Bridport News

West Dorset: Musician hopes first album will hit the big time

By Chris Carson

8:40am Friday 3rd September 2010

A FORMER Symondsbury schoolboy is hoping to hit the big time in the music business.

After two years of hard work, Christian Bell, 18, has self-released an album available on numerous digital download websites, including iTunes, Amazon MP3 and Napster.

His work – Stories Of Harmony – is described as ‘alternative instrumental rock’, under the name Chris Tain.

Christian, formerly of Bridport and now living in Lyme Regis, released the album four months ago through digital download service CD Baby, which then distributes it to other digital distributors.

He said: “I spent two years working on material for it, messing around on a computer and slowly building up a back catalogue of stuff and making it sound better.

“Most of it’s instrumental stuff, but there’s a heavy rock influence, electronic tracks and acoustic songs of me on my guitar. I finally got around to releasing it when I had enough stuff.”

Christian’s friend, Sam Russtle, also 18 and from Lyme Regis, has created all the artwork for the album.

Christian hopes to release a physical copy of the album by the end of the year, and is planning on including more of Sam’s artwork.

“I need to get some money together first, which is always the way,” said Christian.

“I’d put it in Bridport Music in the first place and see where it goes from there.

“I’d like Sam to do all the artwork for the album.”

Christian is currently working in IT in Exeter to save up the money. He said: “I’d like to do music as a career, it would be much more fun, but it’s difficult to get into music and stay there. But this is the first step.”

He has made a few albums in the past – but has kept them secret – including an acoustic set recorded when he was 13.

He also has two videos on YouTube where he has re-mixed other songs – they have each attracted more than 4,000 views.

“I intend to do some local gigs soon,” said Christian. “But it’s hard to replicate what’s on the album.”

But he is no stranger to the local stage – he is also the bassist for local band InfraSky.

The album was released from Christian’s self-made record label, Crystal Rise Records.

He also hopes to bring on board stepbrother Liam Goodrum, 20, who makes ‘minimalist techno’ music.

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