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- We’re very excited to have some time today with acclaimed singer/songwriter and alternative rock artist known far-and-wide as CHIDGEY; greetings and salutations CHIDGEY and thanks for taking time from a busy schedule to speak with us here at Vents Magazine! Before we dive into the Q&A mosh-pit, how is the back-half of 2025 finding you and yours?
Well, it’s been a tough 2nd half of year for business but that only helps create the environment for emotional music. I am feeling great, my kids are thriving and if I have nothing else, that makes me very happy!
- Major kudos and accolades on your stunning new EP L.A.R.P which is lighting up record charts across the ever-loving globe even as we speak! Starting at the top, can you talk about what inspired one of the very best EP releases of ‘25?
Thank you so much! A lot of my tracks are songs about a parallel universe I inhabit, one where other eventualities might play out, through music, I experience catharsis making some of the tougher days in reality just that little bit easier to deal with. if I play out some of my darker thoughts and situations through music then I am free to carry on my normal life pretty care free. It’s a great way of relieving stress.
- The rightly lauded Dan Konopka of OK GO! produced the tracks on the L.A.R.P EP, as well as provided drumming to most of the tunes! How did you connect with Dan for the EP and what was your collaboration like while fashioning and shaping the new release?
I sought Dan out online, sent him some of my previous work to see if he’d like to work on my new tracks. Thankfully, he said yes, he was visiting the UK too so we met up, got on really well, had a similar philosophy around music. I’d recorded some tracks for the EP so the plan was to send the stems over to Dan and Gene and they would re-imagine the tracks, using their influence we would then find a great compromise which used their technical brilliance and my songwriting capabilities to deliver the tracks on L.A.R. P. It was a little strange at first working remotely, and as first I didn’t feel fully connected to the tracks but I came to love them after time, the process took around 8 months
- In your humble opinion, what differentiates the L.A.R.P EP from the Distinguished Competition on the current day music scene?
I’d like to think that authenticity and emotion is something that might differentiate me from other artists, I really do feel and mean every word I write and sing. I believe I have my own style and delivery, I admit I am not the greatest singer on the planet but I do love making music and I hope that comes through the tracks. I also believe that each track should be a little journey in its own right, I go to great lengths to make sure each track is an individual performance, unique if you will.
- We’re big admirers of the tune All or Nothing which stands front-and-center on the new L.A.R.P EP! What’s the story on this gem of a ditty?
All or nothing is probably the most personal track on the album, if it were a painting it would be a self portrait I guess. It’s the most introspective track I’ve written, but my feeling is that if you don’t write from a real perspective or experience then its impossible to connect with others with the medium.
- In the wake of the October 31 release of L.A.R.P, should fans keep eyes and ears on high alert for even more music from you, perhaps in the form of an LP release in ’26?
Yes, I already have another EP worth of material ready to go but need to get into the studio to complete the work and decide which tracks make it to the final cut. I’m also very involved with a collaboration called ‘giant lamb.’ We’re looking at a slightly different vibe, we love producers like James Lavelle, the mix of EDM and folk songwriting really appeals to us, in fact our first gig is at a great little venue called The Molehole in Gravesend on 14th November. With an EP or album looking good for 2026 too.
- What does your touring/performing dance card look like in the coming weeks and months?
We have gigs with giant lamb, mentioned previously, I tend to play open mic nights due to time constraints and it’s always a little tricky to get some momentum, bands or solo performing take time, money and effort, the holy trinity…..not to mention talent, so we’re hoping to ramp up the gigging in 2026 and really put some great performances in. all info can be found on our insta account @lambgiant, give us a follow and hopefully we’ll see you at a venue near you soon!
- Who are some of the folks both in and out of the world of music who have informed and inspired your own professional pathway?
I had kind of given up on music, moving to London in 2003 was a big change for me. I previously lived in Sheffield and was the lead singer of a band balled The Better Ford Clinic, we gigged a lot, this was the time of The longpigs, Pulp, Fat Truckers, Rev and the makers, Gomez and later the Arctic Monkeys. Whilst we were good and the gigs were enjoyed, the vibrant music scene saw us fairly invisible and we were very much a nearly made it band. Once I’d left I became a worker drone and kind of gave music up with minor but not very dedicated stints at a resurgence. My main influence in my evolution of an artist was probably my uncles on my mum’s side, my uncles Tony and Karl were in a band called the Stockholm monsters, signed to factory label in the early 80’s they toured with joy division, a certain ratio and other disruptive bands. Although they were never famous, their influence was far reaching, from robbing houses with Mani from the Stone Roses when they were kids to Morrisey mimicking my uncle Tony in hair and clothing style, Bobby Gillespie starting primal scream on his advice and Noel and Liam starting a band ‘just because the Stockholm Monsters had’ and lived round the corner. I really looked up to them, I thought they were super cool. A few years ago, I took my children to see my mum and my uncle Tony gave them a lovely hondo classical guitar, although they didn’t touch it, I started strumming, and all of these songs poured out of me. My kids loved the songs and so I always run them by them to see which ones are their favourites, it’s really nice to hear them singing or humming my tracks around the house, and ultimately, they provide the greatest inspiration.
- As a singer and songwriter – one of the very best in the business! – which generally tends to come first for you during the creative process – The lyrics or the music? Or is it a bit more freeform than all of that?
I don’t have a set process for songwriting, but……usually it’s a chord progression, then a melody, then the words, I tend to always work to the first take, its always the most natural and then I refine it with iterations, sometimes ill come up with a lyric or a melody and I’ll match with a piano or chord progressions but maybe only 10% of the time. I’ve also got access to a great producer who is incredibly experienced and can really help with genres, sounds, beats, rally anything I’d like to add or try.
- At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-spin to your stunner of a new heartfelt EP L.A.R.P?
So I’m of the belief that songs are personal to you, of course, there’s my motivation, story and experience in there but the songs are really whatever they mean to you, the place, time, situation will all vary for the listeners so if they touch you in any way then I’m satisfied.
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