Modern-vintage singer-songwriter
Paul Simon + Eddi Reader + Paul Heaton at an Elbow gig with The National.
I write melodically driven songs around the distinctive sound of a 12-string guitar, opening them into warm, emotionally rich full-band arrangements.
My music lives somewhere between roots-pop, folk and classic songwriting — sometimes intimate and stripped back, sometimes expansive and atmospheric.
New to my music?
If you’ve just discovered me, start here. These four songs will give you a feel for different sides of what I do…
‘Some Way of Life’ single (July 2025)
A melodic, timeless song about finding your own way through life.
“classic, timeless songwriting from an artist whose songs have a richness and warmth running through their catchy melodic flow.” Americana UK
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Tidal | Watch Video
‘Living in Sound’ single (April 2024)
This is one of the songs that best captures the warm, expansive sound I’ve been developing with my band.
“a heartfelt, gorgeously produced success” Obscure Sound.
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Tidal | Watch Video
‘Virtually Free’ single (Feb 2026)
One of my more intimate songs — a love song built around melody, lyrics and atmosphere.
“classic songwriting…Roland sings of love with authenticity and sensitivity, and his lyrics always have a certain poetry” Americana UK
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Tidal | Watch Video
‘Lodestone’ single (July 2024)
A folk-rooted song with an atmospheric, expansive arrangement. I particularly love the way the strings and full band open up the song.
“a folk hymn..gloriously transporting us away…” Americana UK.
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Tidal | Watch Video
My latest single
‘Boxing Gloves’ (July 2026)
A song about the battles we fight — inside our relationships, within ourselves, and in the wider world around us. “Emotionally charged, sensational, and far more than mere words set to sound” The Other Side Reviews
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Tidal
More recent songs
The singles below continue the story, exploring different sides of my songwriting — from upbeat roots-pop and folk-inflected songs to intimate love songs and more atmospheric, emotionally expansive arrangements.
‘The Real Thing’ single (April 2026)
A song about contemporary life, with a hopeful thread running through it.
“This song stands not only as a reflection of contemporary issues but as an artistic endeavor that inspires hope.” Edgar Allan Poets
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Tidal | Watch Video
“20 Breaths Of Love Per Minute” single (Nov 2025)
A romantic song about love, breath and our relationship with the natural world.
“a romantic, elegant piece steeped in malleable melodies and bright flair.” Mesmerized
“A ballad suspended between folk roots, human breath and contemplation of trees, where each breath becomes a declaration of love.” Extravafrench
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Tidal | Watch Video
‘Hang On To You’ single (May 2025)
An upbeat, joyful song with a touch of classic British pop.
“a fun-filled, bouncy, upbeat, smile-inducing wave of music…Roland’s rich vocals tapping into the sounds of The Kinks” The Other Side Reviews.
“one of those rare songs that feels necessary. Not flashy, not trendy – just true. And that’s what makes it beautiful.” Jyla’s Blog.
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Tidal | Watch Video
‘Craving’ single (Feb 2025)
A darker and more dramatic side of my sound, building towards an expansive chorus.
“chorus swells, reaching for something bigger, almost Bowie-esque in its drama.” Pitch Perfect.
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Tidal | Watch Video
‘The Beacon’ single (Oct 2024)
An atmospheric song with a warm and expansive sound. “a stunningly evocative single, a soothing and generous slice of sonic honey” Mesmerized.
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Tidal | Watch Video
‘The Wood Wide Web’ album (Feb 2023)
Before my current run of singles, I made ‘The Wood Wide Web’, an album exploring nature, humanity and our relationship with the living world. It became the foundation for the more expansive, cinematic sound I’ve continued to develop.
“An absolutely incredible album!” BBC Radio Kent
“…even when writing a very human song Ian’s theme is our survival. It’s an album that deserves a wide hearing.” RnR Magazine rock-n-reel.co.uk
“A fantastic new release…” The Mystery Train Radio Show
” ‘The Wood Wide Web’ is a vivid, enthralling celebration of life in all its forms and a lucid love letter to the wilderness…utterly engrossing.” RGM
Read full review >>>
“…a stunning sonic reflection of the relationship between nature and modern society.” Plastic Read full review >>>
“Warm, tender and completely absorbing…” Indiesonics
“…imposing production values…quality roots music” FATEA
Some accompanying videos to songs from ‘The Wood Wide Web’
Beyond Words “Excellent songwriting…A great song about such an important subject…” Doug Welch, BBC Radio Kent
Nothing Could Grow There “highly recommended, delicate and beautiful…” FATEA Magazine
Double Rainbow (album) (Indiesonics, 2020)
Double Rainbow marked an important point in my development as a songwriter. Released in 2020, it was the first of my albums to be published by Indiesonics, a music publisher with connections to BMG and Warner Chappell Music. The album brought together my folk, roots and singer-songwriter influences, with the melodic approach that has continued to shape my music.
“It’s an old myth that there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but seek out this one and you’ll be well-rewarded.” Mike Davies, Folk Radio (Feb 2020)
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Tidal
Other Recordings
How That Dust Jumps (album, 2015)
Download album ‘How That Dust Jumps’ (April 2015) from Bandcamp. Included in Americana UK’s ‘Writers Best Of 2015’. “… songs that define the word earworm…” R. Scutt, FATEA.
Suitcase – a live collection (live album, 2016)
Download album Suitcase – a live collection (July 2016) from Bandcamp. “A great collection of songs full of heart”, Baylen Leonard, Amazing Radio.
Helicopter (EP, 2014)
Download EP Helicopter (Jan 2014) from Bandcamp …”a delightful gem to be sought out and listened to…” Keith Hargreaves, Americana UK.
Stay in touch – New music, live dates and occasional news
If you’d like to hear when I release something new or come and see me play, join my mailing list.