Will Walton

How did studying at Leeds Conservatoire prepare you for working in the wider industry?

The immediate access to industry level recording facilities at Leeds Conservatoire during my time there was a total game changer for me as a producer and songwriter; I gained a lot of knowledge from the hours upon hours I spent writing, recording and mixing music, which gave me the tools and confidence I needed to thrive in many different recording environments.

How important were the connections you made during your studies?

The connections made at the Conservatoire have helped me continue to connect with likeminded musicians after my studies in many different parts of the country.

What are your key sources of inspiration when writing?

I’m motivated to write and create predominantly by strong emotions, many of which are influenced by events in my personal life, but also in wider society. Much of my music can be quite visceral and raw in its themes and lyrics, as I’m often spurred to create during periods of adversity. While the overall tone can be dower, angry or melancholy, I always write with an undercurrent of hope, which turn even my bleakest songs into defiant cries into the darkness.

Could you tell about some of your most memorable performances to date?

One that always springs to mind is Rochdale Feel Good Festival in 2019 with my old band, Arrowhead. In a lot of ways, it was a total shambles (so many tech issues), but ultimately when I remember the ferocity of the performance and the energy of the audience - especially during our cover of Common People - I can’t help but smile at the memory.

Another favourite of mine is the first proper show back I did after the worst of the COVID pandemic had passed, at Night & Day Cafe (a venue I’ve played at more times than I can count) in July 2023. As was the case for many people, the time between my last show before COVID in December 2019 and July 2023 was fraught and I came out of it on the other side a very different person (as I remarked to my partner at the 2023 show, “I was a different gender last time I did this!”). The pandemic largely stifled my creativity, and it took a long time to build my confidence back up to the point where I can play in public again. But all that anxiety melted away after walking back into Night & Day and playing some new music for a lovely and supportive Manchester audience on a sunny Tuesday; it felt like I’d never left, and it gave me a zeal to keep going.

What is your best memory from Leeds Conservatoire?

I have particularly fond memories of my third year at the Conservatoire - booking out a studio for an entire day to work on an album with my band in the studio, experimenting with different sounds and recording and production techniques was pure euphoria and fun. I regard this time as one of the most creatively liberating points in my life, due to the easy access to instruments and facilities on offer.