After years performing with Hartlepool band The Jar Family, musician Dali Lee is returning to his hometown for a solo show, armed with a new album that reflects a period of profound personal change. Written through heartbreak, loss and rediscovery, the record marks a fresh chapter for the singer-songwriter, who describes the music as his most honest work yet. Lee Allcock caught up with Dali to discuss coming home, finding his confidence again and the people who helped bring his songs to life.
You’re returning to Hartlepool for a solo hometown gig. How does it feel to be performing back on home soil? And what does Hartlepool mean to you at this stage of your musical journey?
It feels great. Hartlepool is my home, where I was brought up. I lived out of town for years, in a place that never really felt like home. The Studio, where the gig is taking place, is somewhere I used to go years ago. I practised there, recorded there and played there loads of times, both with the band and solo. This time, I’m doing things professionally, just as we did with The Jar Family.
Your new album was released on Friday 23rd October, and you’ve described it as the best work you’ve ever done. What makes this record so special to you? And how does it reflect where you are in your life right now?
I think it’s a turning point in my life. Turning 50 has brought me a sense of calm and peace. The passing of Ritchie Docherty, who was with me in The Jar Family, hit me quite hard. His funeral brought us all together, sharing memories. It was a sad but beautiful day, and it was him who reignited the fire in me. The album takes you from being rock bottom, not knowing who I was or what I wanted, through a really bad patch and a break-up that ultimately set me free and gave me my life back. Then I met someone who turned everything around and brought my character and soul back. The album follows those stages like a story.
You’ve said your previous album was written during a period of anger, frustration and depression, whereas this new record represents a massive turnaround. Tell me more about what’s changed for you personally and how that transformation influenced your songwriting…
The break-up and Ritchie’s passing sent me spiralling downwards. Then I picked up my guitar, which is your best friend when you’re going through something like that. Music became my healing, and the songs just flowed. Some were written in five minutes, with the lyrics coming naturally. I played and played, and my guitar skills improved. I was, and still am, on fire! I stopped drinking, got myself into shape and started finding my worth again. I’d been shut down for so many years. I’ve been given a gift, and it’s in my bloody veins, as it is with all my kids, who are musically talented. I was born to perform and mess with people’s emotions through the music I play and the way I sing.
You’ve described the new album as raw and from the heart, and your friend and collaborator Tony has even called the material “genius”. How important was working with Tony in bringing these songs to life? And what did he bring to the recording process?
Tony has been a mate for years. After Ritchie’s funeral, I discovered that he’d built a studio at home, so I called him up. He was more than happy to help. The tracks were recorded live and then tweaked, adjusting levels, adding a little delay here and there, and putting in backing vocals. Tony has a great ear for music, and he had a few ideas about things he wanted to change. I let him do his thing and loved what was coming out of it. It was a lovely, calm, small studio – and I mean small. We just played and sang, with a simple mix in the room, and the songs flowed. Before we knew it, we had an album. Out of the blue, Tony told me that he and his partner had been listening to it and thought it was amazing. He’s true to his word. I’ve listened back and feel the same way. It’s almost as if it isn’t me playing and singing. I can’t really describe it.
Finally, what can audiences expect from the gig? And is this new chapter as a solo artist giving you a different kind of freedom compared with your days in The Jar Family?
I’ll be playing and performing like the old days, standing rather than sitting, full of energy, life and soul. The audience will get a show that makes them laugh, cry, think and maybe sing along. There’ll be old songs from my first album, tracks from the new one and a few covers thrown in. It’ll be raw, honest and from the heart, with lyrics about the path I’ve been walking and my thoughts about the world. For me, it’s about getting back out there, reconnecting with people and sharing something real. That’s what music has always been about for me.
You can listen to the new album now on all major streaming platforms.
