"Embrace the Mattness"......my take on Matt Cardle's success

OK, let's get this straight....I cannot stand the X-Factor and what it represents but this year I have actually found myself watching some of the shows. The main reason....Matt Cardle.

Matt comes from Little Maplestead in Essex, which is a couple of miles away from where my lovely Angel lived for many years, being an Essex girl herself (born in Chelmsford to be exact). Obviously, Angel has been cheering Matt on and so have I. Not because he comes from Essex but because the guy is extremely talented and, thank God, normal. He has been playing pubs for years as a solo singer and in his band, Seven Summers, and has worked extremely hard to get to where he is. He took the bull by the horns and decided it was time to have a go at the X-Factor and saw it through to win the final. And, in my personal opinion, it could not have happened to a nicer guy.What I love about the guy is that even though he now in the headlines as an X-Factor winner and on all our screens and in the national newspapers, he is still honouring all of his solo and band commitments from before the X-Factor. This to me speaks volumes. Obviously, from a PR standpoint, it all works in his favour, but I think there is much more to Matt than that. He is a regular guy who fulfilled his dream and, more importantly, cares deeply about his supporters and fans, and the people and family who got him to where he is right now.

I also love the choice of the Biffy Clyro track, "Many Of Horror", for Matt as his X-Factor song. Renamed to "When We Collide" for Matt (probably as most people will ask for and look for the track as that), it is an inspired choice. Biffy Clyro are a superb band in their own right and, as usual, the bitter detractors are there, saying that Biffy Clyro have sold out to the X-Factor. Rubbish. Biffy Clyro would have had to give their permission for the song to be used, and if you look at Journey and last years X-Factor, with the track "Don't Stop Believing", it can only work in their favour and get them more success. Hey, I think Biffy Clyro have got it sussed. Think of the royalty payments when Matt's version gets to No.1 for Christmas. They're not daft.

For once, I think we need to applaud and congratulate Matt on his success. I really like the guy. He is just...normal. I, personally, really have had enough of all the bitterness everywhere. Sure, the X-Factor is not one of my favourite shows at all on many levels, but for once, they right guy won. Surely that is a good thing? Now, if Wagner had won, then we would have a problem, right? But, a guy who can sing and play superbly has won.

Here's a Twitter quote from Peter Gordon (@PGradio) who is the Breakfast DJ at 96.4 Eagle FM down in Surrey where I used to live:

"Reasons why Matt cardle deserves number 1: he has been a hardworking musician for years, he had the guts to do something about it and seems a pretty straight forward chap. And I'm fed up with people in this country being bitter about everything. So embrace the mattness".

(Peter - thank you so much for giving me an idea for my blog. Appreciate it!)

I, too, am a singer and songwriter who is waiting for that break (if it ever happens!). Whilst I would never go on the X-Factor for a HUGE number of reasons, I can totally see why Matt did. I agree with Peter Gordon. We are so bitter about anyone who has any success. Matt is providing pleasure to all who listen to him. I think he has a great voice and I loved the fact that he got a guitar out on the X-Factor when he sang. I challenge anyone who has never sung and played guitar at the same time to go try and do it. It is hard to do, let alone with millions of people watching, plus the X-Factor judges. Matt is talented, period. Leave the guy alone and let him enjoy his moment. He deserves it. I am sure we will see plenty more from him and his band.

I mentioned bitterness. We are so close to Christmas we can touch it. I suggest we all try and be close to our loved ones (snow permitting) and lose the bitterness. Be nice, and as Peter Gordon said, embrace the Mattness. There is too much bitterness in this world already, don't add to it.

So to all who read my witterings here, I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year. Let's do our utmost to make 2011 a year we can all do our best to be proud of. Let's fight our demons and achieve our goals. Let's make that call to someone we love or better still, surprise them with a visit. Love thy family and thy neighbour. What was it the Beatles said.....? All you need is love.

Here's to a lovely festive season to you all....

Shaun x

Rejection......

Yeah, rejection sucks but you deal with it and you move on. I mentioned rejection in my previous post and here is another example.

I have just received my first rejection letter from a record label. I thought it would really hurt when I read the letter but it didn't. I just thought to myself, "Right. First one down, plenty more to go." I am sure I will get many more before anyone signs me, if they sign me at all. I really don't know what will happen. One thing I know for sure is that I really won't mind if I don't get signed...ever. I am here for my music. Everything else is a bonus.

Here's an example. I voted for Bon Jovi to get in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year and the last time I looked they were storming it with 31% of the total vote with no-one else close. Check out this year's latest inductees and you will not see Bon Jovi anywhere. WTF? I, personally, am gutted for them as they are a hard-working, true-to-themsleves-and-their-fans, rock 'n' roll act who have worked their butts off for the last 25 years. Sure, so have the inductees listed for this year, such as Neil Diamond, but do you actually recognize some of those names? Again, Jovi aren't recognized for their efforts. I am sure Jon and boys will be disappointed but it won't stop them keeping the same work ethic, the same desire to create, keeping the faith for them and their fans. They have a fan base that will always support them in what they do. Sure, getting in to the Hall of Fame is nice, right? But I bet it won't stop them giving their all to their fans and their music...always.

One thing I do know is that my rejection letter has reinforced my will to work harder and get my album finished for the summer next year. I know I can do it. Just like Bon Jovi are probably disappointed, you just get up, brush yourself down and get on with it. You can apply that ethic to life in general. Just keep going, have faith and believe.

I had to make a business decision in my day job today as well and I just had to decide one way or the other. Whichever way I went, I was going to have to burn a bridge and end a business relationship. I made that decision around me, not them. Just recently, I have decided to go with my instincts, my gut feelings. Strangely enough, it seems to work. Go with what works for you, not what works for them. Even if it is a tough call, it will work out in the end. Your friends will respect you if you make a true decision based on you.

Talking of friends, before I forget....the Lovely Di (@DirtyDiamonds47) is interviewing me on her radio show this Friday (17th). The interview is at 8.30pm Eastern Time (USA) which is actually 1.30am on Saturday 18th here in the UK! So I will be up late. Don't worry. If you can't make it and you are tucked up in bed or clubbing, the interview will be recorded and become a podcast for later listening! 

You will find Di's radio show on www.unleashed-radio.com or www.x-factorradio.com Tune in if you can! Join me in the chatroom on the show too!

So, it's real simple. Work hard, ignore your critics and bumps along the way. Be true to yourself and your endeavours.

Remember, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

Love and peace to you all,

Shaun x

SCB nominated for the Online Music Awards - Thank you's all round!

Well, my first nomination for any music award...ever!


I would like to say thank you to everyone who responded to my request to nominate me to become a registered candidate for the Online Music Awards! (www.onlinemusicawards.org). You are all very, very nice people - thank you!


The lovely guys at Spaceship Days and Haunting Heather gave me the idea when I saw that they were going for the awards, so I thought I would test the waters and jump in with both feet.....scary but worth asking all of you to nominate me. You rewarded me with getting the official nomination emails late last week! I am now a nominee for Best Rock Act and Best International Unsigned Artist! Thank you!


So, this leads me on to a topic that all musicians face.....rejection. What happens if you or your music get rejected by a label, a company or even your fans? I was nervous when I asked you all to nominate me for the awards. I thought to myself, "What if they don't want to know? What if they don't like my music?", plus many other silly questions and thoughts that I won't bore you with. You didn't let me down and it all comes down to confidence and having faith in yourself and your ability. As the Jovi say, Keep The Faith (for Jovi fans, click on the link for a special Jovi treat).


In this game, and I am only the new boy, you have to BELIEVE. Believe that you can do it, Believe that you are who you are and believe in what you can do. I know I don't like the X-Factor much but every contestant on there has belief that they can win, otherwise they would not be there (even Wagner had belief in himself). Look at American Idol and the likes of David Cook, Daughtry and Adam Lambert. You have to push yourself to learn and believe you can do things you may not normally believe you can do. These guys had belief and were prepared to work damn hard and look at them now.


Let me give you an example. I picked up a guitar at 36 years old (I am 41 now) never believing I would ever be where I am now. I am no rock star or top ten band or anything like that, but I have surpassed anything I ever thought I could do. I have learnt how to play a guitar (I now have four and, trust me, I am still learning!), I have (and still am) learning how to songwrite. I realised I could sing and I now have a 5-track EP out there. I am now working on material for my album, which I am hoping will be ready by summer 2011. Check out the tracks from the EP on my ReverbNation page (click on the link).


Life is a learning curve and you learn from all of your experiences or something just appears and you have to deal with it. Or, you set yourself a goal and go for it. You have to have a great work ethic and work hard towards your goals. That way you achieve what you want. No easy rides, no free lunches. When your fingertips burn after a guitar practice session, when you buzz after a gig, you know you have worked hard and gave it your all. That is what you should look to apply to your whole life. Remember, you only get one shot without any rehearsals......


I love you all and thank you for giving me faith.


Shaun x