A Q&A with John Galea
Singer-songwriter from Great Yarmouth…
What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
The Art Of Collaboration EP is my sixth EP and it’s all about the collaborations I have been lucky enough to be part of in my career so far. It has three new songs and three remastered tracks that were already released. It features Rappers Ironik, Scorcher , TJ Dremaz & Maya Miko and Singers Nate James and Hannah Long. I love working with all kinds of musicians, from independent to signed artists.
What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
I guess it was making the old EP gel sonically – so the remastered versions of ‘Goldiggin’, ‘Drunk On U’ and ‘Hero Within You’ were on the same level as ‘Old School Love’, ‘Trailblazer’ and ‘Don’t Wanna Die’.
Who produced the release – what did they bring to it?
On this EP, it’s mainly produced by Oscar Lo Brutto (Wiley, Wretch32) and myself. Again I love working with other producers and musicians so I love the creativity that others can bring and spark off in you. I also worked with Grammy Nominated Number 1 Producers The Monarch on ‘Golddiggin’. I worked with them before on other tracks and to bring a polish to the 2024. The release has been amazing.
What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
That music is a journey and this EP is a little taster of what my debut album will be like.
How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
It all depends on how I’m working and who I’m with. But usually, it starts on a piano with a riff or chord sequence and then I take it from there. All my songs come from a place of honesty, even the songs I’ve written for others are based on past relationships and events. It’s like therapy for me to write a song.
What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
So many! I grew up listening to all types of music from my mum’s record collection from Country Music to Abba and then one day I watched Mariah Carey singing live as a kid and was blown away and wanted to perform. Dad brought home an Electric Organ one day and I started to learn to play and songwrite. Songwriters like Diane Warren, Max Martin, and The Bee Gees have all had a huge influence in my songwriting.
What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
I would love to play USA and Vegas one day. I think that would be an amazing experience.
If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
Oh that’s a hard one. I would say ‘I Am A Survivor’ from my Notes From My Piano EP. The song is about my journey having Non-Hodkins Lymphpia Cancer as a teenager and overcoming that. Also, the music video is a very personal one as it was shot in my home town of Great Yarmouth on the beach with my very own Piano – that I still have.
What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
I guess it’s to release a debut album and as long as I’m enjoying it and others keep making music for me as an artist and others too. I’ll always write songs regardless if they are released or not.
Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
A massive thank you to all my amazing fans & trendsetters, your support means everything.
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