Farewell to London

EX-LONDONER Luke Jackson, talks to This New Zealand Life about his latest music video that fondly pokes fun at the British capital and says goodbye to some of the irritations that drive Brits away from the UK.

Luke left the UK for the first time in 1992 on what the Kiwis call the 'Big OE'(Overseas experience).

"The first time was a work abroad program in my gap year, the second time was to study, the third and fourth times I was chasing my destiny and the fifth time I was coming home," he explains

He's spent eleven of those seventeen years in Canada where he now runs a record label and webshop called Popsicle.

It's a far cry from his roots in Golders Green, but he says the travel and experiences have all influenced his work, "Almost all my songs are written about things that happen in my life. I normally wait a while until I can reflect a little more objectively and then write the song."

The song Goodbye London was writen as "I was preparing to leave the place. It gave the lyric an immediacy which I think comes across," he explains.

I've had enough of this town, It's started bringing me down, I'm not inclined to stick around".

And the video treatment came later.

"I'd been thinking for a while that the nature of the song would lend itself well to the realm of animation, and when I started working with Murray John and I knew I was onto a winner. I was involved in putting the concept together and all the major decision-making, but 100% of the work was done by Murray and his cohorts."

In common with many expats, Luke shares a hard-working spirit, determined to make an impression in his adopted country, and perhaps world wide, "I'm in the latter stages of promoting the album ...And Then Some, which came out last November. The Goodbye London video is the last real promotional push I'm doing. It's hard when you run your own label and there's no one to tell you when to stop, or when to start for that matter."

Work has just become even tougher, however, "It's been a while since I've written any new songs, and I became a father four months ago so I'm up to my ears in nappies, which is an absolute blast!"

Whether England, Canada or New Zealand, children will always enhance your working day!

Comments

[Domestic Executive]

What a cool video. I love the animation. It make me momentarily homesick for London!