Michael Pickering, a singer songwriter from Sunderland, has released his first song, ‘One Step’, as he launches himself into his solo career.
Once one half of the duo, One Trick Pony, Pickering is now putting his energy into his own music and following his dreams of being a country artist.
Ahead of the track’s release date, Pickering joined Tea With G online from his London home to talk about the story behind his song, his inaugural trip to Nashville and just what it means to get knocked down over and over again.
The song’s opening line, a wise man once said, establishes the sentiment of Pickering’s new track, ‘One Step’. An idea that was born over in Nashville earlier this year.
As a child, Pickering was heavily involved in judo and has fond memories of their Christmas parties – knee sliding across the dance floor, the chaos of children chasing each other and the older generations congregating in the corners.
“And then you’ve got my mum and dad just doing this one-together-two-together,” he says, mimicking the moves as best he can while sat down on a video call, “and this is where this whole idea came from – the ‘one step, two step’ – which led to all the sayings and the wise words my dad’s given me over the years.”
Pickering’s dad has stood as a mentor to him throughout his life – amongst others like his judo sensei and his GCSE music teacher – and has always provided him with words of wisdom that pick him back up when he gets knocked down.
“It’s me dad,” he says, his Geordie roots shining through, “this whole song is about my dad.”
Pickering’s favourite line of the song, it ain’t about the way it goes down, it’s the way you get back up, holds a powerful, personal meaning to him.
“We’re all fighting so hard, and I think it’s important to acknowledge that. I think that for me is the closest to home right now where I am at in my life.”
‘One Step’ also nods to Pickering’s childhood, including the Irish lullaby his dad used to sing him, ‘Too-Ra-Loo-Ra’, and the well-known saying of his hometown.
“We’ve got like a ‘wey aye’ in there, like a ‘yes, keep going’,” he says about trying to stay true to where he’s from while building his country sound.
Pickering’s candid conversation and vulnerability is echoed in his track – the hallmark of an authentic country song. It speaks of ‘this too shall pass’ and encourages you to pick yourself back up when times are tough.
“I’m adopted,” he shares, “and I think I’ve always carried that with me – I’ve always carried the feeling of inadequacy, the feeling of never being good enough.”
“My adopted parents have always been there, always been supportive, and all the sayings in the songs are from my dad – this particular song is my dad.”
For those who are knocked down, Pickering’s advice is that “you’re the only person who needs to accept yourself, to love yourself and to be there for yourself…take the next step – keep just one step at a time and you’ll get there”.
“There are so many examples in the world – it could have been that one time you gave up and the next step was where you succeeded, but you didn’t take that next step. You didn’t get back up. You didn’t run for the hills when you felt like you needed to because somebody told you not to.”
Nashville is something all country artists dream of – playing at The Ryman, taking part in a writer’s round at The Bluebird or stepping into the circle at The Grand Ole Opry. For most, it’s something they hope to achieve one day and for UK artists in particular, it’s a big ambition, getting all the way to Tennessee. For Michael Pickering, however, Nashville has been the beginning of his journey.
“I went to the listening rooms my first day and I started meeting people,” he says, “and I’d go over and I’d chat away and that’s how I found out about there was a space at The Bluebird.”
Pickering’s first gig in Nashville was the prestigious Bluebird café – a venue most singer songwriters dream of playing. It’s guaranteed to sell out every night, with the roughly ninety seat capacity venue hosting intimate acoustic sessions and writer’s rounds.
“I just hope I get back there, do you know what I mean? I don’t want to be there for a one-time wonder…I called my friend and I said, don’t let me forget how I feel right now.”
With the support of producer – and friend – Tim Prottey Jones, ‘One Step’ received its first radio play on Countryline Radio’s Homegrown show the Wednesday before its release, marking the beginning of what Pickering hopes is long standing airtime.
Pickering is a multi-talented artist, turning his hand to musical theatre as well as picking away at his guitar. Having just finished touring with The Jersey Boys, where he played Mr Frankie Valli himself, Pickering shared what it was like to take on such a legendary role.
“The story of just being on the street corner, being in and out of prison. Really, the only way to get out is to be a star…I loved it. I absolutely loved it.”
Anyone stepping into the shoes of Frankie Valli will feel the weight of the role and inevitably draw parallels between both of their lives. The iconic story is relatable to so many, especially those doing their best to break into the industry. It’s a big role to play and, behind the scenes, any self-doubt could be the breaking of the performance.
“It’s one thing knowing you can sing all the songs,” Pickering shares, “but singing them in order, back-to-back, with the scenes in between and all of the routines and everything that you have to do…can you do that? That’s the question.”
With a Bluebird performance under his belt, his first single out and another on the way, Pickering is doing everything he can to just keep going and going and going, chasing the (country) music, trying to get home (to the Grand Ole Opry).
Follow Michael Pickering through his social media to keep up to date with his performances and new music. His new single, ‘One Step’, is available to download and stream now, wherever you get your music.
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