Dave McPherson

The album marked Dave’s full emergence as a solo recording artist. Fan-funded through PledgeMusic, the campaign passed its initial sales target within a matter of weeks. The fan-fuelled platform provided Dave with a direct way to engage with his supporters while demonstrating continued demand for the album format.

The Hardship Diaries was a very personal collection of songs, bringing Dave’s distinctive voice, commendable range and stripped-back production to the foreground. The album demonstrated his ability as a composer and songwriter while retaining a surprising pop sensibility beneath its intimate, reflective character. 

The stripped-back production brought Dave’s distinctive voice and range to the foreground. Rock Sound described the album as having “prog-folk virtuosity beneath the surface and a surprising poppiness”, while Alter The Press noted that every song demonstrated his talent as a composer and songwriter. The album also received coverage from Dead Press, Kerrang!, AAA Music and the Sunday Sun.

His second solo album, Dreamoirs, followed in May 2013. Whereas The Hardship Diaries was essentially a break-up record, at times rushed and spontaneous, Dreamoirs was reflective and explored more subject matter. Built around the concept of dreams, it also expanded Dave’s recording identity through full-band instrumentation performed on the record by Dave himself. The album is reflective and explores more subject matter: it’s a focused record that Dave has put a considerable amount of work, thought and passion into. The project also extended beyond the recorded album, with supporters given opportunities to hear the material through rare full-band Dave McPherson performances. It was a focused record that Dave had put a considerable amount of work, thought and passion into. 

Together, the two albums document the establishment and development of Dave McPherson as a solo recording artist: from the personal and stripped-back character of The Hardship Diaries to the broader instrumentation and focused concept of Dreamoirs.

For Licensing, Distribution and Stock enquiries please contact Graphite Records via our Contact Form

For Publishing enquiries, please see AMF Publishing