In a new interview on Blazing Minds I got a chance to ask songwriter and lead singer Paul Finch, a few questions about the debut album ‘Ride the Sun‘ from Maverick and his Hired Guns

Q. What inspired you to get into music originally?

I remember watching Back to the Future (1985) as a boy and watching Marty McFly play Johnny B. Goode on that cherry red Gibson 335 that was it, I wanted to play that guitar and be that guy!!

Q. The debut album from your band Maverick and his Hired Guns called ‘Ride the Sun’ is released on 29th January. Can you tell me a little bit can you tell me a little bit about the band and how you came together?

The band is me, I and myself. I was in a duo called Maverick and Stevie and once we disbanded I kept the Maverick and decided I didn’t want to do the band thing again, but wanted to work with people I really respected like Joe Lamb, Brian Roost, Jude Keil, Denny Keil, Paul Hill, Caitlin King and Demi Bowler… they are all working musicians and have there own projects so instead of forming a ‘band’ I asked if they would be my hired guns who could pop in and out of the album and if we can do a cpl of live shows would help out.. so that’s how Maverick and his hired guns was formed

Q. Where did the band’s name Maverick and his Hired Guns come from?

There is a documentary called Hired Guns that follows really famous bands like the Rolling Stones and Billy Joel but it introduces you to their band who tour with them for a year but when the tour stops they disappear back into obscurity as they aren’t the name.. it’s fascinating then name just came to mind when I put my psuedo dream team band together in my head knowing they all have there own projects and I didn’t want to form another ‘BAND’….

Q. Can you tell us what we can expect from the album?

Ride the Sun will mark my sons 10th birthday and in a time where the world is stood still, I got to put 10 years of songs recorded that I’ve written watching him grow up, remembering times before children and looking forward to what might become of my life.. it was a cathartic meander through my brain really…

Q. Whilst the album starts off with a classic 90’s rock feel, taking influence from bands like Oasis, as the album unfolds it uncovers a mixture of different musical influences and styles. What were some of your influences musically when creating the album?

I tried not to get bogged down in influences Oasis is a massive influence along with Noel Gallagher’s and his High Flying Birds, with obvious nods to them in a lot of tracks. That’s just my taste in music and I like it, however I did divert some style just trying to write a good track something I’m proud of for example Breathe, Keepers of the Light and Butterflies

Q. Did you incorporate any additional hired guns when recording the album?

Yes so a lot of the songs were tracked in my home studio during lockdown, passing tracks between myself and Brian. Spending hours discussing it on the phone as we couldn’t meet, and as things began to unlock I could meet with people. I instantly asked Joe lamb to drum on some tracks which followed a rehearsal and recording session with the Keil brothers and Paul hill (Ride the Sun (reprise) and Windmills.. a good friend and vocalist Caitlin along helped with backing as well as Demi Bowler who I was in a party band with for many years.. then as it was all coming together we got locked down again lol… so I was lucky to get them together when I could.. oh also surprise appearance from Sir Patrick Moore

Q. Is it a collaborative process when writing the songs or do you have a main songwriter?

I’m the song writer, Brian is a massive hand in arrangement and co producing.. a massive shout out to my hired guns for Windmills and Ride the Sun Reprise, especially to Jude the lad is amazing. He just got, he ran with it and flew with that song. Other than the words and a riff idea I think Jude, Denny and Joe really made that song something special

Q. Some of the album has been completed during lock-down, did this cause any issues whilst making the album?

It did and didn’t I was quite conscious of writing an album on my own. I wanted my thoughts in words and ideas done my way, which looking back is good and bad. I liked being in control but had a lot more fun when I was making it up as I went along with the hired guns

Q. You have a multifaceted role within the band, as you also produced the album with Brian Roost. Did this make the process of recording the album easier as you had an idea what you wanted to create?

Brian is my right hand whether it’s music or just life I chat to him nearly everyday he has been my mentor for over 10 years and has such a broad knowledge of recording and live sound. I hope one day I’ll make him proud… I always refer to him as MY Brian a nickname that has stuck within our circles…

Q. What is your favourite song on the album and why?

Tough question, I love Lonely Mountain as I wrote that in June. It just came to me and recorded quick and easy and it’s got a mega beat with a Hammond organ it makes me feel like a kid… Constellations is special maybe one day I’ll tell you why, but for now I wanna just keep that to myself

Q. Do you have any other project which you are working on?

Waiting to go back out on tour with Rock for Heroes as the Tour Manager / Sound Engineer

The debut album Ride the Sun from Maverick and his Hired Guns is available to download here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/maverickandhishiredguns/ride-the-sun

Philip Rogers

Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!