the guidance from Clive I was able to apply my energies to the actual creativity to develop the ‘vibe’ musically and lyrically….which for me had to be more open and acoustic…more roots and less polish!
So to try to achieve that we had to bring in musicians we felt would understand that vibe and have the ability to play to that style without losing the overall feel.
Johnny Scott and Rod Mc Vey need no introduction to anyone who knows anything about competent professional musicians and I believe they proved that over and over again on this album....Like-wise with Clive Culbertson on bass and harmonizing alongside Aine Whelan......and of course Tony Phillips on drums.

AVAILABLE NOW FROM

www.allcountry.co.uk

Chris