Music

In my spare time, I make recordings on my computer using REAPER (previously SONAR). Don’t get too excited, there’s nothing here that will sell millions (or for that matter has sold any copies at all).

You can also find more recent music from me on YouTube

The Road Ahead Instrumental EP

Some instrumental compositions mostly from 2022

Midnight Journey Instrumental EP

Another batch of instrumentals, this time mostly from early 2023

Worship Piano Instrumentals

Some simple instrumental covers of worship songs from the 80s.

Christmas Instrumentals

Each year for the last few years I’ve created a few instrumental versions of some favourite Christmas songs.

My Songs

Here are a few songs written by me, of varying quality. Some serious, some less so.

You Have Set My Heart Free

A song based on Ps 119:25-32. Lyrics here.

You Have Always Given

A song based on a Celtic prayer called “Expressions of Faith” about trusting in God for the future based on his faithfulness in the past. Read the lyrics and details of the recording process here. Recorded in 2007.

Don’t Look At Me

A song based on the message of John the Baptist. Read the lyrics and details of the recording process here. Recorded in 2005.

Holy Spirit Will You Be

A new tune to a hymn by Martin Leckebusch. Read the lyrics and details of the recording process here. Recorded in 2005.

A Tentpeg Through His Head

A tongue-in-cheek version of Deborah’s song in Judges 5:24-30 celebrating the brutal murder of the evil Sisera, and the tasteless remarks that comfort his mother while she waits for his return. Read the lyrics and details of the recording process here. Recorded in 2005.

New Perspective

Not written in defense of the New Perspective on Paul, but inspired by some of N T Wright’s comments about evangelical tendency to reject anything that doesn’t sound orthodox before actually checking what the Bible says. I never got round to properly finishing the recording, but here it is anyway. Read the lyrics and details of the recording process here. Recorded in 2004.

From Jerusalem to Rome

In 2001 my friend Ali asked me to help him record an album of songs he had written. It was done in a hurry as he was living abroad at the time and so we just recorded his vocals and then I got on with adding some instrumental backing afterwards. The songs are all themed on the life of the apostle Paul. The album can be streamed for free on bandcamp, or if you really like it, you can buy a download copy.

1. Opposition and Joy

This is one of my favourite songs that Ali wrote both in terms of lyrics and tune. This song beautifully captures the twin themes of opposition and joy running through the life of Paul, with many allusions to 2 Cor 4. In 2006, I remixed the original recording, to improve the overall sound. Read the lyrics and details of the recording process here.

2. Brighter than the Sun

A forceful blues rock song based on Paul’s conversion experience where hewas blinded by the light of God’s glory.

3. Teach Me to Fall

A blues rock song considering the words of Jesus in John 12:24 and how Paul applied them in his own life.

4. I Want to Know Your Voice

The lyrics of this song were actually written by Ali’s brother. Ali has updated it with a funk blues tune. The song talks of a desire to have a close relationship with Jesus. Originally recorded in 2001, remixed in 2006.

5. See My Face No More

This slow ballad describes Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20. Although it is an emotional time, Paul knows that he is doing the will of God and will not be disuaded despite the prospect of times of opposition. In 2006, I remixed the original recording, to improve the overall sound. Read the lyrics and details of the recording process here.

6. My Life For Your Glory

This thoughtful ballad considers Paul’s total desire to live his life for the glory of God, his concern to do the will of God and his willingess to take whatever suffering that may bring.

7. Suffering Servant

A song based on Isaiah 53.

8. To Question God

This song asks the question, “Who are we to question God?”. It is addressed to a skeptic who doesn’t believe God exists. Much of this song is taken from what God said to Job in Job chapters 38-40.

9. Give Me the Wings

This song describes Paul’s desire to be in heaven with the Lord, yet his commitment to serving God while he is here on earth.

10. Demas Blues

A song sung from the perspective of Demas, who once was a travelling companion of Paul, before abandoning the ministry because of his love for this present world (2 Tim 4:10).

11. Don’t Ditch the Gospel

A light-hearted blues/rock track with a serious message – don’t ditch the gospel if you want to save souls. Vocals recorded in 2000, finished in 2006. Read the lyrics and details of the recording process here.

12. I Am Persuaded

This song is based on the doxology in Romans 8v38.

13. Teach Me to Fall (Reprise)

A more mellow return of the earlier track “Teach me to fall”. This song reflects Paul’s perseverance and humility right through to the end of his ministry.

West Street Baptist Church

I embarked on a project a while ago to record some of my favourite songs written by members of West Street Baptist Church, which I attended until I moved to Southampton. Unfortunately, moving away has meant that I have had to do the singing myself. These recordings have given me opportunity to try to improve my recording and mixing skills. They’re far from perfect, but hopefully represent a significant improvement over my earlier recordings.

How Can I Grasp

One of my favourite hymns from West Street, written by Ali McLachlan. Read the lyrics and details of the recording process here. Recorded in 2005.

O Lord, How Majestic

A song we used to sing at West Street Baptist Church written by Katrina Peacham. Read the lyrics and details of the recording process here.Recorded in 2005 using SONAR 2.

No Other God

An upbeat worship song written by Mark Cox. Read the lyrics and details of the recording process here. Recorded in 2005 using SONAR 5.

More of You

The one was never sung at West Street, but was written by my friend J-D who I know from our time together there. Read details of the recording process and the lyrics here. Recorded in 2009 using REAPER.

Older Recordings

Here are a number of my other recordings, some are of songs I have written myself. Most of these are quite old and none of them have been finished off particularly well.

Praise to the King

For your entertainment. My first ever multi-track recording. I had only been playing the guitar a few weeks. This was using two tape decks and bouncing between them while adding tracks, using a Tandy mixer. Recorded in 1990. 26 seconds was the longest I could manage without making a mistake. Shame I didn’t know how to tune a guitar back then either.

I Am Not My Own

Words and Music by Chris Bowater. One of my favourite worship songs. Doesn’t get sung much any more. This was my first ever recording to incorporate MIDI and audio on the PC, recorded around 1994.

Almighty, All Powerful

Words and Music by Phil Bass. Used to sing this one a lot at my old church in Dunstable. This was my first ever audio recording on the PC in 1994.

Light the Fire Again

Words and Music by Brian Doerksen. Recorded in 1995.

Mercy

Wrote this one myself in an attempt to mix guitars in a dance track. I got Steph to sing part of it Recorded in 1998.

Today

I wrote Christian words to Oasis’ Wonderwall and performed it in prison on the Isle of Wight. The inmates seemed to like it. Ali McLachlan is singing on this recording, with J-D Laurence and myself playing guitars. Recorded live in my living room in 1999.

Though the Fig Tree

Words taken directly from Habakkuk 3:17,18. It was recorded with the help of Jonathan and David Skipper. As you can tell, we were in a rather silly mood… (this one dates back to 1999 too).

God of Glory

Words and music by Dave Fellingham. Another trip down memory lane to one of the songs I learned when I was 8 years old at the Anglia Bible Week. (and I wanted an excuse to try the wah effect on my Boss ME-8). Recorded in 1999.

4 thoughts on “Music

  1. Pingback: New Perspective Song

  2. 6 years later and we are still going to listen to every single song he makes and learn the words

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