This week: KEVIN PEARCE
Kevin Pearce is a singer/songsmith of great potential from a ramshackle corner of Essex who makes wonderful heartfelt music that feels folk at its heart – yet has a great big dollop of pop sensibility flowing through its veins:
It was not only Kevin‘s skill in writing a well turned-out tune that grabbed my ears and said “LISTEN Johnno!”. It was also his voice which sounds like an old friend in fresh new clothing. No tricks, no games – just heartfelt emotion and tone that sound like they belong to a man at least 20 years his senior. A man who has lived a life and has tales to tell.
Now in an oversaturated music community – where everyone and his kid brother is a musician of some kind – it can be hard to separate the good from the bad and the ugly. But hey – at Fresh On The Net – that’s what we’re here for.
It might well be true that every local boozer or local bedroom is chock full of blokes with acoustic guitars singing heartfelt laments. But with Kevin Pearce we say: pause, prick up your ears and listen. This ain’t your average singer-songwriter on the block. BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq is a supporter of Kevin’s music, and I can see why. This is bloody good and worth some investment of time.
Kevin’s debut album Pocket Handkerchief Lane is out now, produced by Dean Honer (who also produced The Human League and Moloko), with a single ‘Don’t fall down’ due in August. He even finds time for a side project by being in the electro band Skywatchers (which is made up of himself and the band i Monster).
Take the opportunity to catch him live and you’ll be chuffed you did: he has lots of upcoming dates through the summer including an appearance at Latitude festival. Find him on Facebook & Soundcloud
1. What are you up to at the moment?
Playing a newly inherited upright piano
2. Favourite childhood memory?
Climbing trees
3. Hero?
Charles Darwin
4. Villain?
Hitler. he was a wrongun.
5. What/who makes you laugh?
Bill Hicks
6. Describe what you do?
I write songs that hurt me to write. and hopefully someone , somewhere, may get something from them.
7. Whose hair would you like to have for just one day?
Chaka Khan’s
8. Best musical experience to date
Supporting Beth Orton this year.
9. What artist inspires you?
So many do, but if i had to pick just one, Nick Drake.
10. What does Fresh On The Net mean to you?
Fresh on the net is just what the independent artist needs. It supplies a great platform for emerging talent to be heard. Long live Fresh On The Net.
Discovered Kevin a few months ago as income from the same ramshackle corner of Essex. Refreshing, interesting, relaxing music and a bloody nice bloke. Deserves all the success he’s gonna get
I have seen Kevin many times in Woodbridge and he is a great musician. But best of all he is great bloke too. I have his latest CD and it is played regularly. Go for it!!!!
I have seen Kevin many times in Woodbridge too. He is different and great. We play his CD all the time in our campervan particularly. Have a listen to his album x