Justin Wilding

What would Morrissey do?

This has been my approach to life's decision-making for a while now - although not an entirely sensible way to map out my existence. Now, 'what would Joe Strummer do?' - that would be a better foundation for life's guiding principles. Anyway, I can't imagine Morrissey would ever crowd-fund his music. So I'm slightly nervous about doing this whole thing. Please don't tell him.

Pozible want to know the 'story', so I'll set out a few points so that you, the buyer, can understand what you're spending your money on. Also, I believe it's good for sales if we 'have a connection'. So lets bond for a while. Here's the (absolutely true) moderately interesting/fun stuff about my new album 'Molecules To Moons':

I recorded the album with my good friend Robin Waters, over four seasons and back again. He likes to sing alternative versions of Wilding songs and most them are rude or about 'vegan cocaine'.

The album was stored on a pink USB I found which had the file name 'Val'. It contains photos and information about a woman named Val and her family. It has lots of photos of Christmas lights and World War I service records. I wish I could return it to her. I'm sorry for not trying hard enough, Val.

The glorious album artwork was drawn by my friend Andrea Jolley, who also created the artwork for my first album 'Bird's Bread'. The first version of the artwork was canned as apparently it resembled Adolf Hilter.

In my song Everybody Is The Same, it sounds like I'm singing the words 'Christopher Pyne' (our ridiculous Education Minister) when in fact I'm singing the words 'crust of a pie'.

The Beach Boys song 'Til I Die' is one of the best songs EVER written (have a listen if you don't believe me) and was an inspiration for my songwriting on this album. For example: 'when I die, I hope you'll cry, as my soul floats into the sky. Like a vegetable pie'. Okay, that's not true.

I had a horn section record in my living room and they spat on my carpet. Damn jazz-punks.

I wrote 61 songs for the album. We recorded 25 of them and 12 made it to the album. It's a numbers game. Actually, the album could have been a blue-eyed Motown soul album. Those songs were discarded but could be worked on some day. They had heartbreak titles like 'How'd You Steal My Heart', 'I Gave It Up For Love' and 'Girl Outside'.

The most unusual instrument on the album is a saw duang which is a single stringed gourd-like instrument that Robin picked up on a South East Asian holiday and can be heard at the end of 'Carry Me Over'.

I write songs using only my little toe and the ear wax of unicorns. Like Daniel Day Lewis, except I have hands too. So I'm obviously better.

I feel like you're not listening/reading now. I don't blame you. So I'm now switching to the third person for some of the stuff that goes into my press releases (and you think you were bored before):

Wilding is Melbourne songwriter and UK ex-pat Justin Wilding Stokes. Originally from Liverpool, it’s clear that his hometown left an indelible mark on his music - at Molecules To Moons’ heart is unashamedly British-flavoured pop.

Molecules To Moons is a joyous collection of infectious odd-pop, foppish Abbey Road psychedelia and dreamy balladry. It’s a must listen for fans of The Beach Boys, Blur, The Kinks and Super Furry Animals.

Molecules To Moons was made with long-time Wilding collaborator and producer Robin Waters, who is a fabulous songwriter/musician with The Boat People and Machine Translations and has recorded Ella Hooper, Eves The Behaviour, Darling James and many others. It was mastered by Matt Redlich (Ball Park Music, Holy Holy).

The new album will be released on 21 August through Half A Cow Records and MGM Distribution.

Wilding will be launching Molecules To Moons at The Grace Darling Hotel, Melbourne on 28 August (I have a wild seven-piece live band of vagabonds).

Last year, Wilding collaborated with Cian Ciarán from Welsh band Super Furry Animals as 'Ciarán and Wilding' for a UK release on the band’s own label Strangetown Records. The reworked Wilding- penned track, Missing Her was named as one of BBC Radio Wales’ tracks of 2014.

So that's my story. Morrissey would be ashamed.

You can get a taste for Molecules To Moons by listening to the preview video. Maybe it will tickle your fancy.

Justin x.

The funds will go towards a limited edition hand-cut vinyl run plus sleeve printing which will cost $1,800 for 50 copies.

Here's a picture of Brendan from Cut And Groove Records having just finished the first cutting of the album.

My main challenge is trying to pay back my credit card.