November 16th 2024.
In a recent interview, singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner revealed why he initially wasn't thrilled about his biggest hit, Dream Catch Me, being included on his debut album. Despite the song's massive success in the 2000s, Faulkner admitted that he found it to be too "normal" and not reflective of his unique guitar skills that he had been marketed for.
Dream Catch Me was undoubtedly a hit of the noughties, spending three weeks in the top 10 and 48 weeks in the top 100 singles in the UK upon its release. It was featured on Faulkner's debut album, Hand Built by Robots, and helped launch his career, which has now spanned 17 years and seven albums.
However, despite its commercial success, Faulkner initially had reservations about including the song on his album. In an interview with Metro, he shared, "I actually put up a bit of a barrier in terms of it being on the first album...I remember at the time, I was a bit like, 'I'm not sure' and they're like, 'No, we really think that should be on the album. In fact, we think it should probably be the second single.'"
Faulkner explained that he felt the song did not showcase his talents as a guitarist, which was how he was being marketed at the time. He added, "It felt very strange to me to release as a single that didn't have any of my playing on it...it felt slightly alien."
Even now, over a decade since its release, Faulkner still finds the success of Dream Catch Me to be bizarre. He shared, "Dream Catch Me came out, and obviously did what it did, which is unfathomably strange still. And the fact that it had a massive resurgence on TikTok over the last few years, it just keeps coming back around."
Despite some artists shunning their biggest hits, Faulkner still enjoys performing Dream Catch Me live. He expressed, "I love performing it...it just creates its own space." He also added, "when I play it live, you can really feel this whole love for that one. It's so beautiful and the way people sing along to it...it just tapped into something."
Faulkner became a household name in the noughties, and his live performances continue to draw a huge audience. However, he explained that he is not trying to recreate the success of Dream Catch Me with his subsequent singles. He shared, "What happened with Dream Catch Me was totally out of my control...I could spend my entire life writing things that are really similar trying to recreate that."
He humbly acknowledged that the success of the song was not solely due to his efforts but rather a combination of factors that fell into place. He said, "It was the right combination of probably about 50 to 100 people working at the right time that made that thing...I was a part of that, but there are other things that are just as important."
Faulkner also emphasized that he will never compromise his music for mainstream success. He shared, "What happened with Dream Catch Me isn't why I make music...I'm really motivated by making the best work I can and making stuff that I love."
After nearly two decades in the music industry, Faulkner reflected on how the game has changed and the challenges of being an artist in today's world. He expressed, "I do think if we just keep pushing people to release stuff relentlessly all the time while also being on social media every single day...you're really narrowing the window for genuine inspiration."
Despite the challenges, Faulkner has released seven albums since his debut and continues to impress audiences with his live performances. He is also set to release new music and embark on a UK tour starting on Saturday, November 16, 2024. He shared, "I think the longer I do it, the less I take it for granted...the level of actual back and forth between me and the audience is so open now."
He also added, "I think, to begin with, you don't really understand what it means...but now, it's just so much more personal and open." Faulkner's UK tour is bound to be a hit with his loyal fans, and he is excited to share his new music with them.
In conclusion, despite Faulkner's initial reservations about Dream Catch Me, it remains one of his most loved and popular songs. It's a testament to his talent and the perfect combination of factors that led to its success. Faulkner's journey in the music industry has not been without its challenges, but he remains dedicated to creating music that he loves and connecting with his audience through his live performances.
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