Dave Upton presented by IndieMusicPeople.com

Dave has been playing the guitar (badly!) since he was a teenager and his early ventures into the music business were as a roady for a number of bands. As he became more proficient on guitar, he took on rhythm guitar work in a variety of outfits, with a wide range of different styles, mostly doing covers. Playing in pubs, clubs and the university circuit was fine but music agents like to use their signings to raise as much money as possible. The agent insisted that the group work under a different name in addition to the work they enjoyed. What this meant in reality was working 4 or five nights a week in Northern working-mens clubs doing covers of largely much older material. It didn't take long before Dave had had enough and he left the performing world for what he believed was the last time and decided that a day job was probably a better option that the road.

Living in a flat in North Lincolnshire, he taught beginners guitar and it wasn't long before other local musicians found out about him and wanted to collaborate. As a result he also played in several guitar based duos in the Midlands and North of England. However, the joy of performing covers fairly soon left him again.

From the beginning, Dave's ambition was to write music rather than just play other people's material. And he continued to write material whilst at the flat, converting an old cloak cupboard into a tiny, makeshift, recording booth. Eventually, he managed to buy a dillapidated cottage that he spent several years renovating, learning building skills from anyone who would take the time to show him how to do jobs. Whilst there, he installed a 60 ips Ampex recorder in an upstairs bedroom (which required removing an upstairs window to get the thing in) but, despite this effort, it never recorded anything usable. He also bought a Logan string synth, which only ever found much use producing bass. An injury and other responsibilities took Dave back to studying for his first degree.

A few years later, he drove past a remote farmhouse which was empty and owned by the local estate. He approached the land-agent and asked if he could rent the property. He got a three year lease, sold his cottage, and this gave him the opportunity to create his first proper (analogue) studio space where he and other musicians were able to spend time developing their craft.

Dave completed his first degree in psychology, moving once again, to work in various human resources roles across the UK, before continuing his post-graduate psychology training. Subsequently, he trained as a counsellor, and completed a doctorate (Ph.D) at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire, where he also worked for a short time as a senior research fellow in the college of aeronautics. While there, he trained for his private pilot's licence with one of the companies based on the site.

After several years, another serious bout of ill-health caused Dave to leave employment. He was also permanently grounded from flying because of the health issue,which was a huge blow for him at the time. He had loved flying but it was also an incredibly expensive hobby and so grounding him was probably a blessing in disguise. Once Dave's health began to improve, he quickly decided he needed something to occupy him beyond gardening. He set-up his first company producing computer & video-based training for pharmaceutical organisations.

Dave has been CEO of a number of companies, initially those producing training and computer- interactive materials. Subsequently, he produced film for the aviation & nuclear sectors, as well as other commercial organisations. He had trained as an editor in the days of video-tape and quickly took to producing material on computer. These ventures paid the mortgage and kept him fully occupied but there was always something missing that he couldn't quite put his finger on. It is ironic that during this time, Dave never thought of writing music for the films he produced, instead using other composers for the material. However, producing the soundtracks involved mixing the film-sound, voice-over, foley and music and he thus became proficient at editing in a digital audio workstation.

He moved, yet again. This time to Cornwall on the South West tip of England, near the sea. He spent a couple of years embracing the beautiful scenery & history of the place as well as renovating the new property.

One day, he pondered how some of his old material might be bettered using the new technologies now available - and the rest, as they say, is history.

After recording & producing a few of his older songs, Dave began to write again.

He is now writing and producing music five days a week in his own studio.

	All the same to me Song about a minor celebrity I've known since childhood, who I've 'rescued' numerous times - often from his own foolishness. He became 'woke' and had a number of run-ins with the media over several different issues. The song came as a result of a coversation about him wanting to take yet another self-improvement course.		Pop Rock
	Birdlands An initially finger picked guitar tune that build with other guitars coming in, percussion & bass. Finally, a piano joins the group. Instrumental		Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
	B-lieve 80's synth based song.		Electronic
	Cell Song is about people who are stuck in a situation of their own making & even though they could get out of it, they don't.		Alternative Pop Rock
	Cant find my way home Story about a farmer's daughter who fed me hallucinagenic mushrooms.		Rock
	Cant get back to beginning Song about an addict who doesn't accept they're addicted & dismisses questioning as 'it's just a party thing'.		Pop
	Comin home		Pop
	Consequences Song about a broken relationship		Miscellaneous
	Dance on House type dance music		Dance
	Dancin in the sheets Rocky song about seduction & being ripped off as a result.		Rock
	Deep State 1984 Bluesy, slow-rock		Blues
	Dont they know? A song about loss but with an upbeat feel - It is meant to show the contrast between a person grieving (The lyrics) and the way the rest of the world caries on as normal (The music)		Pop
	Drain the swamp Written during lockdown 2020 as a protest song about politicians		Rock
	Four in the morning Imagine a smoky nightclub at four in the morning with a guy at the bar feeling sorry for himself about his ended? relationship.		Blues
	Fear of flying Acoustic with orchestral backing riffing on the James bond theme.		Alternative
	Hard habit to break Blues/rock/pop song about an abusive relationship		Rock
	Hurt is the price we pay Another song about loss		Easy Listening/Soft Rock
	How much more? How much more will individuals take before they say 'no more'. Five minute cities, the great reset, CBDC's will be forced on us unless we say 'no'		Rock
	Hope A positive look on the future		Pop
	I'd love to see you smile Written for a #songspark monthly challenge which was to write a song to comfort someone after you have died.		Pop
	I will always watch over you		Pop
	I won't be your fool		Pop
	I wouldn't care Old school easy listening jazz featuring the vocals of John Thomas Hall.		Jazz
	If your dreams don't scare you Upbeat		Pop
	Just to feel Fingerpicked acoustic guitar with mandolin & lap steel fills.		Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
	Look around Song about being there for someone when they're down		Pop
	London's Fallen proto punk/brit pop angry song about the new world order the likes of Klaus Swaub advocate.		Alternative Pop Rock
	Love is a four letter word		Blues
	Life is a waiting game		Pop
	Lilith		Rock
	Long time dead A song about a well known psychopath who claims to be a philanthropist :)		Pop
	Don't take life so seriously Folky reflective song.		Alternative Pop Rock
	Nothing can come between us Feel good song		Pop
	Nothing means nothing		Rock
	No way home		Rock
	One day late (and a dollar short)		Country
	One day		Pop
	Old dirt road Piano & vocal. Revisiting an old town I used to live in & thinking about the past.		Pop
	Oh Sasha I was noodling around figuring out a Leonard Cohen song, when I came across the riff in this song. It's about one of the BLM leaders in the UK. Written before she herself was gunned down.		Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
	Party Girl Song is about a friend's daughter who was a little wild & was often taken advantage of.		Pop
	Pendeen Light Written for a #songspark prompt 'to write a story song'. It tells of poor sailors who provided goods to the tin mines in St Ives bay in cornwall in the 1800's.		Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
	The price we pay Featuring vocals by Danni Hollobaugh, this is a simple picked acoustic guitar with another acoustic providing a bridge..		Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
	Right back to you A solo piano piece featuring the vocals of Dannielle Hollobaugh.		Pop
	Rich man plays Rocky song about working for 'the man'		Rock
	Right out of time		Rock
	Rosalee		Alternative Pop Rock
	Spring break		Alternative Pop Rock
	Shine Featuring vocals by Keith Stares.		Pop
	Sidelines		Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
	Strange love Laid back fingerpicking with electric piano featuring vocals by Danielle Hollobaugh.		Ambient
	Some of us are lookin at the stars		Pop
	Square peg		Pop
	Spread a little honey		Rock
	Stop!		Rock
	Time and again		Pop
	They control all of it		Rock
	Till I found your love		Pop
	Just too proud to beg		Rock
	That's why Love song featuring Danielle Hollobaugh on vocals		Pop
	Vaccine Passport Protest song regarding the threatenned imposition of vaccine passports in 2021.		Acoustic
	Waitin for the right time re-recorded 2020 featuring Keith Stares on Lead vocal.		Pop
	Waitin for better days		Rock
	Won't fool us this time		Rock
	What goes around		Pop
	We will always be friends Written for a #songspark challenge - To write a song loosely in the style of Randy Newman		Pop
	Your love made me sure		Jazz
	Kick the can		Rock
	Don't let go		Rock
	She Said		Pop
	Do you want my love?		Pop
	Nowhere to run		Rock
	Not wasting time		Pop
	Those days Written for a #songspark challenge - write a song about childhood		Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
	Turnpike road		Rock
	Nothin's gonna change		Pop
	Hypertension blues		Rock
	Another day		Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
	Lighting candles for the blind		Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
	Really don't matter		Rock
	End of the line		Rock
	Tightrope		Pop
	Used to waitin		Rock
	Catch22 Originally written around 1978. Re-recorded 2023.		Alternative Pop Rock
	Atlantic Highway Laid back acoustic		Alternative
	More than hurt Song about betrayal in a relationship		Pop
	Pokeweed Bible About a woman who was tryin' to work out her life between her religious upbringing & her failed relationships.		Blues
	Time to start over Song about a relationship break-up		Pop
	Mem'ries of a hungry heart It means what you want it to mean :)		Pop
	I'm only yours Written for #songsparkfebruary2024 challenge: "Write a love song" C2024, P2024 Upton. All rights reserved.		Pop
	Revolution in this town Song about taking our country back.		Rock
	Till the end of my days		Pop
	They dont care Energetic prog rock		Rock
	My one desire Written for Songspark challenge: "Write a song about desire"		Pop
	They wanna take it all About the World Health Organisations globalist ambitions to control every country in the world - even though they deny what they've written down		Rock
	On the road The reality of life on the road for one girl		Pop
	Be home soon Song about a trucker on his way home - at last		Pop
	Fools gold Sort of 70's soul vibe		Pop
	Careful what you wish for About how people can get into a relationship & then want to change their partner		Pop
	Said and done Excuse for a bit of lead guitar :)		Rock
	If you ever Written July 2024. Released August 2024.		Pop
	Keep on going Written October 2024.		Pop
	When the rose has gone Written October 2024		Pop
	Boiling point Song about turmoil in UK & US with open borders.		Pop
	Chasing dreams Just a stream of consciousness turned into a song		Pop
	Far too late		Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
	Queen of hearts		Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
	Tired of running		Rock
	Girl on the sidelines		Pop
	Face the music		Pop
	Black dog Song about depression otherwise known as the black dog		Rock
	Welcome to the UK Written about the current (2025) situation in the UK.		Punk/Emo/Ska
	Love is... Written April 2025		Pop

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