A Dog Called Trixie managed me to Radio and Film ,,,

From Buying a Mark One Ford Escort Car to taking on the music industry Elite ,

From a small place in Scotland (UK) (Population just over a 1000 ).

I`ve Known I could write short stories , poems , songs etc etc from the earliest age of around seven or eight .

Fast forwarding to when I was around sixteen , I Became a Bricklayer , that job certainly didn`t suit me .

I used to write songs at home and also in building site toilets without anyone knowing I wrote songs .

Years I carried on this writing and just storing the songs away .

When I write I hear how my songs should be sung in my head , I`m able to sing a cappella and record them in a vocal melody demo ,

The only good thing to come from my time as a bricklayer was it gave me a hunger to succeed in music .

It also allowed me money to buy a Mark One Ford Escort Car that I used to admire on drunken walks home from the pub .

Once I bought that car it wasn`t long before I decided to sell it with the thought of ~ I could use the money to buy a computer .

I took it in my head that I`d be able to travel further around the world with my songs on a computer than I would with a car .

In the time being ~ I went to work one day and decided right there and then in the morning ~ I was quitting (I left in the morning just after that thought )

A trip to a pub in town that same day where I called a taxi to take my bricklaying tools home alone as a passenger without me ,

I then carried on in the same pub drinking , then to some other pubs for the rest of the day while pondering my future .

I was now at the age of in my twenties .

Along with my hangover from my boozing pondering sessions, led to me going to the local jobcentre , I walked in and said I wanted to be a lyricist .

This led to not being taken seriously , yet after weeks and weeks of meetings I managed to prove I was serious .

I first started sending out my songs to record labels and publishers , (but got told that they don`t accept unsolicited material)

It has to be through a known manager or a lawyer/agent etc etc So I became my own manager , my own everything and got round it that way .

The story behind me managing myself started from me not being able to get my name as an email ,

someone already had David Lockhart as an email , so I chose my dogs name Trixie instead , at that point in time I only chose it for that reason alone .

But when I came up against being told that record labels , publishers etc etc wouldn`t accept unsolicited demos

(the songs would have to be submitted from a manager or a lawyer etc etc )

I then made the step of ~ I used my email (my dog Trixie`s name) to manage myself ) .

When I`ve been on the phone ( and email ) to record label , publishing label people (around the world ) .

(some have actually called me Trixie on the phone and then asked about the David Lockhart demos they`ve heard ) .

While trying not to laugh as I have just been called Trixie , I respond .

How many people can say that their dog has had them listened to all over the world by the music Industry elite .

I firstly gathered my song lyrics that I had wrote, sent them of to publishers and record companys to see what reaction Id get .

The majority of reply`s that I received back came in the form of they wanted me to re-submit the song lyrics with a demo of how my songs should sound

(i.e. to be at least spoken or sung )

Being with I write with my voice when I get lyrics in my head (I hear how they should be sung)

It wasn`t a problem to send them vocal a cappella pieces of just me singing my songs .

I sent them back the recordings I recorded on my computer of me singing along with my written lyrics .

I started at the top major record and publishing companies with the thought of I`d work my way down to the independent labels .

My thought was to harden my mind with rejections I thought I`d get from the major labels around the world .

(so then I`d be ready to then target the independent labels )

But it didnt happen that way ,

Most of the people I sent songs to (In America , Canada , Scotland , England , Australia, Germany, Belgium, France )

replied through email that they liked my songs and in particular my voice .

Most started asking to see me live in places like New York , LA , Sydney , London , Vancouver , And Germany )

They started to ask for more songs , pictures of me , more musical performing history information ,

more of everything about me (, phone number , age , location, plans etc etc )

This came from the Likes of Sony Records ,

Sony/ATV publishing , BMG Records , Universal Records , Jive Records , Warner Records , Warner Chappell publishing , EMI Publishing ,

among others I`ve also been phoned for long discussions from New York , Germany and London from just them bare demos I sent of vocals .

I sent four songs to start with in a demo , that usually rises to ten plus songs when they show interest .

I was asked to meet a representative from Sony Records in New York . (But my location went against me in that instance when I told him I was from Scotland )

There are many names at both record companies and publishers around the world that have shown Interest, emailed , phoned and stayed in touch etc etc ,,,

which I keep all stored , a log of their replies and names for my future music path .

(I only write with my voice , yet as a lady pointed out to me the voice is an instrument all of its own )

which is why it`s a little unusual maybe that I managed to get so many replys from my a cappella pieces around the world .

I`ve then aroused interest from (Britain , London , Canada , America) music managers , journalists , education departments who wanted me to teach

who all have noticed my efforts .

One of the reasons why I wasn`t signed in that period is the fact my songs at that time were in just vocal form .

And also the Music industry A and R`s at record labels/publishers change like the weather , some are fired or some just leave .

The question that comes with my songs from all the people that have been interested (record labels , publishers etc etc )

is do you want to be the writer (which is what I started out as ) or maybe you`d like to also be the Artist ? ,

When I said I didn`t want to be the artist that was met with silence and in some cases I was told that nobody will be able to sing your songs the way you do .

My voice seemed to be the thing that interested people the most .

I didn`t predict that happening, but it did and kept doing so .

All this and more I have managed to do without actually stepping outside a bedroom in Scotland .

Everything I have done is self taught (lyrics , singing , melodies , managing , promoting , press, etc etc )

I`ve met a musician who I started to work with on the songs I`d already written ,

I sing a cappella alone with the songs I`ve written and then he plays guitar into my vocal melodies of my songs ,

hence the songs are no longer just vocals melodies in a cappella form now .

The path I have chosen is now music in film .

I have managed a song in one film so far , that film was picked up by Warner Bros for North American Release .

I want to achieve more song placements in film and I continue to push for that .

My songs have received radio play in the (in order of first play to last) USA , Scotland, Germany , Canada , Germany , Australia and England .

I was a featured new artist on an American Mainstream radio official website ( JoJo Wright KIIS-FM) for three months with it .

I was interviewed live on a mainstream Radio station in the UK and the song played at the back of it ( Radio Forth , Scotland ) .

A few quotes below from Film Directors , a Film Music Supervisor & a Record Label Owner who have all allowed me to use in my life toward living in film ,,,

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

♠ ☠☠ With alphabet ,,,

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

♦♦♦ Film Director Andrea Arnold ♦♦♦ Winner of an Oscar ,,, Baftas & British Independent Awards ♦♦♦

♦♦♦ Andrea Arnold on David Lockhart ☠ ♦♦♦

☠ ♦♦♦ "loved your growly voice and words and your story. Will think of you for other things." ☠ ♦♦♦

♦♦♦ Film Director Kevin Connor ♦♦♦ Art Film Festival Award Winner and Bafta Nominee ♦♦♦

♦♦♦ Kevin Connor on David Lockhart ☠ ♦♦♦ ☠ "Thanks so much for your most impressive web site and info on yourself.

I salute your tenacity in this 'entertainment' business of ours.

I read your story and listened to many of your poems and music over the last few days and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

I would like to keep in touch with you for the future and follow any new works that you will be creating.

- you are a one off - don't forget that." ☠ ♦♦♦

♦♦♦ Kathy Eldon ♦♦♦ Award Winning , Internationally Acclaimed Lecturer , Writer , Activist , Journalist , Television & Film Producer ♦♦♦

♦♦♦ Kathy Eldon on David Lockhart ☠ ♦♦♦

☠ ♦♦♦ "I love your approach" ☠ ♦♦♦

♦♦♦ Terry McBride ♦♦♦ Co Founder of the Nettwerk Music Group . From that he has rolled to ,,, Nettwerk Management , Nettwerk Records , Nettwerk One Publishing ,

Nutone Records and Artwerk . In 25 years Over 200 music albums have been released , with sales of over 150 million albums ♦♦♦

♦♦♦ Terry McBride on David Lockhart ☠ ♦♦♦ ☠ "Ain't Getting No Sleep Tonight Is A Great Track" ☠ ♦♦♦

♦♦♦ Allan Neuwirth ♦♦♦ Award Winning Writer/Director/Producer ,,, ( alongside such companies as The Disney Channel , Nickelodeon , PBS , BBC , Nicktoons , Hallmark , Fox Family & Hallmark .)

♦♦♦ Allan Neuwirth on David Lockhart ☠ ♦♦♦ ☠ "It's lovely and soulful work , will keep your info and contact on file for other possible projects" ☠ ♦♦♦

♦♦♦ Film Director Simon Tate ,,, Director of the Film ,,, The Point Of Regret ♦♦♦

♦♦♦ Simon Tate on David Lockhart ☠ ♦♦♦ ☠ "a song by the very talented Scottish singer/song writer David Lockhart – www.myspace.com/davidlockhart –

which he submitted to me and it fitted perfectly. It's had radio play in North America and David has been absolutely committed to the project just like

so many other great people which has made the film what it is and helped it get in Warner Bros. slate of films and a good following on FaceBook – " ☠ ♦♦♦

♦♦♦ Robin Urdang ♦♦♦ Music Supervisor/Consultant for film ♦♦♦

( she has a long list of credits in film over many years and recently she worked on an Film that won an Oscar )

♦♦♦ Robin Urdang on David Lockhart ☠ ♦♦♦ ☠ "Really like your music" ☠ ♦♦♦

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

It`s not bad for someone who was turned away from his local college , turned away from The Princes Trust , The SCVO ,

Careers Scotland (they should be ashamed to have Scotland in their name ) I`ve also been turned away by CASE , ,

I`m not sure if them initials are for Can`t Actually See Enterprise , all of which treated me as a joke .

Get it right up them is the response you have to have to such people .

There`s a fine line between keeping it together and being Crazy .

You run the risk of being classed as crazy when you chase such goals , especially when your from a small place where everyone knows everyone .

Even more crazy when asked ~ you have told people what you are going to do before you do it .

The story has unfolded ,,, I told it before it happened .

I set out to be on Radio with music and in Film with music .

Both have happened .

I want to keep doing it ,,, again and again with Radio/Film .

I shall keep marching ,,, to keep making it happen .

My story has only started . I still can`t drive a car but I can drive my computer on long journeys around the world .

A Computer , A dog Called Trixie and some songs is all that is needed .

Guinness n Rum ,,, ♦♦♦

www.myspace.com/davidlockhart

http://twitter.com/AScottishHowler

http://www.youtube.com/user/AScottishHowler

A Scottish Howler ☠ ,,,