Steve Hewitt (Kent, UK) – Interview – Thanks for Asking!

Steve Hewitt (Kent, UK) – Interview – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Music genres are difficult for some artists. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?

SH: I always struggled with knowing what my genre was for years, because I write folk to Americana, country, to pop, then soulful etc so it was hard to categorise my sound. A reviewer once coined the genre in saying I was ‘Americana with English roots’, which I think was put perfectly.

I’m from the generation that started off the sub genres, so that’s where I’m at.

RRX: What would you like fans to know before they come to see you play? (No basic stuff; get specific.)

SH: Well, I don’t pretend to be anyone else, I am who I am, I’m a working class family man, married with kids and have a full time job. Authenticity is key. I write from the heart and about everyday life, which means I have a few stories to tell in my live shows. I love to have a laugh and banter with the audience, but the performance of the songs are key and connecting with people through the songs by painting a picture through stories that relate.

RRX: Every artist’s first song is a milestone. But so is the latest song. Describe the first song/album you recorded, and also the latest song/album you recorded; what are the differences?

SH: My first song was called The One You Need (there you go again) taken from my first EP called ‘Life Stories’ and at that point I was in my late twenties and full of beans so to speak. I had ideas invading my head space and melodies pouring out of me everyday and because this was my first attempt, I had a few years of experiences and things happening in my life, so I had so much content to write about. Songs came a lot easier back then because I wrote straight from the source and I think it shows.

The last song I wrote on the new album (never two days the same) is called The Weight Of The World, which is a quieter number on the album. Now, from the first to the last song I wrote, a lot has happened in the world and in myself, so I tend to wait until the dust settles, then gather my thoughts before I approach a subject – as to get the best out of it. Being older and hopefully wiser, the songs I write become more relatable. But now I write when the inspiration comes, rather than writing for the sake of it.

RRX: It’s a lot of fun living in the present, but we all collect memories and give birth to dreams. We’re talking dreams here. Where you see yourself next year? In the next five years?

SH: I suppose this all depends on me, the writing, my energy, my pursuit etc. Being a father, husband and a working class man, things can happen that stop everything in it’s tracks and none of us are promised a tomorrow. If things keep going the way they are now, then in 5 years time I would like to have written a few more albums, be in a band that feels like a brotherhood/family or friends, and also touring, supporting bigger more established acts and hopefully earning a good living from it.

RRX: We have to play somewhere, and sometimes those places have more going for them than a stage and a power outlet. What is a memorable place you played, and bonus points if it’s not a well-known place.

SH: A few years ago I played at an event with many other artists, at a venue called the Two Wood Barn in Pulborough.

Bands were coming and going and around the 7th band, the organiser said: ‘your up next’. So I got my pedal board, and guitar, plugged in, line checked quickly, then played. I sang around 6 originals, then they wanted a cover song, so I sang Babylon by David Gray. On the last strum, they started to clap, which went on from a minute to two minutes and then they stood up one by one and then a majority of the room stood and applauded, which got louder and louder. I stood not knowing what to do and tears started to fill my eyes, so I just savoured the moment. It was wonderful for me and a moment I will never forget.

RRX: Our style comes from the extension of our influences. It’s like an evolution. We’re influenced, and it inspires us to influence. What can you say about your influences, and what you feel you’ve done with their influence as a musician or band? Have you extended their work?

SH: Well, nothing is new under the sun, but I live in the time of the Sub-genre, nothing is as it was. With that being said, my biggest influences started with Buddy Holly, Hank Williams, David Gray, Bob Dylan, Fink, The Beegees, Elton john, John Legend, Blaze Foley etc etc…. so with these being my influences I can only say thank you to them for doing something that they never set out to do, which was inspire me and the sound I have today. I never try to sound like anyone, but sometimes, the biggest inspirations shine through and I guess that is the extension of their work in some way. I’ve never thought of it like that before.

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