Al Lewis Talks New Album, Family And More

You will be releasing your forthcoming album ‘Fifteen Years’. How did you want to approach the making of the record?

When I started writing these songs it became clear this was going to be a very personal record as I’d made the decision to Finally open up about the grief I’d been bottling up for my Dad (who died when I was 21) and all of the conversations we never got to have as adults. It was a difficult album to make but at the same time an extremly cathartic one too. In this respect it’s probably my most personal record to date.

Where did you record the album and who produced it? 

 For the most part it was recorded in my studio in Cardiff, with me producing it. I leaned on my good friend Richard Llewellyn (formely of Paper Aeroplanes) for his help and advice with the writing and arrangements on some of the songs, he plays one instrument or another on most of the songs. We were still in the period of having covid lockdowns so I knew for the most part I would be recording this in isolation… I did however get my musician friends to record things for me remotely and send them over.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

Cardiff – Welsh / Green / Wet / Welcoming / Friendly

Your latest single is ‘In My Daughter’s Eyes’. What was the story/inspiration behind the song?

“My youngest daughter has this dimple on her cheek, I have dimples, but my wife doesn’t have dimples. I looked at some photographs of my Dad and saw that he had dimples, and realised that he will live on, not only through me but through my children. Becoming a Dad myself was a real game-changer for me, realising they were going to have elements of him within them. It’s been wonderful to see those elements manifest in them. Again, it’s one of those conversations I wish I could have with him. It was really healing, to sing these things that I never got to say when he was alive.”

The single is accompanied by a music video. What was the idea behind the video, who directed it and do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the video shoot? 

Being an independent artist the budget for making a music video is negligible…! So we decided to film it at my good friend Sam Rhys James’ house, in his living room. Keep it simple, that’s what I say 😉

 Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals etc?

 I love my nylon string acoustic guitar which I picked up at a charity shop!

Do you have any live plans in 2024 to support the album release?

 Yes I’ll be going on tour in the UK February 2024. 

How do you look after your voice? 

 with plenty of lemon and ginger tea …. 😉

In doing some research, I read that you also have a podcast called ‘Feels Like Healing’. How did that opportunity arise and how can people listen to it?

 I decided I wanted to talk to other people who’d turned to creativity as a way of helping them heal following a bereavement or trauma, I’ve found the conversations to be incredibly insightful and inspirational.

What makes Al Lewis happy and what makes you unhappy? 

 Happy – seeing Wales win at football // Unhappy – seeing Wales lose at football

Photo Credit: John Hollingsworth 

Al Lewis’ forthcoming album ‘Fifteen Years’ is released on 12th January 2024. 

You can pre-order the album here: https://allewis.bandcamp.com/album/fifteen-years 

Lewis also hosts a very successful podcast ‘Feels Like Healing’ that deals with channelling loss into the creative world. Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/feels-like-healing/id1630069334

In addition, he will support the album release with a February 2024 UK Tour which will visit the following venues:

Thurs 1st FEB – Prohibition Sound, Liverpool

Fri 2nd FEB – Blue Sky Cafe, Bangor

Sat 3rd FEB – Mwldan Theatre, Cardigan

Weds 7th FEB – Kitchen Garden Café, Birmingham

Thurs 8th FEB – The Kings Arms (Salford), Manchester,

Fri 9th FEB – Cafe #9, Sheffield

Sat 10th FEB – Neuadd Dwyfor, Pwllheli

Weds 14th FEB – Folklore Rooms, Brighton

Thurs 15th FEB – St Pancras Old Church, London

Fri 16th FEB – Ty Pawb, Wrexham

Tickets: www.allewismusic.com