Why I do this

04/08/2007 15:05:48 By Al Goodwin

So here I am almost 1 yr after releasing my first album. To think I'd given up on music and honestly thought what is the point. My guitar under the bed, but for 13 years I had melodies and lyrics banging at my head from the inside. I never thought technology would release me from a hum drum life of work, mortgage, shit TV and not being able to say my bit about this crazy world along with the good and not so good I've met along the way. This renaissance (hate using that word but I've typed it now) started with a four track cassette recorder bought for £100. I started to play again and RECORD my heart and soul into a microphone. This was fun and totally just me in a headphone world. A friend drops by and says "get with the beat Al" I was given some recording software for my pc. Well fuck me! this is fun and within weeks I've recorded a three song CD and people liked it a lot. Why not print some covers and send them to publishers, replies abound admittedly not all positive but the songs are noticed. Why not build a website and put my music out there, yeah why the hell not. So now I'm getting mails from strangers who dig the sounds. Hey up! Next people offer to help me make an album, I'm very wary as I'd been shafted by the music industry in the past and can smell bullshit from a very long range. One offer comes from Wales and then I'm immersed in music and not just my own and I feel the vibe again. I decide to give it a go and start making an album. This becomes a rollercoaster ride of emotions, I realise to write songs and put your inner self on the line without hiding behind image, hype and bullshit is not the easiest thing in the world to do. I can still do it and enjoy it. I'm Living in London but the studio and people who genuinely want to help are 200 miles away. Somehow we work it out logistically and the music grows. So "Celebrate" is released and I'm hooked again, I have the virus and it's rife. I forget to mention I became a father during the making of the album. This was a tricky one but with hard work, compromise and belief I did it and thank Christ I did. I've now started my second album, the new songs are releasing me from years of torment as an artist, not writers block but something I can't describe. I guess a combination of things held me back like getting older, two dear friends that I used to make sweet music with had died of heart attacks in their mid thirties and their music left unheard. I'm doing this for me and both Andy and Duncan (bless them both). The new album does not feel so strange to make, it feels natural and I can't thank enough the wonderful people that are helping me.(they know who they are) I am released, long time coming but worth the wait.