After a year of largely low-key gigs and a softly, softly approach the former band leader turned solo performer has been drawing attention from some very well- connected people. – but not really by design.

"One thing I learned from my previous band is if you are chasing something people don't generally take notice of you," says David Roche. "Record companies are not interested. It's like with girls – there's a thrill in the chase but it's nice if they come to you."

And it seems the logic could ring true. Ahead of releasing his limited edition debut, he's featured in a Ch4 mini documentary next Saturday and one of London's most respected music publicists – clients include REM and Madonna – is fielding his music to the right people, having been passed a demo.

"I went down and played a gig in her office for her and her team," says David, before heading off to personally wax seal the rest of his 500 EPs.

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"She's really supportive and instrumental in getting important people along to gigs. It's not paying for me to eat but it's nice."

While talks continue behind the scenes David continues to play – he launches said record with a Grapes show a week on Sunday – and DJs at Plug's Thursday student night.

David learned his craft and more as part of former Sheffield hopefuls Curbar, in which he sang and played rhythm guitar. "We wanted to be seen to wear the right clothes," he says of a band which appears to have had mixed aspirations. "We wanted to go somewhere with it but then there was all the rehearsal time it demanded."

While Curbar was meant to be fun it began to get serious and while they may not have really sought the bright lights they seemed to be seeking out the switch.

Ultimately the band split not long after playing The Leadmill's 25th anniversary bash. The drummer still plays with David while Ed joined Pollinates and has a share in Sheffield's latest hostelry of cool The Shakespeare. The guitarist became an accountant, as he'd planned.

A week before the split David broke up with his fiancée. Both events contrived to make him take six months off music.

He eased back into playing when asked to bolster The Cremorne's open mic night with a few covers. Prompted to write as well he slipped a couple of his own songs in to good reaction. When pal and housemate Danny Keir invited him to play The Halcyon he invented a moniker. "I didn't want to go out under my own name so off the top I came up with that. Nothing deep and meaningful, but there are reasons."

One being it was something to hide behind. It also avoided the direct, sometimes derided singer-songwriter peg.

"It's hard to get people to see a singer songwriter, they think they're going to see David Gray or Jack Johnson," says David, a 25-year-old with the cheeky good looks of Alex Zane and the easy-going manner of someone clear in their direction but still cautious. "There have always been people making that sort of music.


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The full article contains 567 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.

• Last Updated: 14 March 2008 7:48 AM
• Source: Sheffield Star
• Location: Sheffield