More often seen playing covers in bars and pubs across the island, a local singer songwriter has released his first collection of original material.

Trevor John Shimmin released ’A Rage Against God’, an intriguing and stylish five-track EP, available as a download, recently.

An experienced solo artist, the EP features a wide and varied range of songs and styles, covering many themes and topics, not least the lock down.

Trevor began writing the songs for this EP during the height of the pandemic, when we were are required to stay put and lock the doors and especially look out for one another.

This lead to quite lyrically hard-hitting songs such as ’All In This Together’ and ’Better Days’, together with tracks covering mental health and attitudes to religion.

’I wrote this EP during the lockdown period which began as like a musical message, hoping people would take more care with regards to social distancing,’ said Trevor.

’This led to me writing a song called "Please Stay At Home".

’I was terrified so much that I hid in my house for six weeks,and this song became like a cry for help.

’So over this time I was messing around in my studio basically to keep my mind of what was really going on.

’Then from out of nowhere these five songs came along.

’They were written pretty fast because I began to find it very easy to express how I was feeling at that time.’

’Please Stay at Home’ didn’t make onto the EP, but ’All In This Together’, described by Trevor as a ’Covid-19 rally song’, picked up the theme of social responsibility.

’The final track, "The Lord Is Our Saviour" is my stadium rocker anthem.

’It sounds very religious but I’m basically saying "Where are you man? Why aren’t you saving us if you exist?"

’Also, in this song, I mention nearly all the other song titles on the EP.

’I was pretty pleased with coming up with that idea, seeing as it is a concept EP.

’After you’ve heard this EP you’ll understand why I called it "A Rage Against God".

Another stand out track is ’Alone’, which features an appearance by a star drummer.

’I’d like to thank Valerie Nelson,’ he said.

’She suggested that I should have Mick Armistad, from the band "James" do my drums on the track ’Alone".

’She got in touch with him for me and set it all up, which was a very good move because it sounds great and he did a fantastic job.

’I have to thank Val big time for all her support and guiding me through this with her thoughts and expertise which I appreciate very much.’

More details on the EP, including where to obtain it from are available from the Trevor Shimmin Music page.

Trevor is next playing at the British Hotel, on Douglas Quay, on Saturday night.