I started writing about music, the people who make it, and the people who make the people who make it, when I was 15 years old.
As of 2025 I’ve pretty much knocked this on the head — I think I probably made my point, whatever it was — but I’m still open to hearing about interesting projects if there’s something you think I’d be good for.
Freelance writing
My cover stories have appeared in titles like NME, Stylist, the Guardian Guide and Guardian G2, Shortlist, ES Magazine, Observer Music Monthly and Observer Magazine, The Face, Time Out, Melody Maker, Clash, Attitude, BEAT, Smash Hits, Notion and The Independent.
My work’s also appeared in outlets such as Q magazine (where I was a contributing editor), Vice, heat, Music Business UK, GQ Style, The Fader, i-D, Observer New Review, Pitchfork, The Times, TIME, Noisey, The Telegraph and Esquire.
Popjustice
In 2000, trying to find a dumping ground for ideas nobody wanted to publish, I accidentally invented Popjustice.
It became the UK’s biggest independent pop website leading to spinoff books, club nights and live showcases, as well as artist playback events, a record label and a compilation album.
These days Popjustice mainly exists as a Substack, which feels like a good sort of place for it.
Books
In recent years I’ve ghostwritten books for people in the worlds of music and sport.
I’ve also worked as an editor on Rhian Jones and Lucy Heyman’s Sound Advice and contributed a chapter to Tamsin Embleton’s Touring & Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual.
In the 2000s I wrote official books for artists like Busted, Blue and Girls Aloud (and McFly, although that one didn’t come out for some stupid reason).
Other stuff
- Artist biographies and EPK interviews for all the majors and various independent labels.
- Album sleevenotes for artists ranging from newcomers like Michael Jackson and Elton John to icons like Girls Aloud and Dannii Minogue.
- Hosting events and playbacks for clients like Sony, Parlophone and Warners.
- Tour programmes (including Pet Shop Boys’ recent Greatest Hits tour).
- TV script writing and editing.
- Copy and scripts for award-winning ad campaigns.
- I am also a celebrated photographer (ie I once somehow ended up shooting the cover image for a Lady Gaga single).
