Fretwell looks to bright future
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THE last time CityLife caught up with adopted troubadour Stephen Fretwell, all was not well with the world. In fact such was the darkening hue of the gathering clouds in the Scunthorpe ex-pat’s mindset, he was considering giving up music for good.
It is with a little trepidation then that we re-connect with the Chorlton-based singer-songwriter.
After all, despite being lavished with critical acclaim, his second LP, Man On The Roof, has not claimed the commercial breakthrough his label (Polydor sibling Fiction) craved.
Hearteningly, we find the artist in a much sunnier place now though.
After all, he’s currently playing the kind of intimate, cosy venues his beguiling tales work best in on an acoustic tour.
But first CityLife thought it prudent to gauge the reasons for his change in mood.
“I was completely fed up at the time. It wasn’t that the label weren’t getting behind me, but I just never wanted to go on things like Popworld – I just don’t suit that sort of world - that was the only bad blood I had with them.”
With a clutch on new songs penned for a soon-to-be-recorded third album, Fretwell is an invigorated man now.
“I ready to have it really. I think this next one could be the best album I’ve ever done. I’ve been bringing in new songs every night on this tour and I can’t believe how well they’ve gone down, it’s been a lot of fun.”
Refreshingly optimistic
With plans to get the record out by next spring, Fretwell is pleasingly optimistic about his prospects.
“I’m getting better all the time, so things are going well for us at the moment.”
Far more outward looking than his previous introspective work, the singer has changed tack – lyrically and well as mentally – with his latest offerings too.
“They are kind of about things that happened to people, rather than personal moany songs – I am trying not to be too contemplative for the next one!”
A couple of rather hip and high-profile fans have utilised his services in the shape of The Last Shadow Puppets’ Alex Turner and Miles Kane this year too.
How did the alt-folkster come to infiltrate the Scot Walker-tinged world of the Puppets?
“I kind of met them in New York when I was out there and I ended up playing bass for them for a bit of laugh.
“I did a few TV shows with them and then supported them as part of the Electric Proms in Liverpool too. I’ve got the same manager as the Arctic Monkeys so I met Alex pretty early on when they were just starting out – they’re good guys.”
Moonlighting aside, Fretwell will return to his day job in the north west when he dons a party hat and joins in the festivities for Night & Day’s 17th birthday bash at the end of November.
Alma mater
His spiritual home and alma mater, after all these years he’s quick to espouse his love for the Northern Quarter institution.
“It’s always nice to go back there, I used to work there some of the same people are still there – it’s a lovely place to play and hang around, so I’m to do a date there for the birthday.”
Once a resident on Oldham Street (only a stone’s throw away from the former place of employment), Fretwell has lived in Chorlton for five years now and happy with how the boho suburb has developed.
“Dulcimer’s (folk bar) is cool and I really like Escape – they have a night called 7 and 7 where seven DJs play seven 7in records each.
“It’s a dead cool night, I did it with Badly Drawn Boy last month – I put ABBA’s Mamma Mia on and it went down a treat!”
Next month will see Mercury Music Prize winner Elbow’s Guy Garvey take to the decks and continue his homecoming celebrations.
Fraternity
Like the rest of the city’s music fraternity, the songsmith has watched with a keen eye how 2008 has mapped out for the Bury veterans.
“It’s a bit like a sigh of relief really, as it’s been a long time coming.
“It’s kind of like ‘thank God it’s happened at long last!’ – they’re a great band and they’re lovely people.
“For once the nice guys finished first.”
Aside from the changes in Chorlton, Fretwell is also pleased with how the city’s music scene and general landscape has progressed during his eight years in the city – although there is one development on the take away front that does irk him.
“I like the fact there’s a Harvey Nichols and you can buy cooler clothes, but Popolino’s pizzas have shot up in price – they used to be £1.99 for three toppings, now it’s about a fiver!”.
If the price of one of Oxford Street’s finest is all the once troubled singer has to worry about, then Fretwell really is in a better place – let’s just hope his songwriting doesn’t suffer because of it.
Stephen Fretwell plays Night & Day on Friday, November 28. £12.50. I Am Kloot's Johnny Bramwell kicks off the three-day bash on Thursday, November 27 and Delphic will round off proceedings on Saturday, November 29. Call 0161 832 1111.
Published: Sun, 19 October, 2008
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Matt Grest wrote: 1 month 1 week ago
Saw Stephen live last night; what a great show, but why is he still playing 150 capacity venues on a cold Sunday night in Nottingham?