In the recession-hit 2009, it's hard to know what will happen within the music industry. Labels are going under, file sharing continues to give big corporations the shits and the MySpace generation has thrown up a new DIY attitude of sorts.
So how do you even get started if you're a new performer struggling to progress beyond local dates and the open mic circuit? Well, in the case of promising singer/ songwriter PAUL GOODWIN you adhere to the good old Buzzcocks-style route: forming a label with your mate and self-producing an album yourself.
And in Paul's case, it's certainly been worth it in artistic terms at least. For his debut album 'Scars' is accurately-named. It's an impressive, heart-on-sleeve affair, bearing its' bruises with pride and while it was painstakingly pieced together in sessions in friends' houses, it's fully-formed and frequently fantastic. It's certainly reason enough for W&H to call Paul at home in Cambridge to discuss its' germination and why touring Canada can be a hair-raising experience. Oh, and why hanging out in graveyards can be especially good for the creative process, of course.
Paul Goodwin is gentle, likeable and soft-spoken on the phone. It's a surprise after hearing his voice throughout 'Scars'. His singing voice is emotionally-laden and quite guttural, sometimes recalling a young Billy Bragg, but in conversation there's little to betray his Essex roots.
“I dunno what to say about that,” says Paul, chuckling quietly.
“I'm probably putting on a posh voice 'cos I'm on the phone!” he laughs. “I think my singing voice will divide the critics, though. I've just read a review in 'Uncut' where the guy absolutely hated it, but what can you do? It's the way I sound...I'm not trying to disguise anything.”
Indeed not, and it would be a shame if so, for Goodwin has a voice to stop you in your tracks. And 'Scars' proves he has the songs to match. It's been a while coming, though. In his formative years, Paul was more consumed with Classical Piano than hawking self-written songs around. It turns out a story doing the rounds about him failing Grade 8 piano because he turned up for his exam in an Iron Maiden T-shirt is entirely true...
“Yeah, absolutely,” Paul laughs. “The teacher was an old guy who might not have appreciated it in hindsight (laughs). There again, I might also have failed the exam because I wasn't good enough. I dressed more smartly the next time, although I'd also had six months more to practice,” he says pragmatically.
Paul's 'rock' career began the usual undistinguished way with a semi-covers band and more of the like, but he began to forge a small niche with the internet-only release of 'The Burning Shed Sessions', featuring early versions of some of the songs which would be fully-realised on 'Scars'. Inevitably, this raises the question of the 'Net and the whole MySpace boom. The rise of the Arctic Monkeys has been well-documented as a result of their using this medium, but does Paul believe this DIY method is a hindrance or a help to developing a career these days?
“In my experience it's harder as a result,” Paul considers. “I had a bit of help with the 'Burning Shed Sessions' thing because a mate of mine has an internet label, but I think the whole MySpace thing's a double-edged sword.”
Because anyone can do it?
“Yeah, that's right,” he agrees. “It's liberating in the sense that anyone can whack out a product, whereas before you needed record company input and a product to be officially released before people could hear you. But the downside is there are so many people doing it now that it's hard for an audience to know where to start.”
Can't argue with that. Instead, 'Scars' has been built up over a period of time with a determination to choose and record the best songs always the goal rather than worrying about what happens after that.
“They're the best songs I've written so far, simple as that,” says Paul matter-of-factly.
“It's always been my goal to make a great album and that was always the main concern. I binned some songs along the way and it does take me a long time to write a song anyway.”
Is there a patented Paul Goodwin way of writing a song as such?
“No, no,” Paul chuckles. “Though I will say the music always comes first. I don't own a piano these days, despite my background, so I always write on an acoustic guitar. There's certainly no method. I just pursue stuff when I have lyrics and the fragments of an idea. With the lyrics, I keep a book and write down lines I like. I choose the ones that fit the music I have at a given time.”
Sounds quite painstaking...
“Yeah, well as I say it often takes me a long time to complete a song. Stuff doesn't come easy.”
Some of the lyrics certainly sound intensely personal. Listening to songs like 'Borderline' and 'Losing Out to Bullethead'...well, if I took them at face value, I'd fear for your well-being.
|
“Well, they're pretty true to life, but I wouldn't worry about it,” replies Paul, still quite jovial about all this.
“I mean, yeah, the songs are autobiographical for the most part, but they're often exaggerated too. I've had ten years to write 'em after all (laughs). I imagine everyone probably experiences at least a couple of bad relationships in that time, right?”
Well maybe. But tell me a little about Paul Goodwin the performer. You're based in Cambridge, which to me always brings mavericks like Syd Barrett and Robyn Hitchcock to mind. How's the scene there these days, and do you feel you fit in?
“There was more of a local scene when the Boat Race (important, long-term indie club) was open,” Paul replies.
“That was certainly a place local bands used to go to see each other and there was a regular clientele. They had loads of acoustic nights too. It's kinda fragmented now, though, so I'm not sure I really feel a part of anything going on. There is still the Portland Arms, but you have to rent the room out.”
This whole 'pay to play' business seems to be strangling young bands. However, Goodwin did undertake an acoustic tour of Canada just over a year back. Pretty impressive for an unsigned singer/ songwriter. How did this come about, Paul?
“Through chance, initially,” he admits. “I met this guy Canadian performer Jason Hakin in a Cambridge Folk Club. We went for drinks after he saw me play and kept in touch. He was originally going to come to England but instead he asked me to come to Canada because he had some dates set up.”
Sounds pretty cool. Was it?
“Well, yeah, it was really, though it was a bit scary in some ways. For one thing, the Canadian Customs wouldn't let me in because I had the wrong paperwork, apparently.”
You're joking!
“No, it's true, but they let me in eventually. I told them it was my birthday – I think that worked.”
Genius. What about the shows, though?
“Well, the London (Ontario) one was the best because it's Jason's home town. There was also a girl called Kaya Fraser playing and the place was packed. We also played in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. Toronto was the worst. No-one came and a load of money got nicked from the dressing room.”
Hmm, yeah. Pretty persuasive reasons, all things considered. Then again, playing supports locally doesn't always guarantee an easy ride. Not if you're supporting Wayne Hussey anyway.
“Yeah, his crowd didn't like me at all,” Paul laughs. “A couple of hundred Goth guys at the Boat Race..”
Aarrrghh!!!
“Yeah, exactly. It was pretty surreal. I didn't hang around to see his set, so I couldn't tell you if he played all The Mission's hits.”
Don't worry about it, mate. I'm not that choked, honest. Besides, there are better ways of gaining inspiration, as I find out when I mention the photos accompanying 'Scars” lyric booklet. Paul, that's a picture of Oscar Wilde's grave in Paris's Pere La Chaise Cemetery next to 'Watertight' isn't it?
“Well spotted!” he says. “Yeah, it's an amazing place is Pere La Chaise, though I personally prefer Oscar's grave to Jim Morrison's...”
Yeah, it's less touristy. There are crash barriers protecting the other graves around Jim's now, you know.
“Really? Well, there you go. I still think you couldn't possibly replicate Oscar's grave though, the lipstick kisses and all. But that's me all over. I'm the sort of bloke who likes to hang around in graveyards (laughs).”
Nothing wrong with that, if you ask me. Places of quiet reflection can be the best places to nurture the imagination. Clearly in Paul Goodwin's case, this is something to be encouraged.
('Scars' is available on BFF Records from 2nd February 2009)
(www.paulgoodwin.com)
|
