Listen Up - Ian Roland
Having released a new album, "Living In Sound", time for some talk
About Ian Roland
This month's Listen Up feature puts the spotlight on Ian Roland. Songwriter, Ian has supported acts such as Martin Simpson, The Black Feathers, Stick In The Wheel, TV Smith, Robb Johnson, Boo Hewerdine, Robert Vincent, Chris Helme, Joshua Ray Walker, 10cc's Graham Gouldman.
How would you describe your music?
I write and perform original Roots-Pop-Folk music, full of heart-strung orchestration and up-close, life-drenched lyrics. I play live as a solo act and also as a duo, with bassist, Dave Coomber, and as a trio with drummer, James Chapman. Recordings often include strings and piano.
What has been your highlight so far?
A recent highlight has been supporting 10cc's Graham Gouldman at the Factory Live in Worthing. I also recently supported Robert Vincent at Mid Sussex Music Hall in Hassocks.
In January I recorded four new songs at the brilliant Brighton Road Recording Studios, with the following fantastic musicians and I will be releasing these songs as singles throughout the year. The first song, 'Living in Sound', is already out in digital stores and has had some great airplay and reviews. The musicians involved, along with me on vocals and guitar, are:
Dave Coomber - bass, backing vocals
James Chapman - drums
Simon Yapp - violin, viola, backing vocals
Mishkin Fitzgerald - piano, backing vocals
What plans regarding recordings, video, tours etc do you have for the future?
The second single, which is called 'Lodestone', is out in digital stores on 26th July 2024. It's a song inspired by the sound of local church bells heard echoing across a Sussex village, and points to the enduring purity of music as a uniting force that rings true in all of us. The song is dedicated to the memory of Gavin Macleod, founder of the Greyhound Acoustic Gathering at the Greyhound Pub, Keymer, which is my local open mic.
There will be two other single releases later this year.
Is there anything else you would like to say or any message to our readers?
Music creates communities and lifts us above the grind and toil. With evermore grassroots music venues closing due to the current economic crisis for small businesses, and yet more stadium music concerts generating huge revenues, there needs to be a re-distribution of profits so that the UK music industry becomes sustainable and has a future. A general re-evaluation of what is truly valuable and sustaining for the world, would be good too. Music and the Arts are important. They question and challenge the status quo. In my song, 'Living in Sound', I sing about all of us wanting the chance to not only just exist but to live equally valued lives, in tune with our environment. It is a song about still having "the strength to believe". It is about singing in chorus with nature and each other and in so doing, forming a new reality.
Please keep supporting live music and please stay in touch via my website andsocial media. Thank you : )
For more details:
ianroland.com
Living In Sound
Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Pirate is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.