Steve Swindells. More Good Stuff.

Ten years ago, my younger brother Frank came round to my loft/studio in New Crescent Yard (London NW10) with his eight year-old son Cassian and we recorded a cool jam in my studio, with Cass free-styling a rap.

I programmed the drums and played the bass (on the keyboard) and keyboards. Frank played rhythm and lead guitars and violin.

Great playing Frank!

Just recently, we re-discovered the track and asked Cass if he’d agree to let me put it out. He felt no, as he was so young at the time.

So I just kept some cool Cass/Frank/Steve vocal samples and realised that the track was a perfect fit for my new song ‘I’m A Refugee’.

This song was inspired when Zaza, a young gay refugee in Kakuma camp, Kenya, got in touch with me via Instagram, to ask if I could help them.

I agreed and also pledged to help make the world aware of their plight.

This song is my first way towards doing that. Please share.

They've now escaped the rampant homophobia of Kakuma and reached the relative safety (although that remains to be seen)of the Gorom Resettlement Camp in South Sudan. 

Watch this space for a link to donate. 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/kakuma-refugee-camp-pride-2023-celebration?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cp_guide_do&member=27304217

They are desperate. Or just DM me for a private Paypal address which will get straight to them.



My vocals recorded at Cave Studio Bath Nov 24 2023. Engineered and mixed by Vonj.

Produced by Vonj and Steve Swindells

I'm A Refugee.

I'm a refugee, and I ask you please,
to look out for me and all the hate that I flee.

I'm in no-man's land, can you take my hand,
can you lead me into safety and my dream reality?

My family all disowned me, I was up against the wall,
with nowhere to call home, I was up against it all.

I'm a refugee, and I’m LGBT,
So look out for me and all the hate that I flee.

I am caught-up in this cauldron of misery and strife,
and all I ask for is tasks - that will help me to rebuild my life.

I'm not begging, level pegging is my wish in everything.
Though I stumble, I am humble 'til I find my angel wings.

You could bring me home to paradise where everything is love,
where all the hate in the world is sacrificed to a higher force above.

To love. To joy, every boy and every girl,
I'm a refugee - I will be free to rebuild my world.

Rejoice! We have a voice! We are fighting our own corner
against ignorance and greed.

I will be free. No more a refugee. I will be free. No more a refugee.
I will be free. No more a refugee. I will be free. No more a refugee.

Copyright Steve Swindells. All rights reserved

This track will be released on Spotify, Amazon and all the other streaming platforms worldwide on March 8th 2024.

Words by Steve Swindells.

Music by Steve Swindells, Frank Swindells and Cassian Swindells.

I'm A Refugee. First Mix.

Co-written and recorded with Lady Sovereign (that's her singing  the home-made sample) in my Rancho Deluxe Studio, London NW10 in 2008.

14. My Pocket Guru (instrumental).wav

Created in my home studio in the noughties. All noises by Steve Swindells.

Also here - complete with lyrics, credits and shit!

https://steveswindells.bandcamp.com/track/spinnin-around

Spinnin' Around

1997.

Lo-fi. Remastered from cassette.

I hope the song still shines through.  Another great vocal performance from Gospel Girl too.

I don't recall who the bass player was, although it does sound like it could have been Dale Davis.

Recorded at Crosstrax Studio, Kings Cross. 1997.

Drum programming by Ffion Anthony.

Keyboards by Steve Swindells.

Produced by Ffion Anthony and Steve Swindells.

Word and music © Steve Swindells.

Image © Steve Swindells.

Part of The Chronicles Of Cassetteville.

I can hear Little Mix doing justice to this track.  It was so prescient to what is happening right now in 2020.

'F.A.Q'. feat Gospel Girl. Demo.

Another great vocal from 'Gospel Girl' (and me - see how well we blend on the verses and backing vocals) at my Crosstrax Studio recording sessions in 1997. The songs keep on coming! Off CASSETTE! This is another digitised and remastered track from The Chronicles Of Cassetteville.

All instruments: Steve Swindells

Drum programming: Ffion Anthony.

Produced by Ffion Anthony and Steve Swindells.

Words and music © Steve Swindells

Image © Steve Swindells

'Together' final Mix, by Steve Swindells. feat Gospel Girl.

This is from the double download/stream album 'The Unplanned Obsolescence of Thom Topham' by Steve Swindells. 

These are the 17 original songs featured in 'My Unplanned Obsolescence', the multimedia 'Thom Topham' autoBLOGography, which you can find at: www.thomtopham.wordpress.com/about

The song was 'written by Thom Topham' (AKA  Steve Swindells) and recorded in 2009 at Rancho Deluxe Studio. Everything is programmed, played, sung (apart from some help from my favourite ex 'Luther' on the backing vocals on this track) and produced by myself, apart from the lead guitar, which was played by Jerry Richards.

Words by  © Steve G Swindells.

Music by @ Alexis Roberts and Steve Swindells
You Go By

I will not try to admit defeat, or walk on by the other side of the street
dragging my feet while you go by, while your clock ticks and every moment in my heart begins to stick in my mind - you go by.

Some people thrive on pressure, if it aint there then they invent it
and others live more leisurely, it's their world and how they present it.

You go by, you never had to try, 'cos you know everyone and everything
and always knew which bells to ring... like mine.

Don't be so fly, no, don't say goodbye 'cos I'll need you in the future.
Call it... time. I wanna call it time, time. I wanna call it - you go by.
Time, time, I wanna call it time. Hey, oh, you go by, you go by.

You go by.

Now listen - I wanna call you sometimes, and no-one's naming names,
but I can't bear too much sunshine, or nights spent playing games.
You go by - like dirty tricks, and every vision in my head begins to click in my mind and you go, you go by.

Hey - you know I wanna call it time, time, time, call it, time, time, time...
You go by, yeah, you... time, I wanna call it, I wanna call it.
Yeah, you go by... you go, you go, you go by.

Words and music © Steve G Swindells.

You Go By(remastered)

Steve Swindells is a singer/songwriter/musician/producer and artistic polymath. He owns all the rights to the tracks featured on here (PRS/MCPS) -  apart from the Hawklords, Tre Nation, Findike and Spirits Burning tracks (and 'Shot Down In The Night' and 'Turn It On Turn It Off', which Steve wote, but are published by Warner Chappell) - so all the other tracks and co-writes are available to sample (with permission and a suitable publishing split!) and to cover and/or licence.

The Plastic Sturgeons, Steve's ad-hoc, all-star jamming band, were honoured to be joined by one of the best bass players in the world, Guy Pratt (just google him - I'll mention Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson for starters) at their live gig at The Real Music Club In Brighton. Then Amy Winehouse's bass player and musical director Dale Davis guested at the next super-jam @ The Brunswick in Brighton on Nov 23rd.  That was Steve's 61st b/day party too. All tracks were recorded by the most excellent Roy Weard.

Steve's new(old) double CD The Lost Albums was released in 2012 on Flicknife Records (http://www.flickniferecords.co.uk) and you can read the first review of it here: http://www.recordcollectormag.com/reviews/review-detail/8099 - also available from iTunes, Amazon.co.uk, Play.com and HMV.com

Steve's 1974 Album 'Messages' was digitally remastered and reissued on Esoteric/Cherry Red, in 2009, as was his classic 1980 album Fresh Blood (Atomhenge/Cherry Red). The latter is also available on Spotify, iTunes etc etc.

Steve's double compilation album of home recordings and demos from the late 80s through to 2013 is called 'New Crescent Yard' and is available to download for just $10 here, as his new album 'The Hanging Baskets Of Babylon' : http://steveswindells.bandcamp.com and they are also on most streaming and download platforms.

Steve's burgeoning multimedia EBook 'Sex N' Drugs N' Sausage Rolls' is now free to peruse (for a limited period) on http://steveswindells/wordpress.com/about

Steve also played with the re-convened Hawklords (he was in the band in 1978/9), which features the cream of the ex-members of Hawkwind and The Hawklords. Steve also played quirky keyboards on The Hawklords' 2012 release 'We Are One' before leaving the band.

http://www.facebook.com/TheHawklords

Stream and download (please 'fan' for loads of free downloads) more of Steve's songs and music at:
http://www.reverbnation.com/steveswindells

Then there are the ambient/chill/healing albums - perfect for film, library and TV music.  These CDs are now available to buy direct from the artist. 

http://www.reverbnation.com/steveswindellsbamboo

http://www.reverbnation.com/steveswindellsenigmaelevations

And please 'like' me @ http://www.facebook.com/SteveSwindellsMusic

Don't forget to check-out my Bowie-esque alter-ego Thom Topham too:
http://soundcloud.com/thom-topham and http://www.reverbnation.com/thomtopham

The double DanMingo album featuring Jon Moss, Winston Blissett, Dale Davis, Jerry Richards, Kit Morgan and Moos in now available as a download and to stream on all the usual digital suspects.

Steve released the double album 'The Unplanned Obsolescence of Thom Topham' and it's available to download/stream on all digital outlets.

You Go By(remastered)

steve-swindells