December 24
December 10th 2024
taken from Simple Minds Official Website
Simple Minds release their new single ‘Your Name in Lights’ on BMG, taken from the soundtrack to their critically acclaimed documentary ‘Everything Is Possible’.
Written in collaboration with writer and producer Paul Statham, Simple Minds set out to match the film’s ambience whilst recapturing the innocent spirit of their early days “when we were ‘wee boys’ playing around with our synthesisers,” says the band’s Jim Kerr “proudly wearing our Kraftwerk and Brian Eno influences on our sleeve.”
The resultant track mirrors a style that Simple Minds previously produced on their 1979 Reel To Real Cacophony album, with an accompanying lyric which, as Kerr puts it, “conjures up a ‘Dreamer’s conversation with a distant Muse’ – that Muse being Aretha Franklin as sung by Sarah Brown”.
Paul says ' for my 18 year old self, who saw the band 4 times over 18 months promoting their first 2 albums 'Real Life' and 'Reel To Real Cacophony' this would have been a virtually impossible dream, especially as the band then went on to huge commercial success with 'Don't You Forget About Me' hitting a billion streams this month.
So for me, this is a huge personal achievement and there is more to come!
December 24
Paul, alongside fellow Solent University lecturer Daniel Pennie, release their joint experimental/ambient album
‘Object, No Distance - Distance, No Object’.
5 tracks have already been released and more details about the project and the tracks can be found under the experimental music section of this site.
Below is the press release
Statham & Pennie seemed to be doing something different, somehow mixing ambient with krautrock and minimalism to produce some thoughtfully orchestrated and enduring music. The choice of sounds and the arrangements on the album recall the same kind of mentality motivating the music of Neu or early Eno explorations, which will hopefully serve as a referential endorsement.
Their sound is a distinctive one, initially recorded during lockdown with files shared back and forth. Inspired by a mutual desire to experiment in the moment, the album's expansive waves of flowing strings and electronic drones evoke a state approaching bliss but one not entirely free of earthly encounters.
The album is quietly cinematic with notes of melancholy, recalling neo-classical acts like Tim Hecker, Fennesz and Stars of the Lid.
Object, No Distance - Distance, No Object is a richly orchestrated, superbly crafted effort that veers between several different emotional states before its time is up… a thoroughly recommended listen.
The two seasoned musicians explore the world of visual music, drone, found sound and experimental sonification’s with occasional melodic textures…
The video for 4th track Arcturus is below
December 24
Kimberley Park release first ever song "Free At Last' from way back in 1998
Kimberly Park were Paul Statham Cleo Bayley.
Pauls band Peach, alongside fellow producer/writer Pascal had a surprise US top 40 hit with their debut release 'On My Own' featuring in the film 'Sliding Doors'. Cleo had just signed to Warner Chappell Music with her writing partner Jamie. They met in a joint writing session but seemed to know from day one they would be writing together. To the chagrin of Warner Chappell they abandoned respective artist paths and combined together to write distinctly un commercial songs, writing at every chance, using borrowed equipment/studios/kitchen tables and 8 track recorders, acoustic guitar and percussion and wrote what mattered to them, often idealistic but with an honesty both in the words and music. It was distinctly lo-fi and natural and went against the new sampler led dance/pop. It lasted 2 years with one photo session on Clapham Common and the negatives are long gone, It all ended when Cleo moved away with her young child and Paul met an unsigned singer called Dido and co-wrote 'Here With Me' and 'No Angel'.
25 years later Paul found the stereo recordings in a box in a garden shed, just a DVD and a cassette containing the demo mixes.
They sounded fresh and honest with no claim to commerciality or any intention to please anybody but themselves.
So , here is the first release, 'Free At Last'. the song unchanged, as it was written and recorded.
In true Kimberley Park style, 25 years later Cleo filmed her part to an iPhone at a train station at night with no track and half a song, so the video had to be a little inventive!
December 24
The 2nd track from The Dark Flowers up coming album 'Indian Summer' was released on 06/12/24. ‘The Star’s Stand In’. A dark tale from the pen of playwright Sam Shepard, whose book of prose/poetry ‘Motel Chronicles’, on the underside of life populating the run-down vistas of the American deserts and the mid-west which informs the albums whole lyrical stance, is transformed by former Bauhaus bassist and current Love and Rockets bassist/vocalist David J into a dark tale of regret and heartbreak, as a local girl hired as a stand in to the star feels the agony of being left behind in a town she ached to be out of as the cast move on to the next location.. David captures the feel perfectly with his original lyrics, and the words are set to a more gentle acoustic track with hints of electronica and found sound, than the alt rock of the first track release with Cilmi.
November 24
Following on from the sold out June 2024 Lil' Heaven Studios workshop weekend at Arnhem in Holland Paul's venture with Shelly Poole; SPPS songwriting workshops and retreats returned to Arnhem on 23rd-24th November for another sold out weekend!
Each day was limited to 6 groups of 3 people and mentored during the day by both Shelly & Paul. Again, each day had its own theme, as this allowed the focus to fall on a particular style/possible lyrical theme/writing to brief etc.
November 24
B-Movie returned to their home town of Mansfield on 02nd November for the first show by the band on home ground in over 30 years. B-Movie played a stellar sold out show at Canvas to over 300 people. It was amazing to go back and receive such a warm welcome from the home fans!
The band's first single Remembrance Day is now released/streaming after getting the masters back after 40 years.
October 24
The 1st track from the new Dark Flowers album 'Indian Summer' was released on 24/10/24. 'Green Plastic Bullets' features Gabriella Cilmi and is a darkly beguiling track from the badlands of the US Midwest again mined from Sam Shepards book of prose/poetry 'Motel Chronicles', which explores the underbelly of the American heartland with its small towns/motels/characters. This book informs the new album as it did the debut album Radioland. The new album features Cilmi alongside former Bauhaus and Love & Rockets bassist/vocalist David J, Indie songstress The Anchoress, Red Sky Julys Shelly Poole and Simple Minds Jim Kerr. The album will be released in March 2025 and will be preceded by individual releases from all 5 collaborators.
October 24
In October 2024 Paul started a new position as module leader at ICMP, on the new masters programme MA Commercial Songwriting & Production. ICMP music college is the UK's leading music industry education provider, developing & delivering music courses for over 35 years.
This compliments his 13 years at Solent University as module leader on Songwriting Techniques and also Songwriting Portfolio.
Paul says 'I really wanted to be in the room with students, and interact with a dynamic teaching staff all of whom are all industry professionals, But most importantly has a world wide recognised Master of the Arts Qualification at the end of the process.
October 24
The 5th track 'Rigel' from Paul's and Daniel Pennie's debut experimental/ambient album
'Object, No Distance - Distance, No Object'
was released on the 12/10/24.
the album will be released on the 25/11/24
October 24
SPPS Songwriting - Pennard House
SPPS Songwriting (Pauls venture with Shelly Poole) held its 2nd retreat from 13th - 17th October at the beautiful Pennard House near Glastonbury. With 20 attendees from across the globe, every day saw a new theme, 'writing songs from the Greek Myths', all songs with the same title and live industry songwriting briefs were enthusiastically tackled with some amazing songs being performed every evening,
October 24
B-Movie re release their classic 1st single Remembrance Day.
B-Movie , Pauls Post Punk 80's band finally got their master recordings back after 40 years ! and true to old style, no digital files on a hard drive, but a huge cardboard box full of 1/4 inch and 2 inch master tapes! They all needed baking then transferring to digital but it means that the band can actually release the original versions of their most well known songs as the bands followers have been putting up with dreadful early 4 track demos and inferior covers.
With Spotify and Apple Music followers of over 80,000 monthly followers they deserve the real thing!
August 23
Paul along with SPPS partner Shelly Poole held their 6th weekend workshops at SAFO studios for 36 people over 03/04 August. It was a real success with some great songs written and the warmth from everyone who participated was fantastic. The themes were songs of travel and writing to sync
January 24
Pau and Daniel Pennie are both established musicians/artists in the sound and video installation world and have collaborated on a new album
'object, no distance distance, no object'
together exploring drones/found sound and experimental guitars and sonics with occasional melodic textures. Paul Statham is a commercial songwriter known for his work across multiple genres, from Dido to Peter Murphy, Kylie to Simple Minds. Paul also creates experimental music in collaboration with painters/sculptors and stand alone releases, These are featured on this site. Daniel Pennie is an award winning composer and half of the art rock visual/musical collective Noise In Your Eye https://www.noiseinyoureye.com/ Paul & Daniel are both associate lecturers at Solent University running songwriting and experimental music respectively.
1st track, 'becrux' is released on Paul's Loki Records on all streaming and download services and also Bandcamp.
More tracks to follow before the album is released in April.
December 23
Paul along with SPPS partner Shelly Poole held their 3rd weekend workshops at SAFO studios for 36 people over 02/03 December, It was a real success with some great songs written and the warmth from everyone who participated was fantastic. The themes were songs of Winter and writing to sync OR a good old fashioned Christmas song.
We all enjoyed a great Christmas knees up after!
November 23
B-Movie continued, after the run of Spanish sold out dates, with 2 new live shows (19th Nov) London 'The Lexington' and (25th Nov) Nottingham 'The Chapel Old Angel' both sold out! The band premiered a new Steve Hovington composition 'Lost'.
November 23
Paul & Shelly's venture SPPS Songwriting Workshops and Retreat's held another sold out weekend of Nov 03/04 in Arnhem Holland at the wonderful Lil' Heaven Studios. 18 people enjoyed a weekend of themed songwriting with Paul & Shelly as mentors. Visit the website linked above for more information
October 23
B-Movie came back to Spain for 2 sold out shows in Zaragoza and Valencia. The. band played better than ever with new keyboardist Keith Phillips now installed as a permanent member
September 23
Paul returned to Lake Vinuela in Spain for the 4th time this year as a mentor for The Songwriting Academy for 2 September retreats. The first with regular host and friend Paddy Byrne and the legendary Nashville songwriter Sharon Vaughn on the 3rd September and on the 23rd September with the Academy owner and songwriter Martin Sutton and again with Sharon Vaughn. Much fun on both with great songs being penned!
August 2023
SPPS workshop's.
Paul along with SPPS partner Shelly Poole held the 1st of their weekend workshops at SAFO studios for 36 people over 12/13th August 23. It was a real success with some great songs written and the warmth from everyone who participated was fantaststic
More to come on weekends in October/November/December
July 23
B-Movie returned to Meschede Germany for. their annual headline slot at the Chillin at Lake Hennesee on 21st July 23 with new keyboard player Keith Phillips completing the line of of the original 3 members Steve Hovington, Graham Boffey and Paul
July 23
July 23
More information on SPPS below
June 23
Paul, together with friend and fellow songwriter/producer/artist Shelly Poole has started a new venture to deliver creative songwriting workshops and retreats. These will be themed and create a safe and inclusive writing space for attendees to fully express themselves. Under the banner of SPPS (We are sure you can work it out!) Paul & Shelly will deliver 1st class creative songwriting workshops and retreats using their shared knowledge from running retreats across the world.
Contact
June 23
Continuing the Summer songwriting retreats for The Songwriting Academy. Again with Shelly Poole and TSA leader Martin Sutton at this one. Fabulous students, live performances every night !. Again, like last year big Paul would like to say a big Thanks to Shelly for organising his birthday cake n all birthday related things
May 2023
Paul was back in Southern Spain, at Lake Viñuela near Velez Malaga in his continued role as a mentor for The Songwriting Academy.
He has spent increasingly more time in the last year as a 1-2-1 mentor to Academy students and along with his good friend and occasional co-writer Shelly Poole and fellow songwriting mentor, Paddy Byrne, had a fantastic week mentoring and writing/performing every day.
May 23
Pilgrimage And Memory is a new ambient album from Paul Statham layering 28 tracks of audio mostly taken from the Camino de Santiago, an 800km Pilgrims walk across Norther Spain. Available to stream/download and with an accompanying video that can be downloaded from this site. A vinyl style CD with original artwork/signed is also available from the Bandcamp link below
April 2023
From the 22/04/23 to 29/04/23 Paul returned to the remote Scottish peninsula of Knoydart for the 2nd time, again with fellow mentor Shelly Poole. It was a sellout and a success being highly enjoyable with some greatsongs written and performed live in the local community hall on the last evening!
March 2023
The video for both tracks from the installation Pilgrimage And Memory below and links to download/stream
Pilgrimage And Memory
March 2023
Paul joined fellow lecturer and award winning experimental guitarist Dan Pennie with their students for a mash up of Julie Cruises 'Falling" and Nine Inch Nails 'Perfect Drug' at Solent University for the annual anthems night! Paul then returned next day as guest judge for the annual Solent Sounds 'Battle Of The Bands'
March 2023
A new soundscape/video is available as both a separate album and video download (from the new video library tab)
28 layers of sound recorded 20 years ago on the Camino De Santiago and sculpted into one piece, Full details on album link, click cover.
March 2023
Paul and Shelly Poole are the guest mentors at the 2nd Knoydart songwriting retreat from 24th April 2023. As it says, "sold out" !
February 2023
Paul with the legend that is Stevo, music business terrorist,
owner of the Some Bizzare label
and former manager of Paul's band B-Movie as well as manager
and label boss to Soft Cell and The The amongst others. This was at Rough Trade East where Stevo was interviewed on stage by author Wesley Doyle regarding his new book 'Conform To Deform, the story of Some Bizzare Records
February 2023
B-Movie played a storming set at Rough Trade East on Tuesday 28th February 2023. This was also the book launch for 'Conform to Deform, the story of Some Bizzare Records by Wesley Doyle where B-Movie first really started with the track 'Moles' on the Some Bizzare album.
January 2023
SAFO songwriting Workshop in North London on 29th January 2023. Great fun and lovely people. Paul said of the event ' A really talented group of writers and I look forward to doing this again'
January 2023
Paul was a guest mentor at the sold out SAFO songwriting Workshop in North London on 29th January 2023. Other mentors were Nick Gale aka Digital Farm Animals and Laurence Hobbs.
December 2022
B-Movie played 2 shows on 16th December at The Salutation in Nottingham (a sold out home show) and supported The Chameleons at Manchester Academy to 3000 people on 17th December
December 2022
B-Movie released another new song 'Melt' on 05/12/2022. Again, composed by Paul snd singer Steve Hovington. Paul plays most instruments with Graham adding drums, the song was produced by Paul at his home studio.The video is featured below. The track is available to purchase as a download only from Bandcamp/iTunes and to stream from all streaming platforms including Spotify & Apple Music. Links below.
November 2022
B-Movie released a new song 'Love Is Dead' on 30/11/2022. Written by Paul & vocalist Steve Hovington and produced by Paul. The lyric video is featured below. The track is available to purchase as a download only from Bandcamp/iTunes and to stream from all streaming platforms including Spotify & Apple Music. Links below.
October 2022
Paul resumed his module leader position at Solent University. His 10th year here as leader of the Songwriting Techniques & Songwriting Portfolio modules. Solent has amazing facilities and staff and a large songwriting cohort of around 50 students. It's a really enjoyable Friday and the modules get tremendous feedback from the students and is a positive environment and again some amazing songs are produced.
September 2022
Paul was back for the 3rd retreat of 2022 for The Songwriting Academy.Again with the 'Dream Team' of Paddy Byrne and Shelly Poole
and some amazing songs came from these sessions with much fun and laughter too!
July 2022
B-Movie return to live action with new keyboard player Marina Vesic aka Black Marine, following the departure of original keyboardist Rick Holliday, It was one of our best shows here in the 10 years appearing here at the 'chilling by Lake Hennesee' festival and featured the live debut of 2 new songs 'love Is Dead' and 'Melt', to be released later this year. Most images courtesy of Claudia Brodowski.
June 2022
Paul was back again at Lake Vinuela along with Shelly Poole & Paddy Byrne to help run another week long retreat for around 23 students from The Songwriting Academy
May 2022
Paul was in Southern Spain, Lake Viñuela near Malaga as a mentor for The Songwriting Academy.
He has spent increasingly more time in the last year as a 1-2-1 mentor to Academy students and along with his friend and occasional co-writer Shelly Poole and fellow songwriting mentor, the exceptionally talented Paddy Byrne, had a fantastic week mentoring and writing every day.
