Noughties songwriter still finding shades of Gray
DAVID Gray showed the way for future singer-songwriters with the runaway success of his independently-made fourth album White Ladder in 2000.
A hit the world over, it turned Gray into a huge star, and today Ed Sheeran is the most famous example of a solo troubadour working with beats and loops Gray popularised.
“Ed does it brilliantly, it’s quite astonishing, he’s on such an exposed scale, said Gray, 50.
“Joseph Arthur, who I toured with 20 years ago, started that ball rolling. He was the first person to do it as far as I’m aware.
“Now it’s wonderfully available. The technology’s improved enormously, it’s a wonderfully rewarding thing if you can create a greater sonic texture on your own than just from playing guitar.” A re-energised Gray adds new depths to the format on Gold In A Brass Age, the 11th album of his 26-year career. But although his time since White Ladder has shown it’s possible to survive mass success with dignity, there was a period of post-fame “exhaustion” for the star. He said: “It didn’t mean that I had a drug issue or became addicted to yoga or driving fast cars or any of the pitfalls, or that I consciously uncoupled from my wife. None of those things happened. I think you just get burned out.”
Gray’s active social media presence has helped keep a deep connection with his audience.
He said: “One thing that I’m noticing, because I’ve got children, teenagers, is a lot of their friends are fans because their parents listened to my music.
“Massive mainstream success was never my modus operandi.
“But, once you’ve gone through the door and you know how wonderful it is to have your music embraced by people, it takes on a life of its own. I’ve worked hard to maintain those connections.”
● Gold In A Brass Age is out next Friday, March 8. He plays Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow on March 31.