Interview with Angus:”Time To Think’ is about appreciating the small things’

‘Time To Think’, the debut single by Kent-based singer, Angus Whitington, ‘is about appreciating the small things’ during lockdown.

‘I wanted to write a song that everyone could listen to,’ he said. ‘We’re at a historic crossroads with the world on pause. I’d always wanted to pursue music and was listening to a lot of classical music during lockdown. It was a rare opportunity to reflect on what you want. The terrible suffering aside, obviously, in many ways, it was the break the world the needed.’

His lyrics perfectly encapsulate the Groundhog day feeling of lockdown: ‘Looking back on days gone by when we would say ‘oh how time flies’, but now each day is barely moving, so what is this, was it something to remind us we are one in this place that we have come to call our home.’

The whole experience has been, by his own admission, ‘a huge learning curve’: ‘Being my first song, I had to learn how to produce it and experiment with recording techniques. I even put duvets under the doors for soundproofing!’

While playing the piano himself, he used Apple’s Logic Pro to edit in additonal instuments, such as violins and drums. ‘The melody took a while to get, I adjusted the piano riff,’ he said. ‘But with Logic Pro, you can add in any instrument you like.’

Before lockdown, Whitington was freelancing in the film industry, editing videos for groups such as dance troupe Diversity (who won Britain’s Got Talent in 2009). ‘I’d always wanted to pursue music. I’d like to put out my next song as soon as possible, although I’m still high on the euphoria from the first one! I want to keep the same integrity, that’s a huge thing for me.’

Whitington cites Coldplay’s Chris Martin as his inspiration: ‘I’ve been a lifelong Coldplay fan. Their song ‘Yellow’ is almost as old as me! Chris Martin is a fantastic songwriter. I also really like Kodaline. It’s innocent, isn’t it? Easy to listen to.’

He’s also a big fan of rising star, Clinton Kane, a musician with Filipino-Norwegian heritage, who has taught himself to play a raft of different instruments, including the piano, guitar and drums. The Beatles have also been a massive influence: ‘John Lennon would have been incredible to work with,’ he said.

Sometimes songs we know and love can come about by happy coincidence, he said, citing The Beatles’ song ‘Twist and Shout’. ‘After four days of recording, John Lennon’s voice was really hoarse, that’s apparently why his voice in that song has the croaky sound it does but it wasn’t planned!’