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STEVE TILSTON
Q&A Steve Tilston Steve Tilston's pedigree goes back to the 1970s, the golden age of the singer-songwriter. His new album, Such & Such, has all the virtues of the genre: sensitive songs, positive sentiments and exemplary acoustic picking. Tilston (pictured) will be showing off his new work tomorrow at The Musician.' Where does a song come from for you? From a musical phrase or a noodle on the guitar - a good mistake on the guitar, perhaps - or a linguistic phrase. Such & Such seemed such a nice phrase that I used it in a song and it became the title of the album. Anything can start a song off but you need that little kernel of an idea. You never know what's going to blossom until you start putting pen to paper. Are you an inspiration or a perspiration man? You can lie back in your bed waiting for inspiration, but you can lie in your bed for an awful long time. Your work demands that the listener provides some sensitivity and intelligence of their own, qualities that seem in short supply in the mainstream. I think people are a lot more sophisticated than we think. Look at the sophistication of The Beatles, or Cole Porter. Music now is like fast food -it promises everything but delivers nothing. It's got this garish, neon surface but, really, it's so disposable. Are you disheartened by that? It's what I expect. I've got my own niche-I don't regard what I write as being precious or high art or anything. I just talk about a certain subject matter because it's what interests me. I've got a good, small following of people who like what i do and that's fine. It pays the mortgage. I'm never going to have a yacht - but I might be able to afford a caravan. Is it a good life? People say to me, wouldn't you like to be a success? Well, I am a success. I'm alive and paying my way making music. I'm in my 50s and doing what I want.
Mike Butler
Pat Tynan Media Office: +44(0)1895 636935 Mobile: 07985 400297 An associate of SingSong Entertainment Publicity |
