Faulkner began playing guitar at the age of 11-12 with session guitarist Bob "crazy guy" Cranham and also attended the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, where he spent 2 years gaining both diploma and the higher diploma award under the tutelage of Eric Roche.
His first band was a Green Day cover band, in which he played bass guitar. His experience on the stage grew as he formed Half a Guy, a funk rock group with a quirky edge, with fellow band mates Matt Buchanan, Dave Elvy and Nicola Crawshaw. Half a Guy recorded two demo CDs and managed 2 years before splitting. He then spent time recording and gigging under the name Newton Battenberg Faulkner, where he played the Lapagestock festival on the 11th June 2005.
Recent appearances on BBC Radio 2 as well as a publishing deal with Peermusic UK compelled the Independent on Sunday to tell its readers to "Watch this face". Faulkner performed at the 2006 South by Southwest music festival and at Guilfest 2007.
In 2006 he had a support slot for Steve Forbert at The Spitz in London, England.
Newton has recently been signed by [labelSony BMG records and on the 30th of July 2007 he released his debut album Hand Built By Robots. He supported James Morrison on his February UK tour as well as Paolo Nutini on his UK tour in April, and also John Mayer on his September dates in the United Kingdom. He also supported The John Butler Trio on a number of European dates.
In June 2007 Newton's second single Dream Catch Me was selected Jo Whiley's 'Pet Sound' on her daily Radio 1 show. This gave the track much exposure and was highly commented on by listeners to Jo's show.
Newton appeared twice at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2007 - once on the Friday on the Acoustic Stage and once on the Sunday on the Leftfield Stage. He appeared at V Festival 2007 in August where he played in the Virgin Mobile Sessions Tent - a venue much too small as people overflowed outside. He also appeared at the Connect Music Festival at the end of August 2007 on the Guitars and Other Machines stage
On July 29, Dream Catch Me entered the UK Singles Chart at number 16. The following week it had risen to number 7 with Hand Built By Robots entering the album charts at number 3. The song rose to #8 on 12 August, the album to number 1 on 26 August.
Eric Roche is undoubtedly one of Newton's biggest influences, both from a stylistic point of view (vis a vis the percussive use of the guitar's body) and through the use of tapping, uncommon tunings and inventive chord changes, such as in I Need Something and Ageing Superhero, from his debut album. This method of playing also shows heavily in the work of Jon Gomm and Pete Wailes, although with a slightly different feel in both.
Ageing Superhero
Newton Faulkner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I find out that I just slipped back, I got it all wrong
You know I feel younger than I did
When I was younger on a backwards track
I thought by now I could have figured it all out
Instead I'm further back
Feels kinda stupid but I feel 16 in my head
But I won't see the signs, it took so long
But you were always on my mind, yeah
For all the times I've tried
To take a little time out for myself
I'm just growing all alone again
But I find in my mind that I'm not
Time is running out
And I just want to say I'm sorry now
Before I'm all alone again
And I'm broken and cold
The ageing superhero in me is tired
Because he's lived too fast for too long
And he still longs to be inspired
I feel old, feel broke, feel cold
And I can't fight back, it sounds so stupid I
But it's gone, this train won't run
Guess, it must be the track
But I won't see the signs, it took so long
But you were always on my mind, yeah
For all the times I've tried
To take a little time out for myself
I'm just growing all alone again
But I find in my mind that I'm not
Time is running out
And I just want to say I'm sorry now
Before I'm all alone again
And I'm broken and cold
But I won't see the signs, it took so long
But you were always on my mind, yeah
For all the times I've tried
To take a little time out for myself
I'm just growing all alone again
But I find in my mind that I'm not
Time is running out
And I just want to say I'm sorry now
Before I'm all alone again
And I'm broken and cold
The ageing superhero in me is tired
Because he's lived too fast for too long
And he still longs to be inspired
In "Ageing Superhero," Newton Faulkner explores the feeling of not quite being able to keep up with the demands of life as one gets older. He acknowledges feeling younger in his head than his age suggests, but also feels like he's slipping back when he thinks about growing up. Faulkner acknowledges that he thought he would have everything figured out by now, but instead feels like he's further behind than he should be. He apologizes for losing touch with the people in his life and not taking the time for himself that he needs to stay connected to the world around him. The reference to an "ageing superhero" is a nod to the idea that our younger selves often saw ourselves as invincible, able to conquer the world and any challenge it throws our way. But as we age, we become more aware of our limitations and weaknesses, and the energy and inspiration that fueled us in our younger days can start to dwindle.
The chorus is an admission that Faulkner is struggling to keep up: "For all the times I've tried to take a little time out for myself, I'm just growing all alone again." He recognizes that time is running out and that he needs to make amends before it's too late, and that he may be broken and cold in the future if he doesn't take these steps. However, the song ends on a hopeful note, with the ageing superhero still longing to be inspired.
Overall, "Ageing Superhero" is a poignant reflection on the challenges of navigating adulthood and the feeling of being caught between the invincibility of youth and the realities of growing older.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I think of growing up
Whenever I reflect on the act of maturing
I find out that I just slipped back, I got it all wrong
I realize I've regressed, I have erred somewhere in the process
You know I feel younger than I did
I actually feel more youthful now
When I was younger on a backwards track
Than when I was young and going in the opposite direction
I thought by now I could have figured it all out
I assumed that at this point, everything would have made sense
Instead I'm further back
Yet, I seem to be further behind
Feels kinda stupid but I feel 16 in my head
It may sound illogical, but my mind feels like I'm a teenager
But I guess, it's only 5 years back
Though I suppose that's only a five-year gap
But you were always on my mind, yeah
I always kept you in my thoughts
For all the times I've tried
Despite all the occasions that I have attempted
To take a little time out for myself
To carve out some personal time
I'm just growing all alone again
I find myself isolated and solitary once more
But I find in my mind that I'm not
Yet deep within my thoughts, I'm aware that I'm not alone
Time is running out
There isn't much time left
And I just want to say I'm sorry now
And I simply want to apologize now
Before I'm all alone again
Before I find myself isolated once more
And I'm broken and cold
And I'm shattered and frigid
The ageing superhero in me is tired
The part of me that feels like an old hero is exhausted
Because he's lived too fast for too long
Because he's moved too quickly for an extended period
And he still longs to be inspired
He yearns to be reinvigorated with inspiration
I feel old, feel broke, feel cold
I sense that I'm old, impoverished, and chilly
And I can't fight back, it sounds so stupid I
And I'm powerless, a thought that seems ridiculous
But it's gone, this train won't run
But the moment has passed, this opportunity won't arise again
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NEWTON FAULKNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind