INTERVIEW: Chris Lewington stakes his claim with his new album ‘Shadow Play’

After catching the press’ attention earlier this year with his teaser single ‘Shadow Play’, UK singer-songwriter Chris Lewington is making a compelling return just in time for summer with his new album of the same name. Blending an alternative pop spirit with the warm, nostalgic heartbeat of the sixties, ‘Shadow Play’ offers ten expansive, guitar-driven tracks that range from toe-tapping grooves to tender, reflective ballads, all woven together by Lewington’s storytelling lyricism.

So we join him to explore the stories behind its songs, and how Lewington continues to push his artistry forward while staying true to his timeless songwriting roots.

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What was the first rock song or artist that made an impact on you?

Although they were long gone as a band by the time I was listening, The Beatles were the first band to make an impact on me. I read Hunter Davies’ original biography of the Beatles as a teenager and thought “yep thats for me I want to be in a band growing up with my mates making music together”. In a relatively short life span for a group they wrote the rules regarding pop and rock music and more or less laid the foundations of the Rock industry that followed. I think “Hats off to Hedy Lamarr” on my new album “Shadow Play” shows their influence in my music. It’s got one of those classic 12 string Rickenbacker riffs in the style The Beatles were using on many of their mid Sixties singles.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences within the rock genre?

Singer songwriters like Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and the great songwriters like Jim Webb, Lee Hazlewood, Bacharach and David. 60s bands like the Byrds, Jefferson Airplane and Love.  Bruce Springsteen is someone I’ve followed almost since the beginning. The opening track on the new album, “All Cried Up” has the kind of feel of one of his tracks. The Tindersticks are a band I’ve loved a lot over the years. “February” on the new album I think picks up on elements of their style. A bit of a slow burner with some sultry soul brass. R.E.M., Smoke Faeries, Warpaint. A friend recently  said he thought there was even some Wet Leg in there!

Are there any non-rock musicians or genres that have also influenced your music?

My first musical influences were movie themes. I was a big fan of Ennio Morricone. I think you can hear that influence in the violin lick on “February” on “Shadow Play”. I like flamenco, especially Estrella Morante. Ethiopian music – Mahmoud Ahmed. North African -Tinariwen, Tamikrest. 70s Reggae – “Friends Too Far Apart “ on the album has a country Reggae vibe.

What is your main inspiration when looking to write new music?

Books, films, newspapers, experiences. Often I’m kind of like an actor when writing a song. I’m taking on someone else’s life and writing the song from their point of view. So there needs to be an angle or aspect about a life or an incident that strikes me. “A Secret Affair” is typical on the album. It’s about John Lennon’s supposed affair with Alma Cogan at the point he knows she’s dying.

What do you enjoy most about performing live and do you have any memorable live performance experiences you’d like to share?

Playing live gives you the chance to see how your songs work for an audience. I often play acoustically, just me and guitar so the songs are much more stripped back.It’s a chance to reinterpret the songs. The title track of the album ”Shadow Play” is piano based on the album but live I’ll perform it with just guitar more akin to how I first wrote it. I was playing a festival recently with a band I play in The Kings of Oblivion and we’d got to the last number – a cover of “Spirit in the Sky” and just at that moment the heavens opened and the rain poured down. Divine inspiration?

What has been a particularly rewarding moment in your musical journey so far?

Hearing your song on national radio for the first time is a great buzz. Doing TV. Working with a producer whose records you bought and are in your collection. It’s just nice when people come up to you after a gig and say how much they enjoyed it.

How would you define success as a musician?

Being able to write and record and perform your music in the way you want.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?

In one sense it’s never been better to be starting out in music. You can record your music to a high standard at home with something like Logic and a computer. You can release your music around the world on YouTube, Spotify etc and you can promote your music using social media. That kind of scope was never there when I was first starting out. At the same time that your music is your art and creative process you also have to realise that you need to promote it. You need to work out who  your audience are and why they should listen to you rather than any one else. To quote Bob Dylan “you have to invent yourself”.

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Listen to Chris Lewington’s new album ‘Shadow Play’ below.