A Cornish folk singer has released an emotional single in the run up to Christmas, reflecting Cornwall’s food poverty and rising male suicide rate amid the cost of living crisis.
Singer-songwriter Will Keating was asked to write a song to perform at the UK Food Poverty Forum Conference, held in Truro during October this year. Will decided to adapt a song called Ordinary Man, written by Peter Hames, a songwriter from Grimsby, and this has now been released as a single.
Will, who is perhaps best known for singing Harry Glasson's Cornwall My Home, explained: "I have always loved Irish folk singer Christy Moore's passionate version of Ordinary Man. Christy really portrays the emotion of a man struggling after losing his job in the factory during the 1980s Thatcher era. I felt I could use this emotion to highlight Cornwall’s food poverty crisis.”
Will is no stranger to throwing his artform at local issues, having set up a concert in Redruth in 2021 to highlight the growing numbers of children in food poverty, which was covered on the BBC World Service, and appearing live on CNN with the Oggymen, floating past on a barge, during the G7 Summit in Falmouth, raising the same issue.
During the process of adapting some of the lyrics, Will had some tragic news from his 14-year-old daughter, who had received a message saying about someone she knew having taken their own life.
Will said: "This really hit a raw nerve with me and my family, as we sadly lost our foster son, Dewi, due to suicide, at the age of 19."
"When suicide happens to your inner circle, it is hard to talk about to people. You are trying to grieve for your loss, whilst also dealing with a huge mix of emotions and unanswered questions, whilst trying to get on with everyday life.
“Because of this, I feel suicide really is a taboo subject and is brushed under the carpet, making the wider community unaware of the regularity of men taking their own lives".
Will added lyrics to the song to reflect men’s mental health illness and male suicide, hoping to open dialogue, and raise awareness of charities such as Man Down Cornwall and UK Charity Shout 85258, which is a 24/7 free confidential support text service, for anyone feeling anxious, depressed or struggling; text SHOUT to 85258.
The single was released last week on December 13, with a video alongside featuring some professional rugby players and coaching staff from the Cornish Pirates, who themselves do a lot to raise awareness of men's mental health illness.
The recording took place at Cube recording studios, thanks to local charity The Chaos Group, who supported the single from the outset.
The Cornish Pirates, Seasalt Cornwall, Warrens Bakery and Roseworthy Farms have also lent their support to spread awareness.
Local musicians taking part include John Dowling, Bec Applebee, Seth Bye, and Dan Woodfield. Will also gained support from folk music star Phil Beer, who plays acoustic slide guitar on the track.
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