Andrew Ford (Inner Pieces / Lunatrix) [Interview]
Andrew Ford is a man of many talents. He’s a multi-instrumentalist able to turn his hand to almost any musical situation imaginable; a meditation and mindfulness expert; and a fantastic teacher who keeps on giving and giving. His latest musical project, Inner Pieces, also inspired the very first short fictional piece to be featured here on TMMP.
I got in touch with Andrew to discuss meditation, happiness, the past, present, and future, and many more topics besides. Let’s get stuck in: Read more…
This article is a real TMMP first. I’ve experienced all kinds of live music events, from 
Ok. Wow. Attempting to describe just how incredible Hey Now is presents this writer with an uncomfortable reality. Words can only go so far. ‘Beautiful’, ‘lush’, ‘epic’ – all fit and work perfectly, but are still somehow inadequate. 
When you get to a small venue and see security standing outside, you know it’s going to be a busy night. It’s a neon-jacketed signal that tells you this show has already sold a significant number of tickets before it’s even opened its doors. Latecomers are likely to find themselves missing out. However, it’s also quite common for pre-booked punters to take their time preening and perfecting their looks before heading down to the venue – meaning that the opening acts may still end up playing to a fraction of the crowd drawn by the headliners.
As I write this, I’m sitting outside in the sun. Birds are sitting on branches in the shade, there are no clouds in sight, and the temperature is just right. This EP is in my ears, and right now it feels like nothing else on Earth could soundtrack these moments better. 
As a writer, having a mind that’s always on is kind of a good thing. Writing has been described as thinking on paper – but as horror maestro Stephen King points out, writing is actually more than that.
Sweet, lilting atmospheres and nuanced, intimate vocals. A fantastic understanding of dynamics, understated instrumentalism, well-crafted lyrics and massive repeatability. The support of a great producer who knows exactly how to bring out the best in a worthy artist, and elicit just the right shades of emotion in the end product’s listeners. 
Martha Paton is a fantastic songwriter – and more than anything else, Suitcase Full of Stories is a simple and unassuming demonstration of that fact. 
As we saw last December
Describing music as ‘soulful’ is so common these days that it seems to have lost all meaning. But sometimes, you just have to do it. And when considering By The Rivers’ eponymous debut album, this is definitely one of those times. Heavy yet weightless, By The Rivers‘ humanity drifts lightly into the ears, having been filtered through your speakers and distilled from the raw power of a fantastically talented creative collective.