In terms of creative pursuits, it’s safe to say that the schedule for Sheffield-based musician and writer Loic J Tuckey has been fairly chocka recently. Inspired in part by his longstanding love for the American West, he has produced a new album, Beyond The Sun Road, and written his debut novella, Cowboy Butchers, a tale inspired by old Italian westerns and, erm, the humble Lincolnshire banger.
Intrigued? We certainly were. Last month, Joe Food donned his finest Stetson and met with Loic for a Wild West (Street) showdown…
Hi Loic, can we kick off by introducing yourself to the Exposed readership?
Yeah. I’m Loic J Tuckey. I’m a musician, writer, tourist. Dog-friendly.
Photo: Marc Baker
Like it. Beyond The Sun Road has been described as an epic ode to the westward highway routes of America. What draws you to these themes, and how do they influence your song writing?
I can probably trace this all the way back to being three years old when my grandparents took me to California to visit their pals. I think these Americans had a Winnebago timeshare or something and took us around Arizona and Nevada, stopping at RV campsites and local diners. Since being a toddler, I’ve been back through the west a few times. Heading from Calgary in Canada right down to New Mexico and back. The land is such a thing of beauty, from top to bottom. Each time I go, I find it a remarkably inspirational place for me to write. So, the songs come from what tickles my senses out there.
Your music blends various genres such as mid-20th century rock, R&B, surf, swampy blues and psychedelia. How did you come to develop such a distinctive sound?
I suppose ultimately there are two distinct genres that spawned America’s main musical destiny – country and blues. And if you follow their journey, they wind up spawning these other genres, like rockabilly and R&B. I get a big kick from looking into that development from both the blues and country sides. Whether it’s a groove, beat or a guitar solo, or the way a particular artist sings, I’m always trying to learn something from these old musicians.
Can you talk us through the process of creating the album?
The songs were written and recorded over a long period, maybe nine years, probably more. I didn’t really have much of a plan with them, only to relearn music like those good old boys played from back in the day. So, as the years went on, I’d collected a healthy number of songs but most of them lay dormant on my hard drive. Eventually, two years ago, I started to compile them to see what I had. Turns out, without really knowing it, I’d written an ode to my experiences of the west.
The biggest challenge was my own motivation. I am fully comfortable in writing music for my own pleasure, but I can’t stand an unfinished project. It absolutely cracks me up, the thought of half-complete songs and stories lying around. I’m forever trying to kick myself up the arse to finish things.
Photo: Marc Baker
You’ve been incredibly busy recently and your debut novella, Cowboy Butchers, is launching alongside your album at Sidney & Matilda next month. What inspired you to write this story, and how does it connect to your music, if at all?
The story is probably a combination of digesting my love for Italian westerns of the 60s and 70s – and making a point about the Lincolnshire sausage. It’s hands down the best English sausage out there. I’m calling it a Sausage Western.
Cheyenne Bodie Peters, the protagonist, has a vivid imagination and a love for Italian westerns.
How did you develop this character, and what aspects of him resonate with you?
Well, there’s two main fellas in this story. Cheyenne, the butcher, is kind of obsessed with westerns and takes that gung-ho attitude into his day-to-day business. Be it his relationship, how he runs his shop. How he speaks. Anything.
Meanwhile, Dan, he’s a cautious, nervous sort of fella who eats too many sausages. These two become great mates, pretty much based on their love of a Lincolnshire.
The more I wrote about them it became clear they were just two sides of my personality battling it out on paper. Dan, the shy, overly cautious part of myself who needs a kick up the arse. And Cheyenne, the reckless dude who ends up in crazy situations. The more I wrote, the less I could tell the difference between Cheyenne’s desires and my own.
What message or experience do you hope readers take away from the story?
First, I know the premise is pretty ridiculous – a butcher in the north of England who thinks he’s a cowboy from the wild west. If you’re willing to find out how far he’ll go to live out his fantasies, then I think you’re gonna have a pretty good time.
Second, there’s a real discussion of community and friendship. Cheyenne loves his town and the people in it, going to great lengths to keep spirits high. He protects people when they need it and beats the crap out of those who disrupt the community. Kind of a self-appointed sheriff in a town where nobody requested one.
Photo: Marc Baker
How does your approach to writing music differ from writing a novella? Do you find one more challenging or rewarding than the other?
Cowboy Butchers was a massive challenge. It took years because I had no real clue what I was writing for. It took me a long time to open up and admit to myself “This butcher is pretty much you. Just get on with it and say what you have to say.” Once I did that, I realised I really just wanted to write a Western.
With writing, I’m completely stuck in my own head. I’m not bouncing ideas around with a team. It’s just me and my thoughts, trying to create a fantasy world that makes sense.
With music, it’s totally different. I had guys down in the studio with me. You’re feeling the vibe and creating as a team. The Beyond The Sun Road includes loads of musicians who helped me complete it. But with the story, no one can help me. I’m at the mercy of my own motivation.
Loic will release ‘Beyond The Sun Road’ and launch his debut novella ‘Cowboy Butchers’ with a show at Sidney & Matilda on 9 August. Tickets (£8+bf) available from skiddle.com.
