Louder Than The Music

Maybe you don't recognise his name, but British singer/songwriter Aaron David Frith has been around the UK Christian music scene for more than a decade. Perhaps better known for fronting a number of bands, namely Fruit, Sabio and most recently Oversol, Aaron is an accomplished singer who has just released his brilliant debut solo album 'Lifeline'. Louder Than The Music spoke to Aaron about his time in a band and where he's heading as a solo artist.

For people who don't know much about you, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I've lived on the south coast of England in a place called Chichester most of my life. I recently got up and left with my wife and 8 month old daughter and relocated to Tunbridge Wells as I have taken a job up here as a music director. I love challenging and inspiring people through music. I generally purchase clothes from charity shops hence my scruffy appearance. I do a 'mean' Donald duck impression. I like how comfortable I am in awkward silences. Oh and I no longer feel the need to be ironic when I say 'I like Guns n Roses'.

You've been in a number of bands over the years, Fruit, Sabio, Oversol, what would you say were the biggest achievements for those bands and your proudest moments?

I guess playing at Brixton Academy and Shepherds Bush Empire as a support act were two big achievements but my proudest moment was selling out the London Water rats. We had the buzz, A & R excitement and people singing tracks off our album. That was a great night that I'll never forget. The whole thing felt electric.

Why have you decided to go solo now, rather than being in a band?

Well I had a clear sense that the band needed to end a couple of years ago as it had become bigger than God for me and I had lost the very thing that made me tick. It was a little bit of a Noahs Ark moment where it seemed like a ridiculous decision to build a boat (or to deconstruct one in this case). Most probably the hardest thing I ever did. I had no intention to go solo it's just I wasn't in a band anymore and I had songs I had to get off my chest.

You've just released your first solo album, Lifeline, can you tell us a little about the album?

I wrote the track 'Lifeline' in one of my lowest times. I wasn't fitting into Church, my marriage was struggling and I just seemed to have built myself an Island of insecurity and was deeply unhappy putting my life in the hands of record labels instead of God's. From the place I was at I wrote a lyric in desperation 'I don't mind being broken if I'm closer to You' and broken I was. I think my Mum always said be careful what you wish for! So this song came out and was the catalyst for me to dedicate a whole bunch of recordings to God and I thought 'lifeline' would be an appropriate title. It was recorded in Chichester and included all the musicians from my old band Oversol/Sabio and so had a redemptive quality all over it for me.

Which is your favourite track off your new album and why?

Hmmm... I would like to pick a couple. However, right now I love 'In your own skin'. It just flows really well musically, melodically and lyrically. The subject is quite intense as it was written off the back of doing some training, supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse. It engages with the real experience of listening to horrific stories YET captures some of the hope that somehow people can find in the darkest situations.

What is your song writing process?

Well I'm a big believer in pushing the subconscious to find the hidden gems. By that I mean I will have a particular emotion that just makes me want to grab the guitar. I'll play a few chords then just open my mouth and sing (I'm aware that sounds like something out of Monty Python's Holy Grail). Anyway, Sometimes a certain phrase will come out that I build a whole song around. It's amazing how usually my best lines comes from moments like that. I'd love the whole song to be like that but that is just the inspiration then it's over to the perspiration of writing lyrics.

If you could work with any song writer, who would it be and why?

Wow that's a big question and a difficult one as there are so many. I would no doubt love to write a song with Kevin Prosch. I would love to learn how to be so raw and organic and capture it in a recording. I love his freedom of exploration. It's something I'd like to think I have in me and need to have it drawn out more. So if you're reading Kev, get me over to your studio!!

You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your mp3 player. What track is it?

I wish Sigur Ros' Hoppipolla wasn't overplayed on car adverts and sport montages but it would definitely be this song! They hit something heavenly there.

Which do you prefer playing live or recording albums?

Love both but easily love playing live more.

What does the next year hold for you?

Hopefully lots of gigs/conferences maybe one or two in South Africa around the time of the world cup?? That would be nice. Also new and fresh songs to be discovered and written.

To listen to tracks from Aaron's album, visit www.aarondavidfrith.com.