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Welcome to episode 45

We kick off with the brilliant

Mad Haven and their new sing “Wasted On You”

They tell me …….

“Mad Haven’s latest single “Take Control” was a huge success. In the last month, the band’s monthly Spotify listeners rose to a staggering 10,750 and the single gained 20,000 streams, and over 500 playlist adds!

‘Wasted On You’ is a song of encouragement and empowerment, to tell you that if someone is constantly getting you down, wearing you out and not appreciating you, while all you do is be kind caring and work hard to make them happy, you are not valued here.

The song tells the story of someone aiming for the stars, someone who will do anything to get what they want, even if it means hurting the people that are closest to them. This person wants to “live like a megastar” and “live like they’re on TV” but while you are putting in all your effort to help and support them, they present you with lies and a total lack of caring.

Once you become so low that you cannot continue, you will have no option but to walk away and tell them “I’m not gonna waste it all on you”. The next phase will be hard. There will be fabrications made up and hate being thrown your way, anything to keep up their narrative of being the victim and it won’t stop until they find the next. Stay strong, you are better than this. Know when it’s time to get out.”

They have socials….

https://www.facebook.com/madhavenrocks

https://www.instagram.com/madhavenrocks/

Next up is Dan O’Farrell & The Difference Engine and “The Colonial Club” taken from their forthcoming album ‘The Fish That Learned To Drown’ (Gare Du Nord, 22/02/26); Produced by Andy Lewis.

A song for all those people who start sentences with “I’m not racist but…” and then spout pure racist bile inspired by the toppling of Edward Colston’s stature in Bristol a few years ago.

Follow them to here for all the best stuff

https://danofarrellthedifferenceengine.bandcamp.com/track/the-colonial-club

Erin Hughes – Replaceable

Erin tells me that “Replaceable is pop-rock with that bitter “You Oughta Know” kind of flavour. Not heartbreak but bubbling rage, the song was in part inspired by my very favourite line of ABBA’s extensive back catalogue, “but tell me does she kiss like I used to kiss you? Does it feel the same when she calls your name?” replaceable, though, is less gracious in defeat, and the result is an emotionally-charged sing-a-long!

https://www.instagram.com/erinhughes_music/

Which brings us to Eugene McGuinness and his great song London which coincidentally comes just a week after I spent a weekend in this fine city. I had a great time traveling around and despite what idiots may tell you, I felt and was totally safe and had a ball catching all kinds of public transport around the place!

This is what I was told about Eugene McGuinness “….had accepted his career in music was over.

The end of his deal with Domino Records, followed by a difficult self-released album, fatherhood, and just life generally, saw his personal dreams and ambitions slowly slip out onto the horizon.

A period of great change, McGuinness had embraced his new work and family life happy to leave the ugliness of the music biz behind him but the absence of making music, and the joy the process brings, left a hole.

Which brings us to ….

London. The second single from the returning Eugene McGuinness.

London is where McGuinness was born and currently resides, but one he’d never really call ‘home’ despite his deep affection for the city. Born to Irish parents, his complex relationship with London is considered in this lyrically personal yet universal exploration.

London is a city that is fun, vibrant and romantic whilst simultaneously hard, bleak and intolerant. The song explores themes of identity and belonging, where you come from and where you’re going, in a place that can seem to be fighting against you.

Recorded at Liverpool’s Docklands Speed Shop with friend and producer Gajo Paco, the track is lush, warm and cinematic. Tasteful additions of cello, slide guitar and wurlitzer compliment a rich, beautiful melody.

McGuinness’ wry lyrical flair is once again flaunted in this ‘widescreen romance’ about displacement and uncertainty.

Eugene McGuinness is an inventive songwriter and performer, known for his wry, nimble lyricism and blending retro influences with contemporary sounds to create his unique brand of off-kilter pop.

Of Irish heritage, the idiosyncratic McGuinness began crafting songs in his teens, and gained recognition with debut EP ‘The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuinness’ released in 2007. His self titled debut album was released in 2008 on Domino Records followed by ‘Glue’ (2009 as ‘Eugene and The Lizards’), ‘The Invitation to the Voyage’ in 2012 and ‘Chroma’ (2014). ‘Suburban Gothic’ (2018) was released independently and marked his departure from Domino Records.

McGuinness’s discography reflects his evolution as an artist unafraid to experiment and never playing to the gallery following a tradition of songwriters Bob Dylan, Shane MacGowan, Randy Newman, Rufus Wainwright with voices and interior universes that are all their own.

Credits

Eugene McGuinness
Music, Lyrics, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano

Ryan Wyatt
Bass Guitar, Wurlitzer Electric Piano

Joe McMonagle
Acoustic Drums & Percussion

The Kambourines
Backing Vocals

Matthew Phillips
Strings arrangement and Cello

Produced, Mixed & Engineered by Gajo Paco
at Docklands Speed Shop Recording Studio, Liverpool, UK

Links

https://mellowtonerecords.com/

https://www.instagram.com/docklandspeedshop/

Lyrics

You and I go back a long time
We braved the rain and bathed in sunshine
But you walk all over me sometimes
As we drag our shadows

London I love you
But you’ve stung me
And you only want me for my money
The money that you just won’t let me have..

And we’re falling in and out of love so fast

Now I only watch those movies for the fight scenes
Been led to quite the nightmare from these pipe dreams
I see a ferry on a river
A river of electric light

We’re shifting mirrors tonight

London I love you
But you’ve hurt me
And you make me feel so dirty
I own up there was a time I was into that..

And we’re falling in and out of love so fast

I can’t take it anymore.

And there you have it. Thanks to everyone who has contacted me about the podcast, it’s always great to read your comments here there and everywhere.

See you next time …x

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