Hey everyone,
2025…it’s been quite the year. Some of it has been good, some of it has been much less than good, but there is an awful lot for me to be grateful for and a LOT for me to take away and think about going into 2026.
One of the biggest positives is this: my Substack! And upfront I’d like to say a very sincere thank you to each one of you that come along and subscribed, it means a great deal to me and inspires me to keep improving: to transcribe more, to write more and to create better lessons for you. I appreciate you all very much!
Another huge positive was the start of my weekly live group class, and I’d like to say another big thank you to any of you that took part in any of the teaching blocks throughout the year. Whether you came for a single block or you’ve been an ever present, your contributions to the group were seen and very much appreciated! I’ve lots of plans for topics, themes and bass lines for us to dive into in 2026 and I’ll be spending a significant part of the Christmas period working on those.
Generally speaking, 2025 has been a richly musical year for me. While I haven’t gigged as much as I have in previous years, I’ve practiced more, I’ve listened more and I’ve discovered more in this calendar year than in any year since I graduated in 2012. I’m also finding myself in a position where I feel that I have a solid idea for what some original instrumental music of my own might look and sound like, and a key target for me in 2026 is going to be to write, record and release some music of my own. I’ve got various musicians in mind for the project and I’ll be spending some of the downtime between now and new year working on little sketches, going through voice notes and little clips I’ve recorded on my computer to start filtering out ideas that I feel are strong enough that they could be developed into something more….I’m sure I’ll be documenting some of this process for you in due course!
In general, I’m feeling that I want to get far more involved in playing live music again next year. I have an exciting project in the pipeline with a good friend from university that would see us record and play some classical works in solo, duo and trio formats which would give me an excuse to work up some new classical pieces I’ve had on my ‘to-do’ list for some time now and actually play them in concert rather than just as video projects! This will demand a new level of fluidity and familiarity with the repertoire but it’s a challenge I’m very much looking forward to.
I’d like to leave you with some of my favourite records from 2025, they haven’t necessarily been released this year (though some have!) but they have been real sources of enjoyment, inspiration and calm in what has been an at times turbulent period
Holon (Nik Bartsch’s RONIN)
Nik Bartsch wasn’t a new discovery, I was introduced to him by my good friend Rob Thorpe when he invited me to a gig at Band On The Wall in Manchester but I’ve loved his music ever since that show. The Holon record (featuring one of my great influences, Bjorn Meyer, on bass) has been a real standout and Nik’s compositional style, built around repeating motifs and subtle harmonic and rhythmic variations so different to the traditional ‘Jazz standards’ you often hear has been really, really refreshing and will probably have an influence on my own music when it comes to fruition.
Favourite track – Modul 42
Other Things (Plini)
I had to include at least one Plini record in this list, he’s an artist that I’ve come to absolutely love because, to me, his work represents everything that I love about instrumental progressive music: Melody, harmony, dynamism, texture and (yes…), some real complexity. His music takes you on a journey, it tells stories, it isn’t just a showcase for his (eyewatering) facility on the guitar. This short record was one I discovered a little later and have listened to a LOT (my playthrough of the title track coming soon!)
Favourite track – Other Things
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Northern Star (Gabrielle Aplin)
I’ve been a fan of Gabrielle’s since I first heard the English Rain record back in 2012 (which will always occupy a spot in my list of favourite albums). This EP Northern Star goes back in many ways to that acoustic sound I love rather than the more produced pop sound of her recent work, and I adore hearing her voice with acoustic guitar. A real pool of calm in the more turbulent parts of the year
Favourite track – Magnolia
Flirting With Disaster (Pezhed)
Erica has been a friend of mine for several years now and I’ve been simultaneously astonished and inspired by her musical output! This was my favourite release of hers from 2025…I’d try and describe her music to you but I think it’s honestly best if you just go and listen and make up your own mind.
Favourite track – Heightened Levels Of Stress
That’s my 2025! Let me know about any highlights from your year in the comments!!