AUDIO: ‘Irish heart through London eyes’ - Maverick Sabre chats ahead of Sheffield Leadmill gig

His latest album When I Wake Up underlines his reputation of a man who hits the emotional spot.

His themes explore love, hope, war, faith and society.

And dare we say the B-word?

As a Londoner raised in Ireland, who describes himself as Irish-Engish, he is quick to express his views on Brexit as we chat ahead of his Leadmill date on Thursday,November 14.

BUY TICKETS: Tickets for Maverick Sabre’s Sheffield Leadmill and other November 2019 UK dates – full list below – are available here at www.gigsandtours.com.

LISTEN: Hear Maverick Sabre’s full phone chat with Graham Walker on Audioboom – CLICK HERE.

He's not sure how Brexit is going to affect the music industry - in terms of tax and travelling through Europe, but as a society he says it signals a time to rebuild and come together. He admits his songwriting may well reflect that.

And he's hoping his music will help bring people together

"Rather than communities divided with fear, it's time to band together, rather than be divided. We've been divided for the last three years and we don't need any more," says the 28-year-old, who shot to fame with 2012 debut album Lonely Are the Brave.

"I think for me I'm more concerned about the divisiveness amongst people and hopefully we can say goodbye to that, we should be moving forward."

He adds: I think anyone who's ever listened to my music from the start has seen everything I'm inspired by. I grew up on hip hop, a kind of melting pot of jazz and blues and soul and break beat. I've always felt a bit of a mix, a blend of London and Irish as growing up, you know, so my music kind of reflects that.

Maverick says: "I consider myself Irish-English. But I'm proud of being a Londoner and Irish. I was born in London to an Irish family and raised from the age of four in a small town in the south of Ireland. I've been back living in London now for just over 10 years. My music is influenced by all that.

"When I moved back here it was a kind of the melting pot of everything that I've been inspired by. My dad brought me up on a lot of blues music, a lot of soul and a lot of traditional Irish music.

"I've tried to blend everything that I'm inspired by from folk to hip hop to soul to reggae.

"But yeah, it would be, you know, the Irish heart through London eyes."

On tour he is performing songs from all three studio albums - such as top 20 singles Let Me Go and I Need, from his UK number two debut album Lonely Are the Brave. In 2015 he released Innerstanding and latest release is When I Wake Up

The new record, independently released, features stand-out collaborations from long term collaborator and friend Jorja Smith and Grammy nominated star Chronix.

Maverick, born Michael Stafford, says it's important to give fans more than just the new songs.

"We'll be playing songs from the new album but it's also the best of everything I've done, I try to give a broad blend of everything so far, so everyone can leave as a happy fan.

"It's hard for artists to necessarily play everything and keep everyone happy but I feel it shows how you evolve and serves fans that have been there from the get go.

"I suppose the last seven years have been a beautiful journey for me. Its had its ups and downs to being an independent artist, working on great projects. There's been a great amount of learning.

"I'm working on more new music. I want to be more consistent and just giving people as much as we can, you know, you never know what tomorrow holds so you might as well express yourself."

His advice for other new acts starting out and hoping to make it in the music business?

He adds: "I would say keep true to yourself. You will get highs and lows. But stay in the long race. If you really love music, and you're really passionate about it, this is it. This is a long journey, so don't burn yourself out. This is something to have for life and to be able to be in your 50s and 60s and believe in music, you know, it's a beautiful thing. So keep believing in it. That's all. Keep believing in yourself."

MAVERICK SABRE 2019 NOVEMBER UK TOUR DATES

NOV 12TH: MANCHESTER CATHEDRALNOV 13TH: GLASGOW ST LUKE’SNOV 14TH: SHEFFILED LEADMILLNOV 15TH: CARDIFF TRAMSHEDNOV 19TH: BIRMINGHAM O2 INSTITUTENOV 20TH: BRISTOL SWXNOV 22ND: LONDON O2 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRELINKS:

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