Artwork Collaborations (please click for more details)

Since joining SoundCloud, I've contacted a number of artists and friends to ask if I can use their artwork on my songs. Below is a list of the songs that feature such artwork, as well as a brief description of why I wanted to use that piece of art as well as a link to the artists' webpage. I'd like to say a huge thanks again to everyone who has allowed me to use their artwork, and encourage any of my SC friends and listeners to check out their work too.

1. "I Can't Give You What You Want" features artwork by artist Danny O'Connor; His painting 'A Sea Of Calm Among Echoes Of A Storm' inspired another song/lyric of mine ("Echoes Of The Storm") but the painting seemed to fit even better with this song, and has become something of a signature piece of artwork for me. I don't use it on the iTunes version of the song/album, so it is also something of a SoundCloud exclusive! Web: facebook.com/artbydoc

2. "Starlight" features photography by my friend Stuart McIntyre who specialises in night-scapes of the Scottish countryside. This stunning winter night scene is also the cover for my SoundCloud-only album, 'In The Night'. Web: boundbystarlight.com

3. "The Fire Within" was directly inspired by a piece of the same name by the artist Ysabel Lemay. I also used to use other pieces by Ysabel on my (real) album 'Light Years' but changed the artwork to some of my own when I put the album up for sale on iTunes and Bandcamp. However Ysabel's work has been very influential and I still have alot of her artwork on my private mp3 tracks! Web: ysabellemay.com

4. "Caledonia Son" features a photo by my friend Niall Geoghegan. This shot was taken just yards from where I live and features Glasgow's river Clyde on a winter's morning, taken from Niall's balcony. The colours and detail in the image are breathtaking and inspired me to write a song about the natural beauty of my native Scotland.

5. "Innocent" features a photograph by Lloyd Ramos, a fellow forum member over at gtplanet.net. The song is about a friend of a friend who was killed on the London Underground in the terrorist attack of 7th July 2005. This monochrome image of an innocent young lady on a London Underground train fit the bill perfectly. Web: lloydramos.com

6. "Love Isn't Rational" features a collage by the brilliant Eugenia Loli. After using a stock picture on the song for several months, I had the idea of using a surreal image or collage that highlighted the absurdity/irrationality of (some!) relationships. Eugenia's work captures that essence perfectly, especially her collection 'Oh, L'amour'. Web: eugenialoli.tumblr.com

7. "Sylmar" features photography by Matt Barnes from his (appropriately named) 'Motel Sleaze' set. The song is about the perils that some people face after opting for a career in the adult film industry, and Matt's photo brilliantly captures the seediness inherent in that particular scene. It also fits in well with my 'Lost Motels' theme of songs that I am currently working on. Web: mattbarnesphoto.tumblr.com

8. "Light Years" originally featured another piece by Ysabel Lemay (as per 'The Fire Within') but now features a photograph taken by my late uncle Mike Aitken. Sadly Mike passed away in 2015, but he was happy to let me use this beautiful shot on my first (and so far only) album to be released on iTunes.