Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?

Subject: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 12 Jul 08 - 01:17 PM

Newton Faulkner's official Youtube channel shows his musical "style" to be "Folk" - maybe some folks here on Mudcat would not agree?


http://www.youtube.com/user/NewtonFaulknerUK?ob=1

Subject: RE: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: Lord Batman's Kitchener
Date: 12 Jul 08 - 01:25 PM

According the biographical information on his website "A bona fide pop star at home in his native UK. Newton first picked up a guitar at age 13; within three years he was honing his skills at Guildford's prestigious Academy of Contemporary " Make of that what you will.

Newton Faulkner biography

Subject: RE: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 12 Jul 08 - 01:32 PM

"Folk Pop" is a phrase used in his biography.

Subject: RE: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: Lord Batman's Kitchener
Date: 12 Jul 08 - 01:45 PM

First paragraph of the biography from the official Newton Faulkner website states:

Newton Faulkner believes in accidents. A Bona Fide Pop Star at home in his native UK - where radio presence, great press and a thrilling live show drove Hand Built By Robots to the top spot on the album sales chart upon its release there last summer - this 23-year-old singer-songwriter makes music full of serendipity and happenstance, coincidence and luck. As its title suggests, Hand Built By Robots contains acoustic music for the digital age: Faulkner croons in a voice shaped by years spent listening to Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Tom Waits and plays guitar with a distinctive tap-pick-and-strum technique that allows him to use the instrument as guitar, bass and drums all at once. Call it folk-pop for the future, and get ready to hear quite a lot of it as Faulkner goes about spreading his success to these shores.


It seems his own record company can't make up their minds how to present him

Subject: RE: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: Betsy
Date: 12 Jul 08 - 08:28 PM

"Hero" is getting over used on Mudcat

Subject: RE: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: GUEST,Crag Rat
Date: 13 Jul 08 - 02:01 PM

He's a very decent songwriter. His album is well worth a listen.

It's at least as folky as Benji Kirkpatick's recent solo work and a lot more so than Jon Boden's album

Subject: RE: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: s&r
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 03:20 AM

Newton Faulkner studied with the late great Eric Roche, from Whom he learned many of his percussive techniques. Eric had difficulty in pigeon-holing his style in order to describe/sell it, but was welcomed at all the folk clubs and festivals that I saw him

I see no reason that Newton Faulkner should not be similarly welcomed

Stu

Subject: RE: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 03:29 AM

"It's at least as folky as Benji Kirkpatick's recent solo work and a lot more so than Jon Boden's album "

Jon Boden's album makes no claims of being folk, so thats slightly irrelevant!

Subject: RE: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 03:56 AM

Interesting! I saw the Eric Roche influence on one of his videos. I couldn't work out if he had actually come to grips with Eric's style - the production was too invasive.

Una (out of No Fixed Abode) really rates him. personally I don't hear anything that makes you go - Shit! I wish I'd written that! which is really the acid test.

Subject: RE: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: theleveller
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 07:59 AM

Newton was tutored by Eric Roche at Guildford College but doesn't slavishly follow his style. In the finals of last year's Young Folk Musician Awards, David Delarre of Mawkin performed a piece by Eric Roche that was totally awesome.

Subject: RE: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 08:19 AM

Theres one of Roche's disciples lives local to us and works in the local music shop. Matthew marriot. demonstrates for Cort guitars...

Clever stuff....his fingers never leave his hands sort of thing.....

Subject: RE: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 11:04 AM

If asked (sorry - if forced) to pigeon-hole him, I wouldn't classify him as folk. Mind you - I think Seth Lakeman is, so what the hell do I know? Whatever he is, he's got a great guitar style and a good voice, and knows how to entertain - there I've done it... admitted that he has no place in the folk tradition.

Subject: RE: Newton Faulkner - Folk Hero?
From: GUEST,Joe
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 11:08 AM

"Whatever he is, he's got a great guitar style and a good voice, and knows how to entertain "

I agree - I saw a bit of his Glastonbury performance - good stuff!