Our featured album this week is “If You Can’t Find What You’re Looking For Please Ask” by London britrock/grunge musician George Hennessey.
The arrival of his debut album is more than a milestone on a journey which began in Autumn 2020 with the release of his debut EP Purified. For George, it’s another step towards finding himself, proving to himself that music is integral to who he is – and that it’s his primary way of expressing what he feels.
“I feel like I’ve got a purpose in life now. A few years ago I didn’t know what I wanted but being creative and productive has made me happy, given me hope. I’m more comfortable in my life, I’m quite optimistic”.
G.H.
In keeping with the sincerity of his lyrics, George does not hide the music he loves. There’s glam-era David Bowie, Sex Pistols, Nirvana, Oasis. He is aiming just as high as these totemic benchmarks.
Album Tracks:
The album opens with “All Or Nothing” and George’s declaration “In a bid to find my true desires, I’m on the move”, he is moving. He explains the album is “a journey from when I started to seriously write songs until now”.
“I’m not very good at talking about personal issues and experiences”, he admits. “When words fail, music speaks. That’s my escape, my therapy. It’s out there for people to hear”. George is the music. The music is George.
After opening cut “All Or Nothing”, there’s “Lost Society” – written, notes George, “Out of frustration during the first of the pandemic’s lockdowns, the song is about the flaws of modern day society and wanting to escape to some sort of utopia”. From here through “Go With The Flow”, “Changing Man” (about “moving on from the past, making plans, and believing in yourself.
“With singles, you focus on one song and have more time to come up with new ideas more spontaneously. An album is a lot more intense…there’s a lot more pressure to get the work done in a certain amount of time. Harder, more intense. I’ve sequenced the songs to connect with each other – so the story flows, a lot of thought has gone into the concept”.
Changing old habits and chasing your dream”) and “Memory Lane” (where he “Finally sees a light at the end of the tunnel in regards to covid”), George transforms his anxieties into song, making them manageable.
Of “Prisoner”, he confesses “When I wrote this song, I kind of felt like everything in the world was going against me. Sometimes you and your guitar are the only way out”. Despite its allusiveness “She Left Me A Daydream” is a break-up song drawing from personal experience, while “Purified” is a realisation that mistakes made are to be learned from. The journey ends with “Chasing Tomorrow”, a confirmation that a special friend is needed as a guide during tough times.
The record is out now is out now via Massive 92. Buy it here.
