Scars - Nick Tudor

By Daffs aka TwoDaff

I have been following Nick Tudor for quite some years when he was in his Page 45 phase, having been in just two bands since he first started writing and gigging in the early 90’s. Nick hails from the seaside town of Bridlington, Yorkshire. He has been playing live since 1992 and has played with the likes of Shed Seven, Miles Hunt, John Power and Mark Morris.

He first got into music as a child, brought up on a diet Motown, Beatles, heavily influence by his mother’s record collection…a great start, being surrounded by music set him up on his 30-year career. Nick says

“I am in my 30th year of playing and writing and I still love it, it’s taking some getting used to turning up at venues on my own, but I still enjoy it”

Previous releases include the 'You're No Elvis' EP, 'Go Write me a Hit' album and in the winter of last year when he released ‘Blue Hymns’ right through 2023 is the build up to his ‘Folk Devil’ EP release in November, which will have all the songs released this year on it.

He had a solo band last year and released ‘Rain Grey Town’ in February, this was the last song of that era, he is now fully focussed on playing solo and acoustically, he has been influenced by artists such as Ryan Adams, Tom Petty, Richard Ashcroft and Neil Finn to name but a few. Having needing to make changes to previous styles of writing and performing he has stripped back everything, but don’t be fooled, it highlights the talent and power in both his vocal and lyricism that Nick possesses. He goes on to say

“I had to start writing in a vein of it just being me on my own with very little going on in the background. I need to write differently now so the songs aren’t falling flat live, because people were expecting a lead guitar part or the bass to drop out”

His latest track ‘Scars’ is set for release on May 19th and is a song that’s different from the norm, its stripped back with no harmonies, very little guitar, its exposing and emotive and steps away from more upbeat commercial sounding tracks recently released. All songs are recorded and produced by Paul Teasdale at Briareus Studio near York.

You sense the emotion embedded within

The first thing that hits you is the power in his voice, the opening line “She’s proud of the scars” instantly sends a shiver down your spine, backed with a beautiful piano. You sense the emotion embedded within the track right from the start. It’s a song about searching for a better place, a better life, a better love but everywhere you look it’s not there. The feeling of pain and despair shines through. Its haunting yet has an underlying feeling that you just have to keep searching.

A baring of the soul and beautifully put together

I like the fact that it is (as he says) stripped back as it showcases his vocal and writing skills, nothing is masked or covered up, it’s a baring of the soul and beautifully put together. The lyrics really strike a chord, although it’s about a girl searching, its deeper than that, its relevant in that it could be any of us searching for that one thing that makes things better and not finding it. The emotion and power set within the lyrics really tug on the heart strings, there’s a yearning that draws you in.

A rich tapestry of guitar and strings

The track takes a turn as it builds with a subtle introduction of strings creating an air anticipation before the drums come in, backed with a rich tapestry of guitar and strings, this, for me adds a gentle feeling of hope. Its atmospheric and to be honest gave me a few goose bumps. It really is a beautiful song.

A perfect symbiosis with the piano and strings

The emotion and feeling this song gives is phenomenal, lyrics hit hard and are emphasised by the vocal which for me is brilliant, it blends perfectly and is in a perfect symbiosis with the piano and strings. No heavy riffs, no solos just music, pure and simple, effective and a track that is sure to get airplay. I thoroughly recommend you give this track a listen.

Nick really showcases his talent with this track, the emphasis is on him, and rightly so, emotion, great song writing, musicianship and a fantastic vocal all wrapped up in a song…what more do you need!

Great song writing, musicianship and a fantastic vocal

‘Scars’ is available on all platforms on Friday May 19th, with the video filmed by Charlie Spalding.

The next single ‘Last Taxi On The Promenade’ is out in August.

You can catch Nick Live at the following venues…Don’t miss out!

May 18th Trinity Live, Hull

May 26th Cottingham Springboard Music Festival

May 28th Hallgate Tavern Cottingham

June 15th SMCsessions, Scarborough

July 8th Party In The Park, Bridlington

September 8th LIVE; In Bridlington

September 9th The York Vaults York

November 18th The York Vaults, York

November 24th EP launch night, Black Lion

December 2nd The York Vaults, York

December 22nd The Leopard Doncaster