Stan Bush best known for his solo work expands on his singing career and what the future holds with regard to new music and live gigs.
Who were your influences in the early days and have you always wanted to be a singer?
I've always wanted to be a singer since I was a kid. I think my earliest influences were The Beatles.
Have you ever auditioned for the vocal spot in any notable bands?
I auditioned for the band Foreigner when Lou Gramm left the band in the early 90s. Around that same time Journey broke up and I wrote songs with Jonathan Cain. We were maybe going to do a band thing, but he ended up forming Bad English.
You have appeared on a number of albums. Do you have a favourite and why?
My favourite album is probably "In This Life". I really like some of the songs, like "I'll Never Fall".
Do you still get the same buzz out of singing live as you did in the past?
Yes, absolutely! It's a great feeling singing live in front of an audience. You can feel the energy.
Some vocalists are on strict dietary regimes or gargle with special liquids. How have you kept your voice in tip-top shape all these years?
I try to take care of my voice, including warm-ups, tea with honey, and getting enough sleep. I'm lucky I haven't had to do a lot of touring. There's not much chance to rest your voice when you perform night after night. A lot of singers have trashed their voice by overdoing it.
Are there any musicians that you have not worked with, but would like to in the future?
It would be cool to work with Joe Walsh, Jimmy Page, etc. There are so many amazing players.
Your songs have been used on soundtracks for movies, tv shows and various other events. Do you write specifically for them or do they come to you and ask to use a song?
I usually get an offer for an existing song for a movie or a TV show. Sometimes they want an existing song, sometimes I'll write something for specific film use.
Is there any unreleased recorded material from your past albums that could be released?
I have quite a few unreleased tracks, many which are newer songs.
Do you have any plans to release another solo album?
When I get enough great new songs recorded, I'll put out a new album. I'm getting close now, so I should be releasing an album in early 2024.
Is production work for other bands something you have done or would be interested in?
I haven't really pursued production work for other bands. I'm not sure I would be good at it. I know my own voice and I try to come up with cool melodies for new songs. I think my focus should just remain as a songwriter.
With the live circuit opening up again, is there a possibility that we could see you performing some live shows in the UK?
I'd love to come back to the UK to perform. I have some musicians I've worked with there, so it would be fairly easy to put together a band to perform there.
You appear to be incredibly busy throughout your career. What do you enjoy on your downtime?
I'm always trying to come up with new song ideas. It's challenging trying to be original. I try to make songs different somehow... maybe use an unusual chord change or melody you don't hear every day. As for downtime, I like to go jogging or hiking. Life is good!
Do you have anything in the pipeline at the moment that you would like to share?
I'm working on a music video for a new patriotic song called "Freedom" which will be released as a single in January. It's very uplifting! Hopefully it does well. Please check my website for updates: www.stanbush.com.
Interview by Stuart Dryden
