Having spent the last few years building up his reputation for fresh and exciting acoustic-led works, British singer-songwriter Second Hand Poet has now returned to share his latest studio album ‘An Avenue Of Honest News’.
Taking his cues from the likes of Phoebe Bridgers and Elliott Smith, ‘An Avenue Of Honest News’ makes for a wonderfully rich and textured offering from the artist. Filled with heartfelt emotion, soaring soundscapes, and his own lyrically dexterity vocals at the helm, be sure to switch onto this one after a hard day at work.
So with the new album available now, we sat down with him to discuss it and what else he has planned for us in the future.
Words by Chris Bound
Discovered via http://musosoup.com
Photocred: Christoper Brew
Chris) Hi Jamie, how are you today?
Jamie) I’m good thanks! My day consists of uploading/updating socials. Admin Yuk.
For those that haven’t heard of you yet, how would you best describe your sound and who have been your biggest influences so far?
Describing my sound is still questionable, not that it's new and 'hip' just because it varies. Although I think I've settled on grungy indie folk? My main influences, I'd say Elliott Smith, Keaton Henson and more recently Phoebe Bridgers.
You have just released your new album ‘An Avenue Of Honest News’. Can you tell us how those tracks came about?
Yes! I started writing it soon after my last release in 2018 'Songs For The Pyre', I was originally just going to write some singles and release them as and when they got finished, I did with the first three tracks on the record.
Because the tracks were fairly different in sound to each other, it felt weird the idea of making an album like that...I soon decided on doing it anyway. I explain the record as a sort of 'vocal photo album' it's familiar sounding because it's me.. but there's so many different people either playing, producing on the album let alone the different song sounds, that it seemed fitting.
All the tracks are super honest, nostalgic and need to be flicked through with a smile like a photo album! Not skipped though. Gosh.
And was there a particular style you were looking for when you wrote it?
Not really, I wanted to not write it as an album. Whatever and however the song was written I wanted to keep it in its natural form. Not bare bones, but the sound of when that song starts floating around in your head.
It starts a bit folk-laden, then other musicians come in for the more grungy songs, which gradually fades out via the track 'You Know Me, and then the album ends with just me and a guitar! So it's a full circle, I like that.
What would you say is your favourite track from the new record?
Probably 'Honestly', certain things happened whilst writing it, which led to me finding out, what the song was actually about. Which was strange. It's also the only song I know how to play (badly) on piano.
And were you pleased with how it turned out?
Yes, it's taken a lot of work. But I'm real pleased; it feels like my first proper release. I think a first EP or album is a good way of getting songs that have been around for YEARS out of the way, the second album is the more enjoyable.
The coronavirus outbreak has obviously affected everyone’s plans, but what have you got in store for the rest of the year?
It has indeed, it's a pretty gloomy time. I'm going to be promoting this record as much as I can online for the rest of the year, I've also collaborated with a good friend of mine Mark Beazley for his band Rothko which is two tracks being released via a vinyl single next month!
And finally, what would be your dream to achieve as an artist?
I'd just like for my music to reach the ears of people that would enjoy it.
That seems to be the easiest answer on gaining a fanbase, but it's also the absolute utmost hardest thing to do. But that.