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Newton Faulkner

1 Feb 2010

Brit-nominated Newton Faulkner’s second album Rebuilt by Humans is the follow-up to his 2007 million-selling number one debut Hand Built By Robots. The irrepressible Faulkner, whose good vibes and spirit for gigging made his songs a word-of-mouth phenomena, radio staples and festival anthems of 2007/8. In between albums, Newton Faulkner wouldn’t stop touring. He gigged right up until the end of 2008. Partly because the fans wanted him to, partly because he wanted to - Faulkner loves performing, whether in a club, cave, theatre, festival or hot-air balloons (he did that, over the Swiss Alps, for a radio show).

Newton Faulkner, a man with a purist’s love of music and a burning desire to share his songs with people, didn’t want to go down any of the obvious routes for his second album. For all his brilliance on the guitar, Newton wanted to bring more sonic colours to his palette. And, finally, this people’s poet and "have-guitar-will-travel" troubadour wanted Rebuilt By Humans to do something special.

Take it away caught up with Newton to ask him a few questions…

How would you describe your creative life?
Creating on demand is hard work. It's a strange moment when what you used to do just for yourself in your bedroom becomes your job. It becomes what you have to do, and then you do it more than you've ever done it before and to others’ specifications. It's also hugely rewarding and a lot of fun. So don't let me put you off. The hardest decisions are whether you continue to do it just for yourself, or compromise in order to have a career, or sustain a career...and I can't help there. I don't think there is a clear correct or incorrect decision, you just have to trust yourself.

We hear you’re playing a special gig at Abbey Road Studios on 25 February. Can you give us an insight to that?
No. To be honest I have no idea what I'm going to do yet. We could go over it afterwards, you could ask me questions like "So...what went wrong, in your opinion?"

What's special about the album Rebuilt by Humans to you?
It's much more autobiographical than the first album. There is a reasonable amount of stream of consciousness on Hand Built - Rebuilt is a lot more personal, it's about friends and family and everything that's happened over the last couple of years.

Will you be involved with any other artists creatively at any time?
I'd love to! There are possible things in the pipeline that, if they happen, should be interesting! I'm flying to Japan in a couple of days to do a track with a band called Dreams Come True on Japanese telly box. Really looking forward to that!

What's your favourite music? What is it about it you love?
Everything, I love creating. I love feeling the vibrations of the notes against my stomach. I love communicating with people. I love learning and practicing (while secretly imagining I'm in a Kung-fu montage). In fact, I can't think of anything I don't like about it.

What is your favourite song in the world? Why?
I'm still here, off the album Alice by Tom Waits. It's perfect. It's short but perfectly formed, like Scarlet Johansson...

When did you personally start playing an instrument?
I played a few things before I made it to the acoustic guitar. I think the first I ever played by choice was the keyboard. I just asked my mum and apparently I started having lessons when I was nine.

Have you come up against difficulties when learning? How did you overcome them?
Of course, loads! Every now and then you hit something you can't seem to move past, and you plateau for a little bit. As for how you get past these, it's hard to remember. Something just clicks and you flow straight through it like there was never anything there. If I could work out what triggers that, then I could get really good.

What or who inspired you to start and continue playing?
I wish I could remember why I started in the first place, but I can't. I just fell into it. I continue playing because of people like Eric Roche and Thomas Leeb and everyone else who's better than me. I really enjoy the challenge of pushing myself, especially live when I've nothing to hide behind. It's just me, a guitar, and a lot of people.

Is there another instrument you want to play?
All of them. Ok, maybe not all of them, I could live without the recorder and I struggle with brass instruments after a BMX accident when I was eleven, involving some concrete and my face.

Any advice for those just starting playing and starting out?
Enjoy it. I truly believe that is the most important thing.

What are your thoughts on the Arts Council’s Take it away scheme?
It gives young people an opportunity to discover music, I think it's invaluable.

Faulkner tours UK, Europe and Australia from Jan 2010. Don’t miss him!

www.newtonfaulkner.com

www.myspace.com/newtonfaulkner

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Newton Faulkner