Tony Wright and David Lyttle don’t naturally strike you as a match made in heaven. Tony’s VerseChorusVerse is an exercise in folk-rock rabble rousing; David has been earning Mobo nominations for his jazz and hip-hop work. But chemistry is chemistry. Sometimes elements you’d never expect spark up serious heat and light.
“We met through Marty Magill at Derry’s Nerve Centre,” Tony explains. “I’d popped in to say hello and he was telling me about their Musician In Residence, who turned out to be David. Marty suggested collaborating. I was interested as there was a song I had that didn't make it to my last record (recorded earlier this year, for release next year). Stylistically it wasn't working, and it was a popular live one, so I wanted to get it out there. Within minutes of meeting David, we were laughing our asses off and bonding over songwriters, producers and a mutual adoration of blues and hip hop, as well as Larry David. When we finally played some music together later that day, the song clicked, as did we.”
That’s an understatement. Two months on from the whirlwind beginning, here we are talking about an album they’ve made together, Say & Do.
“It was pretty much outta the blue,” laughs Tony. “I've always wanted to make something really raw and stripped back. To deconstruct myself entirely. The minute David and I had jammed on that original track, this was the moment when that age old want resurfaced. There’s nothing for the songs to hide behind here, which is equally nerve wracking and exhilarating. We were live on radio the other night, we hadn't played a note together since we recorded it, but as soon as we were making some noise the chemistry takes over. Such a great feeling and a true pleasure and privilege getting to play with David. “
What was the relationship between the two of you in the studio?
“Loose, light and fun,” he says. “I think it comes across on the album and in the live videos from the studio we put up. With a few of the songs, David hadn't heard them until that day! The freshness and "feeling out" of the tracks makes them seem more alive I guess, to me anyway.
We genuinely laughed most of the time, which is definitely the best vibe to have when you're in a studio. Stress can come very easily in that environment, the more relaxed you are the better the recording, I think at least. Unless you're recording an audiobook of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Then it should be pure tense. Probably.”
The loose mood of the sessions has clearly informed much of the material. Tony is obviously trying out a few different personas (a bit of Tom Waits, a bit of Paul Simon, on ‘Sudden Song’, an ode to Derry, he’s even channeling a bit of Phil Coulter – “I’m hoping it can usurp ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘The Town I Loved So Well’”, he smiles.)
With the album complete, both men are returning to their solo careers. However, so successful has the project proven to be, neither intend Say & Do to be the last word on their partnership.
“First and foremost, David is my friend,” says Tony. “We started off as musicians working together but now we're really good friends. He has his things and I have mine, but I'd certainly like to think that we'll do some more things in the future. We've discussed a few things so we'll see, besides, we have too much fun not to do some more things in the future! If the past is a foreign country, is the future right here?”