We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Reid Morrison. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Reid below.

Hi Reid, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I’d say personally it was around 16 years ago I decided to quit my full time job to pursue music.
Although on paper it was a scary move, I had a 3 month freelance role lined up, but was told. ‘there is no guarantee it would be extended’.
Where I was at the time with music was I was shattered! having a full time job, rehearsing and performing gigs was taking its toll, also there was not enough hours to be creative.
I was young and had to take a risk in order to really give this ‘music’ a real go.

Being creative doesn’t mean you just turn on the button in between work and your laundry to write a song ha! Although you try that with every bit of time you have, even at work on the clock!

With the jump I had to live with the anxiety of uncertainty with financials and the huge urge to write music and get our band out there. It took a while to settle the mind down on the first issue.
Long story short, it worked!

My previous band Treetop Flyers got a record deal, recorded our debut in LA, toured UK/Europe, played Glastonbury Twice and was thankful to have our debut also released in the US, which meant we played some shows and festivals in the US. All a massive dream come true.

I don’t often think about it as I had the urge to really give it a go, but the moment of quitting my job and being in control of my own time was really a huge factor in making that dream possible.
You need to be free when trying to be creative as it has its own ideas when sitting down with it, some good days and some utterly frustrating ones that make you wish you just stuck to that job! But nothing moves on.

On my death bed I will know I made the right decision.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

At heart I’m a singer songwriter, and have had a degree of success in my Previous band ‘Treetop Flyers’ and now I have a new musical venture with one of the guitars players called ‘Albert’ we released our Debut Album in last year called ‘Time Well Spent’
(we are on the usual sites for streaming)

Since I was super super young music has always been in my bones, my parents had music on all the time and I loved it and still do. I still go to gigs with my Mum.
Having been in bands since I was 13 its hard to stop! but I’d say I love the feeling of moving someone with a song. Songs are very powerful tools for all events in life, they are like the exact thing you need at that exact time.
I wrote a song once after my dad passed away called ‘St Andrews Cross’ and on the nights we played it the reaction from people was unforgettable. Some saying they had just lost someone and that really helped them feel the pain or they just cried talking to me. It was so powerful and such a pleasure to connect like that.

So I love making a performer music to connect. Some of my most favourite memories on earth all involve music in some shape or form.

With my new project Albert, this feeling is always at the front of our minds when we are creating.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Governments need to invest back into grassroots music and venues. I know in America live music is still treated with respect and you can make a decent living out of it. In the UK it’s harder, venues are shutting down and they are fewer and fewer place to play gigs. When I started you could play 7 days a week. It’s sad to see the funding not where it should be.

Art is everyones’ experience and art should be available to everyone.
funding art needs to continue to make the next generation of talent.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

To make people feel something with us.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/albert_____band
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@albertmusiclondon
• Other: https://echodelickrecords.bandcamp.com/album/time-well-spent

Image Credits

Sam Ford