Meet Terry Finch, a UK artist who first started his musical career being part of an Elvis tribute band before changing to the Jazz genre. He toured up and down the country before taking his career into an alternative direction performing on cruise ships for 7 years, but non the less he enjoyed it. When he returned to the UK shore’s he made the decision to resume making and producing new musical material touring.
Ironically, Terry’s passion for a life in music first began when he was introduced to rock legend’s, Pink Floyd, during his school years in the 80’s. In his youth he was deeply into progressive rock sounds, even at a time when it was considered unfashionable for the then youth of that generation. Like with many, his journey in music has taken numerous twists and turns (COVID being one of them), however, he is looking firmly ahead into 2022 along with his latest EP offering, VOTE.
“It has been my passion and my life since then and never lost its attraction, actually getting anywhere doing it is another matter”
So, Terry What inspired you to get into music?
I heard echoes by Pink Floyd in an art class at school, it blew me away, it was like going on a musical journey, the song is about 25 minutes long, it starts in one place, goes somewhere else, then eventually returns to the main theme / song. I was really bored of the music at the time, this was around 1980, so I started getting into 1970s prog bands when it was really unfashionable.
You did get some form of inspiration during your early years at school when the teachers put a record on.
Yes, it was Mr Barnard, my art teacher, he was very laid back and I always looked forward to his classes, it was the only thing I enjoyed at school, the only thing we really learned was that we were worthless, it took a long time to pull myself out of the damage caused by my so-called education.
In your early years what would have considered cool and uncool to get into
That never really interested me, I only knew what I liked and I never cared if anyone else thought I was uncool, in fact I rather liked being uncool and not being into whatever was fashionable at the time.
So, if you were a fan of some of these bands you would have listened to them in secret.
I suppose like all young people there was the arrogance of youth and I seem to remember pretending not to like ABBA, it seems so odd to me now, I sometimes play with punk bands and I love going on about how great ABBA are because I know it winds them up a bit, all genres of music are inherently conservative, I like to think nowadays I listen to anything without prejudice, I have heard young people sometimes going on about how the music they listen to is better than other generations or genre’s, it’s quite strange and tribal, even worse if you still talk like that when you are in your 50s.
Very much how many of enjoyed a sneaky snack during class hours
Might want to check the grammar here, sorry being pedantic, I never had sneaky snacks during class, I was probably too bored or depressed to even think about eating.
You took music classes in your mid-20s. During that time was there any thoughts or ideas in your head as to where you thought about whether it was something you actually wanted to pursue?
There was never any doubt that music was the direction I wanted to go in. It has been my passion and my life since then and never lost its attraction, actually getting anywhere doing it is another matter, I am not connected and so my chances were always small.
And did you also ask yourself the question about how long it could possibly last?
I don’t think I ever did, I always loved it too much to worry.
After a while, where about’s did your musical journey take you?
All around the world, cruise ship gigs, tours, all over the place, writing my own music has been a more introspective journey. I worked on the cruise ships around the Caribbean and Mediterranean and West Africa for about 7 years, I did 3 seasons with a travelling circus orchestra in Denmark. All the usual pubs and clubs up and down the country, it’s been a real ride.
During your musical career you started off in an Elvis tribute band before joining a jazz band. Seeing the former wasn’t of the latter genre how much of a challenge was switching between the two?
No trouble at all, I grew up with rock music, my only trouble was that jazz was a new thing for me at the time and I had trouble getting the feel and soloing over the chops, as it’s more complex than rock or pop. I was sight reading the parts and then soloing, my tutor and I went through the various jazz standards as part of my lessons, being a stranger to jazz, I had to study the modes extensively.
Now interestingly your career took a surprising turn as you found work on a cruise ship as a musician. Tell us more about that experience please.
I worked on P&O for about 7 years, my main job was backing the cabaret acts, mostly tribute performers, Robbie Williams, Elton John, Simply Red, Queen, Neil Diamond, George Michael, Rod Stewart, Annie Lennox etc. There were a couple of shows, with dancers, it was sight reading a lot and I also had to perform on top deck a few times, singing and playing guitar, I also did some solo acoustic slots in the various lounge bars, Cavatina, etc. I was free during the day so I could explore the Caribbean and Mediterranean at my leisure.
And did you get to experience the music scenes of where you visited during the cruises?
A little bit, I went with the pianist a few times to a bar in Aruba to watch a Latin band, they were amazing, I saw a band in Thailand when we went there as well, I enjoyed them. there was a Phillipino band on Fred Olsen and I thought they were great as well.
2020 and 2021 were quite challenging due to the COVID 19 pandemic, how much of an effect did this have on you as a musician and a singer?
It was devastating, suddenly there was no work. this has been an essential part of my income for decades and I lost all my gigs in an instant.
And since we’ve been returning to gradual normality have you been able to resume live gigs and look into resuming touring?
Since lockdown ended, I suddenly found myself absolutely inundated with work, mostly ABBA tributes which I never get bored of. Actually, I have been so busy I could do with some time off.
Many musicians and song writers find inspiration in both their everyday lives and from their own life. What inspires you whenever you put pen to paper?
Life in general, things that move me, anger me, things I am concerned about, the terrible state of the world at the moment, perhaps singing about it is cathartic.
As a musician which sounds influence yours?
All kinds of sounds influence me, even non-musical ones, I like the sound of the ocean, of trains, of crowds, the woods, but I listen a lot to Avant Garde stuff, electronic music, classical music, listening to my music you would never guess it though.
So far, you’ve produced 2 albums, tell me about the first one, how long it took to do and the creativity and mechanics that went into making it.
I made an E.P. called “Unknown Artist” a few years back, I think of it as a kind of taster for my music, it was a real learning curve, I play everything except drums on my albums, unless the keyboard parts require a higher level of ability, then I call in favours. Paul McMahon played the keys on the first album and he did a fantastic job, it was mixed with the keys a bit low in the mix I think, so I might do it again at some point. I also recorded it without a click which caused enormous problems later on. It took ages and I am generally not happy with it, so I will get around to re mixing it one day, possibly even extend it and make it into a vinyl as well.
My First album called “People And Places” is a collection of songs that just happen to be about people I have known and metaphorical places, mostly symbolising places in my own mind. It’s not a concept album, but it does have a theme, I am a lot happier with the mix on that album, it is an eclectic mix, like my own musical tastes and has a couple of instrumentals. Again, it took ages to do because I am restrained by finances and time in the studio is at the mercy of when I can afford it.
You’ve also made a second album “VOTE”, tell us more about it please.
I am recording 2 albums at the moment, “VOTE” is another “themed” album with themes surrounding the environment and politics, the other I am doing under a pseudonym because it a satirical album with a lot of profanity, but hopefully it is funny as well. I am undecided which one to release first, possibly the profane one as it’s a lot easier to mix. I am pleased with them both but VOTE is a serious album, 2 of the songs are already available on Spotify and Bandcamp etc, “working class Tory voter” and “Gaia”, the former is the nearest I have got to doing rap and the second is an instrumental.
And what can we expect from this one?
VOTE is not quite as eclectic as People and places but it still has that diversity of styles, it’s more rocky but also has moments where it veers towards folk. The songs are mostly up tempo and there is some humour in songs like “Anorak”, which is a little bit autobiographical. It’s about a guy who finds his life difficult and dull and escapes from reality in science fiction. Working class Tory voter is the closest I have gotten to rap, it’s different again from previous styles and has more humour, I am astonished that the working classes in this country and anywhere else in the world seem obsequious to perceived “higher classes” when it appears quite clear to me that these people have no empathy for people at lower social strata’s at all. I have 4 very old songs which have undergone various rewrites over the years. Identity Crisis features on Unknown Artist and the version on VOTE is faster and is a new recording. The first three tracks all morph into one another, as do the last three, I always had this in mind as I love having theme’s and having the songs run into each other. “Last protest Song” is also a song I wrote years ago; it was initially about the threat of nuclear war but I have changed the lyrics to be a little more ambiguous although I am thinking of the climate crisis in the lyrics. The original version of this song was reviewed by Micky Most in the National Band Competition, (I think that’s what it was called anyway), he gave me 89 out of 100 for the song, his main criticism was that the verse was a little flat and it was not commercial enough, aside from that he said he thought it was really good, I took his words seriously and worked on improving the verses, I am not really worried about it being commercial as that doesn’t really interest me, I just want it to be good. I still have the letter he sent me somewhere, I really should dig it out. Strange Thing again was written years ago and retains the same themes of social exclusion and the absence of social mobility. Nightshift is a bit of an opus, it has 2 sections, one is based on an electronic riff and then the second half is like a folky tune. After I left school, I had some really miserable jobs and I felt trapped and helpless with nothing to look forward to. Nightshift explores this and the second section was my only escape (aside from alcohol), it’s me enjoying the view from the top of Box Hill in Surrey. These 4 songs were gigged years ago in various bands and I always felt they had potential; I am much happier with the songs as they exist today.
What can we expect from you going into 2022?
Well, it’s all looking a bit uncertain at the moment isn’t it, I really don’t know what to say here, I am releasing 2 albums this year, aside from my professional work I play my own music mostly at open mic nights, I would love to put a band together to play these songs live. I have a keyboard player and a bassist, finding a drummer is difficult, I would also like to find a rhythm guitarist who can sing harmonies as there are loads of harmonies in my songs.
Finally, where can people hear your music?
Best place to find my music is on Bandcamp, but it is also available on all the usual sites, Spotify, amazon, SoundCloud, there are also music videos to see on YouTube.
https://terryfinch.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/raindanceterryfinch/
