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.
Uncomfortably Slow
Newton Faulkner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know exactly how it's gonna end
The routine daydream starts as I get off
I'm holding up the queue
Because my ticket won't go through
I know it should be simple but it's not
'Cause I don't wanna know
How it looks to feel like this
As cars and people pass
It feels like standing still but I know
I'm just moving uncomfortably slow, yeah, slow
Some thing's gotta change
I know I'm lucky in a lot of ways
So, why do I want more than what I have'
Brace myself to hear the lies
I wonder if they know that I don't get the jokes
But I just need to laugh
So, don't take my photograph
'Cause I don't wanna know
How it looks to feel like this
As cars and people pass
It feels like standing still but I know
I'm just moving uncomfortably slow, yeah, slow
I'm just moving uncomfortably slow
Down, there's infinite detail
When you break it down
It all becomes simple, how'
It all become clearer, now
So, don't take my photograph
'Cause I don't wanna know
How it looks to feel like this
As cars and people pass
It feels like standing still but I know
I'm just moving subconsciously
One day I guess I'll be
The man that you think you see
I'm just moving uncomfortably slow, yeah, slow
The song Uncomfortably Slow by Newton Faulkner speaks to the feeling of being stuck in a rut, moving slowly through the mundanity of everyday life. The lyrics suggest a sense of boredom and restlessness that arises from repetitive routines, like traveling, and the frustrations that come with it. The song begins with a narrator that is traveling again and already knows how it's going to end, which refers to the predictability of the routine. As he gets off, he feels out of sync with the world due to a malfunction of his ticket, which any other day wouldn't be a big deal, but today it feels like just another thing weighing him down. The lyrics go on to describe the feeling of standing still while the rest of the world moves by, as cars and people pass him. Despite knowing he's just moving uncomfortably slow, it still feels like he's being left behind.
Throughout the song, the singer reflects on the desire for something more than what he already has but realizes that he's lucky in many ways. When he hears jokes, he pretends to understand them so he can laugh along with everyone else, despite not truly getting it. In the chorus, he begs the listener not to take his photograph because he doesn't want to see how he looks or feels in this state.
The last stanza offers a glimpse of hope, though. The singer talks about how things become clearer when you break them down into smaller details, and maybe one day, he'll be the man that people see. The song ends on a slightly more upbeat note, suggesting that even though life may feel painfully slow and mundane, it's still moving, even if subconsciously.
Line by Line Meaning
Traveling again
Starting another journey or trip.
I know exactly how it's gonna end
Expecting the same outcome as usual.
The routine daydream starts as I get off
Going into autopilot mode with a daydream.
I'm holding up the queue
Delaying the line or process.
Because my ticket won't go through
Encountering a technical issue and causing a bottleneck.
I know it should be simple but it's not
Realizing that the task should be easy, but it's not.
So, don't take my photograph
Requesting not to have a picture taken.
'Cause I don't wanna know
Preferring to remain ignorant or oblivious.
How it looks to feel like this
Avoiding the visual representation of feeling inadequate.
As cars and people pass
Observing the world continuing to move forward.
It feels like standing still but I know
Feeling stagnant or stuck, but realizing that time is still moving forward.
I'm just moving uncomfortably slow, yeah, slow
Moving at a slow and unsatisfactory pace.
Some thing's gotta change
Acknowledging a need for change in order to improve.
I know I'm lucky in a lot of ways
Realizing that things could be worse and recognizing good fortune.
So, why do I want more than what I have'
Questioning desires that may seem unnecessary given current circumstances.
Brace myself to hear the lies
Mentally preparing for dishonesty and deception.
I wonder if they know that I don't get the jokes
Speculating if others realize personal struggles or inability to understand humor.
But I just need to laugh
Enjoying a moment and finding humor, despite not fully understanding it.
Down, there's infinite detail
Going deeper, there is always more to uncover and understand.
When you break it down
Analyzing and simplifying complex situations or ideas.
It all becomes simple, how'
Breaking something down into its basic components makes it easier to understand.
It all become clearer, now
Gaining a better understanding of something that was once confusing.
I'm just moving subconsciously
Moving without really paying attention or actively participating.
One day I guess I'll be
Expecting to eventually change or otherwise improve.
The man that you think you see
Hoping to eventually become the version of oneself that others perceive.
I'm just moving uncomfortably slow, yeah, slow
Persisting with a pace that is unsatisfactorily slow.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ADAM STUART ARGYLE, NEWTON FAULKNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind