Chance encounters sometimes produce the best of life’s surprises. When I started working with Billy Lockwood at the Access All Areas Studios, I thought it would just be a matter of adding a few guitar chords to a voice line and that would satisfy my intention to record a couple of my songs. How wrong was I. On my way out morning Billy introduced me to Louis who was just arriving for drumming tuition and suggested we might work together. So it probably wasn’t by chance at all, as I now realise that there was no way Billy was going to let me settle for the basic idea I had in mind – and he clearly knew what Louis is capable of.
And so began a project that has drawn me into hearing music – and hearing my own songs – in an entirely new dimension. Louis has the amazing ability to use his keyboard and linked devices (I still don’t know what they’re called) to transform a basic melody into a full composition of multiple instruments and enhanced vocals. Not only does Louis have a keen instinct for what effects sound right, he never seems to lose focus. I’ve really appreciated his attention to small detail and his willingness to work on multiple takes for hours after each of our sessions.
Louis is a people person. He’s given me much more confidence in my songs and my voice. He pays careful attention to lyrics and the feel of each song and has a quiet, comfortable but assured way of suggesting improvements and new ideas. He’s doing more than produce my songs technically, he is most definitely a teacher and co-composer. I’m sure Louis is at the beginning of a great career and I feel extremely lucky to be working with him.
