Teesside Singer-songwriter Paul Reed has been carving out a name for himself with heartfelt performances and a unique ability to blend raw honesty with melodic storytelling. Beyond his musical talents, Paul’s journey has been shaped by his experiences living with Crohn’s disease, an unpredictable and often debilitating condition that has influenced both his personal life and creative output. Lee Allcock spoke to him about his health, his music, and his latest single, City of Ghosts, out on Saturday 7th February.
For those who may not know your story, can you tell us how Crohn’s disease has shaped your life and career as a musician?
For anyone that doesn’t know, Crohn’s is a form of chronic bowel disease. Symptoms include excruciating stomach pain, diarrhoea, sickness and general fatigue, and the condition can be very unpredictable. I’ve had two surgeries to remove sections of bowel that were beyond repair. It’s not easy to work a 9-to-5 job when you could be awake all night going to the loo. Music has given me the luxury to earn a living despite my illness. Most live gigs are 90 minutes, broken into two 45-minute sets, and the rest of the job can be done from the comfort of my home, such as admin, writing, taking bookings and so on.
What were the biggest physical and creative challenges you faced before finding a treatment plan that worked for you?
When I was using the NHS-recommended treatments, I never felt in control of my condition. I was being pumped full of steroids, codeine and other opiates, with regular infusions of every new drug that came onto the market. None of these made any noticeable difference to my quality of life. I was in a constant state of brain fog due to the steroids and codeine, and it was incredibly difficult to concentrate on performing. It’s not easy to connect with an audience when you’re in excruciating pain but trying to put a smile on your face. I used to be far more concerned about finding the nearest toilet than thinking about what songs I was going to sing.
You’ve spoken openly about the transformative effect medical cannabis has had on your life. How did it change your day-to-day wellbeing and your ability to make music?
Since discovering medical cannabis, I can honestly say I no longer have these problems. I haven’t taken a single codeine or steroid for more than two years, and the difference is unbelievable. I can now go out and enjoy the job I’ve always wanted to do since I was a child. I control any pain with cannabis and avoid the debilitating side effects of prescription drugs.
Did your experiences with chronic illness and recovery influence the writing or emotional tone of your new single?
My last single was dedicated to the Teesside Cannabis Club to thank them for all their help and advice in getting me set up with a cannabis clinic. My latest release, ‘City of Ghosts’, is a collaboration with my duo partner, Steve Jarvie. The lyrics explore returning to his home city of Glasgow and the thoughts and feelings that evokes. We’ve released tracks together in the past, but this is the first time Steve has written all the lyrics while I composed the music. It was recorded at Nemix Studios in Newcastle by Patrick Fox and Michael Curran. They are an absolute dream to work with – their enthusiasm is apparent, and I feel they get the best out of us, which hopefully comes through in the track.
You can listen to ‘City of Ghosts’ on all major streaming platforms from Saturday 7th February.
