Ali Ingle

Suggestion of the day & interview:

Ali Ingle - A Life Unlike Yours

It’s the kind of songs that at second listen make you feel like you’re returning to some good old friends. From the upbeat opener and title song to the downtempo closer I Won’t Be There, the young singer-songwriter proves that he knows his craft: pairing catchy melodies with witty lyrics.

Here are a few questions Ali was kind enough to answer:

You released your first EP in 2012, so obviously, I’m late to the party. Can you tell me a bit about your musical beginnings and how things have developed over the years? Well, I started writing and singing at the age of 16, but I spent a few years just finding my feet and my own style. I played many gigs and had lots of different adventures before writing and releasing The Man And The Monster in 2012. By that point, I knew who I was and what I wanted to be. I then went on to create a series of my own music videos, win “Liverpool Male Artist Of The Year” at the Liverpool music awards, and then release another EP called Magic in the Mundane which was pulled after I signed my first record deal in early 2013. I spent the majority of 2013 writing and recording and then, when I left the label in early 2014, I released my latest record A Life Unlike Yours which gained many new fans and was greatly complimented by both critics and fans. Then I met my hero David Gray! Which was just sick, and then I moved to London, where I am currently writing and recording. Oh! And somewhere between that I recently put out a free EP of unused demos. I dont think I’m missing anything? Well, that’s the noteworthy stuff anyways. What was your favorite moment of your music career so far? It’s hard to say really. Meeting David Gray was up there. They say you should never meet your heroes but they’re wrong. Meet them! If they’re rubbish then at least you know. But if they are as awesome as your imagination leads you to believe, then it just might be the most life affirming thing you ever do. Oh and I once played a gangster’s wedding. That’s certainly something I’ll never forget. And the worst?

Aha, apart from the uncertainty? Crippling anxiety? And the constant disappointment? No, it’s not that bad really. You just have to accept that to follow a dream may take a lot of sacrifice. Certainly one of the worst things I remember were some of the paid pub gigs I played when I was starting out. Some of the roughest places I’ve ever seen and I had to get up and sing. To be fair, you were mostly pleasantly surprised. The people were always a lot warmer than I’d expect and it’s always good to get paid for a gig, ha. What are your plans for the future – is there perhaps a debut album under way? Well I have a lot of different projects I’m working on, as well as my own. I’m always planning new gigs and new videos, and since moving to London, there have been a lot of exciting opportunities pop up. But I can guarantee I probably know only slightly more than you do, it’s a mostly uncertain way of life but I kinda like it. But in regards to a debut album, I feel like I want to wait until the time is right. If I do release an album, I’d like to have the fan base to justify it. And it would need to be my masterpiece. My life’s work up until that point. Besides having an official website, you’re also present on several social platforms – how important are these for an unsigned artist? I really think it’s one of the most important tools a musician has in their arsenal. It lets you reach millions of people all over the world! What’s not to like ? Having a fan base is crucial to a long and fruitful career. If there is no one out there listening, then you are essentially just shouting in an empty room. Which is why I make sure to keep all of my social platforms updated and try to connect with people as much as possible. Reading the bio and blog posts on your website made me wonder: Is Ali Ingle also that funny in his private life?

I’m really not. I’m a bit of a downer to be honest. And I love to be left alone as much as possible. I dunno maybe I am funny? I guess I couldn’t say. If I said yes then that’d just be anti funny, plus I’m ridiculously self conscious so I could never give myself what would (in my opinion) be such a big compliment. What question did I forget to ask you? What’s the secret to being slightly successful? Aim high, shoot low!

Thanks a lot, Ali, and all the best for the future!