103 fans
A MEANINGFUL JOURNEY
IT ALL STARTED WHEN…
Growing up, weekend band practice and my working for my Italian fathers' autocar business didn't sit well alongside each other. The expectation for me was that I and my brothers helped my Dad and supported the family when I wasn't at school. I wasn't interested in cars, I was only interested in music and often had to fight to get out of the house, carrying my guitar and amp several miles on foot just to make it to rehearsal on a Saturday morning.
I was heavily into classic rock music - Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, AC/DC and it stands to reason that these would inevitably be the kind of bands and sounds that I would try to emulate.
After several years of tussling with my family over my passion versus my obligations and as a relationship with my first teenage love broke down, I packed up my bags and moved to Amsterdam where I roughed it for a couple of months before landing a job hosting an acoustic night at a local red light district bar, The Doors Café.
It wasn't easy, sometimes I didn't know where I would stay or where my next meal would come from but I persevered. Over the next two years I honed my skills and built up the venues reputation as a Mecca for travelling musicians.
End of rehearsals, Amsterdam 1997
In the autumn of '98, after nearly two years in Holland, I got the opportunity to live and play in
Chicago, Illinois with my band 'Racecar'.
I toured in Chicago for 6 months, sleeping on sofas, playing jazz cafes, late night shows and clubs then returned to the UK (without a band, visa issues meant that we were all in different corners of the globe).
I headed to Australia, following a girl (now the mother of my wonderful children) and played solo out there in bars and cafes, getting paid in pavlova and beer (now there's a food combination!).
Sydney, Australia, 2001
We came back to the UK and I set up ‘The Morenas’, an eclectic, rock-orientated collective from the Essex coast. Our first break came when we represented Xfm and in the Cannonball 8000 run from London to Monte Carlo. We travelled in a 1970's New York police car and headlined the after-party in Monaco. Our antics were shown on ITV1 and after touring and festival slots, our first single Coming Home received great reviews and national radio plays off the back of this attention.
Band in a car, our transport, from London to Monte Carlo 2003
Band in a car, our transport, from London to Monte Carlo 2003
After Channel 4: 4Play featured our second single, ‘It Shouldn’t Mata’, we secured endorsement deals with Fender, Warwick and Orange County and in 2006, we released our first EP, Dance for Your Dictator, followed by a live radio session on cult DJ Janice Long's BBC Radio 2 show.
Me, mid-air, mid-page, Fender 2004
A year later, we released our rock album 'The Whole and the Half' which we described as being 'Jeff Buckley meets the Red Hot Chilli peppers in a late night diner served by Muse.'
Four years and three kids later, short on time and band members as family responsibilities meant that we couldn't line our schedules up, I started my current project 'The MightySmall'.
The concept was a one man band for the 21st Century. As a self taught multi-instrumentalist, I was able to play every thing on all recordings and performances - drums, bass, guitar, keyboard and more (without cymbals strapped to my knees!).
Stage set up and giving it large, Belgium 2018
Whilst I have stuck to my roots of classic rock, the journey that I have been on to keep playing and writing music no matter what, to believe and trust that by following your heart, the world will catch up, has tinged my rough edges with a more soulful bluesy element to my voice and songwriting.
As my live looping show got wilder, some songs have a more electro rock feel as the beat kicks in and the room starts going crazy! There is no better feeling than looking up and seeing the reaction of the crowd, the genuine happiness on peoples' faces and every one dancing and loving it.
Music has always been the biggest passion in my life and it has taken courage, humility and discomfort at times to stay true to my path. It has always been a constant source of inspiration and joy on my journey.
And maybe my music can do the same for you, whatever your path and whatever challenges you are facing right now. It’s you, the listener, who’s made all of it worthwhile.
Whilst I am based in the UK, I still play and tour to places all around the world and am able to connect to people worldwide who do share my tastes and love for music.
I am so grateful that I am part of a like-minded community and that there are people out there who enjoy the music I make and share my passion.
