Milkpress presents : Ian Ashworth – Harmanjolist

Music has always been my major passion and preoccupation. From being very young I remember how much music meant to me and how I would be hypnotised and transported into another world by sound. When I was 16 my uncle gave me his guitar, which he could no longer use after years of alcohol abuse had robbed him of his ability to play. From this moment I decided that music was the path I wanted to follow in life and I became obsessed with it. Everything else seemed pointless and a distraction from music. I almost didn’t take my GCSE exams because study of any other subject seemed an unnecessary triviality. I managed to focus this obsession into learning the guitar and absorbing as much music as I could.

At college, I met more people who seemed to share my passions and I played in several bands with friends. It was then that I picked up the harmonica after finding my late grandfather’s harps in the wreckage of a robbery at my grandma’s house. The harmonica allowed me to express myself in a way that I hadn’t been able to before and I would spend hours jamming to different records as my musical tastes expanded. The harp has continued to be my primary instrument and I believe that the organic way in which I learnt to play it has shaped my versatility in musical arrangement. I am passionate in my belief that the harmonica can and should be used in unexpected ways and this has carried on into how I arrange and approach all the instruments I play.

After college I entered into the mundane grind of office work and used music as a way to express myself in my free time. I joined a friend’s band, Big Red’s Bible in Edinburgh, and would regularly travel from Burnley to Scotland to play with them and other local musicians.  It was whilst I was in Big Red’s Bible that I also took up the banjo.  After a few years the band naturally parted and it was around this time that I started to become depressed and fell prey to the family heirloom of alcoholism…

I continued to work in an office and as my drinking and depression became worse I stopped playing as often and I ended up wasting years merely existing. Looking back now, it upsets me how little I did to progress my musical skills and how many opportunities I missed during this time.

It was only in 2010 that I began to seriously contemplate recovery from my alcohol problem. I  realised that the one thing that had been a constant throughout my whole life, even during my darkest moments, was music. Even though I had pushed my playing aside, I had always continued to listen and take solace in music, and I decided that music had to be a way to get out of my situation.

I decided to look for a local band to join as a way to get back into playing music on a regular basis. I contacted the Burnley based, LINUS who were just starting up at the time.  In LINUS I originally played harmonica and as time went by and my confidence grew I began to play rhythm guitar  (making particular use of the 12 string) and then lead guitar.  I made some really great friends whilst playing with LINUS and found my musical soul mate in Californian born, singer-songwriter Edward Of Sim, who I continue to collaborate with now.

It was whilst in Linus, with my passions for playing reignited, that on a  whim and with some gentle persuasion from a friend, I bought a mandolin. I feared this would become a reckless purchase that would sit and gather dust, but I immediately took it in much the same way that I did the harmonica. I spent hours and hours practising to the extent that many have thought I’ve been playing it for years.  I was able to incorporate it into my work with LINUS easily and since then it has become a huge and growing passion.

Playing in a band again stirred my soul and the fight within me to get better.  When I was at my lowest points, I was isolated and introspective, but falling in love with playing again led me to think about the future and to feel hopeful for the first time in years. Spurred on by this, and with a great deal of luck, I was able to meet and fall in love with my girlfriend Laura. I moved to Sheffield to be with Laura and her belief and support allowed me to finally conquer my addiction to alcohol. I have been alcohol free for 9 months now and feel happier than I ever have in my life.

Moving from a small town to a big city was eye-opening. It’s been a revelation to live somewhere where music of all kinds seems so important to people. Everyone I’ve met is very proud of Sheffield’s musical heritage and it’s been a treat to have easy access to so many gigs spanning all genres; from big named acts to unsigned buskers. I’ve been especially impressed by The Greystones as a venue and have seen and discovered many amazing acts there – favourites include folk legends John Renbourn and Robin Williamson, mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile and the inimitable Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three, who completely blew me away.  Sheffield also seems to have a seemingly inexhaustible number of local talents, such as Little Robots, Spit N Strings, Neil McSweeney and Billy Martin Junior to name a few.

With a sober mind, and inspired by the music surrounding me I decided that music is the way I want to earn a living. I am now a member of the wonderful acoustic trio, Tacheburn Combo and earlier in the year toured France and Germany with Steelyard Blues Band. I’ve found great friends in Sheffield and have made many links with other musicians in the Yorkshire area. Currently I am a session musician producing sample and library music for Resource Sound Ltd. I am always on the look out for more session work or projects across the UK and Europe.  Music has been my saviour in many ways and sharing it with whoever I can is the only thing I can ever imagine doing.

Ian Ashworth – ‘Harmanjolist’

Email – iwa53@yahoo.co.uk
Phone – 07522429175
Website - http://www.facebook.com/Harmanjolist
PR - http://www.milkpress.info/ian-ashworth/

To listen to Ian Ashworth’s music visit:

Soundcloud (click the links!)
Ian Ashworth featured on Linus E.P.
Ian Ashworth improvisation