"So here's the thing, compare me to whoever you want. Really, I don't care. If it means someone takes the time to request a song on radio or buy a CD or play a track for a friend because they heard I sound like such-and-such, so be it. I don't care how I get heard, provided I get heard. There's a lot to say so we'd better get moving."
Meet David Gillespie. A 20-something with a lot on his mind. Hardly the po-faced tortured soul that is these days expected when the term singer/songwriter gets bandied about, David brings an enthusiasm to his writing and performance that seems so entirely out of step with those hurled loosely into the genre, you could almost be forgiven for thinking it was a novelty act. We say "almost" of course, because novelty acts don't write songs this good.
Born in Australia, he grew up in Hong Kong and spent a bit of time living in America as well. The result is a thoroughly messed up accent and a global village view on cultures and ideas. Oh, and music, which is why we're here. Spouting influences from Springsteen to Prince, David Gray to Dave Matthews, the result is an eclectic mix of styles that seemlessly blend from one to the other and which David is quite happy to simply label "pop". "I don't get precious about the boxes, the comparisons, the labelling. It's going to happen regardless," and here he laughs. "So if somebody says "He reminds me of James Blunt" that's fine, so long as they add "with a pulse" at the end!"
Having played shows up and down the East Coast over the last few years and won over the toughest and least interested crowds, the release of Roll To Me marks the beginning of his music being taken to a much larger audience. In this Roll To Me he has crafted the perfect introduction to his music, loaded with atmosphere and a sense of expectation. Telling the tale from the perspective of a person poised on the edge of adventure, it is instantly familiar and yet not quite like anything you've heard before, and we dare you not to be singing along by the time the second chorus comes around.
"As soon as I'd written it I knew it would be my first single, whenever the opportunity presented itself. I could hear the guitars, the drums, everything all just flowing from my acoustic and me perched on the end of my bed, writing book in hand. It's tempting to down play it, but you always know when a good one has just popped out, and I think I knew at the time something special had just happened."
Indeed something special has just happened. It doesn't come around too often, but when it does, it's unmistakable. As David sings in the song, all that matters is here and now, so play it and play it loud. Then go tell somebody - there's a lot to say so we'd better get moving.
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