Chris Norris, an independent singer-songwriter and guitarist from Blyth, has just released his new album. Lee Allcock caught up with him to speak about his DIY approach and making a record during lockdown.
You’re due to release your debut album this month. How did you manage to pull everything together to get that produced and finished during lockdown?
Working a full-time job, being married and raising a young family leaves very little time for a musician outside of gigs and rehearsals. Lockdown presented an unprecedented amount of spare time in a lot of people’s lives, and I knew I had to use this extra time positively, deciding to hit the goal of producing an album of my own material. Without this rare opportunity to focus so thoroughly on writing the music, as well as the time to carry out the recording/production process, I do not believe this album would have ever been made. Lockdown has been an extremely difficult time for people, and I really do hope that hearing an album of upbeat Rock & Roll music that has come directly out of such a dark time could give people a much-needed lift.
What was it like writing, recording and producing the album by yourself?
Writing music is the part of the process that I love, and I had a clear idea in my head of how I wanted each song to sound and feel on the finished record. However, transferring that vision to record is where the real challenge began. In the circumstances, I didn’t have any technicians or recording experts to fall back on, so I was relying purely on my ears and musical instincts as a guide. I spent many painstaking hours recording, re-recording and mixing the music to find the sound I wanted, constantly trying to iron out even the slightest flat note or mistake. Eventually, I took a step back and realised that this is Rock & Roll music – it isn’t meant to be too perfect or too clean!
What can we expect from the album in terms of its sound and lyrical content? Will it follow the mellow sound of ‘Dancing in the Summertime’ or the rip-roaring rock & roll sound of ‘Hit Em’ Low’?
The album certainly has its fair share of rockers! However, it is quite an evenly balanced mix, with a few laid-back numbers and one entirely acoustic song that I’m particularly proud of. Lyrically, the themes range from very upbeat and motivational into some much more reflective and, at times, quite personal lyrics.
Of course, live music hasn’t returned just yet (although it may have done by the time this article goes to print). But personally, what has been your most memorable gig to date and why?
Most of my gigs to date have tended to be entirely solo as I enjoy the pressure when it is only me and a guitar, along with the freedom to experiment. However, my most memorable gig happened last year when I teamed up with my brother, Phil, for a show. He is a great musician and part of a well sought-after band in the North East. We had a packed-out audience and got an extremely positive reception.
And finally, what else do you have planned for 2020 and looking into 2021?
I’m currently rehearsing hard with a group of top-level musicians who I’m confident will help take my music to another level in the live setting. As soon as live music is back up and running, I will be playing and promoting the album in as many venues as possible. Like all musicians, I really can’t wait to play in front of a live audience again!
You can listen to the album now on all major online streaming platforms.
