About Julian Sumner

I've been messing around playing pianos, guitars and various assorted musical instruments since I was six or seven years old. I was always drawn to a good melody. I wasn't keen on the piano lessons I was expected to take as a child, but I'm glad it equipped me with a few music fundamentals.

A very special aunt gave me a battered acoustic guitar when I was eight. It was white, missing some strings - but it looked great and it was a start.

When I was able to get my hands on an electric guitar and a cheap 10 watt practice amp from Woolworths, I stopped playing keyboards completely and fixated on working out the guitar parts to my favourite rock and pop songs from the 1960s and early seventies.

The mid to late 1970s saw me attempting to form various bands with fellow music lovers. Punk and New Wave were in the ascendancy, was fun and easy to play. I was also influenced greatly by my older brother's fantastic record collection which included almost every rock artist or band of importance, including many from the American west coast.

Around this time, I was writing several songs a month and recording them on a reel to reel open tape machine which had a multi-track facility on which I could lay overdubs.

During my early twenties, music began to take a back seat. I had to earn a living and a more lucrative - but less interesting - career took over. I hadn't been keen, anyway, on playing live but enjoyed the recording process.

Jump forward nearly forty years and I found myself reflecting on those early times. I picked up a guitar, bought an electric keyboard and felt inspired enough to start producing new songs. Since late 2023, I've been recording this new material using a 24 track digital mixing desk, a few half-decent guitars and limited studio gear. You can hear the results on your favourite streaming service!

Alternatively, you can probably get me to send you a free CD if you ask. Use the contact form to reach me by email.

Julian

June 2025