Anyway (2023)
A Series of Happy Accidents
Prior to releasing Always, I had somehow developed paralysing stage fright - likely from putting too much emotional weight onto the success of my music. To try and beat it, I started forcing myself to play open mics every Wednesday at Old Street Records in Shoreditch.
When the venue announced a competition, my immediate instinct was to refuse to enter. I took myself far too seriously as an "artist." A friend signed me up anyway. The prize pool was massive: a free photoshoot, a professional live session video, a studio recording package with the team behind Dodie and Pixie Lott, and a bar card for endless free drinks.
I won it.
That win landed me in the studio with Adam Rust and Finn Lomax to cut three tracks: Say It Again, I’ll Wait, and Anyway. But once I had these amazing recordings, I had no idea how to roll them out, so I just sat on them.
Months later, I reconnected with my old bandmate and incredible saxophonist, Will Todd. He put me back in touch with Peri Birtles, whose brother Jordan was the drummer in my college ska band, Madagaska. Jordan had since joined Easy Life (now Hard Life). They had recently invested in 247 Studios in Leicester and invited me up to record with CJ Pandit and Brogan (of the band Heart Sauce).
Spending those months immersed in the Leicester scene, reconnecting with old friends, birthed the rest of the EP: Everything I Need, Pleasure, and Stars. The singles rolled out starting in October 2022, culminating in the full EP release in July 2023.
Track Listing:
Everything I Need
Recorded: 2022
This was the first track we started with at 247 Studios. We were all a bit nervous - I know I was, not knowing anyone there - and I wasn't entirely sure how I wanted some of these songs to sound yet. I arrived with the core tracks, but no real production notes.
CJ started it, and Brogan finished it. I absolutely live for Brogan’s bass riff in the second verse.
Pleasure
Recorded: 2022
This was Brogan’s main project here. We played with a few different production techniques, such as running elements in reverse and utilising tapes he’d been using to record ambient sounds in public spaces.
Stars
Recorded: 2022
Recorded and produced in an hour or two, we decided that less is more. Super easy. Job done.
Say It Again
Recorded: 2020
This was the only song I more or less wrote during the session, and as it turned out, it ended up being one of my favorites. I recall Adam sending me a new version with some production “ideas” he had for the second verse.
I made a video for this with my old childhood friend Isaac Crutchley, which went on to win awards at the British Independent Film Festival.
I’ll Wait
Recorded: 2020
I adore how this came out. Like Say It Again and Anyway, I had Eva come in and sing some vocals.
Anyway
Recorded: 2020
One of the first songs I ever wrote, seventeen or so years ago. I originally wrote it on guitar, but Adam thought piano would work better.
I don’t disagree.
Release Credits
Released: 5th May 2023
Recording Locations:Lomax Audio (Ealing, London) and 247 Studios, Leicester
Recording Timeline: August 2020 – May 2022
Artwork Photography & Edit: Dasha Torohova
Songwriting: Joe Little
Additional personnel: Eva Perrin Fontana (Backing vocals on Say It Again, I’ll Wait and Anyway)
Production:
Mixing:
Finn Lomax (Say It Again, Anyway, I’ll Wait)
Peri Birtles (Pleasure, Stars, Everything I Need)