I was really excited to record my first solo album with Gavin Gourlay in 2016 at his Realsounds Studios. Although I had been in recording studios before, with Mabel Meldrum's at John 'Fats' Sutherland's studio Sane Asylum in Caithness recording Limited Edition and Brownie Snaps, and playing fiddle on Idol Syn's Tales of Passion at Heartbeat Studios, this was a completely new experience. I had written a lot of songs that I was keen to get out to a wider audience. Having played a few solo gigs I'd found my songs were generally well received. However, making an album and ensuring that they sounded the best I could make them was a steep learning curve. Some needed speeding up, others slowing down or adding another chorus at the expense of a verse. It was only after hearing them back that I realised if a song wasn't up to scratch no amount of studio jiggery-pokery could make it sound any better. Gavin Gourlay has been an amazing mentor and support in helping me sort out what works and what is not moving a song forward. This could mean changing the narrative or discarding a conclusion and allowing the listener to let a song evoke images and emotions. River of Life was recorded in one day, helping the overall sound stay consistent. Having to return a few weeks later for another take and possibly another take would have altered the overall feel and energy. I wanted it to sound like me with my guitar, not over- produced with strings and a choir. Listening to the album a few years on, I can see how I might change some of the arrangements, but for me it still holds up as a true reflection of my early creative process.