Do you need an expensive guitar to play music? (No, but read on anyway … ).

Why Songs For Separation was released in physical form only.

Songs For Separation Listening Notes

As Songs For Separation enters its last production phase before release, some thoughts on album covers / formulas / genre expectations

As he did with Northumbria, Andy H runs the rule over Songs For Separation …

Here’s what goes in to making music …

How much influence do artists actually have … ?

AJ decides the direction of travel for what will become the Songs for Separation album, and explores the concept of chemistry

AJ illustrates how a Geordie called Brian invented the guitar hero …

Notes on the recording of what will become the Test Pieces album …

Ahead of a round of publisher pitch meetings, I review The Same River Twice for my agent.

Test Pieces. Three Takes. Location. Next. And why.

Why from The Beatles to Oasis, the music business keeps trying to sell you what you already own.

What makes the guitar and guitar-based music emotionally resonant and culturally valuable?

The reasons behind removing Northumbria from all streaming platforms.

An account of sculling the length of the Thames in 2015 turns up and so too does a literary agent.

Why conspiracy theories flourish in uncertain times, and why times are always uncertain.

On learning how to write and illustrate a children’s book, and why Children’s Literature is the most important literary form, bar none.

Lewin and I start a podcast, and the importance of meeting your heroes.

We decide to write a children’s book as a pandemic project: The Magic Blanket!