Assassins, superstitions and the work of Rudyard Kipling have all informed the lyrics on John Holden’s latest album Proximity & Chance, and his guestlist includes John Hackett and Sally Minnear, as well as members of Camel and The Tangent. The British songwriter tells Prog about working with Billy Sherwood, recreating orchestras on a budget and why you won’t find his music on Spotify.

Words: Johnny Sharp

Books, movies and popular song have always insisted it’s true: if you want something enough, it will happen for you. Then again, to suggest it’s all down to dedication and determination isn’t always helpful –doesn’t it inadvertently, insultingly suggest that musicians who are still struggling just aren’t trying hard enough?

But any creative needing inspiration to keep plugging away could take heart from Cheshire-based songwriter John Holden, who launched his career in earnest well into middle age, managed to recruit some major prog names to play alongside him, and has now released his fifth album in six years. All without being able to hold a tune himself on the vocal front: “My voice would strip paint,” he insists. “Honestly awful.”