British singer-songwriter The Gleeman, real name Dean Morris, has officially released his debut album, “Something To Say”, today. Known for his raw storytelling and unique perspective, The Gleeman’s journey to the music spotlight has defied industry norms. As a 52-year-old artist, he’s making a statement for mature musicians, a group often underrepresented in mainstream music. The release of this album acts as the follow-up to his single, “You Are Not Alone”.
This long-awaited album has already generated a buzz with features on BBC Radio 2, Boom Radio, and BBC One’s Sunday Morning Live. He celebrated the release with a special performance at HMV’s flagship Oxford Street store, marking a milestone moment for both The Gleeman and fans who have eagerly awaited his first full album.
Growing up in Cornwall, The Gleeman began his musical journey in his teens, initially writing songs that he kept to himself for years. It wasn’t until his late forties, influenced by the emotional challenges of his parents’ struggles with dementia, that he decided to pursue music wholeheartedly. His lyrics are steeped in life experience, touching on themes like mental health, loss, cancel culture, and the ethical complexities of assisted dying. This sincere and fearless approach has established him as an artist with depth, gaining him a devoted following.
“Something To Say” consists of 14 original, self-penned tracks, each telling its own story and reflecting the ups and downs of life. Produced by Will Hicks, known for his work with Ed Sheeran, and featuring contributions from Fred Abbott of Noah & The Whale and Ash Soan of Snow Patrol, the album merges high-calibre production with meaningful songwriting. The album has been mixed by Ash Howes and mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios enhancing the overall polish and presenting The Gleeman’s debut in the best possible light.
The collection of tracks starts off with “The Legendary Planetary Émigré”, an upbeat guitar number that infuses space-themed sounds and hand-claps to develop the backing track while The Gleeman dives right into a quirky tale about someone who is somewhat delusional and plans to rebuild their life amongst the stars by making a home-made rocket. Rhythmic and addicting, this singer-songwriter showcases his modern pop vocals that have an air of Ed Sheeran and Danny Jones from McFly to them, easily drawing in listeners and making sure we all stick around for the rest of the album.
Following up next is “The Hurting”, which is a super powerful stripped-back song as The Gleeman takes on the perspective of a terminally ill wife who is asking their partner to assist them in dying with dignity when the time comes. The song’s story speaks for itself but The Gleeman emboldens it with his emotionally strong vocals and his effortless ability to connect with his audience. The progressive backing track sees guitar chords expand alongside keys and drums making this one unforgettable, heart-touching track.
Talking about “The Hurting” in a track-by-track synopsis that he provided alongside the press release, The Gleeman said, “I strongly believe, given certain circumstances and conditions, that we should all have the choice to die in dignity and, where possible, in a familiar and comforting environment surrounded by our loved ones. A stance on which my resolve has hardened following the experience of losing both of my parents to dementia.”
“Borrowed Time” is the third track on the album, a heartfelt tribute to a friend who succumbed to terminal illness, with The Gleeman honouring his memory in a powerful way. Accompanied by an acoustic guitar which is later joined by some keys, The Gleeman hits home how inspired he was by his friend’s positive attitude to life.
Talking about his friend and this track, he said, “It’s hard to believe I had just returned from a trip to the South Of France with him and a few other friends just a handful of weeks before he ran out of time. I would have traded him some of mine. He was a true beacon of light in this world and is sorely missed by me and by many.”
Track number four is “Marie”, the oldest song on the album having been written 30 years ago, an uplifting and spirited number that showcases The Gleeman’s versatility and brings some light to the album after the past two sombre tracks. It has a positivity about it full of empowering lyrics that see the singer-songwriter encourage “Marie” to go after her dreams.
It is followed by “Breathe Again”, an honest and strong love song that shows The Gleeman’s growth as an artist as keys take the lead in the backing track. Possibly the first love song he’s ever written (although not the last), the track is highly relatable and makes a statement, which isn’t surprising as it was written during the global pandemic.
The sixth track, “Gunslinger”, is a tuneful piano-led ballad that showcases The Gleeman’s instrumental skills alongside tongue-in-cheek narrative lyrics about a gunslinging outlaw in the American Wild West. There are clear influences from Elton John and Billy Joel while clever comedic songwriting lyrics are brought to the table showing his professionalism as a writer alongside the ability to add humorous content when it comes to his music.
“You Are Not Alone” is track number seven, a heartfelt ballad about loss that is set to touch the hearts of every single listener. Accompanied by guitar chords, The Gleeman hits soulful notes full of emotion and sentiment. Set to resonate with all who listen, this track reminds us all that we aren’t alone. Talking about the track, The Gleeman said, “I wrote this a few days after my Mum died, who finally surrendered to 25 years of brutal ravaging by the cruelness of dementia. Due to governmental restrictions on freedom of movement at the time, I had to say goodbye to her over Facetime, which was equally as brutal.”
He continued by saying, “You lose and grieve for someone with dementia piece by piece over a period of (in this case a very long) time and then again in a different way after that very final loss. I have found it very difficult to process mentally and still haven’t quite succeeded. The song was a comfort blanket to wrap around myself at that profound time … It has already connected with so many people in a very deep way and provided solace, comfort and safety, which is immensely gratifying as an artist. There is absolutely no better reason for doing this, in my book. I’m not sure I’ll ever write a song I am [more proud] of.”
Track number eight is “Somebody” which starts off with conceptual sounds that suggest a search for a sign from the afterlife, this later makes sense as The Gleeman takes listeners on a journey of loss, loneliness, and the yearning for companionship, all while grappling with feelings of guilt and betrayal. This was released as a single in September 2023 where we delved in deeper behind the track and the accompanying music video release.
Following the bright tuneful track is the sombre heart-wrenching song, “A Better Friend”, which dives into a story of losing a friend unexpectedly and by their own hand. He questions if things would’ve been different if he had been a better friend to this person and let them know that they could’ve talked and opened up to him. The piano chords add a solemn theme to the track creating an even more melancholic vibe on top not to mention the pain-aching vocals from The Gleeman, full of raw emotion that hits more so than any other track on the album.
“Waterfall” follows next full of conceptual lyrics about sadness and loneliness wrapped up metaphorically into being a waterfall. It touches on the inability to escape keyboard warriors and the negativity they bring. It’s another piano-led track which compliments The Gleeman’s strong and honest vocals which he takes to a whole other level towards the end of the track.
The next track on the album is “You Will Always Be My Home”, which is a literal take on how his childhood home will always be his home. It opens up with sounds of the seaside, really bringing the Cornish atmosphere to the track, pairing well with the piano keys that flow in alongside his vocals. He expands the story of the track by opening up about his life and being honest with his listeners. The track ends with guitar chords followed by more seaside sounds showing a reflection on how home can still be identifiable inside even if you or it has somewhat changed.
The 12th track, titled “Better Day”, sees The Gleeman bring a joyful and positive anthem to this collection, spreading self-belief and self-empowerment, determined not to let anything or anyone bring you down. It’s a reminder of all the good things we all have going on in our lives regardless of the challenging aspects and the daily grind. The rhythmic backing track is filled with guitars, keys, drums, and trumpets, uplifting every single listener alongside the lyrics themselves. It brings an air of freedom and optimism that we all need in our lives. The album’s title, “Something to Say”, can be heard amongst these lyrics, suggesting that the confident and upbeat nature of this track is what inspired the album’s title.
This is followed by “Blink of an Eye”, which is thematically similar and is considered a sister version to the previous song but has a more emotive ballad-vibe to it that encourages listeners to savour the good moments during their youth as the years start to fly by the older that you get. It’s completely stripped-back with an acoustic guitar allowing The Gleeman’s incredible vocals to take the spotlight.
The last track on the album is “Feel”, opening with stormy sound clips creating a dark and dank atmosphere, perfect for these incredibly-written lyrics that touch upon depression itself, and mental health as a whole. Making people, who are dealing with depression, know that they aren’t alone and that help is out there for them, “Feel” really touches home, effortlessly connecting with the listeners. His vocal runs on the chorus are impressive, adding depth and confidence, which is then taken a step further with the double vocal lines in the second verse. The Gleeman then takes an experimental step by adding a talented guitar solo towards the end.
“Something to Say” is a heartfelt journey through life’s most profound experiences, from loss and love to resilience and self-discovery. The Gleeman uses raw emotion, powerful storytelling, and versatile musicality to connect deeply with listeners, blending genres and styles that showcase his growth as an artist. Each track stands on its own, yet together, they form a cohesive narrative that encourages reflection and empathy. With vulnerable lyrics, memorable melodies, and introspective themes, The Gleeman’s latest work not only leaves a lasting impression but also provides comfort and strength, reminding us all that music can be both a cathartic release and a shared connection.
“Something to Say”, the debut album from The Gleeman, is available to download and stream, right now. Look out for some exciting upcoming shows from this rising singer-songwriter who is certainly not to be missed.