Chris Pidsley is a singer/songwriter from Gloucestershire, UK. Now based in London, Pidsley crafts infectious, indie-pop sounds with a healthy dose of angsty, sad boy vibes. With an overall theme of sun, summer and nostalgia, his music is raw and relatable, making the perfect laid-back soundtrack to the everyday lives of twenty-somethings.
His new five-track EP Daisies, touches on tales and feelings from Pidsley’s life. Carrying a warmth and honesty that flows through a golden pool of soothing production, the release glows with character and emotion. Curated from the depths of his bedroom, the DIY vibe brings an essence of authenticity, giving us a peek into the world of the artist.
Opening track “Tie Dye T-Shirt” introduces itself as a floral, hazy tune before kicking into an energetic blast. Beginning with a lullaby energy of woozy, muffled guitar and a funky lead bassline, it quickly swings into a comfortable, soothing sway of velvety goodness. Inspired by the notorious lockdown activities of obsessively tie-dying clothes, Pidsley took the opportunity to honour these moments in a vibrant, colourful single. Inspired by The 1975 and Rex Orange County and their knack for creating tongue-in-cheek music with playful, jazz-infused guitars, “Tie Dye T-Shirt” was born.
Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
Both my parents are really musical so they pushed me to learn an instrument at a young age. I started playing guitar when I was 11 after watching the film School of Rock and convincing myself I was going to be a rockstar! I started writing at about 16 when the puberty and teenage angst hit. I’ve been writing ever since and each year brings new experiences to write about
What does music and being an artist mean to you?
Music is my source of emotional outlet and is where I feel most comfortable and at peace. Without music to be honest I would struggle. I play music everyday and I love to create and get excited about new ideas. There’s always new songs to write and new music to discover
What are some sources of inspiration for your lyrics and storytelling?
I take a lot of my ideas from my own life experiences and things that happen to me. I’m also inspired by other artists approach to lyrics such as The 1975 and Rex Orange county who both have quite tongue-in-cheek lyrics but that are also very relatable.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
I look up a lot to self produced and humble artists such as Rex Orange and County and Cavetown. Cavetown in particular gave me the motivation to start recording from my bedroom. He produces all his songs himself and made it look so accessible. I owe a lot to him.
Favorite activity to blow off some steam?
To be honest playing guitar is my main outlet. I like a good walk as well or just sitting in front of the TV with a pizza!
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
I’ve always wanted to release an EP. I’ve been writing for years and felt I finally had a collection of songs I was proud of. A lot of these songs were written during the multiple lockdowns but there are some on there that started their roots years ago. I feel I’ve really developed as a song writer and these 5 tracks showcase that I feel.
You seem to be fusing rap with R&B and other musical genres. What inspires your sound?
I’m inspired by all sorts of musical genres. I feel my taste is quite mixed. If I hear a song I like i’ll want to know why I like it and then try and incorporate that into my own music.
What are some things you do to deal with anxiety and creative blocks?
Usually I’ll just step away from the project and move on to something else. I never want to force a song so i’ll just record what i have on a voice note and then move on to something new
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
The dream is for me to have an established group of fans and my music to be sung back to me at a gig. But dreams can just be dreams and to be honest as long as one person resonates with my songs I’ll be happy. If in 5 years i’m headlining Glastonbury though I won’t be mad!
Your style is very original and elaborate. How do you take care of your aesthetics?
I’ve never really thought about it to be honest. I just try and stay true to myself and try not to be fake or forced. I want my music to be honest and I want to represent myself how I would be if you bumped into me on the street.
What was the most daunting moment in your career so far?
I haven’t had many. I cannot lie! I remember playing a gig at The Camden Assembly and the headliner of the bill was very popular online so he had a lot of fans turn up to see him. Going on to that stage to the biggest crowd I’d ever played for was pretty intimidating but also a great experience and an unexpected joy.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
The best advice actually was from my girlfriend. During lockdown I got quite down about my music as I was comparing myself a lot to others and judging my success on what others thought of me. She told me to remember why I started playing in the first place and to make music for me. Success is based on however you perceive it and since then I’ve been a lot happier and content in my creations
Where do you think the music and entertainment industry is headed after this past year?
It’s been a struggle for the live music industry but I feel lockdown has allowed more artist to discover themselves and new artists to form. It’s never been easier to make music and release it to a large community which could be considered bad but I feel the more artists the better! I am glad that live music is coming back though and I can’t wait to start going to gigs again and being inspired by all the new music coming our way!
