Singer/Songwriter John Lee

Just had a heat wave in the UK, the weathers definately changing. With the geographical battle in the artic it’s a crucial time to say no more. The oil will eventually run out and alternatives will have to be found, so nows the time to start. The deline in certain bird species is alarming, particularly the migrants such as the turtle dove. The swifts and swallows here however have had a successful year which is encouraging. On other subjects, albums I recommend this year include Willie Nile – american ride and alice in chains – the devil put dinosaurs here. Still working on my new songs and it’s sounding good, will be putting a new song up soon. Don’t believe the lies and remember this beautiful planet is worth saving.

As well as writing songs I listen to alot of music to get inspiration. Heres my top ten at the moment:-
1) Kate Rusby – make the light
2) The hold steady – heaven is whenever
3) Mudhoney – the lucky ones
4) Soundgarden – down on the upside
5) Bob Marley- catch a fire
6) Fugazi – the argument
7) Meat Puppets- no joke
8) Bert Jansch – anthology
9) Pearl Jam – backspacer
10) Banco de gaia – memories, dreams, reflections

Just finished reading, ‘Into the Wild’ by Jon Krakauer, a deeply moving book about a young man called Chris McCandless who walked alone into the alaskan wilderness, later made into a great film. It got me thinking about the reason why were here, I’ve never gone on a solo soul searching journey, but Ive spent many times walking alone next to the sea or in the welsh mountains. I have a deep empathy for nature and it’s magical mysteries. If you spend time with nature , it can teach us many lessons.

• Sub-pop ( mudhoney, soundgarden, green river, nirvana, tad)
• Topic records (copper family, oysterband, june tabor)
• Rough trade
• Epitaph ( offspring, nofx, pennywise, bad religon)
• Monkeywrench records
• Six degrees (Issa Bagayogo)
• Silver arrow records (black crowes, chris robinson brotherhood)
• Trojan records (reggae and dub)

I’m not really bothered what label bands are on, if I like it I like it, independant or corporate. But the best scenes are born out of independant labels, as shown below in my selection (in brackets who were on the label, past or present).

I’m currently working on a concept album called, ‘Cells(the fifth sun)’, I have about 30 songs to work on and will record sometime later next year. Meanwhile I’m in the process of recording an EP called ‘Top Secret’ to be released early next year. Also been trying different tunings and developing my slide guitar to expand my repertoire.

Apart from playing and writing new songs, I have been reading alot and just finished reading Stephen Baxters “Ark”, it tells the story of the earth flooding in the future. It got me thinking how the planet could be in the future and how much of a struggle lies ahead. With the endless conflicts in the world, it seems pointless when faced with such a problem as global warming.

Goodbye was written after my grandad passed away in 2010 and accompanies the song Sometimes in tribute to the ones who have passed to the otherside. We will meet again.

Through life people see things they can not understand or told that they do not exist, such as ghosts and UFOs. One example is encounters with angels. The definition of an angel is an agent or servant of divine power, a spritual being who travels between different realms and can perform miraculous acts.

The music industry in modern times is a wash with symbolism , it’s not really a new thing, but now seems to be a plague of  artists showing these signs, and to be honest I’m pretty sick of it. The young are digesting these symbols in there sub conscious unaware of there nefarious origins. It can be linked to the infamous satanist A. Crowley and he’s history is linked with many dark acts, Jay Z now advertises his famous saying do what thou wilt…So where does that leave artists like myself, you may observe symbolism in my artwork, but I’m just trying to highlight the controllers and believe me I’m NOT selling my soul.

The pyramid of the music industry is awash with puppets serving corporate interest, Bono and his hand over one eye, ed Sheeran, they all seemed to display what is called a calling card. Basically there willing servants , maybe I’m unlearned , but it seems everyone was to be apart. Music is a voice for the voiceless, a working man or woman’s chance to express there opinion , but instead they want to join the ‘club’. It’s easy to lose faith and believe all our heroes are just clones in the vessel called the music industry. But there’s great songs under the radar and role models who still have a level of morality to display. Activist, feminist, pacifist …where’s the protest…we still live in a free world…so express …hopely my music can inspire…and for one thing I’m not signing that contract. My soul is mine. Thankyou. Peace out xx

The summer sun shines all around
the skylark rises and sings aloud
the oak and lime rise from above the ground
the blackbird sings a melody and hope is found
meadowsweet appears, toadflax and clover to
the swallows fly high, against a sky so blue
the sycamore dances, as its seeds fall down
the robin romances, making a beautiful sound
the swifts sing in the sunset sky
for we know they will leave when the time is nigh
so heres a song about the summer sun
for its here for a while , but then its gone
autumn and winter will follow on by
then spring and summer will again arrive
the seasons come and then they go
the mystery of which well never know
for summers the time for birds and flowers to show
that happiness costs nothing in the wild and open road