I think I just sh*t myself.

Thanks to the amazing Eric Corton, and everyone else at 3FM/Serious Request, I’m currently sitting at #1 in the iTunes singles chart in Holland. I am speechless. This song didn’t exist 2 weeks ago.

I wrote this song “The Lost Boy” last week. It’s inspired by the heartbreaking story of “The Lost Boys” of South Sudan. This week it was picked up by a rather influential DJ in Holland called Eric Corton. Eric also does a lot of humanitarian work in Africa with the Red Cross, I have a lot of respect for this man. He has since been getting it airplay on Dutch National Radio Station 3FM for a charity project called ‘Serious Request’. Each time the song is requested, it raises money. I am truly blown away and honoured to be part of such an amazing project. Check out ‘Serious Request’ here… www.3fm.nl

Before you read this, know that it isn’t a moan, or me being negative, or me laying into anyone that has contacted me. Know that it’s an attempt to answer many of the emails I’ve been getting lately that have quite honestly upset me a little bit.

“Why have you abandoned us Greg? Is the UK not cool enough for you? Are you turning into an American? Aren’t we good enough? You’ve forgotten your roots”

Really?? You think that moving to New York to pursue the only interest I had from the worlds music industry was a bad idea? So I could somehow build a career that would allow me to tour the world and actually play in front of you, instead of just sitting in front of my computer and playing songs to my computer screen?

After being rejected or ignored by almost every record label in the UK, why would I stay there when there are several record companies in New York flying me out to see them, having meetings with me, actually coming to my shows? You know how many labels in the UK said they were coming to see me play and never actually showed up, not even once? About 90% of them. It killed me, it destroyed everything I believed in about myself and also the music industry, I felt shit, I felt like giving up. New York was an incredibly easy decision, a no brainer you might say.

But for those that think that by moving out here to develop my career, playing sold out shows across the United States and potentially signing a record deal that will allow me to make my first real album, rather than staying in London working a miserable job and playing in front of 15-20 a night is me abandoning them, then maybe you should put yourself in my shoes and then ask me that question again.

I love Europe. I miss Europe. I want to play in Europe as soon as possible. I want to go home and see my friends and family who I miss very much. I often feel lost and alone out here. I want to play for my UK fans more than anything. However, if I have no team behind me (booking agent, lawyer, manager etc) then I can’t book my own shows, not good ones at least. I can’t make a record. I can’t tour, not properly. I can’t put my CD’s in stores. I can’t do anything, I can’t even pay rent. I tried the UK music scene and nobody was interested, so I looked elsewhere. If I hadn’t I’d have been a poor singer songwriter for the rest of my days before finally giving up at some sad old age looking back with bitter eyes at how I’d failed my one shot at reaching my dream.

This is why I’m out here in New York you guys, not because I don’t give a shit about you, or think America is cooler. I’m building a team of people that will be able to send me around the world, so I can come and play for you. Please don’t accuse me of abandonment, or being “too cool”, because it hurts. I’ve spent years building up my small but awesome and dedicated fan base, I care about you all, and I want to play for you all, not just those in the USA, but all over the world. But I can’t do that without a team, and a team is what I’m building here.

I hope this answers your question.