Co writers
Jayson Jackson
I have been writing with Jayson for a long time - He's a trustworthy guy who writes mainly what he describes as an 'Indie pop Rock Alternative' style --- I know he also writes stuff that sometimes verges on the orchestral.
An example of this is his song 'Soften the Blow' which reached the UK Songwriting Semi Finals in 2005 - I really like the tune AND the lyrics --- which is a pity as I would have liked to have claimed credit for them myself!
When we work together, generally I write the lyrics, then he writes the music and records the demos. Sometimes I might write most or part of a song and he'll pick up on it and finish it off - There are no set rules, my rough cut might end up in a totally different style - 'Child of the Lights' (from Guern of Atlantis) started off with me writing a Dylan style song on acoustic guitar and he comes back with.. well, listen to it!
The song 'OK I'm Lonely' has some real emotional twists in it. It's based around a guy who watches his old love walking past his office window. He's churned up thinking how wonderful it is to see her 'jet wash of love on a city street' while at the same time trying to keep his mind off the fact that she is no longer with him and has 'left his heart in a body bag'.
Just when you think he's going to go insane, he flips mood to the mundane things of life - He has to 'look after his mother since Daddy left for Spain'. It's a real turmoil song based purely on my imagination fired up by Jayson's clash of manic then beautiful tune.
I guess you know by now that I really like that song.. lol
Jayson has also recently surprised me with a tune to my lyrics called 'I Know You Don't Love Me Now' - the song is an anthem but unfortunately it is not possible to grasp that, because the song clip is far too short! - If you want a song that would certainly get a young crowd singing along to the chorus at a gig contact him and ask him to post the full demo!
Both Jayson and I are 'pure songwriters' - meaning that we only want to stay in the background and write. Jayson has played in bands since he was at school -- but I don't think the Romans went for Indie material. (lol)
I can say that because one thing we do have is a good laugh!
Check out Jayson's site at:
http://www.jaysonjackson.co.uk
Simon Rushby
I just started writing with Simon a couple of weeks ago.
Already he has written an excellent tune to my lyric 'Be Careful What You Wish For'. He's a good singer as well a VERY accomplished pianist who also writes his own songs AND teaches Sound Recording - he's also a conductor and Bassoon player -- the guy's some kind of musical octopus! (lol)
There something going on even with our first co write - you can't buy compositional chemistry and we definitely have it.
When you hear the first song (coming soon) you will be able to detect it for yourself - so keep an eye on what we are doing.
Another forthcoming songs with Simon - 'I Can Still See The Wood For The Trees' I am sure will be another winner.
Check out Simon's web site at:
Dennis Kahler
My old friend Dennis lives on the side of a mountain in Garden City Alabama. Dennis used to have a pet wolf and worked as a fireman. Now, having retired early from the fire service, he has grown a beard to rival any fairy tale wizard!
I won't start writing in any depth about him as, knowing my nature, I will probably complete a book before tomorrow morning having laughed myself silly writing about Dennis' interaction with the 'the critters' on 'Kahler Mountain'.
Dennis picks up rattlesnakes and puts them back down behind the shed to 'keep the rats down'!!! (and no, I am NOT making this up!). Neither will I make extensive reference to his cat 'three legged Charlie' who once saved Dennis from a world of pain by going out the back door just ahead of him and suddenly standing rigid with fur on end.
The cause of this behavior was the three foot rattler he was stood nose to fangs with on Dennis porch!
Charlie apparently backed into the room 'slow as smoke' and has been well fed and watered by Dennis ever since!
Dennis has been writing songs for decades and has had such people as Buddy Jewell sing on his demos in the past. Dennis' efforts are usually recorded to MASTER standard and I can't quite figure out why he and his friend Art Cory have not yet 'landed the big one' - I am sure that he will soon enough IF Dennis pushes his songs harder! (You listenin' D.K.?)
It's rare that I let anyone write lyrics on one of my own songs, but Dennis did an excellent job co writing the lyrics to 'Big Sky Country' -- He even taught me what a 'rag top' was! (an American term for a soft top car!)
Dennis doesn't have a web site - but I will put up a rough cut of his wonderful 'Johnny Cash Style' vocals soon. For now, my hopeless squawk will have to do on the 'Big Sky' demo in the country section of this site.
William Wylie
Bill hails from San Diego, I met him through an ad he placed in the I.S.A. (International Songwriters Association) a couple of years ago. Bill has played Bluegrass as well as many other styles over the years. He even taught two internationally renowned figures the rudiments of guitar some years ago!
Bill is a retired engineer.
It always surprises me how some lyricists don't seem to consider that working in many different genres is a big plus to their artistic development -- I have certainly enjoyed working with Bill and he's come up with some fine melodies.
When you consider that our early collaborations were across the internet with him on one end TYPING IN midi songs on a computer keyboard - and me at this end fumbling with Cubase recording software to squawk an audio track over the top of it - We have come a long way.
Bill's hard drive recently blew up but fortunately I had copies of just about everything this end!
The tune to 'No Better Sister' was written by Bill and I wrote the lyrics. It was a straight from the heart song to my dying sister Jane -- I know she was very comforted to hear it.
I will always be grateful to Bill for the speedy effort he put into that lovely song that meant so much to me. Somebody who has Irish Band (or other connections) ought to cover that song or 'The First Time I Ever Saw You' and give Bill the recognition he deserves!
John Hoeve
John advertised through the ISA (International Songwritiers Association) for a cowriter and I replied. This guy has the same mad sense of humour as myself and could therefore by lying to me about working for AT &T. He's probably working from a PC terminal in a Dutch lunatic asylum.
Check out his Chicken Song at :
http://moonpub.net/portal/jamroom/play.php?mode=song_hifi&band_id=13&song_id=40
There's also some stuff at moonpub.net somewhere!
It's sort of Monty Python meets country or whatever other style he's doing at the time. You have to listen for a while to realise how well crafted his songs really are. It takes a whole lot of talent to deliberately write in that comedic way. John told me he was regularly having to stop recording the 'chicken track' as he couldn't do it for crying laughing. He was trying to blow into jugs to make sounds, but couldn't keep his lips together long enough!
I spent a good length of time cracking up listening to it and other songs.
I recommend you listen to it and take it for what it is VERY FUNNY.
On top of that John IS a serious mood songwriter. Our first cowrite is called FOR SO LONG. It should be appearing on the Good Quality Demos page soon.
By the time you have read this it may already be there!
Next Collaborator - You?
Send me your music!
I wrote 99 percent of the lyrics on this site and I'm itching to get stuck into YOUR tunes! - I CAN help with the musical side of things, but prefer to write only lyrics on co writes.
It doesn't matter how basic your tune is, (or how poorly recorded)-- I'm a writer not a production standard maniac - I want to WRITE not get bogged down with all the technicalities.
Having said that, I HAVE now got some decent equipment to record with at this end -- Cubase SX3, Reason 3, a new Behringer mixing desk, Terratec card etc. Of course the internet means that I can co write with anybody via yousendit.com or Mp3 email attachments - even snail mail if you prefer?
It may take some time for a response so don't assume I don't like your material if I don't get back to you for a while --- I have so much to do now!
I am always honest, and I WILL get back to you with a response at some point.
If you are still interested after all my ramblings, email me at: