John Finn Music: Connor Selby

CONNOR SELBY

Connor Selby is a multi-blues award winner, guitarist and singer/songwriter based in Essex, England. One of the brightest talents on the UK blues scene, Selby was voted “Young Artist of the Year” at the UK Blues Awards for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, 2022). He has already already played an impressive venue checklist, including Wembley Stadium (opening for The Who in July 2019), and Hyde Park, London (with Pearl Jam, Stereophonics and Johnny Marr in the summer of 2022). Connor has also toured the UK as the opening act for blues and rock luminaries Robert Cray and Beth Hart, both in 2023.

Classic Rock Magazine Interview

CONNOR SELBY HAS the hallmarks of a 'blues guitar prodigy: the adolescent bedroom beginnings; crazy-high levels of knowledge and skill; a serious monobrow. But unlike so many others, he's all about songs. "I can appreciate virtuosity like anyone can," he says. "But if you want to connect with people, songs are the way to do that."

Selby makes good on that belief with his self-tirles debut, a startlingly mature collection of bluesy rock 'n'soul, flecked with countrified yearning and jazzy undertones. There are at least as many nods here to storytellers like Ray Charles, Hank Williams and Patsy Cline as to the Claptons, Kings and Bonamassas of this world. You'd never think this was the work of a 25-year-old Essex guy in 2023-an impression boosted by lovelorn lyrics, which portray a battered old heart that's been around the block.

"I mean, it's not literally about relationships I've had," he admits.

*Some of them are, but the music that I gravitate towards is really built around that. It doesn't matter who you are, or where you're from, everyone goes through that stuff. That's why I enjoy writing about it."

A naturally serious, solitary child who moved house a lot, Selby spent his formative years in Dubai before winding up in Essex, where he currently lives with his parents. By the age of 10 he'd fallen in love with the blues. In Dubai he ingested his father's classic rock and roots music, gravitating towards the likes of Eric Clapton, BB King and the Delta voices that preceded them all.

"I just really love old music," he says. "Music is like a tapestry; you can follow it back and learn about how it's evolved through history."

Upon moving back to Essex in his teens, it was his guitar teacher who nurtured this passion, allowing the young, introverted blues aficionado to just be himself.

"At lunchtime I used to go and hang out with him, we would just play, and he always respected my love for the blues."

He found a meditative head-space on stage, moving from jam nights and pubs to small clubs and upward through the blues circuit.

While studying English at university he completed his debut album (now set for re-release through Mascot Records), leading to an opening slot with The Who, as well as Pearl Jam at last year's BST. He subsequently toured with labelmate Beth Hart, bringing the soulful ensemble feel of his record to life.

It's a gear-change from the largely solitary nature of his relationship with music - poring over blues, jazz and soul records in his bedroom, stirring ideas into his own stories.

"I don't really have a right to sing the blues in the way that the original guys did. But what I do have is just a genuine love for it, and respect. And hopefully that comes across." PG

Audio Recordings

In his short career so far, Connor has released two albums

Made Up My Mind (2018)