I've been described as many things, not least a social entrepreneur, activist, pacifist and catalyst. My mission in life is about bringing people together and finding our voice. Much empowerment (both individually and collectively) has come from building community and facilitating an environment where optimism can flourish and where social change can happen.
That is the primary intention behind my first album in two decades, a record that will bring together songs of hope, of inspiration, heart connection and universal love. We're putting together an album of community songs, rooted in a hymnal folk tradition that will hopefully work in a variety of settings - the campfire, the community hall, the school or even the football terraces. It’ll be my first album in over twenty years.
"Protest music comes from the heart and is shaped by the times we live in. It’s a visceral response. But equally, the spirit of ‘Kumbaya’ needs to be reclaimed, taken back from the cynics. It’s needn't be mocked to be starting from a position of utopia, dreaming a new world into being through song.
Why am I doing this? Because I wholeheartedly believe in the power of music to change the way we see the world and because I am really excited by the new songs I have written. Some of the songs I have written are designed to be sung in community, some of which we have already unveiled at our Campout last year.
As Brian Eno infamously said "Singing together is the key to world peace". There is an indefinable quality to the buzz we can all feel when in glorious song with others, each playing our part but creating harmony together. It's a great starting point in imagining the changes we need to be making to find hope and inspiration through connection and through finding our voices, individually and collectively.
October 2025 Update
Looking for: DIY video makers who would like to work with me for a visual representation of a couple of the songs which will go on my album. The version of ‘This Is The Fire’ is a demo at the moment and may change significantly once we get going (Oct 2025)
I have been running a few ideas and questions through my diligent and ever-ready PA (ChatGPT!) and am getting some positive inspiration and information back. So far I’ve only worked in the elementary iMovie programme but for me that’s been adequate for sketching out the sort of feel I’d like to aim for.
I would like to feature the choreographed movements to the song’s lyrics that emerged at our summer 25 'Sing Out!' session with Helen Yeomans and build on this as a central part of this video
I want to capture the warmth, unity, and immediacy of the song’s message — especially if it feels authentic, hand-held, and rooted in real human connection rather than high production polish.
The theme: connection through the flame — in motion, in heart, in spirit.
Please get in touch if you have video making skills and would like to help out on this exciting project…