2024 'PARANOID RAGE': BEHIND THE RE-RELEASE
‘Paranoid Rage’ is my debut alternative rock album from 2008, re-released this 2024 on all good streaming services. MP3's and physical CD.
Polished up and sounding better than ever, it just felt right to breathe new life into the album.
Genesis
I first wrote and arranged the songs back in 2003-2007. Ron Rosenblum produced the album in 2008, and I gigged this album with two different bands and did promo shoots around 2008-2011.
Since working with producer/musician Misha Nikolic (Martin Turner Ex-Wishbone Ash) on my ‘Black Swan’ album, I realised how massively technology had changed since recording ‘Paranoid Rage’. Misha helped remix, remaster, and bring my vision to life, bringing out nuances and depths that were previously impossible. It was fantastic to revisit these tunes. There is more darkness and more attitude, and they all ROCK!
Personal Journey and Artistic Evolution
Revisiting ‘Paranoid Rage’ was like opening a time capsule 🕰️. The themes of the album reflect the shadow self and monsters I was fighting at the time. To capture this, I reworked the artwork, making it darker and more reflective of that inner turmoil. Interestingly, the pictures I used for the 2024 artwork were actually taken back in the day for a press release for the release of PARANOID RAGE.
As a DIY artist always seeking guidance, I was advised by people in the PR industry not to use these boxing pictures. Their reasoning was that such images might not be suitable?! But I thought, if you write a horror story, you use horror-themed pictures to reflect it, right? 👹 So, for an album titled 'PARANOID RAGE', my rage pictures should reflect that story.
Boxing photo shoot with David Apps 2008/2009
What I said to the PR people fell on deaf ears; they did not want to use my pictures. To be honest, I'm glad it worked out this way. Although it has taken time to get here and re-release the album, I was not in a position back then to do the artwork properly. And you know what? It works! The raw, unfiltered emotion in those pictures perfectly complements the essence of the album, bringing the project full circle 🎨.
Original Artwork
The original artwork featured a knee-length black plastic boot with a red flame that I wore to some gigs. I loved these boots at the time, and there’s a picture of me with my foot on an amp wearing the boot 👢. I originally used this image because it symbolised putting your foot down, taking control, and taking over. It was such an over-the-top boot that I thought it was funny too 😂. However, the PR people didn’t like this picture and wanted a 'nice' picture of me.
Original artwork below, putting your foot down, taking control and taking over for DRIVER, back in 2008/2009.
From left to right: Main image, back image, inlay track listing, old physical cd and original image of me wearing those boots!
I’m glad I stood my ground. I’m happy I have been a 'Black Swan', and chipping away at my art in the dark 🦢, in the back ground where no one knew. Sticking to my guns has paid off, and now I have artwork that truly reflects the album's title and its essence.
Track Highlights
Each track on 'Paranoid Rage' holds a special place in my heart ❤️. Here are some highlights:
Spit-On-You: It's a raw expression of anger and defiance 😤. I used to introduce this track as, "This song has no name, as I would rather fu@king spit on it, than name it!" Until one day someone said to me, "Can you play that spit on you song?" 🎤 - I was happy to call the song from that point "Spit-On-You," as technically, I still hadn't named it! It's all about revenge 🔥 and revisiting the people you may have had the darkest moments with. With the re-release, we’ve enhanced its intensity and depth, making it even more powerful 💥.
Falling Down: This track was my most commercial and is about being present for someone who turns out to be an energy vampire, sucking the life force out of you until you fall down, wake up , to find out your on your own🧛♂️. I loved revisiting this song, and Misha's solo was worth the wait! It's a tune to rock out to in the car 🚗🎸!
You Made Your Bed: A real raw rock spirit here! You made your bed, so go fu@k in it! 😤 This track captures the moment you gather your strength and start doing things your own way 💪. Great one-liner song, full of attitude, balls and ovaries! 🤘
Change Your Ways: This song was born after a manager from work came to a gig, called me the next day, and ran me down. The thing is, she had a controlling father who was a vicar and told me she was hit if she expressed herself when she was younger. I knew her running me down was really just jealousy 😒. However, I just wished she would change her ways ✨.
Hit Me: This was a message to the Universe 🌌. It's a message you never really want to send, because if it works, you will be tested. Great song, heavy, dark, but be careful what you wish for 🔥.
Cafe Reef: Hilarious song after meeting a bloke named George from the sex industry 😜. This was back in the day when people ran personal ads in the back of magazines 📚. I always thought they were funny to read and met George. The rest you will have to listen to the song to get the full picture, but I will say this... There's no fu@king way! 😂 It's a great, funny song, and I still love it just as much today! 😆🎶
Voices: This track was one of the first songs I wrote about voices and following intuition back in the day 🗣️✨. I think Misha hated it initially as there were so many tempo changes; it was very raw and free-spirited with a big build-up towards the end 🚀🎶. It's epic, and I brought it to life with choir, effects, and a great insane, not-typical solo from Misha 🎸🔥. This song is incredible, and it came from me ♥️🎤.
Can't Stop The Screams: When you're alone in the dark, you can't stop the screams 😱🌑. Like a scene from a horror film, this track was born from the fear that someone might have taken their own life, and I couldn't find them. My head was pounding at the time 😵💫. I did everything for them, but somehow it wasn't enough 💔. I love the dark tribal beats in the track 🥁🖤 and Misha's sweep picking over the chorus 🎸🔥. This track really takes me back to a different time and place, to a different me.
Stolen Thunder: In the very, very early days, someone I truly admired, looked up to, and considered a friend, stole an intro from a song that I had played for her! 😤💔 I used to see my old mate gig quite a lot and thought she was a great songwriter with a fantastic voice 🎤. I showed her an intro to a song I had created and thought nothing more of it. Then, during one of her solo gigs, I found myself thinking, "I've heard this somewhere before," and realised it was my own song she had taken! 😲😡 So, I decided to write "Stolen Thunder" about that experience. It's much darker, bigger, and better 🌩️🎶🔥.
July 19th : The day my world changed forever. "July 19th" is the only song I have ever written about the profound trauma of grief and the loss of love 💔. "It's taken me years to realise tears of pain never die; inside, you cry." 😢🌧️ This track delves deep into the heartache and enduring sorrow that come with such a loss, capturing the enduring impact of grief.
Ready to dive deeper into the raw energy of 'Black Swan' and the intense emotions of 'Paranoid Rage'? Click below to experience music that defies convention:
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