Luke Saxton (Q&A 16th November 2014)
Luke is a 19 year old singer songwriter from York. His first official album 'Sunny Sadness' will be released by Bad Paintings/The Inkwell on 24th November 2014. Ahead of the album launch Luke took some time out to answer a few questions about his early musical memories, wide ranging influences, the art of songwriting and the changing nature of the music industry:
How and when did you first get interested in music?
As far as I can remember I’ve always loved music. I got a little toy guitar around 2 years old and like any toddler I would dance around to music.
What was the first song you remember hearing?
I don't know, it was probably a nursery rhyme of some sort.
What was the first instrument you learned to play?
Guitar, I was 6 years old. I learnt the song 'Little Donkey'.
What was the main thing that inspired you to want to become a musician?
Busted, as I was young and energetic I would sit in front of the music channel for hours waiting for them to come on and jump around the room with a guitar.
Who are your favourite bands and musicians? Influences?
The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Harry Nilsson influence me the most, but I love a lot of music from Michel Legrand, Henry Mancini, Astrud Gilberto, Van Dyke Parks, Joni James, Frank Sinatra etc.
When did you write your first song and what was it about?
I would of been around 6 or 7, it was called Punk, about a Punk who listened to loud music and sat on walls. My earliest songs didn't really make much sense. My parents called them nonsense songs, as they were just random rhymes and each one had nothing to do with the next. I didn't really understand themes or what a lot of words meant. I just connected words that I’d heard people say on the TV or something my parents would say.
What is your usual songwriting process?
It depends really, I sit down at my piano or with a guitar everyday. I usually just play over the songs I've written and develop them, and sometimes I’ll just make a new melody, but the melody can come at any point, walking down the street or in the car, brushing my teeth. I get the melody down and write some temporary lyrics while I come up with two or three more parts. I'll just add to the song as it develops, a lot of the time I’m rushing to get to the end as I get very into it and my mind starts racing. It's after this, once I’ve got a demo down I can sit at the piano or guitar and go over the song and add little things here and there and just develop them slowly over the months.
Where does the inspiration for songs come from?
I listen to a lot of music, and take influences from different things, but it's something I've been doing for 12 or 13 years. Some of my songs are very personal, others are completely made up stories. The themes of the songs generally come from my life, or things I've taken notice of around me. I made an album completely of music with no lyrics called ‘Night Music’ in early 2012, that was inspired by long walks. I used to go down the river for miles on my own and listen to music. I found this very peaceful. I wanted to capture music that fitted the solitary, peaceful state I felt at that time.
What is the story behind the writing and recording of first official album ‘Sunny Sadness’? Was anyone else involved in making the album?
It was after a break up 2 years ago, I started writing song after song. I had around 25/30 songs and I'd recorded an album called 'Songs Of Love'. I wasn't happy with it so I started again. I'd heard the album 'Nilsson Schmilsson' at a friend’s house and started to listen to Harry Nilsson's entire career. He basically taught me how to sing with a bit more power and feeling, before then I would just mumble into the microphone and put the vocals low in the mix. I started recording a new album with the production of Hunky Dory, the voice of Harry Nilsson and the all round energy of the Beatles ensemble. I showed a friend a few work in progress tracks I had, and he said "It sounds like Sunny Sadness". I kept that in mind as I was recording the rest of the album and it seemed to stick. I recorded the tracks you hear on the album in the spring of 2013. I was the only one involved in the writing and recording.
‘Sunny Sadness’ is being released in collaboration with Bad Paintings and The Inkwell. How did this link up happen?
I played a gig at The Inkwell on Record Store Day, and Paul Lowman got talking with Bad Paintings saying he wants to help get the album out there. It's great to have Paul in the mix.
How and when did you first get interested in music?
As far as I can remember I’ve always loved music. I got a little toy guitar around 2 years old and like any toddler I would dance around to music.
What was the first song you remember hearing?
I don't know, it was probably a nursery rhyme of some sort.
What was the first instrument you learned to play?
Guitar, I was 6 years old. I learnt the song 'Little Donkey'.
What was the main thing that inspired you to want to become a musician?
Busted, as I was young and energetic I would sit in front of the music channel for hours waiting for them to come on and jump around the room with a guitar.
Who are your favourite bands and musicians? Influences?
The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Harry Nilsson influence me the most, but I love a lot of music from Michel Legrand, Henry Mancini, Astrud Gilberto, Van Dyke Parks, Joni James, Frank Sinatra etc.
When did you write your first song and what was it about?
I would of been around 6 or 7, it was called Punk, about a Punk who listened to loud music and sat on walls. My earliest songs didn't really make much sense. My parents called them nonsense songs, as they were just random rhymes and each one had nothing to do with the next. I didn't really understand themes or what a lot of words meant. I just connected words that I’d heard people say on the TV or something my parents would say.
What is your usual songwriting process?
It depends really, I sit down at my piano or with a guitar everyday. I usually just play over the songs I've written and develop them, and sometimes I’ll just make a new melody, but the melody can come at any point, walking down the street or in the car, brushing my teeth. I get the melody down and write some temporary lyrics while I come up with two or three more parts. I'll just add to the song as it develops, a lot of the time I’m rushing to get to the end as I get very into it and my mind starts racing. It's after this, once I’ve got a demo down I can sit at the piano or guitar and go over the song and add little things here and there and just develop them slowly over the months.
Where does the inspiration for songs come from?
I listen to a lot of music, and take influences from different things, but it's something I've been doing for 12 or 13 years. Some of my songs are very personal, others are completely made up stories. The themes of the songs generally come from my life, or things I've taken notice of around me. I made an album completely of music with no lyrics called ‘Night Music’ in early 2012, that was inspired by long walks. I used to go down the river for miles on my own and listen to music. I found this very peaceful. I wanted to capture music that fitted the solitary, peaceful state I felt at that time.
What is the story behind the writing and recording of first official album ‘Sunny Sadness’? Was anyone else involved in making the album?
It was after a break up 2 years ago, I started writing song after song. I had around 25/30 songs and I'd recorded an album called 'Songs Of Love'. I wasn't happy with it so I started again. I'd heard the album 'Nilsson Schmilsson' at a friend’s house and started to listen to Harry Nilsson's entire career. He basically taught me how to sing with a bit more power and feeling, before then I would just mumble into the microphone and put the vocals low in the mix. I started recording a new album with the production of Hunky Dory, the voice of Harry Nilsson and the all round energy of the Beatles ensemble. I showed a friend a few work in progress tracks I had, and he said "It sounds like Sunny Sadness". I kept that in mind as I was recording the rest of the album and it seemed to stick. I recorded the tracks you hear on the album in the spring of 2013. I was the only one involved in the writing and recording.
‘Sunny Sadness’ is being released in collaboration with Bad Paintings and The Inkwell. How did this link up happen?
I played a gig at The Inkwell on Record Store Day, and Paul Lowman got talking with Bad Paintings saying he wants to help get the album out there. It's great to have Paul in the mix.
Where was your first live performance?
I don't remember, it was either at church or at Primary school when I was 7 or 8. But I was in a band called Indeviance when I was 10 and that was my first taste of gigging.
Have you played many gigs?
I've played countless gigs from when I was younger, but I had a period from 15 to 18 of no gigging where I'd built up a fear and dislike towards doing it, mostly because I'm on my own. But I'm getting used to it now.
What do you enjoy most about playing your songs live?
I just enjoy playing them really, there's nothing I enjoy especially.
Funniest thing that has happened at a gig?
I can't really think of anything. I like to make people laugh from day to day, and I am laughing a lot of the time, but when I get on stage I forget about all that and just play my songs. People probably get the idea that I'm a sad person, but I’m really not.
Increasingly people are talking at gigs whilst artists are performing. This is very irritating to me as a regular gig goer but must be so frustrating for the artists. Have you had any bad experience(s) with this problem? How do you deal with it?
Not really, people are quite respectful to me which is great as my songs are very mellow. I'd probably deal with it by cursing and complaining once I’d got off the stage.
As a musician how important is it to have an online presence? How do you use social media tools like Facebook and Twitter?
I stick everything on Facebook and Twitter that goes on with my music. I think it's good to let people know what's going on, especially for close friends and family that aren’t with me in York. I think it’s important to have an online presence so you can branch out and talk to people you wouldn't get the chance to talk to in real life. Like, I got played on Italian radio, that just wouldn't of happened any other way apart from online, unless I went to Italy with a CD.
The internet has changed the landscape of the music industry and made it easier for musicians to record and make their music available. Is this a positive thing?
Yes and no. It means just about anyone who wants to do it, can do it - especially with these pre set tools and music programs that do half the job for you. I don't believe in that sort of thing. But it's great that there are people making their own music in their homes, the accessibility is great. I always think I'd like to be around in the 60's, but I wouldn't be able to record an album at home back then, I'd of had to pay for studio time.
What do you think about online music sharing services such as Spotify?
I love Spotify. I use it a lot, though I hate the adverts and I know I’m not alone there.
Any strong views about giving music away free?
Not really.
Music format of choice - cd, digital or vinyl?
I collect records, and have been doing since I was 15. The whole process of finding an album you love, putting it on and having a big picture of your favourite album to look at whilst you listen. I have an iPod for when I’m out and about.
What was the first and most recent music you bought?
The first album I owned that I remember was Busted's debut on CD, it was my 8th birthday. The most recent albums were Michel Legrand’s ‘I Love Paris’ and a friend got me ‘Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely’.
York has many extremely talented musicians creating a very strong and diverse music scene. Do you think this is typical of what is going on throughout the country or is there something very special happening in York?
I couldn't say. Music is in every place you go. I wouldn't rate York above the rest of the country.
Highlight(s) in music so far?
Jarvis Cocker played a song called 'Solitary' on his Sunday service on BBC 6 music. It was from an album called 'Moon Song' from my old band Western Man which was me and my good friend Jamie Scott-Dyson. It was 1.00 in the morning and I was sat with my family in the kitchen, I'd woke them all up. To hear that first radio play was a very special experience.
Plans and ambitions for 2015 and beyond?
Keep trucking, see what happens.
To celebrate the release of ''Sunny Sadness' Luke is playing an album launch gig at The Woolpack in York on Saturday, 22nd November 2014. The gig starts at 8.00pm and entry is free.
Keep up to date with Luke's music at:
I don't remember, it was either at church or at Primary school when I was 7 or 8. But I was in a band called Indeviance when I was 10 and that was my first taste of gigging.
Have you played many gigs?
I've played countless gigs from when I was younger, but I had a period from 15 to 18 of no gigging where I'd built up a fear and dislike towards doing it, mostly because I'm on my own. But I'm getting used to it now.
What do you enjoy most about playing your songs live?
I just enjoy playing them really, there's nothing I enjoy especially.
Funniest thing that has happened at a gig?
I can't really think of anything. I like to make people laugh from day to day, and I am laughing a lot of the time, but when I get on stage I forget about all that and just play my songs. People probably get the idea that I'm a sad person, but I’m really not.
Increasingly people are talking at gigs whilst artists are performing. This is very irritating to me as a regular gig goer but must be so frustrating for the artists. Have you had any bad experience(s) with this problem? How do you deal with it?
Not really, people are quite respectful to me which is great as my songs are very mellow. I'd probably deal with it by cursing and complaining once I’d got off the stage.
As a musician how important is it to have an online presence? How do you use social media tools like Facebook and Twitter?
I stick everything on Facebook and Twitter that goes on with my music. I think it's good to let people know what's going on, especially for close friends and family that aren’t with me in York. I think it’s important to have an online presence so you can branch out and talk to people you wouldn't get the chance to talk to in real life. Like, I got played on Italian radio, that just wouldn't of happened any other way apart from online, unless I went to Italy with a CD.
The internet has changed the landscape of the music industry and made it easier for musicians to record and make their music available. Is this a positive thing?
Yes and no. It means just about anyone who wants to do it, can do it - especially with these pre set tools and music programs that do half the job for you. I don't believe in that sort of thing. But it's great that there are people making their own music in their homes, the accessibility is great. I always think I'd like to be around in the 60's, but I wouldn't be able to record an album at home back then, I'd of had to pay for studio time.
What do you think about online music sharing services such as Spotify?
I love Spotify. I use it a lot, though I hate the adverts and I know I’m not alone there.
Any strong views about giving music away free?
Not really.
Music format of choice - cd, digital or vinyl?
I collect records, and have been doing since I was 15. The whole process of finding an album you love, putting it on and having a big picture of your favourite album to look at whilst you listen. I have an iPod for when I’m out and about.
What was the first and most recent music you bought?
The first album I owned that I remember was Busted's debut on CD, it was my 8th birthday. The most recent albums were Michel Legrand’s ‘I Love Paris’ and a friend got me ‘Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely’.
York has many extremely talented musicians creating a very strong and diverse music scene. Do you think this is typical of what is going on throughout the country or is there something very special happening in York?
I couldn't say. Music is in every place you go. I wouldn't rate York above the rest of the country.
Highlight(s) in music so far?
Jarvis Cocker played a song called 'Solitary' on his Sunday service on BBC 6 music. It was from an album called 'Moon Song' from my old band Western Man which was me and my good friend Jamie Scott-Dyson. It was 1.00 in the morning and I was sat with my family in the kitchen, I'd woke them all up. To hear that first radio play was a very special experience.
Plans and ambitions for 2015 and beyond?
Keep trucking, see what happens.
To celebrate the release of ''Sunny Sadness' Luke is playing an album launch gig at The Woolpack in York on Saturday, 22nd November 2014. The gig starts at 8.00pm and entry is free.
Keep up to date with Luke's music at:
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LukeSaxtonMusic
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/lukesaxtonmusic
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/luke-saxton-music