Steve Jones aka Stylusboy is a talented singer and songwriter based in Coventry, UK. Having a background as a band member in several bands, playing bass and guitar; Steve has developed his own unique sound, that can be described as lovely mix of melancholic folk and pop folk.

He have released ‘Fingerprint EP’ (2009) and ‘Blue Whale Session’ (2010) – and can both be downloaded for free on Bandcamp.

I have covered Olivia Broadfield’s song ‘Lost in You’ with my good friend Rachel. Olivia is a friend of mine and I have always loved this song from her first album. This is my intereptation of it. I hope you like it. http://soundcloud.com/stylusboy/lost-in-you-olivia-broadfield-cover

1. What’ve you been up to today?
I have been to church this morning and then to my Mum and Dad’s house for lunch. I spent some time this afternoon sorting some things in my house. After that I watched ‘Oliver’ on the TV with my two children. This evening I have sorted out loads of old CDs (like Pearl Jam ‘Ten’ and Pavement ’Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain’) to put on my iPod. Just before I typed up this interview I played all new songs ready for recording tomorrow night as I am going back into the studio to work on my next ep. So it has been a very busy day!

2. What makes you happy?
Spending time with my wife and two children. Going to see live music. Playing a show where everyone listens. Sun rises and sun sets. I’m quite a happy person so lots of things make me happy!

3. Who or what inspires you?
In terms of music that is inspiring me at the moment it is people like Elbow, Foy Vance, Mumford and Sons, Athlete and Laura Marling. I am inspired by people who really believe in what they are doing and go all out to work at it, people who put others first. I’m inspired by alot of my friends because of the way they live their lives.

In terms of inspiration for songs I am inspired by all sorts of things. Alot of the songs on my first ep ‘Fingerprint’ were written about my wife and children. They were a collection of songs written after becoming a father for the second time. My newer songs are inspired by all sorts of things. One newer song is called ’The Whole Picture’ and it is about when my little girl first realised she wasn’t going to sink when she started swimming. This lead me to think about her life and how I want to guide her but not always tell her what to do and encourage her to find her own way.

Another song I have recently written with my good friend Rachel is called ‘Beyond the Flags’. It is inspired by a story of a man who was a in sea swimming club in Australia and was always always told he had to stay inside the flags. After a time he wondered why he was always told to stay in the flags and one day asked his trainers. They told him it was just the way it was and it was better for him. So one day he decided that he would swim out beyond the flags and found lots more freedom. So the song talks about this story.

4. What was the first song you learned to play?
I learnt to play ‘Man on the Moon’ by REM and ‘Weather with You’ by Crowded House and I think it Was ‘Alright Now’ by Free too!! Three classic songs!

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
That’s a really tricky one. I am pretty happy in my own skin. Sometimes in my work life outside music I work too hard and it’s not great! So I guess I would change how hard I sometimes work!

6. Who would you like to record a song with?
I think it would be someone like Albow or Auqalung. After watching Elbow’s session with the London Symphany Orchestra I would love to record with them becuase of the huge sound they make. I love to collaborate on a record with someone like The Chemical Brothers or Underworld just to see what we would create!

7. If you had one day left to live, what would you do?
Spend time with my family and go to the beach or sit in a quiet field and enjoy the sunshine!

8. What was the last song you listened to?
A track called ‘Crosses’ by a wonderful singer songwriter called Jess Morgan (www.jessmorgan.co.uk)

9. Who would you say is the most underrated musician in the history?
I think Aatt Hales (aka Aqualung) has never had the commercial success he deserves in UK. He writes such beautiful songs.

10.What’s your biggest weakness?
Maybe eating too much chocolate!! No, really it is probably that if I have lots of things to get done sometimes I do a bit of each thing rather than completing one before I do the next one! Not always though.

Thanks so much for asking me these questions they really made me think. You can read about me on www.stylusboy.co.uk and you can download all my music for Free from www.stylusboy.bandcamp.com

You can also find him on Twitter, official site, MySpace and Facebook.