Blue Nation

Blue Nation

Blue Nation is a Birmingham-based blues-driven rock group. It centres on Neil Murdoch, who writes the songs, plays guitar and sings, and is joined by Jon Hooker on drums and Gurdev Sohal, known as Greddy, on bass.

Style and formation

The group develops a sound built from blues and rock, with strong vocals, melodic hooks and sharp guitar riffs. Murdoch forms the act after playing in earlier bands and looking for the right combination of musicians. The songs draw on themes of love, life, hurt and sorrow.

Members

Murdoch is described as the main songwriter and as having a strong stage presence. Hooker’s drumming is a key part of the group’s sound; he studies contemporary popular music with a focus on drums at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford. Sohal brings the bass parts that lock in with Hooker’s rhythm work.

Live work and releases

The group has extensive gigging and recording experience, with more than 350 performances. These include radio sessions and live shows in major UK cities, plus two acoustic tours of New York City centred on Greenwich Village and Manhattan. It also performs twice on the Music Stage at the F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Its debut album is Cross The Line & Decide. The release is supported by the single and video Maybe Goodbye, while Let Me Down Slowly and Dark Days also receive video releases on the group’s YouTube channel.

Reception and context

During a sound check, a Metallica sound engineer remarks on Murdoch’s voice, an anecdote that reflects the group’s emphasis on powerful vocals. Blue Nation presents itself as a three-piece with a blues-rock approach that does not fit neatly into a single genre.