<![CDATA[Deaf Fret]]>

<![CDATA[Deaf Fret]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!onU8!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F61711162-2913-4a3f-bd1a-34db475090e9_1080x1080.pngDeaf Frethttps://substack.deaf-fret.comSubstackMon, 26 Oct 2026 13:43:00 GMT<![CDATA[Terence Charles Over the Years]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/terence-charles-over-the-yearshttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/terence-charles-over-the-yearsThu, 22 Oct 2026 16:21:06 GMTDeaf Fret has a had a long-standing working and creative relationship with Terence Charles for many years, producing and releasing his original tracks and filming videos for both those and the cover versions he has done from time to time.

No song is made worse by his extraordinary singing voice and it is always a treat to hear what he has done with the songs he chooses to cover.

Here is the Paul Weller song ‘Wild Wood’ given the TC treatment and if this touches a nerve, explore his other tunes - original and covers - and you won’t be disappointed:

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]]><![CDATA[Great Weeks Are Normal Around Here]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/great-weeks-are-normal-around-herehttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/great-weeks-are-normal-around-hereThu, 15 Oct 2026 10:37:18 GMTDECLAN has his tune ‘Sheets in the Wind’ at number 42 in the Groover UK/Ireland charts - this is down to the quality of the tune, the performance and the dedication DECLAN has to making sure people hear his tunes more generally.

The first edit of the video for ‘The Damage Done’ is complete - there is a bit of post-production to do but, allowing for everyone’s commitments, the release is likely to be around 6 weeks from now.

The bass on Sam Macdonald’s 6 new tunes are a week away from being complete - Sam has whooshed off (Diva-like) to New York City, leaving the work to Deaf Fret in his absence.

Deaf Fret - don’t tell him - is totally fine with that…great, great tunes and delighted to be involved.

Deaf Fret stuff here:

https://www.youtube.com/@Deaf-Fret

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]]><![CDATA[DECLAN Firing on All Cylinders]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/declan-firing-on-all-cylindershttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/declan-firing-on-all-cylindersThu, 08 Oct 2026 10:31:01 GMTDECLAN has earned the reward of radio airplay for all of his hard work.

Not only does he write his songs with passion and attention but he has the energy to drive those songs towards an audience.

His song ‘Sheets in the Wind’ was featured on the Groover Charts this week and also at 41’45” on the Promised Land radio show.

Many other things happened this week in Deaf Fret Land but DECLAN is the main story in town:

https://www.mixcloud.com/FabRadioShows/promised-land-october-1st/

]]><![CDATA[Introducing Bev Willis]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/introducing-bev-willishttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/introducing-bev-willisThu, 01 Oct 2026 18:09:52 GMTA really interesting week in Deaf Fret Land with the release of the first of Bev Willis’ wonderful poems - ‘Memories’ can now be found on Deaf Fret’s YouTube channel and a link will be included at the bottom of this post.

Informed by decades of life, living and love and a childhood in Jamaica, Bev brings a deep gravitas to her words.

Bass guitar lines are now being recorded for Sam Macdonald’s 6 new tracks and this stage will probably be completed in the next 2 to 3 weeks depending on the (this) bassist’s time but the (this) bassist is delighted to be working on another bunch of Sam’s quality tunes.

Ross Merrin’s video for ‘The Damage Done’ is in the digital editing stage - some sfx to enhance what is essentially a very stark, simple video idea.

The Deaf Fret website is being restyled - you’ll be the first to know.

In the meantime, here’s Bev Willis and her wonderful thoughts:

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]]><![CDATA[Autumn Plans]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/autumn-planshttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/autumn-plansFri, 25 Sep 2026 09:32:47 GMTNot that summer was quiet but it is nice to leave a little of its slight drift behind - August can be like one long Sunday with all of your friends away - and look forward to whatever is next.

First on that schedule is friend of Deaf Fret, Caroline Leaf, and the evening of ‘creativity and inspiration’ she will both host and curate at the Garden Cinema on the 6th of October.

Her reputation in the animation world makes her one of ‘the medium’s greatest masters’ and a link to it is at the bottom of this post.

Sam Macdonald is at the stage of laying down the instruments of his new 6 -track project, produced by Deaf Fret.

Ross Merrin’s new EP - and the video for the title track ‘The Damage Done’ - is due in the early part of autumn.

Bev Willis’ first poetry video will go up on YouTube on Monday the 28th - decades of experience in the making so don’t miss that.

DECLAN is getting to grips with his first video and Deaf Fret is very much looking forward to that.

But first, Caroline:

Bar Shorts with Caroline Leaf

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]]><![CDATA[The Ladies’ Pond and Caroline Leaf]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/the-ladies-pond-and-caroline-leafhttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/the-ladies-pond-and-caroline-leafThu, 17 Sep 2026 09:41:08 GMTIt’s still relatively quiet at Deaf Fret, a lull before a very active autumn in fact.

I say ‘relatively’ since there is work from Sam Macdonald, Ross Merrin, Bev Willis and Declan Field all in progress - there’s always work in progress.

But it does give Deaf Fret a moment to focus on some exhibitions of work by friend of Deaf fret, Caroline Leaf.

The Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association is presenting work by 12 members - including Caroline - to celebrate 100 years of the famous Ladies’ Pond.

The exhibition is at Lauderdale House and is free but is on only for a few more days, closing after the 21st of September.

More information about Caroline and her work can be found at her website (http://www.carolineleaf.com) but here is a link to the Ladies’ Pond exhibition:

https://www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk/whats-on/kenwood-ladies-pond-exhibition

]]><![CDATA[Great Singers and Still With the Busy August]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/great-singers-and-still-with-thehttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/great-singers-and-still-with-theThu, 27 Aug 2026 16:19:24 GMTDeaf Fret encounters a lot of talented people just by virtue of the circles it travels in and the people already involved.

One of those talented people, definitely worth mentioning, is Ally London, with whom Deaf Fret has been interacting for a few weeks as she was preparing for her gig at The Green Note in Camden Town, London.

There is no arrangement between Ally and Deaf Fret, we just want to tell you about her - we could spend time describing her lilting, beautiful tunes, the wisdom in her insightful lyrics and THAT voice but, instead, we are just going to link you to her from here.

See below. No, really, see below.

Other than that, Deaf Fret is still working on Caroline Leaf’s artist page on the website (just launched), the final edits of Bev Willis’s poetry videos, the bass guitar takes for 6 of Sam Macdonald’s tunes, the edit of Ross Merrin’s next video and coming up for air occasionally.

Go here. Really.

]]><![CDATA[Would You Believe?]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/would-you-believehttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/would-you-believeThu, 20 Aug 2026 16:07:52 GMTOnwards ever onwards and in the spirit of that, Martin Griffith drummed to 6 of Sam Macdonald’s songs yesterday in a recording session that went unbelievably smoothly - and there’s no surprise in that, given Martin’s talent and professionalism.

Fueled by Sam’s coffee-runs, the tracks got knocked out of the park.

I know I have mentioned it before but watch this space for how the project develops - something tells me I’ll be talking about it plenty as well as the 6/7 new tracks (so far) that Sam keeps providing as ‘what we can do next’… Talented boy.

Talking of which, Deaf Fret has a long-term relationship with Terence Charles and Miles Skarin at Crystal Spotlight and this is brought together beautifully in the video for Terence’s song ‘Believe’.

All of the behind the scenes fun and games across a variety of music videos are all intercut into this - bits of ‘The Maker Made’, ‘Photo on Your Wall’ and ‘System Diagnosis’ amongst others are featured here…and watch out for the inimitable Ebony Buckle braving what were several very very cold shoots…we don’t mean to, but we really put Ebony through it each time…

]]><![CDATA[August Dog Days...? ]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-e6dhttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-e6dThu, 13 Aug 2026 10:49:34 GMTOkay, so this is meant to be a quiet period right? You know, no politics, festival season, everyone away…?

Not here at Deaf Fret - and that’s fine.

Especially when it’s because the filming is now finished…what am I talking about, the EDIT is now completed on some lovely poetry videos featuring Bev Willis.

Katya at KP Productions did an incredible, sensitive and speedy job of capturing the day, Bev and the pacing of the edits.

The Deaf Fret release schedule means that it will be September before the first is posted but do watch this space, it will most definitely be mentioned.

Likewise, next week Deaf Fret will be recording the drum tracks for Sam Macdonald’s six new tunes.

The editing is just starting on the next video release by Ross Merrin to accompany the title track of his imminent new EP ‘The Damage Done’.

Long-time partner in crime, Miles Skarin at Crystal Spotlight is at the helm so don’t expect anything very ‘normal’ - just saying.

The relationship between Deaf Fret and renowned animator and artist, Caroline Leaf, is just about to be presented on the Deaf Fret website - again, watch this space.

And, unbelievably, this is the quietest time to remind you of Ross Merrin’s video for Authority Magazine - he was approached to make a video about the five things he wished he’d been told about striking out on his own…here it is:

]]><![CDATA[Poetry in the Park]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-6b9https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-6b9Thu, 06 Aug 2026 09:38:04 GMTTuesday saw a wonderful day in the grounds of Alexandra Palace filming poetry.

Katya from KP Productions brought her talents up from Bristol, including a sensitive and empathetic eye, to film three beautiful poems performed by Bev Willis.

Bev’s son, Mark, is featured on the Deaf Fret website and his soulful songs are available in-memoriam on all platforms.

Along the way, it became clear that the creativity runs through the family, with Bev having a wealth of poetry from decades of thought and experience, spanning right back to her arrival in London from Jamaica.

We were privileged to capture just three on this occasion, hopefully with more to come as Bev brings more of them to life in front of the camera.

Katya is currently editing them so keep an eye here for releases.

Talking of editing, Miles at Crystal Spotlight is in the process of editing Ross Merrin’s next video ‘The Damage Done’ for release in September.

]]><![CDATA[It's fun to plan]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-d4ahttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-d4aThu, 30 Jul 2026 09:29:29 GMTThis week has mostly been about looking to the future, both the short and long-term.

After much uncertainty over the date, Bev Willis will now be filming three of her many poems on August the 4th, bringing all of her experience to the delivery and that will be a wonderful addition to the Deaf Fret palette.

Likewise, also after much uncertainty over the date (we are blaming Sam and Martin by the way) Sam Macdonald will be recording Martin Griffith’s drums for six new tracks on August the 17th.

Renowned animator Caroline Leaf has an association with Deaf Fret through her musical creativity and it seems only right that Deaf Fret should introduce her work to its audience - in the form of her dynamic iPad paintings.

Her work will be up imminently on the Deaf Fret page with a link to her other work.

Another great addition to the team.

Let’s not forget that DECLAN is now also on-board and has established a bandcamp page and - of course - Deaf Fret encourages you to go and check it out for yourself.

]]><![CDATA[New Horizons and Celebrating the Established]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-eedhttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-eedWed, 22 Jul 2026 15:16:29 GMTAnother week of ‘deep in creativity’.

DECLAN is, as mentioned, up and running on all the digital platforms. More about him on the Deaf Fret website - including some insight into his history and inspirations.

Sam Macdonald has released his latest tune, with more to come, produced by Deaf Fret.

A date for Bev Willis to film her poetry has been set but yet to be confirmed - this will happen of course but scheduling, damn scheduling.

And, in a very interesting twist, a very highly regarded animator is in discussion with Deaf Fret about platforming and promoting her dynamic still paintings on the website.

I could say, ‘Watch this space’ every week… I probably will.

Watch this space…

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]]><![CDATA[DECLAN EP Release]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-784https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-784Thu, 16 Jul 2026 10:00:10 GMTOkay, so it’s a little after we had intended but the debut EP from DECLAN entitled ‘After the Funerals’ is now finally released to the world.

Genuinely heart-felt, personal and authentic, this is exactly the kind of artistic heart that Deaf Fret is keen to be involved with.

https://deaf-fret.com/artist/declan/

In keeping with the drifting timetables, the drum recording session for Sam Macdonald’s next collection of songs has been pushed back to August - naturally, I blame the drummer (it’s what we do and he knows it) but it might actually be Sam’s fault this time.

A date for filming Bev Willis recite some her poetry has been arranged however - early August…yes, I know I’ve been circumspect on the exact date with that statement but with the way things are going…

Back to DECLAN:

]]><![CDATA[Poetry, Inspirations, Recording and Releases]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-0a4https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-0a4Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:51:13 GMTYes, we know that we said last week that DECLAN’S songs would be released this week but that will now be tomorrow - not in time for this post so, technically, we weren’t lying…

(Apologies all the same, very poor of us - it’ll be worth the wait though).

Dates for recording have been set in the next fortnight for the drum tracks for Sam Macdonald’s new tracks, in the next month for filming Bev Willis’s poems and in the next 6 weeks for the editing of Ross Merrin’s new video, the first from his next EP ‘The Damage Done’.

Ross Merrin was also waxing lyrical about one of his inspirations this week on social media - listening to one album in particular was genuinely life-changing:

]]><![CDATA[A New Music Release and Poets in the Diary]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-3f0https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-3f0Thu, 02 Jul 2026 11:10:43 GMTDeaf Fret is delighted to confirm that the first ever EP release from DECLAN, a three-track offering called ‘After the Funerals’ is imminent.

By this time next week the deeply personal tunes will have been made available from this authentic artist.

The link will be included in next week’s ‘A Week in the Day of…’

Mark Willis, who is featured on a memorial page on the Deaf Fret website, got his talent from his mum, Bev, clearly.

Her poetry has really struck Deaf Fret and we are in the process of arranging for performances of her poems to be filmed in July and August.

They draw on decades of her experiences as a Jamaican woman in London and, not unlike DECLAN’s work, they are deeply authentic, from the heart and powerful.

Deaf Fret is delighted to present this kind of artist.

Oh, yes, and then there’s Ross banging on about his bloody guitar this week too…

]]><![CDATA[It's Not Just Music You Know...]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-f00https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-f00Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:23:30 GMTDeaf Fret is fundamentally supportive of authentic creatives and historically this has included singer-songwriters, poets and film-makers.

DECLAN, who is about to release his first ever recordings supported by Deaf Fret, would be a good example of a genuine singer-songwriter with a story to tell.

But, Ross Merrin, Director of Deaf Fret, has told a longer story in his debut novel and by definition stretches Deaf Fret’s reach into authors.

‘How Beats the Original Heart’ is part of his ‘Moments of Tiny Violence’ trilogy which is non-sequential.

The second to be written - although not ‘in order’ - is completed to its first edit and is provisionally titled ‘Echo Debt’.

Here, Ross reads a sample of ‘How Beats…’:

]]><![CDATA[Setting Dates with Drumming Talents and Recording Cultures]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-0a1https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-0a1Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:16:19 GMTAs was probably mentioned last week, Deaf Fret is setting up recording sessions to capture the brilliance of drummer Martin Griffith on six new songs from Sam Macdonald.

It looks like the end of July is a go situation - will keep you posted of course.

DECLAN’s first release is now imminent…more to say next week.

Ross Merrin has been reflecting this week on the nature of his recording equipment, extolling the virtue of the older, straight-forward digital multitracker that he is really familiar with rather than overly complicated newer gear (he may be excusing his technophobia by making it a virtue of course).

He takes the teasing in good humour but points out how easy it is to just pick up his gear and go and record anywhere.

This beautiful song by Terence Charles, recorded in St. Pancras Church is a pretty good example of that:

]]><![CDATA[Diary of an Uncertain Singer]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-fa3https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-fa3Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:41:06 GMTIt’s often the things that we aren’t good at that force us to be inventive or look for solutions.

With this in mind, I posted this week about the way those of us who aren’t too much in love with their own singing voice might be able to turn that to an advantage of sorts.

Most real singers look at a microphone as an opportunity whereas there is that cohort that looks at one with mistrust and a wonder as to how it’s going to let them down this time.

This video might be for them… plus I get to talk about ‘Hide and Seek’, out on Deaf Fret:

]]><![CDATA[Releases, Recording Sessions and Authority Magazine]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-fbehttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-fbeThu, 04 Jun 2026 09:19:26 GMTSo, here at Deaf Fret it has been another busy week.

Nothing unusual there.

DECLAN has completed the recordings, biographical information and photos for his first release once it all up and published Deaf Fret will mention it here for sure.

Sam Macdonald - frankly, a genuinely brilliant songwriter - is now liaising with drummer Martin Griffith to begin a new 6 song project to be produced by Deaf Fret.

Will know more by this post next week.

Meanwhile, Deaf Fret Director, Ross Merrin, was asked by Authority Magazine to make a video for ‘Five Things…’ he wish he’d been told before striking out on his own and forming Deaf Fret.

I think I can speak for Ross (because I am Ross) when I say he wouldn’t have had it any other way in truth but you can see what the incredibly handsome, sophisticated and humble man says here:

]]><![CDATA[Another week of Reflection]]>https://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-69ehttps://substack.deaf-fret.com/p/a-week-in-the-day-of-deaf-fret-69eThu, 28 May 2026 09:53:42 GMTIt was mentioned last week that it is sometimes rewarding to return to old work.

It is not in the place of new work (there’s always more of that for sure!) but, instead, a reminder of good times, good people and work well done.

We revisited Terence Charles’s ‘The Maker Made’ last week and - in the interests of ‘why the hell not?’ DF delved further back this week to TC’s first release…so far back as to be still releasing under the name ‘James McFadden’.

There are new releases due from Sam Macdonald, DECLAN and a video recorded last week for Ross Merrin’s next release but, for this week, enjoy this classic.

Typical Terence Charles - catchy but not sugary, musically grounded and topped by that incredible voice:

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