Ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted a ‘record deal’. Without even knowing what it really was I wanted one. I thought the record deal was a stepping stone to great things; sold out stadiums, a tour bus with tinted window and an endless rider of spring rolls and champagne. Even when my expectations were lowered to a splitter van, a few cans of larger and 20 people barely listening in a working men’s club I still held onto the dream of ‘making it’ with the help of a record deal.  What I’ve realised is that sometimes dreams don’t look as good up close. 

It’s like wanting to go out with the best looking guy at school and pining after him for years only to be asked out on that elusive date to discover that he’s mildly racist, really boring and a terrible kisser.

So when a couple of weeks ago I received a contract in writing from Warner Bros (my first record deal offer in print) my heart did flutter for a moment. I thought about it. And then I thought about countless friends who’ve signed exiting deals only to have it all taken out of their hands and be dropped before their record is released; a lot of them are now not even playing music. I thought about how much I’ve achieved without a record deal; I’ve made an album, toured around the UK several times, filmed videos, done photo shoots and I work with a lovely team of people whose names I all know. I really wouldn’t want this to change so I turned it down. Some people think I’m mad but I’ve decided to stay independent for now and see how far I get being captain of my own ship. I’ll keep you all posted on my quest to stay afloat!