Lonely Deckchair Interview I NuNorthern Soul Artist Q&A
- Phat Phil Cooper
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
Some albums demand attention. Others simply ask you to press play, slow down and let them unfold in their own time. Lonely Deckchair belongs firmly in the latter category.
Released on NuNorthern Soul, this deeply personal debut is an album built around memory, place and the passing of time. Inspired by a return to Aguadulce on Spain's southern coast, it reflects on childhood summers, family connections and the strange way certain landscapes stay with us long after we've left them behind.
Written as a dedication to the artist's children, Lonely Deckchair moves effortlessly between reflective ambient passages, gentle Balearic rhythms and quietly propulsive grooves. Reversed guitar lines, soft analogue textures and carefully captured field recordings create an atmosphere that feels less like listening to an album and more like leafing through an old family photo album or watching faded Super 8 film footage come back to life.
From the opening moments of Rayman's Kingdom through to the closing drift of Alhambra Space Station, the record explores wonder, movement, nostalgia and the emotional pull between leaving somewhere and eventually finding your way back. It's music that rewards patience, inviting listeners to find their own stories within its spacious arrangements.
While unmistakably rooted in Balearic thinking, Lonely Deckchair never relies on clichés. Instead, it feels honest, understated and deeply human. It doesn't shout for attention; it quietly earns it.
To mark the release, we caught up with the artist to talk about everyday life, musical influences, creativity and the records currently spinning on the turntable.
Q&A with Lonely Deckchair
Where are you in the world right now, and what does a typical day look like when you're making music?
Stoke-on-Trent (UK) — although if there are any Snobs reading, I live in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
On a typical day of making music, I usually find myself in the front room messing around with guitars, synths, or field recordings, hoping and praying some kind of magic happens before the inevitable interruption of one of the kids occurs and I have to split them up from fighting, cook them some tea, or whatever else life throws at me.
Do you remember the first piece of music that genuinely stopped you in your tracks?
I reckon it was when I was about 10 and heard Baz Luhrmann – Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen). I still get the same feeling from it now as I did back then. Pure nostalgia. The lyrics are perfect.
Although the fucker did say that when I got older I'd look back and remember politicians being noble??? LIAR.
How would you describe your sound to someone hearing you for the first time — without using genre labels?
Innocent.
Playful.
Emotive.
You're either going to fall asleep or nearly dance.
What usually comes first for you: a feeling, a rhythm, or a melody?
Feeling.
What draws you to the NuNorthern Soul world, and how does it align with how you approach music?
I think when you look at who's previously released on NuNorthern Soul, its close connection to Ibiza, and a near 15-year back catalogue, it kind of says it all really.
I must thank my good friend and superb selector Jimmy Carr (not the comedian) for sending early demos over to the label.
Is there a particular time of day, place, or state of mind where your music feels most at home?
I'd like to think it sounds good at any time of day — stuck in a lift somewhere, or lying on a beach with some half-decent headphones.
What are you listening to at the moment that might surprise people?
I picked up an album a few months back called Archenfield by an artist called U, on Lex Records.
It's eerie, mysterious, and oddly beautiful. Check out the tracks Is It A Kind of Dream? or The Bitter Withy for a quick introduction.
When someone finishes listening to your music, what do you hope lingers with them?
I just hope the music has taken them somewhere else — whether that's a geographical place in their mind or a different time period.
If they've experienced some form of escapism for an hour, or unlocked certain emotions or feelings, that's good.
But if they just want to fall asleep and awkwardly nearly dance, that's absolutely fine too.
Lonely Deckchair is available now on Bandcamp. Grab your copy HERE
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