Tony Randle

“Somewhere, Not Here” is the first album from guitarist and songwriter, Tony Randle:

‘This album represents a lifetime of experience captured in original songs and solo guitar instrumentals – and one Taylor Swift cover. Why Taylor Swift? Read on… Well, in 2019, I met Taylor whilst walking in the English Lake District. A brief yet enchanting encounter which I’m still sorting out in my head. She was escaping the spotlight with her boyfriend at the time. Like any good songwriter, I captured  this pleasant but bizarre experience in song. The first track, entitled ‘In Ambleside’ tells the story of that spring day, in a new country style. As further homage to Taylor Swift, the second track is a cover of ‘The Lakes’ which came out on her Folklore album, and must have been composed on that walking holiday. My take is a little rockier that the original, which apparently is how co-writer Jack Antonoff first wanted to approach the track, but stays true to the spirit of the original. The album’s title track, ‘Somewhere, Not Here’ is a heartfelt reflection of that feeling of never quite fitting in anywhere I’ve been; of always looking ahead to someplace else. It’s not just me, right…? The other songs all tell their stories. The album is heavily guitar based, with all guitars and basses played by myself. Many years have gone into honing my craft as a guitarist; I hope it shows to the listener, especially on the solo acoustic tracks which are played on a classical nylon-string guitar. Thanks for taking the time to read this; I hope I can persuade you to listen to this recording!’ – Tony Randle, August 2025.