Simon Todd announces new album

Simon Todd
Photograph by Peter Morrison

Half Empty/Half Full is the eagerly awaited new album from Simon Todd, produced by Boo Hewerdine, ably assisted by Chris Pepper. The album is a collection of songs based upon the concept of considering a wide variety of situations from alternative perceptions. When discussing song selection for this album, Boo Hewerdine (who Simon is so grateful and honoured to have had as a producer) suggested that he select songs that fit together around a theme. Simon immediately had five or six come straight to mind that involve looking at situations from alternative, multiple, or different perspectives. That’s how the album was born; there can be a positive and a negative in everything. Life is about choices. Make yours the right ones.

The songs cover a wide-range of subjects, some very personal, others as an observer or even being completely fictional. Regret and a search for redemption, looking for positives in the peak of personal grief, the horror and futility of the Great War, mental illness, the environment, love & heartache, and the corruption of the many by the few; it’s all here. Working with Boo and Chris Pepper was nothing but an absolute pleasure, and although Simon has never been one for self-praise or promotion, if this wasn’t his music, he’d turn it up when it came on the radio and buy it!

Hailing from the North East of England, Simon Todd is gifted with a powerful voice with a considerable range. He has, over the years, honed his song-writing into a craft, placing equal importance on lyrics, melody and chord structure.

In June 2008, Simon spent a week in Crete with Nashville recording artist and producer, Kevin Montgomery, at Songs In The Sun. Also in attendance were ex Brooks and Dunn drummer Dale Dorman, and the legendary Tommy Allsup – one-time Buddy Holly, and Bob Wills Texas Playboys guitarist; the man who flipped the coin with Ritchie Valens for a seat on the plane  that took Valens, Buddy and The Big Bopper from us on “The day the music died”. “Sitting by the pool in such a beautiful location”, said Simon; “singing ‘True Love Ways’, whilst being accompanied by Buddy Holly’s guitarist, is something that will stay with me forever”.

The experience inspired Todd, who returned home to attack his work with a renewed vigour, ultimately resulting in his debut solo CD release Contracts For The Sale Of Land in 2009. Whilst predominantly writing on his own, there have been collaborations with the likes of Karine Polwart, Findlay Napier, Ali Ingle, Tom Bem, Rosie Bell, Dave Fenley, Kellys Collins, and Pete Sallis. In addition, Simon has also been involved with song-writing retreats organised by the likes as Squeeze’s Chris Difford, and has rubbed shoulders with such luminaries as Darden Smith, and Duke Special. He has performed on both sides of the Atlantic (UK-wide, Texas & Nashville). Previously a regular contributor at the once annual “Heroes & Scarecrows”, Alan Hull (Lindisfarne) celebration night, he toured the UK in 2012 with multi-award winning Texan singer-songwriter, Dave Fenley.

Simon’s songs are guaranteed to get your foot tapping, your mind thinking, or your ears wondering why they haven’t heard him before, and how soon they can do so again.

Artist’s website: http://www.simontodd.co.uk/

‘Demons’:


We all give our spare time to run folking.com. Our aim has always been to keep folking a free service for our visitors, artists, PR agencies and tour promoters. If you wish help out and donate something (running costs currently funded by Paul Miles), please click the PayPal link below to send us a small one off payment or a monthly contribution.