FIREKIND Music From Around The World GROUP ONE: MELODIC HARD ROCK AND AOR From York, England, we find multi talented song drawn in by the story, so I stand by that rule of thumb who have a killer catchy ten track CD out now called writer MAGGIE ADAMS, who has a superb catchy when writing my own songs,” she explains to me. ‘What I Have Found Is Already Lost’ that is well worth and diverse fifteen track CD out now called ‘Songs Being a compulsive songwriter Maggie is always checking out and runs in at just under forty minutes For Singers Vol.2’ that is well worth checking out working on a song in her head. “I even write songs long and skilfully explores a lot of different musical and runs in at just under seventy minutes long and in my sleep,” she smiles. “I like it that way! It doesn’t areas. The band are: Jas Morris - Vocals & Guitar, is well worth exploring. The music borders along the leave me with much free time but I do also enjoy Dan Morris - Bass & Backing vocals and Jack Toy - lines of blues based, soulful, acoustic, melodic retro watching animal/wildlife documentaries. I love all Drums. groove based music with male/female duets here animals - to me, they are superior to humans,” she ‘What I Have Found Is Already Lost’ is a deep and there of which Maggie hires to sing her songs. tells me. powerful and melodic song with towering vocals, I Producer Mark Pierce features on songs throughout Maggie is a multi-genre songwriter. “I’m not a love the way the song builds. Beautifully sung from the record as well as various other people. singer. My dream is to eventually have my songs Jas with heartfelt passion that will give you goose ‘You Blow Me Away’ sung by Julie Dorgan is a recorded by established artists, so it’s important bumps. ‘Cry for Help’ offers the same structures has warm catchy track with a classic melodic rock/ that each track is produced to the highest standard. a little more of a modern poppy edge. Americana/organic feel. The vocals on this track Being solely a songwriter allows me the freedom to ‘Sound of Rain’, ‘Coming out Alive’ and ‘Defend’ are massive and filled with emotion, right up there write in whichever genre I choose; without being are superb melodic songs with towering vocals. with Ann Wilson. ‘Wonders Never Cease’ is also a restrained by style, vocal range and gender.” Maggie ‘Defend’ is quite atmospheric with that extra kick and fabulous catchy melodic ditty featuring Mark Pierce has just completed a set of four albums under the superb lyrics. & Sarah Atkin on vocals. Both the fabulous ‘Sail heading ‘Songs for Singers’. ‘No Stone Unturned’ is one of those songs that Around The World’ and ‘Oblivion’ (Mark on vocals for ’Rock & Blues’ is a collection of fifteen songs in show off the bands song writing skills. It’s melodic both tracks) could both easily sit on any Rod Stewart various rock and blues styles. Some have a 70’s Rod and builds up with a classic rock vibe, superb album, that kinda style. ‘Soulmate’ (featuring Pablo Stewart vibe, others exude James Blunt and there’s performances. ‘If There’s Any Reason’ follows a on vocals), is a strong earthy ballad whilst ‘Hello a trace of Bon Jovi, Robbie Williams and Mel C in similar path. God’ (Mark vocals) is another cracking song, very there too. “The selected track for the Fireworks CD ‘Rise Again’ is an atmospheric melodic ditty with a smooth and organic with fabulous vocals with a very is ‘You Blow Me Away’ sung by Julie Dorgan,” she modern edge whilst ‘Adrenalin’ is another impressive seventies feel, think along the lines of Carole King. tells me. song, it is melodic yet has a modern organic feel to One stand out song is ‘Flying With The Angels’ a All of Maggie’s music is produced by Mark it, perhaps a little more progressive with galloping soulful gliding song with superb gentle melodies and Pierce www.revelator.co.uk at his studio in North guitars from Dan Morris, whilst ‘These Are the vocals, very soulful. ‘Its Time To Wake Up’ (Mark on Wales. In January 2015 Thoughts’ is slightly heavier. vocals) follows along a similar route and effortlessly they selected forty four Singer guitarist Jas Morris’ late father was a busy glides along as does the ‘Time Of My Life’ (Pablo songs that Mark had gigging musician so ever since Jas was born; there vocals), which is a more up-tempo and slick. demoed for Maggie over was always a guitar around the house. He remembers Another excellent song with a blues edge is ‘Why the previous five years; the first time he ever saw him play, he was completely Is It’ (Mark vocals), this track is superb, right out of and decided to compile blown away. Jas knew since that moment that being the seventies, I love the way this song builds, whilst them into a series of four a musician was what he wanted to do with his life. “I ‘Love Me Tender’ (Pablo vocals), goes for that blues genre focused albums. think I was about nine or ten,” he reflects. swagger, a superb song with a classic rock blues “We used the title The guitar was boogie feel, upbeat and catchy. ‘Songs for Singers’ as always his first love this best describes what when it came to music, I’m about. We revisited each track and took them up so from an early age MAGGIE ADAMS a notch - by enhancing the arrangements in some, he was heavily inspired selecting different vocalists in others, etc. That took by virtuoso guitarists about 16 months due to Mark’s commitments with like Steve Vai, Satriani, other artists. We ended up with ‘Stage Show’, ‘Rock Hendrix and Jeff Beck. & Blues’, ‘Jazz’ and ‘Acoustic’, and I’m absolutely However as he grew up delighted with the end result,” Maggie explains to and began singing more, me. Jas’ influences and Back in December 2011 Maggie was invited by playing moved over a little to bands like The Police, BBC Radio York to go in for an interview regarding Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and more modern bands like her song writing. “The plan was we’d have a chat Rage Against The Machine, Muse and Foo Fighters.” and they’d play a couple of my songs. I’d just finished Also, my father (who grew up listening to bands like writing a song called ‘White White Christmas’ and Wishbone Ash and Thin Lizzy) was a great influence thought this would be a perfect opportunity to give on me,” he tells me. ‘Thinking’ (sung by Helena Johnson) and it an airing. The problem was that song still hadn’t Jas also love’s to travel, which bodes quite well ‘Seventeen’ (Mark vocals), are both smooth swaying been produced and existed only on paper and on a with being in a band. “One of the reasons why I love songs with fab musicianship and vocals. Whilst Yamaha workstation! touring so much. Films, Sci-fi and anything to do with ‘Too Close For Comfort’ (Pablo vocals) is nothing To cut a long story short - the instrumentation was space also fascinate me! We have a TV in the back of short of superb, the lyrics are superb, again, catchy done by Ben Trigg in London, Mark Pierce travelled the tour-van so we often plow through film after film and smooth, whilst the ballad ‘To Sleep With You’ up from Wales with his equipment to record local on the way to gigs. We are currently working our way (features Mark Gilroy vocals) has a slight Cher vibe. singer Mark Gilroy. It all took place in a room above through the Godfather trilogy, a box set of Al Pacino Maggie Adams worked in retail management a shop in the Shambles in York on the Sunday. Mark classics and the odd Will Ferrell comedy,” he says. for many years and was becoming increasingly spent all day on the Monday mixing and mastering. The band bassist is Jas’ brother Dan Morris; disillusioned. She needed more out of life, and song He finished it at 5pm, we were in BBC Radio York’s they have been writing music together and gigging writing became her means of escape. Maggie is studio at 6pm and the track was played - talk about since they were in their early teens. “Our dad always purely a songwriter (words & music), so she hired hot off the press,” she smiles. taught us to play with feel and passion above all music producer Mark Pierce and his team of expert For the future Maggie hopes that someday some else and to try and keep the old ego in step. On the vocalists and musicians to have them professionally successful singer will record one of her songs. drums is the amazing Jack Toy. We’ve always tried demoed. The first song to be done was an acoustic “Maybe Adele, James Blunt, Ed Sheeran, Rod to write music according to our own tastes which version of ‘Seventeen’. “When I heard the finished Stewart, Michael Buble,” she marvels. “Chance is always the goal I think when you are trying to track I was ecstatic and totally hooked,” she smiles. would be a fine thing - but you can’t stop a girl from be unique. I think our sound is a soup of influences “That was in 2010 and almost fifty songs later I still dreaming.