I do wonder why I write this every year, but then I read my old ones and it’s a nice postcard to myself if no one else on what I’ve been up to. Sometimes you think the year’s not been productive when really it has been!

I commented last year on a lack of writing, and that’s meant library releases have been few and far between….but have still managed to get some tracks on 4 different albums. Really, in 2024 I had zero strategy, and it showed!

I’m in the middle of writing a new library album with someone across in Australia who I’ve known for 30 years or so, and I’ve got 1 or 2 other albums about finished to get out. Really, though, I want to focus on writing, finishing and releasing songs rather than instrumentals in 2025 and beyond.

All change at Confetti. Friend and CEO, Craig retired in October: rather than replace him (you can’t!) NTU are absorbing us into the School of Art and Design: a left turn for me, but will be interesting to see what it’s like in a very different company. Confetti turned 30 this year: a good time to go for Craig, along with some other very talented individuals.

Industry Week this year was all killer no filler: Wolfgang Flur, Guy Chambers and Rob Ellis were all highlights.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Steve Lillywhite again for the second time, and Fraser T Smith for the first time. In fact, I ended up doing my first remix in ages for his band ‘Future Utopia‘: check his album out…it’s a warm journey through alt pop and beyond…killer bass!

I had a few releases out of albums and tracks I mixed…the fifth One Cure For Man album (and as I type, am neck deep in mixing the 6th)

…and the debut single by Fools and Sages : They seem to have a plan and it’s nice to be on board so early on in their career….and it’s not the sort of stuff I usually mix, so I really enjoyed getting under the hood.

Also mixed a pair of singles for new self recording Leicester band The Cause.

I haven’t chased any mixing work for years and years.. work tends to come through people I’ve worked with for years or ex students I might have shared a trick or 2 with in a class or something: although I love it, I don’t really have the time to devote to it, so when it crops up, it’s usually a treat to do. Plus, I’m mixing all the time with the library stuff I do…so that scratches that itch

Am still external examining for Point Blank and Waterbear and am entering the last year of my tenure.

My time moderating for RSL Awards came to an end there and I decided not to pursue any of the new freelance roles: the older I get, I can feel myself have less capacity for extra things, and I think for 2025, thinning out what I take on is a useful strategy…..focussing on a few things well.

Music I’ve loved this year….

The new Father John Misty album: astounding quality control: never a duff album. The Cure, Cigarettes After Sex, Kim Deal, Saint Etienne, Amy Allen, Pet Shop Boys, John Grant, Jessica Pratt, Beth Gibbons all released some ace stuff. The Billie Eilish album is great, too. Taylor Swift carried on not knowing when to stop writing with an over full album: in it is a great album waiting to get out, but she really should release EPs and chuck all that B grade stuff on the B Sides. I bought the reissue of ‘Astronauts’ by the Lilac Time which is one of my all time favourite albums….the remaster sounds lovely and it’s a beautiful package.

Album of the year for me was a total surprise: Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n Sweet’: it’s full of either clever pop bangers or downbeat killers. Jack Antonoff produced a few on it, including this modern classic:

If you’re interested, I do a monthly playlist of stuff I’m enjoying. You can find them all here

As for gigs, I went to to see Taylor Swift with my daughter in August at Wembley: I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did: the crowd were the friendliest I’ve every witnessed, and despite having a seat sort of behind the stage and as high up as you can be, it was wall to wall brilliance. The weather was so warm, and the fact I shared it with Kitty made it one of the best gigs I’ve been to.

I also saw John Bramwell ex I Am Kloot …there must have been other gigs..but am struggling to remember now!

TV and Films.… The Bear lost its sparkle for season 3 but hoping it’s just setting up for a great Season 4. Enjoyed Black Doves, Happy Valley, any version of the Traitors I can lay my hands on, Carry On, Bad Sisters….was late to the ‘Portlandia’ party, but have watched most of those now. I also watch some absolute crap with Julia: Married At First Sight, Love is Blind….TV where there is zero room for thinking….I love it.

I loved the Hipgnosis documentary and the Blur doc, too.

Books…nearly finished ‘Uncommon People’ by Miranda Sawyer which is a great love letter to 20 songs of the Britpop era. Also enjoyed Will Sergeant’s 2nd memoir, Simon Raymonde’s first, all 3 of Alex James’ books (what a life!), Adrian Edmondson’s, Exit Stage Left (about the afterlife of musicians once it all goes South), ‘Karma’ by Boy George.

Plug Ins: Pleased to say no plug in purchases in a whole year now. Am still subscribing to the UAD and SSL bundles….. they add in some new plugins every few months which keeps me inspired, but really, I don’t want for anything…realistically I still only ever use a handful of plug ins: I could probably thin my collection out to maybe 10 or so….but having a load there is good for inspiring me when I hit a wall.

Here’s to a healthy and happy 2025