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Hello 2024.
2023 was good to me, career-wise. It’s been a strange and bumpy one health wise, but that’s normalised, right? I want that to not be normalised, please. Sigh. Disabled bodies etc etc. Work has been good? 2023! It looked like this: – Opening for Philip Selway of Radiohead on his solo tour. He really is…
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HIRING: FREELANCE SUPPORT WORKER (MIDLANDS BASED)
FREELANCE SUPPORT WORKER: MIDLANDS BASED. 2.5 DAYS. EQUIVALENT PRO RATA SALERY: £34,416 I’m looking for a new freelance support worker! What does that entail? I’m glad you asked: Being within easy commute of North Warwickshire would likely be essential. This is strictly work related support, no personal care work necessary. Average of 2.5 days per…
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A Statement RE: Live Shows.
It’s with enormous sadness that I am announcing an indefinite hiatus from live shows with immediate effect. Playing gigs has slowly pushed me to a place of facing significant health issues, both physical and mental. I’m sorry to say that means the cancellation of all shows this year. Scheduled talks and conference appearances will go…
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My First Legit Composer Commission!
Yeah. You read that right. Early this year I was approached by Propel Dance, the UK’s first all wheelchair-rider dance about their forthcoming production of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen. They are, conveniently enough, based in the Midlands, needed a composer, wanted to employ a Disabled artist… those roads lead inevitably to me. Okay,…
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AI Songwriting: The Medical Model Edition.
I asked an AI to write a song about Disability. It’s very medical model. It’s belly is full of inspiration porn. Make of it what you will. Sure, here is a short song about disability: Verse 1: I am who I am, I am strong I have a disability, but it doesn’t define me I…
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Back To (Art) School.
So this is kind of a confession. Not a lot of people know this, but I flunked music college. No, back it up. I didn’t flunk. There were lots of access barriers. I faced physical and mental barriers, and if I’m honest, I didn’t try to get the help I needed. Identity stuff. I didn’t…
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Nose Pressed Against The Canvas.
I’m trying to purify my relationship with music. It’s been a long road, and there’s some unhealthy stuff weaved in. I identify with my work in a deep way. I am my work. That’s no boast. It’s actually quite unhealthy, I’m beginning to realise. I struggle to separate what I do from who I am.…
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I Was Wrong About The Gloves.
In my recent blog post, I spoke about a possible end to my performing with the gloves. It’s certainly true that I’ve had a difficult relationship with them at times. They empower me yes, but also are a constant reminder of what I can’t do. I still dream of guitar heroics and piano recitals. It’s…
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On The Future Of The Gloves + Me.
Last week I played my last show of what has been a strange run of gigs for me, post COVID. It was in Birmingham, my home town of sorts, and a place I’ve hardly played. It’s been a running joke in the Dyskinetic camp that I’ve performed for more audiences in Tokyo than in my…
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McCartney IV
McCartney IV is really a song about owning up to the ways you’ve hurt people, and recognising that love is more important than anything else. It’s a love song. I think it’s silly. And very serious. And hopefully romantic. People tell me they like it. Of course, the influence of a Beatle is worn on…
