Paul Liddell

Paul Liddell

Paul Liddell is a folk and rock musician from the United Kingdom. He begins as a solo writer and performer, building his career through live gigs and acoustic shows with vocals and guitar. His early work establishes a raw, melodic writing style that draws a following through performances rather than band activity alone.

Early band work and move to solo performance

Before concentrating on solo material, Liddell is singer, guitarist and songwriter with the band Dr. Delta. The group’s first demo, Plastic Dreams, reaches the attention of RCA, and the band is invited to London for a meeting with the label. After the other members want to co-write the music, Liddell leaves the group and continues on his own, taking his songs with him.

He then decides to work alone, performing a string of solo gigs in a stripped-back format with only voice and acoustic guitar. This approach becomes the main setting for his songs and helps him develop an audience of his own.

Albums and recording

Liddell begins work on his debut album with the intention of selling copies at gigs. Steve Daggett, formerly of Lindisfarne, helps with production and engineering, and Liddell plays every instrument on the record himself. The album is titled Sketchy Little People, a name taken from songs that are written about people close to him and their strengths and shortcomings.

After gigging in London and meeting with Independiente and RGF Records, he also records a demo at EMI’s London studio for EMI Publishing. Although there is label interest around Sketchy Little People, he moves on to make another record independently rather than wait for a deal.

His second album, A Lighthouse Keeper’s Diary, is made after long periods in the studio and is taken in a more acoustic direction to capture a live feel. Several tracks are recorded live in the studio, and the release also includes a multimedia element with pictures, video and acoustic versions of selected songs. It is launched at Hyena Cafe in Newcastle.

Label work, touring and radio

A Lighthouse Keeper’s Diary is released nationally through his own label, Regulus Music, and distributed by Absolute/Universal. To support it, Liddell undertakes a 26-date UK tour and continues touring widely. He also appears in radio interviews across the UK, including live studio performances on Radio London, and receives repeated airplay and listener response for the track A Quiet Kind of Madness on BBC Radio Newcastle, Utopia FM and Metro Radio’s Night Owls.

Collaborations and later activity

Liddell supports acoustic artists including Amy Wadge, Karine Polwart, Ewan McFarlane of The Grim Northern Social, and Nick Harper. He also works with a band called Delphians, who record their first EP. Other projects include filming a live set and interviews for icoros.com and performing at a festival in Milan.