British Country Artist, Peter Donegan talks to Jason Barnard about songwriting, his dad Lonnie, The Voice UK and future plans.
Can you tell me about writing “Thank You Texas” and how you got involved with the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation?
Sure! I was invited into the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation as a scholar on the back of the release of my debut E.P, ‘Superman’ which I had recorded in Nashville, TN the same year (2017).
Writing ‘Thank You Texas’ was an emotional one. The story is in the lyrics, but it was this warm feeling that Texas gave me. A sense of belonging.
After too long of a break from being back in the US and an excruciating long journey to Austin TX from London, immediately after which I had a 5-hour drive through the night to Lubbock, I wound down the window, smelt and felt the warm Texas air which wrapped around me like a blanked as a stared up at the stars on a huge Texas sky. It felt like Texas was saying: “I’ve got you, your home.”
What are your latest releases and how do they compare with your other solo material?
My last release was, ‘Thank You Texas’, which seems to have been very well received. I co-wrote that with two wonderful Texas songwriters in Jerry Serrano and The Voice NBC’s Madi Davis.
Due to ‘Thank You Texas’ I won my first awards at Texas Sounds Country Music Awards ’20 for Male Vocalist of the Year and Original Song of the Year.
So I would like to think that I am improving all the time as a songwriter and an artist in general. Really, you never stop learning and there is always room for improvement, but I am still happy with my earlier work and they say what I felt and needed to say at that time.
Do you have plans for a new album and if so, what should listeners expect?
I do!! There is one more in the works. It will include songs which my fans have heard only live as well as new unheard material which have been written with friends that I have met down the line at song writing retreats including, Sean Healen from New Mexico, Sonny West (composer of Buddy Holly’s ‘Oh Boy’ and ‘Rave On’) and Mark Nevin (member of Fairground Attraction and composer of ‘Perfect’).
We hope to have three singles out first before releasing the album for winter 2021.
What music did your first listen to and what shaped your sound?
I have to say the first music I listened to was, my dad. I know that’s very predictable, but I was surrounded by dad’s music. I was born on the road in 1983. It’s the only reason I was born in the U.K. as we were living in Lake Tahoe, California at the time but dad was doing a run in London.
As a small child I was very strongly drawn to the live sound I heard from the side of the stage. I really loved the songs with the most energy like, Rock Island Line, Cumberland Gap and Jack of Diamonds. That raw, unbridled sound that sounded like the song was in control rather than the band. It was exciting.
After that I was surrounded by dad’s record collection which at that point mainly consisted of Willie Nelson, JJ Cale, Waylon Jennings, Creedence Clearwater etc.
That’s why I love a song which tells a story and has a great groove or feel.
What was the process for choosing the material for your album ‘LIVE’ and what was it like recording at the old Decca recording studios?
Wow! This was a really surreal experience. The old studio has so much that is still untouched from the 1950’s. You’re touching the same tiles that people like dad, The Rolling Stones, Tom Jones all touched while making their first hit records.
The process of choosing the song list was simple really. We wanted to have a balance where we paid homage to dad, playing the songs which represented him the best which is the high energy, rootsy numbers while showing the audience and the listeners what I am about as an artist. I felt that this was important to do immediately after my performances on The Voice had aired. To show what I am and what my music is.
Out of all your material, what are the favourite tracks that you have written and why?
Hmmm. That’s not always an easy one to answer. If we’re talking live and for which gets a great response I’d say ‘Ode to a Friend’ has to be up there. I really do think people relate to the lyrics and the feel-good factor. Other than that, I’d probably go with the more emotional numbers like, ‘Little Man’ and ‘Thank You Texas’.
These songs are the ones where I feel I hit the nail on the head, and they inspire me to write to this level all the time.
You’re known as playing many instruments. Which one did you play first and at what age?
Ha, ha. Yes! Jack of all trades, master of none!
Well, my first instrument has always been the piano. Dad kept buying me guitars, and I appreciate it, but I just couldn’t pass a piano without trying to play it. I taught myself first which convinced dad to get me lessons and it’s been all uphill since then.
After that I learned the harmonica which I still use live and then once dad passed away, I picked up his guitars and learned them.
At aged 18 you joined the Lonnie Donegan Band. What was it like playing with your father?
Oh yeah! That was a HUGE learning curve. Dad sprung that one me while jamming at home.
I mean it was a massive thing for me, but it was a challenge I relished. Being able to sit in with a band, and not just any band, Dad’s band of the last 40+ years. These guys had played with other artists like Van Morrison, Joe Brown, Chas n Dave, Dr Hook and more, so needless to say I was feeling very humbled, yet somehow safe. I had known these guys all my life and were like family. Once I settled and found where I belonged within the band sound, it was just wonderful. Being able to add to dad’s performance.
When did you first play as a solo artist and what was it like stepping out in front?
The first solo performance was verrrrry forgettable. I was literally solo. A mate I knew, Ian Luck had a friend who ran a festival near Middlesbrough in the North East of England and managed to get me a spot on the ‘Up and Coming’ stage.
What he had failed to tell me was, it was an Indie Band festival, and I was the only solo performer, and I was definitely not of the same genre. I even tried to throw a couple of dads songs into the set to see if that would turn some heads. But really, I was just performing to the pulsating spiders which had infested one side of the tent.
What was it like singing your dad’s song “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” with Tom Jones? Was it done on the spur of the moment?
That is a moment I will never forget. I’ll be honest I never even expected a chair to turn, let alone duet with Sir Tom Jones.
I felt a little ‘on the spot’ at first. After being asked to sing it, by Tom, I asked the band if they knew the song and the response was “not enough to do it now, but you can play it on the piano”.
So, no run through, nothing! Let’s just busk this on national TV! Doesn’t get more Rock n Roll than that, I guess.
The full description of the event is on my YouTube channel here:
How did appearing on The Voice impact your career?
Well…it definitely gave me a little more exposure and opened up a few more concert doors, which is wonderful. I did have the offer of a recording contract from Polydor but they wanted a one album deal of me re-recording my dad’s old hits, which, as much fun as that would have been, I am not a tribute artist, it’s not what I do so wouldn’t be a representation of my live set and dad would have hated it. His big piece of advice to me was:
“If you’re going to have ANY chance of making it in this industry, you’ve got to write your own songs!”
So, in honour of dad, I’m ploughing through as an independent artist.
Where are you based now and what is the music scene like there at the moment?
That’s a good question. The question maybe should be, where is the music business after the pandemic?
I am based between West Palm Beach, FL and London, England. The scene here in the US is a bit more promising. In 2021 I have done some work in Maryland so far and am booked back for Texas Sounds Country Music Awards.
In the UK, the scene is a bit less sure. Some gigs are tentatively coming back but the UK in general doesn’t treat the performing arts with the respect it deserves which is shocking considering the amount of great global artists the UK as a whole as produced. A lot of great, historic independent venues don’t get any support.
How has the pandemic affected you?
Massively! Not only is there the obvious issue with not having live gigs but also, recording is an issue. It means recording everything in isolation. Sending tracks back and forth to musicians, resending to do re-takes etc. Very long winded.
Then, the desperation to stay in people’s minds by doing live online gigs and trying not to saturate the fans with the same material over and over and also trying to look interesting on social media when you’re not really doing anything. All of this while caring for our son with ASD.
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
To do as much as I can! Get as many gigs in the books as possible and get the new singles and album out.
Where can people find out more about you?
