Musician aims for success in New York
From an open-mic night in Leyland to the Big Apple ... Greg Holden is making waves across the pond.
Former Runshaw College student Greg, 26, is in New York as he dreams of stardom as a singer-songwriter.
The former UCLan student is also a featured artist on iTunes and his videos on YouTube have been viewed more than 600,000 times.
It's a far cry from playing once a month at his local, The Ship in Towngate, Leyland.
He said: "I was very inexperienced and used to get so nervous. People started to pay me compliments and said they liked my songs which was something I'd never had in my life really, it felt good."
In 2005, he was crowned Evening Post Battle of the Bands champion along with friend Patrick Marsden, who now runs a successful promotions company in Brighton.
Greg, who went to Leyland St Mary's Catholic Technology College, said: "We were in a band together in Preston called From The Wreckage and we loved it. We did quite well and had a good following in Lancashire."
Just under two years ago, Greg decided to launch his solo career which took him to London and he hasn't looked back since.
He said: "I'm currently in New York and I'm planning on being here for about three months. I'd love to stay longer but, unless I can organise a visa, then I will need to go back to London.
"I find New York so inspiring, it's a very exciting city. I'm here to play gigs, write and generally become a better musician. The calibre of musicians here is unreal, I already feel like I have to really up my game just to keep up."
Greg – who describes his sound as "somewhere in between folk and pop rock" – has digitally self-released a four-track EP called Run, Don't Walk and his debut album A Word In Edgeways.
Greg, who has had interest from several major record labels and plays his next gig at the Rockwood Music Hall, said: "Last year I was working with a producer called Richard "Biff" Stannard who has produced U2, David Gray, Kylie Minogue and The Spice Girls.
"And a few weeks ago I had a session with a writer called Sacha Skarbek who co-wrote You're Beautiful with James Blunt and has worked with Paul McCartney.
"I was pretty intimidated to work with him at first, but he was such an awesome guy and we had such a blast."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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