Explore every episode of the podcast Life Begins at Forte

In this episode I chat with singer/songwriter Matt Hill, 52, formerly knowns as The Quiet Loner. 

Matt teaches songwriting to all sorts of groups from people in prison, to homeless people, teenagers and even elderly people suffering dementia. 

He talks passionately about the process, song writing techniques and his own work.

You can find out more about Matt and his work here https://matthillsongwriter.com

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Guitarist and musician Nick Cody began songwriting in his mid fifties after picking up a ukulele for the first time. From that moment onwards he set off on a journey of exploration and experimentation, collaborating with other artists and finding ways to support their creative endeavours.
In this episode he shares three new songs from his forthcoming album, All is Fine Til the World Goes Pop! The album, produced by the Carl Rosamond, who worked with 80s indie band, The Wedding Present, is due out in September.

You can find out more about Nick Cody here https://www.nickcody.co.uk
You can visit his Youtube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPA73UEHr3fjOqyTurEpXzg

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In this episode singer/songwriter/poet Steve White shares his punk approach to songwriting and reveals where the real magic of performing lies.

You can find out more about Steve and his band here...https://protestfamily.com


To support Steve's fundraising efforts for Pub Landlady, and campaigner Pauline Town, use this link
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/andrew-stanworth-934

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Singer/songwriter James Bisset started his musical journey in a seventies Christian rock band, known as Caedmon. Since then he has played in various bands and styles with one mission in mind - he just wants people to have fun.
In this episode he talks us through the success of Caedmon and shares the ups and downs of his songwriting journey. And if you're listening in the car be warned...it's impossible to tune in without having a wee boogie!
You can find more of Jim's music here; https://jamesbisset.bandcamp.com

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This week I chat with Scottish singer/songwriter Findlay Napier. Findlay is a man who likes to keep busy. As well as teaching songwriting at various retreats, he runs Glasgow Songwriting Festival, teaches ukulele, performs solo and with various other musicians. He had his first taste of songwriting in his teens and assures me that you don't need to be a musician to write a good song...
You can find out more about Findlay here -https://www.findlaynapier.com
You can listen to some of his joint projects here https://www.storysongscientists.com/
You can find out about Bird On A Wire here https://www.birdonawire.info
You can find his latest album here https://findlaynapier.bandcamp.com/album/it-is-what-it-is

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This week I take a trip down memory lane to my childhood home, where singer/songwriter Stevie Agnew performs regularly. Stevie's dad, Pete, was the bass player in the 70s rock band, Nazareth. Here, Stevie tells me what it was like to grow up with a rock star dad and how it influenced his own work.
You can find Stevie's Americana music, Wreckin Yard and Bad Blood and Whiskey on Amazon.
His Facebook page is here https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063555617674

Stevie is singing alongside Scot's singer Beth Malcolm in the first track of the podcast, Paid My   Dues (Loving You). Check her music out too - voice of an angel. 

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This week, Life Begins at Forte records a live gig in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, with songwriting duo Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams  (The State of the Union).
Boo Hewerdine (80's rock band The Bible)  is a singer/songwriter, mentor and producer. In an exclusive interview, he shares some of his wisdom on song writing techniques, life, and growing older.

If you would like to purchase any of the songs on this podcast please visit Boo's band camp here https://boohewerdineandthebible.bandcamp.com

To find out more about songwriting workshops with Bird on a Wire please click here
https://www.birdonawire.info

To find out about his work at Scottish writing retreat Moniak Mhor, please click here
https://www.moniackmhor.org.uk/courses/

To find out where you can see State of the Union click here
https://brookswilliams.com/state-of-the-union-brooks-williams-boo-hewerdine

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Leeds-based musician, Stellar Anderson, 50, explains how a medical diagnosis freed her up to find the voice she had hidden for over thirty years, for fear it didn't 'fit' with what society wanted to hear.
In an incredibly candid interview, complete with original songs, Stellar tracks her musical journey, from dropping out of music college back in her twenties to releasing her first album, Breathe, in March 2022.
Music from The Stellar Anderson Project can be found here https://ditto.fm/breathe-the-stellar-anderson-project.
You can find Stellar on Facebook here
https://www.facebook.com/interstellaranderson
And on Instagram here
https://www.instagram.com/thestellarandersonproject/

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Last year, (as mentioned in episode two) a national competition was launched for songwriters aged 50 plus. The winner of the competition was Scottish musician, Fergus McNeill, who took up songwriting in his forties. Fergus is a criminologist and was introduced to songwriting through a programme he ran in a Scots prison.  In this episode, he tells us why songwriting is important for people in prison, and elaborates on his own process and success.
You can find Fergus's music here  https://fergusmcneill.bandcamp.com/album/bloodrush-x-2
and here https://soundcloud.com/user-57337486

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In this episode we speak with Leeds-based Singer Songwriter Nicky Bray who runs an open mic called Tower of Song in the city's Fox and Newt pub.
The event, run alongside co-founder and co-host Carl Flattery (a lecturer in songwriting at Leeds Beckett University) is in its ninth year and now has a sister event in Newcastle called Tower in the Toon.
The emphasis at both events is strictly on 'having fun' and has been so inspirational, that Nicky's parents, Frank and Ros, (both featured in the podcast) have started penning their own tunes. Tower in the Toon is cohosted by Brian Wilkinson.
For more information on Nicky visit her Facebook page at;
https://www.facebook.com/nickybraymusic
For Information on Tower of Song visit
https://www.facebook.com/towersongleeds
For information on Nicky's band, Where's Brian? visit
https://www.facebook.com/wheresbrianband
To listen to Nicky's music please visit her Soundcloud at
https://soundcloud.com/nickybray
For her One Minute Songs recordings visit
https://60secondrecordings.bandcamp.com/track/nicky-bray-just-a-minute
To Listen to her band Bonsai Kittens (featured) visit
https://bonsaikittens.bandcamp.com/track/dressing-up-is-not-for-dogs
https://bonsaikittens.bandcamp.com/track/tiny-carcasses
And finally her all female band The Pop-Up People
https://pop-up-people.bandcamp.com/album/the-pop-up-people-charity-ep-all-proceeds-to-leeds-music-trust

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In this episode I speak with singer/songwriter Saskia Griffiths Moore who set up the organisation Talent is Timeless during Lockdown.  Inspired by music shared with her from older fans who she met on tour, Saskia decided it was time some of those voices were shared and heard. Find out all about the competition and why Saskia believes that there is no time limit on talent!
For information on Talent is Timeless visit https://www.talentistimeless.com
To learn more about Saskia and listen to her music visit https://www.saskiagm.com
To purchase any of the beautiful songs you have heard on this podcast today, please visit Saskia's band camp at https://saskiagm.bandcamp.com/
To appear on the podcast email Andrea at lifebeginsatforte@protonmail.com

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There's an easy way to tell if you have a good song. You get hit in the head with a message, and you get hit in the feet with a rhythm. You're beaten up with music. It's a beautiful thing when that happens.

John Waite

There's no age limit on getting 'beaten up with music' - it can happen to anyone at any time. So don't suffer in silence. Come and share your songs, your music, your story. Show us your wounds, your cuts and bruises, all the scars your bear. 
And together we'll share a beautiful thing.
Email - lifebeginsatforte@protonmail.com

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