Tombstone for Anna
There are countless examples in the art and architecture of Norman Sicily that show quite what an extraordinarily cosmopolitan environment there was during the short reign of the Norman kings. I wanted… Read More
Guest musician #5: Massimiliano Morabito (Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino)
I met Massimiliano who plays organetto in the band Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino through Mauro Durante. We’ve played together a few times in concert when our paths have crossed on tour and I’ve… Read More
Islands and referendums
As I dream of metaphorical islands for my new album, so Britain, and particularly England, the country where I was born, voted to leave the EU. Riding on slogans about controlling borders,… Read More
Artwork in progress
I’ve been working these days on the artwork for I Dreamed An Island. I’m not there yet but I wanted to keep you posted on developments. Here’s a peak into what I’ve… Read More
Guest musician #4: Mauro Durante (Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino)
In 2007, I was invited to perform in the Salento in Puglia in the south of Italy for a festival called “La Notte Bianca”. Being a huge fan of ‘musica populare’ the… Read More
Cloak of Blue
Today in the 21st century and in Europe in particular, we have access to so much materially that it’s easy to forget how precious and rare certain materials were centuries ago. I’ve… Read More
Sicilian Poet
These days, I’ve been working on the last few songs of the new album. Although mostly sung in English, I also wanted the album to have a multi-lingual dimension like the cosmopolitan… Read More
Guest musician #3: Jasser Haj Youssef
I first met Jasser in 2011 at Ibrahim Maalouf’s 30th birthday party and I was completely blown away from the very first moment I heard him play. Jasser is one of those… Read More
Mr Cup visits the studio (photo reportage)
(For those of you on smartphone or tablet, swipe for the slideshow) I love working on my own and as the years pass, I find solitude more and more inspiring. As some… Read More
Santa Maria La Blanca, Toledo
I recently visited the church of Santa Maria la Blanca in the medieval city of Toledo in Spain. This remarkable building, despite its name, was a synagogue until the expulsion of the… Read More
