Getting To Know: George Redwood

George Redwood has been captivating audiences with his evocative songwriting and dynamic performances since he began his musical journey in 2011. With an impressive 6 million streams on Spotify and 1 million on Soundcloud, George's music resonates deeply with listeners around the world. His talent shone brightly on the BBC 1 TV show ‘All Together Now’ in 2018, where he left a lasting impression with his powerful voice and stage presence.

George's live performances have graced numerous festivals across the UK, including a standout main stage performance at Trafalgar Square during Pride in London. His memorable Pride tour in 2020 saw him spreading love and unity through his music in cities such as London, Bournemouth, and Essex. Between 2021 and 2023, George released 14 tracks with the backing of a record label, further establishing his musical footprint. His 2022 EP, *Connection*, featured critically acclaimed tracks like "Deja Vu," showcasing his growth and versatility as an artist.

Now, as George prepares to release his highly anticipated album, *Better Than Nothing*, in October 2024, he continues to explore deep and meaningful themes in his music. His latest track, "Devil On My Shoulder," is a heartfelt exploration of the inner battles we face with mental health, set against a backdrop of soulful melodies and raw, honest lyrics. This powerful anthem delves into the struggle of dealing with anxiety and loneliness, resonating with anyone who has experienced similar struggles.

1. Your new track, "Devil On My Shoulder," delves into personal battles with mental health. Can you share what inspired this song and how you approached writing and recording it to convey such raw and honest emotions?

I wrote this song when I was driving to a rehearsal preparing for my first on stage performance after lockdown, which I believe was Essex Pride. This song was originally my way of dealing with the stage fright and anxiety of returning to the stage after such a long abstinence, and I wrote it from that perspective. This song was so organic and something that I needed to get off my chest, I had written the entire track before I reached the studio to record it, and very little has changed since that session. After I wrote the track, I had sort of abandoned it (at the time I never thought it was releasing worthy, and it was very personal). Lots of time had passed, and I was listening back to old sessions, of which Devil On My Shoulder was one of those. It was almost like I was hearing the track for the first time- I instantly connected with it and it related to something that I was going through at that time. I often battle with imposter syndrome and self-doubt.. not to mention I’m a chronic overthinker! Those are my 'Devils On My Shoulder'. We all have them, all in our little ways. Some days, the Devil is that left over slice of cheesecake that I am resisting; Some days, it can be something more grievous. I wanted to write a song that I could listen too in those times and remind myself that I am strong, I am resilient, and all I need to do is 'put one foot in front the other' and the rest will follow. That is exactly what I have done, and when I am having one of those days, I put the song on and somehow things feel a little less heavy. 

I always try to be honest and raw with my music. I never write songs that I think other people would need to hear or like- I always write what I need to say. I dont hold back. Sometimes they are far too personal to release, and so is this but I know how this song resonated and helped me when I was essentially the 'listener' for the first time, and I realised that if the song has that much of an impact on me, the person who wrote it, then it could potentially help other people overcome or at least help tackle those 'Devils'. 

2. With an impressive career spanning over a decade, including your standout performances and critically acclaimed releases, how has your approach to songwriting and performance evolved over the years?

Now, that’s a question. I think my writing style has developed so much as I have grown older. With age comes confidence, knowing what works and what doesn’t. There has been so much trial and error throughout my career, that now I feel like I am at a stage where I can recognise what might work and what might not. When we went into lockdown, a time when everything was so still and there was so much sadness in the world, I kick started a project which I called the 'Collaborations Project', which saw me collaborating with dance and house producers from around the world to create fun uplifting music that the world needed at the time. I was BLOWN away by the support for this project, and I still can’t believe the label support and number of streams this achieved. The increase in confidence in my writing that this project gave me, and the lessons that I had learned during that period were invaluable. This period really gave me the confidence in my writing abilities and taught me not to hold back. 

This is very much the same with performing. When I was younger, I was so serious, so planned and so routine that there was little room to showcase any sense of personality, or to have fun. As I've grown, so has my love for music and performing. I have realised that things do not have to be perfect, I can leave space for spontaneity and to share my personality but still get my message across. Since I’ve had more fun with performing, I can see stronger connections occurring and my love for music has multiplied. Confidence has also played a crucial factor in my performing. For YEARS, I could not bring myself to speak in between songs, or essentially interact with the audience. I honestly feel like I've made the younger me proud, I smashed down my own personal goals and now have even larger more impressive goals to achieve. 

3. Your upcoming album, Better Than Nothing, is set for release in October 2024. What can fans expect from this album in terms of musical style and thematic content? How does it build on your previous work, especially your 2022 EP Connection?

With Better Than Nothing, I would encourage people to expect the unexpected. I've been very creative with this album, more so than Connection. I feel like I played Connection very safe. I love Connection, but listening back now, I still feel like I had more to give. I was finding my feet with Connection. I was learning about mixing and mastering, I did not have any idea about how to secure playlist slots, and so much more whereas with Better Than Nothing, I have capitalised on everything I learned and am utilising all the tools in my arsenal to make this the best I can. I have worked tirelessly on bringing this project together. 

Initially, I was not writing to create an album - I did not have a goal. I just knew I wanted to write music, when i felt like it and about whatever I felt in that moment. This continued for 2 years. Over that time, it became apparent to me that what I had in my archive needed to be shared. I personally think that these songs represent my best work. I have reinvented past songs that I had previously released such as 'Light's On' and made sure to take the time to nurture each song and ensure the message the track is conveying shines through.

As with Connection, Better Than Nothing is a pop album, but bends the traditional format of a pop album. Most albums have a set style of pop whereas Better Than Nothing has rock, funk, bubblegum and ballad influences. I purposefully kept it this way, as I feel this best represents me. I don't listen to just one style; I do not write just one style so the album felt more authentic being this way. 

4. You’ve been very active in promoting mental health awareness through your music, especially with tracks like "Devil On My Shoulder." How important is it for you to address mental health themes in your work, and what impact do you hope your music has on listeners dealing with similar issues?

I think that we all experience difficulties with mental health in varying amounts, and of differing severity at multiple points in our lives. It is also the case that some people do not recognise when they are struggling- I've been there, in my own ways. I've seen the impact of mental health, we all have. I think it's more important now, than ever that mental health is part of the conversation. I've always been reserved when it comes to talking about real issues in my music, because I never wanted to say the 'wrong thing'. This was stifling. This is all about to change with Better Than Nothing, but in my own way. I hope that listeners listen to these songs and feel hopeful. I hope it inspires listeners to speak up and have the conversations that need to be had and I hope that listeners find comfort in knowing that they are not alone.

5. You’ve performed at numerous festivals and notable events, including Pride in London and a Pride tour. How do you prepare for such high-profile performances, and how do these experiences influence your music and personal growth as an artist?

I always start by 'reading the room', and planning weeks in advance. I envision the types of listeners that would be in the audience, research the event and try to ascertain what that audience would want to hear. Do they want to dance? Do they want to be in their feelings? Do they want to singalong? These are all things that I consider. I then spend so much time creating a set. I try to be creative, using different sounds, interludes and links between songs and I always try to add in different mixes, and include the audience where possible (everyone loves a cheeky bit of crowd participation). As I mentioned earlier, I struggle with imposter syndrome terribly, and self-doubt. Leading up to the event, I will practice for hours a day to make sure I know the songs inside out so that I can allow myself the freedom on stage. The moment I walk onstage, it is like I am a different person. It's like something just takes over me - I can never remember what happened by the time I leave the stage, nor do I realise that I had just performed for 45 minutes. It feels like seconds. It’s exhilarating and pure joy. 

Performing at events such as Pride, are so important to me. Pride taught me to be comfortable and confident in who I am, and not to change or suppress that for anyone. I've always tried to make my songs gender neutral, but Better Than Nothing is the first time I mention a 'Boy'. It's freeing, honest and the truth.