New single out on Sept 1st

Hi folks

Just a quick one to say the new single, called SHIZZLE, is out on September 1st in all good download stores. To say I'm excited about this is an understatement. More news about this as soon as I have it! :-)

Simon x

Latest news

Hi folks. Latest news on Rushbymusic..

'This is Me' is due to appear on Born Crain's latest album - or so we hear. Waiting for confirmation on that. 'Waiting for you to come home' is on hold for an artist in China/Taiwan. 'You Shine' could have some exciting news attached to it, but I'm having to keep that close to my chest at the moment. I've also just finished some really nice co-writes, including one with Dutch singer-songwriter Eline Chiara. Hopefully I'll be able to post that, and others, very soon.

Bought a house today :-)

C'mon, follow the blog! New tunes up, news about old tunes etc

Hi everyone! Latest news about songs and so on...

I've been busy working on new tunes and remixing or revamping older ones. 'You Shine' - which was a favourite from a few years ago - is now complete in its new form and we are hoping to release it as a downloadable single. Dave and Jessie Foz have done the cover art and it is ready to go..........but now the release has to be on hold as it is being considered for some interesting and very exciting projects coming up this year. I can't say anything at the moment (!) but news (if any is forthcoming) will be posted here very soon.

Meanwhile I have a new mix of Shizzle up on my own site, and also on Facebook and YouTube, and a new song called 'One Horse Town' which I wrote for my leaving students last year and which has become a kind of Coldplay-esque anthem for anyone thinking of making a change in their life. I'd be interested to know what you think - stop by at www.simonrushby.com for this and all my other tunes.

Oh, and how about some interaction? I'm touched to have nearly 300 'fans' on Facebook, loads of followers on Twitter, stacks more 'fans' on MySpace and hundreds of hits a day on my own site. It's really lovely. So please follow this blog and add comments, about anything I say, or anything at all to do with music. It'd be great. Thank you. Big love :-)

It's amazing...

...how long it can take for a song to 'take' with an artist! My song 'This Is Me' was written for a fundraiser for Mencap something like three years ago now, and has floated around (mainly in cyberspace and on my publisher's hard drive) ever since. Then suddenly I hear that Belgian ex-Idol artist Born Crain has recorded it and may even release it as a single. Great news, and I'm really pleased it's Born as he's already included my song 'I Won't Be There' on his last album, which charted in Belgium and Japan. We met up a couple of months ago when he was in the UK and wrote some new songs - he's a really nice, grounded guy. Let's hope it works out.

Here's wishing a very Happy Christmas and immensely successful 2010 to one and all

Simon x

Strictly or X Factor?

Arguments abound in my house as the family is divided between BBC's or ITV's popular culture-thon. And despite trying my hardest not to be interested, I can't help but stick my head in the lounge and see what's happening - especially in X Factor. Those twins are a good example of how hype wins over talent, but I'm sometimes a little sceptical about how they always seem to have a massive production number, choreographed by Brian Friedman, to 'carry' them through.

It clearly works, as they survived last week despite a complete mess-up of 'We will rock you', coming in at the wrong point and having to be saved by their backing singers. I think it's about time the twins were made to stand with microphones and deliver a song all by themselves, just like all the other acts have had to do. Doesn't seem very fair at the moment!

New music

Got some new songs on the go at the mo. 'Waiting for you to come home' is a country ballad and we're pitching it at Rascal Flatts and Westlife at the moment. Come on guys, you know it makes sense! 'A little lie' is on YouTube in a very rough version and is kind of poignant almost emo-ish minor key stuff. 

The rest of my time has been spent on TV advert stuff - quite fun to write as you have to get everything sorted in under 1 minute. Not easy.

Of to Wales on Sunday for a break and to have a significant birthday. Back next week!

Hear ye, hear ye

Just got over a bout of something - don't think it was swine flu though....

In the UK a judge has got into hot water because he spoke out about UK immigration laws, calling them 'lax' and blaming the government's immigration policy for the huge national debt the UK has to bear.

The comments weren't intended to be racist, but they have caused controversy because judges aren't supposed to make political statements in court. The guy in question was summing up after sending down a Jamaican man for two years, and clearly got a little carried away.

I have always respected those musicians who have the strength of character to make use of their status, and sing of social inequality, human rights abuse, power-hungry corporations and the like. The majority of humans on this planet rely on people in the public eye to air these opinions and get people thinking, and, perhaps, acting.

It saddens me when I turn on the news and see stories of arrests or deportations of those who have dared to speak out, irrespective of whether I agree with their views or not. Free speech is valuable, so long as it is peaceful. My mother used to tell me that words cannot hurt me - perhaps some of our leaders should remember this occasionally!

I'd be interested to know what people think is the greatest 'protest' song. Comment back with your views!