Stockton Heath’s Tim Bowness to release new album ‘Butterly Mind’

STOCKTON Heath’s Tim Bowness will be releasing a new album next week.

And this is the story of how ‘Butterfly Mind’ came to be.

A project started in October of 2020, it’s Tim’s first album post lockdown.

“My previous album Late Night Laments was finished on the day of lockdown and was reflecting events from a position,” said Tim, who grew up in Stockton Heath.

“It was almost somebody experiencing the world through the news being in the corner of the room while they are trying to absorb themselves in their favorite book or album.

“In some ways, it was about someone trying to retreat into their private world despite the terrors that were happening in the outside world.

“Whereas this album was a lot more about facing them head-on. I had nine months where I didn’t write anything and then I suddenly felt compelled to do so.

“It directly addresses certain issues.

“It’s about ways of life dying – or being at an end – and an uncertain future emerging out of these endings. The working title for the album was Against Oblivion as a number of the songs seemed to be about people wanting to make a mark in this vast universe, whether that be through art, political protest or relationships.”

In between home-schooling, Tim – now based near Bath – found time to fit the creation of the album into his schedule and was inspired to do so.

Tim added: “To keep myself fresh I re-recorded a lot of my old songs and recorded some cover versions of songs to keep working.

“There is no point in writing or releasing anything for the sake of it.

“For me, it’s always been a very inspirational process.

“Everything seemed to be happening on the outside world anyway and there wasn’t much to say about it.

“There has understandably been a plague of post-lockdown albums talking about the pandemic and lockdowns and not necessarily saying anything fresh.

“That’s not a criticism of the artists that have done that – I think it’s very difficult to say anything fresh about something like this.”

On the album, special guests include former elbow drummer Richard Jupp and Ian Anderson.

Tim feels he has to pick who he brings in carefully to make sure they better the song.

The 58-year-old continued: “I get people in if I feel they can enhance the track. There’s no point in getting people in for the sake of it in the same way that there’s no point in releasing a song just for the sake of it.

“The musical world is a very crowded place and you have to believe something’s worthy of its place in it.”

It is now 40 years since Tim’s career took off. So, what is the key to longevity?

“I think you have got to remain interested in everything whether that is music, politics or art,” added Tim, a former Appleton County Hall Grammar School pupil.

“I’ve never lost the enthusiasm or the thrill of performing or writing and it has never become repetitive.

“It’s about remaining open to possibilities and still having the capacity to be excited.

“I’m just pleased that I am still managing to make music that interests me and I am still excited by music.

“With this album, I wanted to do something that surprised me.

“The previous album was very atmospheric, sedate and operating at one level and that was the album I wanted to make.

“I wanted to find myself making very different music and that was probably the main impulse behind it.

“Being able to surprise myself after all of these years is part of the thrill of still making music.”

The album, out August 5, will be available on Amazon, Spotify, Tidal and can be found on Tim’s website at burningshed.com/store/timbowness

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