Credit: Babybird

Babybird, aka Stephen Jones – is back and this time he’s the daddy, quite literally speaking.  Six years on since his last studio LP Bugged – he’s since had two kids and been parenting over his newest baby in the form of his latest offering Between My Ears There’s Nothing But Music . All a bit ironic considering one of his past albums was titled Fatherhood. Jane Gazzo catches up with the sleep-deprived star.

Hello Babybird. Or can I call you Stephen?
Anything you like. Stephen's nice.

So then Stephen, what have you been doing with yourself today?
Watching my six month old son gurning while he shits in his nappy. Puts a smile on my face though.

You must be rather chuffed your new album "Between my ears there's nothing but music" is out next week:
It’s always a weird time.. seeing if it’s in the shops, searching for reviews etc. Performing the new songs live is where the euphoria kicks in.

It's your first offering in absolutely ages (6 years in fact). Why the wait?
Cash and interest always helps and finally it came. The real reason is that I’m a D.A.D (drunk and disorderly) twice over. My little girl is five so I have been trying to steal back my sleep. I wrote a few novels, did a film score, had an ECG but I’m fine now. I also released a treble and quadruple album of instrumental music so all in all I’ve been at it, in other ways.

I've been listening to some of your newer stuff on Myspace.  (Old Skin is just beautiful).  You don't seem to have lost your whimsical pop beauty at all, musically speaking:
Thank you for the compliment. I have to say the word 'whimsical' grates a little, as that implies 'fay' and'light’. But pop and beauty, that's very kind of you.

Are you much into this Myspace thing? You have 874 friends at present. More than me you know...
Yes it’s very nice. I only discovered it recently. It’s spooky and nice to see fans faces, as you only obviously see them at gigs. But all the comments are touching, and to know it’s from all over the world, gives me the pep to go on, musically.
 
I very much like the title of the album. Is it in reference to a metaphorical musical lobotomy or something deeper and darker?
When I write, sat at a piano, or playing a badly detuned guitar with three strings, I empty my head - think of nothing - and play. Without sounding poncy, it’s meditation. I have never sat and copied chords, or styles.  There's also the idea, that music is there ultimately to take you somewhere else, away from all your problems, and I was playing with that. Usually my lyrics are very prominent, and I was hoping to blend them more to the music.