The Nick Heywood Band will play The Stables on July 6.
The man who first took attentions with his band Haircut 100 back in 1982, is a musical survivor and still putting out great sounds.
Woodland Echoes is singer is Nick's ninth full-lengther (the tenth if you include Pelican West, the pop-funk masterpiece that he released in 1982 with his first band Haircut 100).
And though the industry has changed remarkably since that time, his musicality is thriving.
“I’m glad I’m alive, I’m glad that I’m writing and putting records out,” he says. “It’s great now because it’s easy to be independent.”
Nick went On Track with Total MK...
The song that first awakened your musical senses
My musical senses were woken up around the house by my father’s and brother’s influences, but the first song I remember connecting with was “Hey Jude”. It was such a profound moment. I was sitting by the new modern phone in the lounge and I heard this new music and I felt like I was connected to the new way. It was the 60s. I’ve had profound connections since and continue to have them. Music is a portal.
Physical or digital - how do you take your music?
Both. When I need the music, it’s mostly digital. When I want to cherish it, it’s mostly tangible.
The first time you thought 'Music - this is the job for me'
I think it was while working at the House of Wizzard with my friend Rob Stroud and we decided to start a band. It was about 1978. We went down to Tin Pan Alley and he bought a snare drum and I bought an electric guitar. He brought the drum round my house and we played in the lounge.
Your best on stage memory...
I think it was at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury in 2004. A friend of mine, Annie, gave me acupuncture in my third eye and I went out on stage and had the most relaxing, spiritual, creative, bonanza ever. I was flowing. It was the most enjoyable in between songs I’ve ever done. It was wonderful.
And the worst gig you've ever done
I tried having third eye acupuncture at the Windsor Arts Centre on a Saturday night and things didn’t go the same way at all. It was the worst gig ever. I felt the opposite of connected and like throwing the towel in on playing live. I’d arranged a bunch of new songs to experiment with and the hen parties just wanted to boogie. I don’t use acupuncture before going on stage now.
What made you take up singing?
I bought records and loved records and wanted to make records. And records needed music and couldn’t find a singer, so I started singing and therefore writing.
Which one song by another artist do you wish you had written
I don’t wish I’d written other people’s songs. I just appreciate them. I really love “Penny Lane” by the Beatles, but honestly don’t wish I’d written it.
And one - by yourself - which holds special significance
“Fantastic Day” because it’s what I learned to play and sing on in my bedroom. So, I have great affection for it, it’s like going right back to the beginning. It’s the lavender pod I trod on in the punk days.
Are there any current influences you look to?
Influences to me are how good people are sounding because I just want to sound better than I do. Hence why I wanted North of a Miracle to sound better than Pelican West. And I want the next album I do to sound better than Woodland Echoes. So, again, I don’t really want to be like anyone else, and if I do end up sounding like someone else, it’s because of my love of music and being influenced by everything, whether it’s music or birdsong or the sound of a breeze. This might sound pretentious, but it’s true.
If you could step into the shoes of another musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
It would be Prince’s shoes and I’d enjoy every moment of being so supremely gifted.
And any genre of music that you simply can't stand?
I think present day pop music has a lot to answer for. The production is so digital and so bland and uninspired and formulated that there doesn’t seem to be much for a musician to appreciate.
Finally, plug your show in Milton Keynes - what can we expect?
100% dedication and passion for my craft, connection, satisfaction, good parking (very important), and hopefully the celebration of song.
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