We recently go to fire some questions at the talented Michael Cool and his new release, 'The Change In Me'
What sparked “The Change in Me”? Was there a specific moment, relationship, or internal shift that made the song necessary to write?
It started with me thinking about how my generation handles the shifts around us —whether that’s anxiety over climate change, tech taking over, or the personal realities of aging and loss. We're all trying to process this stuff. That might look like paralysis, avoidance, or maybe leaning on medication to get through. But I hope listeners catch some humour and irony in there too.
How long did the song take to come together, from the first initial idea to the finished recording?
The chords, melody, and structure came together in an hour or so, but the lyrics and musical arrangement took a few weeks to nail down. The whole process from that first chord to the final master took about ten months, mostly because of gaps between the different stages. Once we got into the studio, things moved very fast.
Can you walk us through your writing process? Did you start with a lyric, a melody, a guitar riff, or something else?
The basic chords and riffs came first, alongside the core concept. As I was working on those, the chorus lyrics started to appear. I used a few "holding lyrics" early on, which I gradually refined into the final version over time.
The title suggests personal transformation. How much of the song is autobiographical versus observational or fictional?
Like a lot of my material, it’s a mix of autobiography and storytelling. It draws on things I’ve personally thought, felt, and experienced, and those moments are shaped by what I’ve observed in the people around me.
Who else was involved in the recording or production, and how did that collaboration shape the final sound?
John Martindale recorded, mixed, and mastered the track at Blank Studios here in Newcastle, and Connor Bluemel played drums. I did sing and play bass and guitars myself. Connor’s drumming turned the song from a relatively tame acoustic number into something with more energy and urgency, which was what I was looking for.
How would you describe the musical direction of this single compared to your previous work? Does it feel like a natural evolution or a deliberate departure?
Well it’s a departure from my Ouseburn Collective recordings which were mainly instrumental and focused on studio improvisation. I see this track as a continuation of the material I'd been writing (separately) for the Scottish Polis Inspectors—structured pop/rock songs—though this track leans much more heavily on electric guitars than acoustic.
The Change In Me is out now.
Do you see this song as something you’ll perform live in a stripped-back way, or does the studio version feel closest to how you imagine it on stage?
I’ve already performed it solo with just an acoustic guitar, and the general feeling of the song is definitely still there, but I’m looking forward to playing it live with a full band early in the new year.
What do you hope listeners take away from the track, especially those who might be going through their own period of change?
Maybe that change is hard, but it's both essential and possible—and that we aren't going through it alone. And that electric guitars are always a good thing!
Was there a particular artist, song, or piece of music that influenced the mood or approach of this single?
Not consciously, but listening back to it now, I can hear little bits of Johnny Marr, David Bowie, and Prefab Sprout. And, why not?
What’s next after the release of “The Change in Me”? Are there more new songs coming soon, or is this part of a longer project you’re building toward?
It’s the lead single from my debut solo album, Borderland, which comes out in January - also recorded by John Martindale at Blank Studios. Connor plays drums on a few more of the tracks. It’ll be a blend of acoustic and electric tracks – mainly songs written over the past year, some of which were originally meant for the Scottish Polis Inspectors. The band is on a recording hiatus, so the songs will find a home on the album now.
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