Being an artist is about making connections. Sometimes the connections are straight forward like writing a love song when you're in love or a song about being heartbroken when she's gone. On my latest album 'The Only Good Addiction Is Love' I have searched for more abstract and demanding references.

The album's title is a quote from the former President of Uruguay Jose 'Pepe' Mujica who gave 90% of his salary to charity and refused to live in the presidential palace preferring a farm with his wife and a three legged dog.

The song 'Rothko' is homage to the abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko whose ambient works are a hymn to beauty. Similarly the Spanish instrumental track 'Lorca' is a shout out to my favourite poet Federico Garcia Lorca. The first time I read Lorca the whole world illuminated and I wrote twenty songs in a few days. Lorca is referenced again in 'Tienes Mi Alma En Tus Manos' the title of which comes from the Don Winslow novel 'The Power Of The Dog', a deeply violent piece of work but with moments of great humanity.

'Desolation Angels' is a novel by Jack Kerouac where the Beat writer escapes the wild temptations of the city for life as a fire ranger in the forest giving him serenity to create his piece of art. 'Les Rouges Et Les Noirs' is inspired by a painting by Paul Klee, a multi-talented artist who cut across different movements.

The album closes with a poem by W B Yeats 'The White Birds' turned into an upbeat song and celebration of the white birds on the foam of sea. Poetry and the celebration of language is a huge influence on my songwriting ? I have always believed words are more than words.

My previous albums have focused on my hometown London and the hard living existence of a troubadour. 'The Only Good Addiction Is Love' is a deliberate step towards the more challenging world of aesthetics. Truth in beauty, beauty in truth...

'The Only Good Addiction Is Love' was recorded in Congress House Studios in Austin with producer Mark Hallman (Carole King, Ani Di Franco) and features double bass legend Danny Thompson who is my regular touring partner.