The following was written by Heart Shaped Circles:

Given as I am currently virtually unheard of, I’ll give you a quick introduction. Most people call me Dougie, for the purpose of this project I am Heart Shaped Circles. (I decided trying to Google Dougie the musician could be a damn nightmare, especially as that McFly guy has taken all the glory from my name. Plus Heart Shaped Circles sounded a little more interesting, I sometimes wish it was my real name. Anyway, I’m rambling in the bracket.)

I am a solo artist, bringing together all my influences to try create something original that represents my own heart and soul. Having not really done a lot since leaving education, having a distaste for my home town and the majority of those that infest it (if you’re reading from the land of the free, I live in Crewe, probably best that you haven’t heard of it), and just generally having a love for music beyond life itself has created my first EP. Welcome to Evelyn’s Vineyard.

So the EP is available for free (yes, free!) at www.ilike.com/artist/heartshapedcircles. I am a big fan of running themes throughout albums, and I’ve tried to achieve a similar vibe in this EP. It revolves around the pressure of society and corporations trying to make you feel inadequate unless you conform to them, something I have felt all too often growing up in the chav-infested waters of Crewe town. It is about inanimate objects not having the ability to make you happy, nor a stereotypical flash lifestyle. A career, a mortgage, a wife is the apparent dream, or the only way. Don’t let this control you, for your short existence will be a meager one. It also is the story of a young man trying to get out of his home town and run for the hills. (I’m not sure I’ve mentioned my home town yet, have I?)

So who has influenced this EP? My own thoughts run through the lyrics. But musically… Sigur Rós, Frightened Rabbit, Bon Iver, Mystery Jets, The Cribs, Bleached Wail, Radiohead, We Were Promised Jetpacks; you get the jist. Special mention to Bill Hicks as well, what an absolute hero. The result; dashes of nu-folk, smidgens of happy clappy pop, layers of shoegaze, and sprinkles of Indie. There’s not a gate on the emotions I let through, exuberance and elation exists, paranoia and hopelessness may follow. Whilst I feel I can improve massively during my lifetime, I feel these are the first building blocks towards something, and overall I am quite happy and proud at what has been created in my dusty old bedroom.

I’m currently gigging around the North West (England). I’m heading university in September, the band will be born there. For the mean time look out for any more songs and support me in any way you can if you enjoy my stuff. Take care darlings, speak soon.  www.myspace.com/heartshapedcircles!