As undoubtedly one of my favourite albums of last year, Stuart Lawrence’s ‘One’ was a record that just blew me away from start to finish. It was the very first time that the Fareham-based singer/songwriter had recorded any of his material, and I just knew that his debut record was the beginning of a promising musical journey.
Keen to know more about the musician behind the music, I was delighted when Stuart agreed to an interview! Chatting with us about his brand new single ‘Paradise’, how his ADHD diagnosis affects his life, and who he’s been listening to over the last few years, please give a big welcome to our friend Stuart Lawrence!
Hey Stuart! It’s been a while! How have you been? Let’s kick things off with an easy one…Who is Stuart Lawrence and when did your love affair with music begin?
I could sing before I could talk, I could probably dance before I could walk… stealing lyrics from ABBA. I love those old rock ballads, belting out ‘Shot through the heart, and you’re to blame’ sort of thing, at the top of my voice, so first and foremost I’ve always regarded myself as a singer. I was good at art from an early age, drawing, painting, and sculpting, and then I learned to play guitar, just well enough to be able to write. About the age of 16, it became my thing. It’s just about being creative. And music creates an emotional response. In some darker moments as a youngster, I remember the album ‘Jazz’ by Queen brightened my mood, and ‘The Trees’ by Rush would get me really hyper. I love that connection between music and emotion. It makes life feel!
I must admit, I still listen to your debut album all the time! It was easily one of my favourite records of last year. Can you share any significant challenges or breakthrough moments you experienced while working on the album?
Well, there were so many standout moments, no real challenges as such.
Just working with Matt Brook is a standout experience. He is the lead guitarist and all-round instrumental genius. We bounce ideas off each other, it’s a very creative environment. On the album ‘One’ we experimented with so many combinations of instruments. We used cello and violin on a couple of tracks, harpsichord and organ, some funky bongos and congas. But as each song came together we knew we were creating something special.
Also, working with Dom Elton who runs Mayfield Records was a great experience. He played all the keyboard elements. That final flourish of organ at the end of ‘Children of the Night’ is sublime.
I had never recorded anything before that album, it was a bit scary at first, but it didn’t take long for it to feel natural.
Your brand new single ‘Paradise’ is an absolute beauty! It also offers quite a sonic departure from your previous work. What brought about the change in sound?
Well, the guitar tuning is low on this song, so the vocals in the verses are a little deeper, but it means the high notes are more effective, and the rhythm guitar has a bass-like quality. I’m not sure I agree it’s a departure though. It’s certainly not a conscious change, it’s just where the song wanted to be. This single is the first of six planned to be released before the second album ‘A Collection of Short Stories Volume 2’ is released. I think by the time the new album is complete it will feel quite familiar sonically to ‘One’.
I know that you were recently diagnosed with ADHD and I’m wondering if you could tell us, if you’re comfortable of course, what role, if any, that now plays in your music?
Well, having ADHD is, I think, why music is so emotive for me… but having ADHD is a curse. It’s the reason as a child I would get such intense emotions that I would have preferred to have died than eat the cabbage on my plate, and still refused even after having been forced to sit at the table for 12 hours. I like cabbage now. And I was very sensitive. However, it’s also the reason I am so creative because for someone with ADHD, when you become focused on something you like doing you don’t stop, sometimes not for days, forget to eat and drink. It’s why I am a prolific songwriter and why I can’t consider any song finished until it feels right.
I’m not a perfectionist, very much a pragmatist, but when creating lyrics I cannot settle for anything random or meaningless.
The other thing is that now knowing I have ADHD, which is a recent discovery, has given me the courage to overcome the condition. Anxiety is a huge part of ADHD for some like me and it has been holding me back, all these years. That’s when I became determined not to be a victim of my condition any longer. It’s still very scary, but I’m not going to permit it to hold me back.
Who would you put down as some of your biggest musical influences? Who did you all grow up listening to? And would you say that your tastes have changed or evolved over the years?
I’ve listened to a lot of music in my life, my taste is eclectic. I still use an iPod, with all my old favourites. I love everyone from ABBA to AC/DC to Black Sabbath, Alison Moyet to Motorhead to Motley Crue. Hanoi Rocks to Led Zeppelin, The Who to Pink Floyd. I have a song called ‘Sleep’ that is pure The Who. I’ll record it one day but the guitar lick sounds typically Pete Townsend.
Over the years the other kinds of bands I’ve liked tend to be indie: Coldplay, Stereophonics, Supergrass and Radiohead sort of styling. I think it’s roughly where my songs would be amongst their contemporaries. I apologised to the audience first, but I once performed a cover of ‘Angels’ by Robbie Williams on stage. If it’s tuneful and well produced, and I want to sing it, I’ll tend to like it.
If you were allowed to “steal” one song in the world and claim it as your own, what would it be and why?
‘Behind Blue Eyes’ by The Who. But as a backup plan if that had already been stolen, ‘Comfortably Numb’ by Pink Floyd.
Why? For all the things I’ve been saying before. I love to sing them, and they trigger an emotional response as if they are actually part of my DNA.
Another reason I’m releasing music is that very thing. I want to give my songs their freedom and a chance to mean something to other people in the exact same way these songs mean to me. That focus on the song itself, rather than myself, is what keeps me continually broadening my ideas and growing the richness of the content I create.
Einstein famously said, “If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician.” If you were not a musician, what would you all be?
Well, I wouldn’t be a physicist, maths is not my bag. It’s the ADHD. I can do it but would rather eat cabbage.
I’ve already been so many other things than a musician. I have a degree in Law, and I could practice but it’s not creative enough, no job satisfaction. I’d probably do something graphical. I once hand-painted a target and fired a few air rifle pellets through it, then retrieved the mangled pellets, and stapled them in a plastic bag to the target. Those sorts of abstract contexts appeal to me.
Thanks so much for chatting with us Stuart! It’s been great getting to know you a little better! Before we say farewell for now, what comes next for you musically?
Well, as I’ve already mentioned, this is the first of 6 singles from the next album and I’m in the recording studio a lot these days. The next single to be released is called ‘Cellar full of Snakes’. Perplexing I know. All will be revealed in due course. I haven’t decided on a release date yet but it’s a bit higher up the fretboard than ‘Paradise’ and a good sing-along song. What else? Oh, then there’s the Arena Tour of South America! Haha, if only.
