Two sailors are vying for musical success as they strive to make a little piece of Top 40 history.
Senior rating Paddy Taylor has been inspired by Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan and is currently nestling between singer-songwriters Tom Odell and Ed Sheeran on pre-release orders.
And five days later critically-acclaimed Chris Linton, a writer with 30 Commando at their headquarters in RM Stonehouse, releases his latest single ‘Fall to the Floor’ on Amazon and iTunes after the recent success of his EP ‘Ascension’.
Chief Petty Officer Paddy, currently serving with Portsmouth frigate HMS Lancaster, could become the first sailor in recent memory to make the Top 40 – his single 'Gypsy Woman' is placed 35th ahead of its release on Friday May 13.
After 19 years serving his country around the world, the senior rating decided to set up his own record label (Mariner) with one eye firmly fixed on when he leaves the Navy in a few years’ time.
Gypsy Woman is the label’s first release. Paddy plays the guitar, sings and provides his own backing vocals with his friend Sam McCarthy producing the rest of the debut single.
It’ll be followed by ‘Mariner’ and ‘Face of My Child’ – both inspired by life at sea, with some of the proceeds from sales going to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and the RNLI.
Paddy believes his day job has been instrumental in supporting and providing material for his second career.
Somehow between deployments he’s been able to support hugely-successful folk rockers Mumford and Sons, ‘Sex on Fire’ chart-toppers Kings of Leon, award winner James Bay and Indie rockers Bastille.
His sound has been compared with ‘Babylon’ singer-songwriter David Gray, who hit the big time back in 2000.
“I’ve been using time away at sea to perform overseas with a growing fan base all over the world – it's been the longest world tour in history for a musician!” Paddy says.
‘Gypsy Woman’ is available for 99p via iTunes here:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/gypsy-woman-single/id1109375399?ls=1
And you can sample Paddy’s other music via his Youtube channel – FirstSeaLord music, obviously – here: www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Cr8Y3x0rZhgpzOudqVI3g
Just five days later, 26-year-old Chris makes his own assault on the charts. The able seaman has been getting regular airplay on BBC Introducing in Devon, and has even played live to open BBC Devon’s new studio.
Chris said: “30 Commando has been very supportive. I’ve been lucky enough to play at a number of functions here at Stonehouse and most recently, I performed at both the 30 Commando and Britannia Royal Naval College Christmas Balls”.
Speaking about his latest music video Chris said: “Fall To The Floor was filmed by the talented Rhys Davies of Furball Films. We completed the video in a one day shoot, filming across various locations within the beautiful county borough of Bridgend.”
“My little sister Niamh, and aspiring actress Kelly Roberts, starred in the video and played their roles perfectly. I was very impressed and proud to have helped produce such a beautiful piece of art.”
The video can be viewed at: http://youtu.be/eVJx0UxqUcc
Keep up with Chris’s music at: http://www.chrislintonmusic.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/chrislintonmusic
