My love for the Far East, Myanmar and its inspiration behind my song: ‘Passage to Mandalay’
Press picture to play ‘Passage to Mandalay’ on YouTube
All my songs are available on various music platforms, including Spotify, and can also be purchased from itunes and Amazon.
My home is nestled in the beauty of the Dorset countryside, in a small market town called Wimborne Minster. I’m grateful to have had some of my music played on Wimborne radio. Writing songs is a craft of love which produces little financial return, but is my gift to inspire others to live in hope, creativity and child-like inspiration - to dream a dream and step forward into it, like a child running into sunshine days on golden sands!
I was so privileged to first set foot in Myanmar in 2015, on a life-changing journey that began in Yangon. Currently, the window to travel there is closed, and this grieves me so much because once you have been there, you feel like you will always belong to the land and beautiful people. After landing at Yangon and visiting the glorious Shwedagon Pagoda, our adventure moved on wonderfully well, mainly due to Malcolm’s talent for precision planning. The 3 week trip went from place to place (I will tell you more about this when I release my next song). From Bagan, we took an early morning river cruise passage on the wide, shimmering waters of the Irrawaddy River. Floating slowly toward Mandalay, I was struck by the serenity and warmth of everyday life along this ancient waterway — monks in saffron robes, fishermen casting nets, and villagers greeting the golden light of sunset. Mandalay itself, perched on the east bank of the Irrawaddy, is a city steeped in culture, temples, and craft traditions that felt like a living poem.
The rhythms of local life, the chants echoing from temples, and the peaceful flow of the river stayed with me long after we left. Every corner — from the ornate pagodas to the simple riverbanks — seemed to whisper stories of harmony, resilience, and timeless beauty.
These memories are now taking shape as music. ‘Passage to Mandalay’ was born from those moments of stillness and wonder. It’s a tribute to the journey that transformed me — a musical reflection of the Irrawaddy’s flow, the communal chants, and the deep peace that only a place like Myanmar can give. Inspired by the chants I heard, the percussion of daily life, and the feeling of leaving a piece of my heart where warm winds blow. The song is a reflection of movement, return, and love — echoing the river’s constant flow. Mandalay wasn’t just a place — it felt alive. The temples, the rhythms of daily life, the warmth of the people, and the timeless flow of the river all stayed with me long after we left. There was something deeply grounding about being there, as if the river itself was reminding me to slow down and listen.
Myanmar gave more than memories. It gave inspiration, peace, and songs that continue to call me back. Please listen to this song and travel with me along the Irrawaddy River, to feel the beauty of this wonderful place in the depth of my words and musical transposition.
Watch this space… There are more songs on their way…
The beauty of Mandalay, isn’t only within a poem written by Rudyard Kipling!