 We say hello and good to have them back again. It's George Houston. George hello to you. Hello, how are you? I'm very good. The last time we spoke we were just saying off air was once again the beef steak dancers were down at it and you were at Oak Fest. Yeah, it was a good day. It was a great weekend and you enjoyed it. Was that your first time? To Oak Fest, yeah, I loved it to be honest. And festivals are a different crowd to an audience, sorry, like a bar or somewhere like that. All other kettle of fish, I suppose. You can play at a festival, you can play your own stuff, you know. And saying that, your stuff's very, very popular this last week and I want to congratulate you on that. Thank you very much. So you have a new album coming out? It's already out. It's out a week. It's the album launch that's next week, sorry. Probably mixed up the dates telling you. It's in Sandinows in Derry on 29th. Big Halloween party kind of idea, get a bone and fancy dress, hopefully. Well, tell me this, George. Will you be playing the entire album that night or what? Many songs have you on the album? There's nine songs on the album. A couple of the songs are going to be left out just because I want to sing some of the songs from the other albums. How many albums have you released now? That's your third? Three now. So I think some people will be disappointed if I didn't sing some of the older songs. That's a good sign, isn't it? People know your stuff. Do you find that now, George, when you're out and about? People know your own music. Yeah, it's sometimes when you're with a band, you obviously have to practice and I feel disappointed. Sometimes people shout songs and we've not practiced them yet. We've not even rehearsed them. It's mad. What's the title of the album? It's called Vehicular Suicide. It's only coming to me here. That's a brilliant track. Absolutely. I have to apologize because my memory is awful at the moment. A bit of a mad one. No, I like that because, I'll tell you why I like it, it's totally different and it draws you. I have to hear what this is about. What's the theme running through the album? Is it a particular theme? Yeah, they're all really recent songs. I've kind of been using it as a bit of therapy and they've all been a little morbid and I think I've moved into kind of the spookier side of things and I've just been playing into the whole idea of like horror films and using horror film references throughout the album, so I suppose the darkness and horror and Halloween would be the theme throughout. Your previous albums, you sort of said they were about based on your emotions at the time or where you were at the time, is that what you're saying? The previous ones, they've been kind of, I read a lot of songs and they build up over time and the last two, you've been ones from the last five years, but this album, nearly all of it's been written in the last year, so it just feels a lot more relevant to me. Obviously, if you're coming in and hearing it first hand, you wouldn't know when it's from, but it's been very rewarding to just be writing it this year and recording it this year. And did you find the writing process quicker this time for you? Yeah, very much so. I don't know where kind of bits and pieces just... All under one theme, that's the same theme. Do you develop a theme and then... Not intentionally, I suppose it just kind of wrote itself a wee bit. Well, do you know what we're going to do? We're going to hear a couple of tracks for me. This first one you're going to do first is... It's a track called Bleed Me Dry. And this is on the new album. Where did you record the album? I recorded it with Ori McBrayerty and Tommy Conway at Full Tilt over here. And then with Ori, his house, his wee studio at his own house. We're ready to hear it when you're ready to play it. Perfect. Sounds good. ... Sandinels after 29th of this month, which is only this weekend? This Sunday. And Sandinels. And the album's called Vecular Suicide. And you're big into the YouTube videos and all. Hi. Yeah, they're doing very well. There's a lot of work on that. Do you see the fun side of that? Oh God, yeah. I think I'm very lucky with the videographer I'm working with. He's called Niall Murphy. And yeah, I think maybe a lot of videographers have I was describing the music videos. I wanted to do the go what? But he just rolls with it and we go on the day and do it. Do you have your ideas? What do you want in a video? Yeah. But it has to be the weird and wonderful. Aye. It just can't be the normal run in the middle. Stranger the better. Aye, I think so. I think that works better with the style of the album. Aye. How many artists did you work with in the recording process? I was very lucky. Really, really talented. I had drummers, Demi McKay. He works in bands like Foreign Isle and Tramp. And he works with a new band called Skool. I think I'm pronouncing that right. But really great drummer from Burt as well. Malcolm Boyd. He says he's listening in and I said I'd say hello. He's my bassist as well. And I was very lucky to have him. Ori McBurdy as well played guitar in the album. My brother, we were saying before the show, Jack Houston, played strings throughout the album. Oh my goodness. Nice mix of collaboration. Nice to have the family involved. Yeah. It's cheaper, isn't it? You see, the album launched at St. Sandino's and you have special guests on the night. And it's Polar Balloro. But Bolero. Yes. And they are... They're a dairy band. Well, I think they're a dairy band. That's how I know them. It's through the dairy scene. And they've been nominated for one of the best acts in Northern Ireland. Like, they're really talented instrumentalists. And there's a whole record of them. I don't know if it's six or seven different instrumentalists in the band. They're all crammed in on the stage. But it's going to be good. And Tessio. Tessio is another dairy. They're a folk duo, folk rock kind of. They support it for Hot House Flowers. And they're doing very well. And they have a single out this Friday as well. So I thought it would be perfect to come along the album launch and we'll hear your new single. Exactly. There's some talent down around dairy in that area, isn't there? Oh, yeah. And the new band scene is brilliant. It actually is. And it's encouraging. It's great to see and long may continue. And, yeah, you're going then for a different style. You're going for a very well-known post. Frank Rafferty, who you have heard on the radio many a time. Hi. He's great. I love Frank, yeah. I've seen him telling his stories and his poems. And I just thought, oh, what a great Halloween spooky night to have this deep Scottish voice telling some scary stories and funny poems and things like that. His voice adds to the whole atmosphere. Yeah, atmosphere. It's exactly right because I hear myself listening to his poetry sometimes. And now I'm not being home means an expert in poetry, but some poetry starts making me tracks. And he's won on because it says, it's one thing reading the poem and writing the poem. But if you can deliver it the way he delivers it, well, that's just magic. So that's going to be a track and night. It really, really is. I look forward to it. Tickets, where can people get tickets? Tickets are available on Event Tree. You can get that through the link on my Facebook page. You can also buy them on the door, but probably better to buy them online just because it's limited enough capacity. Good idea. So plans going forward, George, until the new year, anything lined up you can tell us or anything? You can tell us off air. A few wee, maybe a video or two, a few wee songs, maybe. Are you steady writing, still writing? I've got a guitar recently. This is the only guitar I had for years and years, but I went into the electric world, and it's kind of inspired me to write a couple of electric guitar songs. So the sound has inspired you? Yeah, yeah, different feel. I'm always curious what inspires people. And trigger something, maybe. Excellent, brilliant. What's your sort of approach to writing? Different sound, excellent. Brilliant. I probably asked you this question before. What's your favourite sort of style of music? Who's your artist now that you kind of... Just, I think, artists who would consider themselves storytellers, and they don't care what the genre is, as long as it fits the story, like David Bowie or Kate Bush, they're quite eclectic with the genres they use. So if they're angry, they'll go for rocky sounds, if it's sad, they'll go for softer. And they kind of put the genre to the side. Excellent. And I like that way of making music. The genre's not the priority, the story is. Yeah, as a linen cone feature in your... Oh, yeah, yeah. I love it. I was one of the best lyricists, in my opinion. You know, I remember getting tickets to go and see Martin. I said, I'm not going to that rubbish, right? And that's the story of the score. And it's one of the things I see there, because it just didn't click with me at all, right? And then he passed away, and I just heard a couple of tunes, and then I followed him in. Oh, God, it just landed me then, which I like. Artists landing me. They're growing you, like? They're growing you, and then when you start looking at his back catalogue, and you're like, shh, amazing. But anyway, we would love you to squeeze on another song if you don't mind. No bother. Where would the album be available after the launch? Are you online with it? It's on YouTube. It's on Spotify. I'm currently printing some CDs. Hopefully they'll be there for the launch. Please go there. So yeah, just wherever and anywhere. Excellent. Well, as always, it's great to have you up. Thank you. We followed you since day one, and we've always enjoyed your company. There's uniqueness in your tones and your voice and your delivery. Thank you very much. That's what I like in artists. If I heard your music, I would say that's George Houston. That's the way it... That's a nice way to be for an artist. That's a class, thank you. This song, George, you're going to do first. It's a song inspired by the film Death Becomes Her about living forever. It's called An Eternum Vivi. I love these titles. Class, class. Do you know what they do? They intrigue you to have to hear this song. Masterstroke. Thank you very much. You're there. You're becoming your mother eyes. Since she died, we don't talk about it. Just wish they didn't change. Thank you for your comments. By the way, I joined the show tonight. See, this is what I call music strikes me here. Someone texted me and said, George sounds like Leonard Cohen. He tells a story and you can hear every word. Thank you. That's a nice compliment. That's a hell of a compliment. Bernie Daugherty. George is such a fantastic talent. He's absolutely amazing. We wish you well. The album launch is in San Dino's in Derry. It's Sunday week. Sunday this week. This Sunday. It kicks off at 8pm. The album is called Vecular Suicide. Have I said that right? Vehicular Suicide. Close enough. Go along and support local music. George will have a full back-up, full band, and everything on there. And Tessio and Frank Rafferty will be there. And thanks indeed. Right, George. Pleasure to be yours. Thank you very much. Hi, Theresa Mannion here with the road safety alert for bad weather. If a road is flooded, do not drive through it. Take another route as water can always be deep.