Sparkling guitar ace ready to entertain
WHEN he first emerged in 2007, Newton Faulkner was the fleet-fingered prince of sparkling guitar pop.
A graduate of the Guildford Academy of Contemporary Music, the Surrey songwriter had a million-selling Number One hit with his debut album, Hand-Built By Robots.
The singles Dream Catch Me and I Need Something still soundtrack festivals all over the world, along with his innovative cover of Massive Attack’s Teardrop.
This is a man who knows how to entertain and to enthrall.
The last two years since releasing his most recent album, Human Love, have seen Newton join the cast of the award-winning musical American Idiot, based on the music of punk rock group Green Day.
Hit The Ground Running marks the British singersongwriter’s sixth studio album, coming just over 10 years since releasing his double platinum debut album, Hand Built By Robots. Featuring the exuberance of album opener Smoked Ice Cream and This Kind Of Love to the mellow tones of All She Needs and Finger Tips, Hit The Ground Running is a bona fide package of musical variety, something that has almost become expected from Faulkner.
Been Here Before serves up another fine example of his percussive acoustic pop, while Never Alone proves that his ear for mammoth melodies has strengthened yet again.
Of the album, Newton says: “I started working this album with two main principles in mind.
“One, I wanted it to be at its best performed solo live, and, two, I wanted to push my voice further than before.
“With the songwriting, I just wanted to do what I do naturally and not try and be clever and try and predict or follow any trends.”
Newton Faulkner come to Liverpool on November 8, performing at the O2 Academy, Hotham Street.