The Gleeman plans to rip up the rule book for mature independent artists with his upcoming debut album Something To Say. At 52, the singer-songwriter hopes to be the oldest U.K. artist to enter the Top 40 Album Chart when the LP arrives on Nov. 1.
No matter how it goes, the story of The Gleeman (real name: Dean Morris) story is inspiring. Immersed in music from a young age during his small-town Cornish upbringing, he then began writing songs from his late teens onwards but stuck them all in a drawer. Life took over and his latent musical aspirations remained so until his children had grown up and his mother’s — and then father’s — descent into dementia propelled him to finally pursue his primary passion and embark upon his musical journey in his late 40s. His life experiences have led him down song writing avenues that many artists shy away from.
Storytelling is at the heart of The Gleeman’s appeal. His debut EP release in 2022 marked a refreshing return to the sort of skilled compositions that many of us have been longing for, and listeners ever since have been reaching for the who’s who of A-list singers and writers that his songs evoke. His emotive musical musings mark him out as a serious album artist. Every composition on this entirely self-penned debut has Something To Say, covering a wide range of themes from the upbeat and quirky to deep reaching topics of loss, mental health, cancel culture and assisted dying.
Here’s an insight into some key album tracks, in The Gleeman’s own words:
Marie
“This song is the oldest on the album, it was written 30 years ago. It’s very gratifying that the song has stood the test of time and that its messages of chasing your dreams, having self-belief, being true to yourself and becoming anything you want to be are as relevant today as they ever were.”
You Are Not Alone
“I wrote this a few days after my Mum died, who finally surrendered to 25 years of brutal ravaging by the cruelness of dementia. You lose and grieve for someone with dementia piece by piece over a period of (in this case a very long) time and then again in a different way after that very final loss. The song was a comfort blanket to wrap around me at that profound time. It is a reminder to anyone who has lost someone, who is facing difficult or dark times or demons in whatever form they may take, that You Are Not Alone.”
The Hurting
“A casual listen to this can lead some to believe that it is a love song. It is not a love song. Not in the traditional sense. But then again, perhaps it is the ultimate love song. It tells of a fictional scenario where a wife with a painful terminal illness is asking her husband to assist her to pass on in dignity when she decides it is time, an act that is currently illegal in the U.K. and could lead to prosecution and up to a 14-year prison sentence.”
You Will Always Be My Home
“Many of us form a strong bond with the place we grow up in even though we have moved away and perhaps spent more time elsewhere. I was born and raised in a small Cornish town and had a very happy childhood there. Losing my parents, who were my main remaining ties to the place, made me evaluate my feelings but I realised it still is and always will be, my spiritual home.”
The album was produced with Will Hicks (Ed Sheeran), with contributions from musical royalty Fred Abbott (Noah & The Whale) and Ash Soan (Snow Patrol) and mixes by Ash Howes. The album is currently available for pre-order from all the usual outlets on CD and vinyl (2x LP 45RPM, half-speed mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road).
The Gleeman’s powerful and emotive live performances continue to garner invites from acclaimed artists such as Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff), Starsailor, Damien Dempsey and Ian Prowse (Amsterdam / Pele) to join them on tour. And indeed, the release of Something To Say will be marked with a string of live U.K. dates.
Pre-order the album HERE, check out more from The Gleeman below, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
