Road Trip CDs

And the Songs That Made Me

Feb 05, 2026

The covers that took me back to Dad’s car and forward to something new

Right, here’s something I probably don’t talk about enough. Covering other artists’ music still properly excites me.

Probably because it takes me back to where this whole thing started. Twelve years old. Sitting on my bed. Guitar way too big for me, making my arms ache after ten minutes. Absolute garbage coming out of it, but I didn’t care.

There’s this moment that happens when you’re learning covers. You go from “I like what they did” to “here’s what I would do.” And that shift? That’s the turning point. That’s when you stop being a cover singer and start becoming the artist I am now.

The Hero Problem

Thing is, sometimes I wanted to BE my heroes so badly it hurt. Would’ve done anything to trade places. Be up on that stage with the adoring fans and the sold out rooms and the feeling that you’ve actually made it.

But as I got older I realised something important. I didn’t belong there.

I belonged on my own stage. With my own fans. Playing my own music.

Covers weren’t the destination. They were the training ground.

When MAD Records Collective Changed Everything

So when my mate OCCHIBLU told me about this competition through MAD Records Collective, I lost my absolute mind.

Quick sidebar on OCCHIBLU: I met him during my first online songwriting camp in the pandemic. Songwriter and producer. We clicked immediately, kept in touch after the camp ended, and eventually started working together properly. He co-wrote and co-produced the songs on my first album. Been there through all of it. Great collaborator and friend.

Anyway. MAD Records Collective were running this thing where you could submit cover songs chosen by publishers from their library. If they liked what you did, they’d pitch it onwards.

So Publishers actually pitching our covers?!? Sign me up!

I had a scan through the song list and two tracks jumped out immediately. Songs I’d heard hundreds of times as a kid on road trips across Europe. Dad would cycle through the same CDs over and over again. Those journeys really shaped my taste.

The Cage We Built Ourselves

We got to work straight away. Too quickly, probably.

See, we were so focused on being DIFFERENT that we trapped ourselves. Overthinking every decision. Second guessing every choice. Stuck in this cage of doubt where nothing felt right and everything felt forced.

So we did what any sensible person would do. Took a break. Stepped away for a couple days.

And that’s when it hit me. This really dreamy, expansive interpretation of “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House. Could hear the whole thing in my head.

Messaged OCCHIBLU. Played him what I was thinking. We both knew immediately we were onto something.

Everything started flowing after that. Our take on “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” came together almost effortlessly. We’d broken out of the cage.

Easy Is Relative

When I say easy, don’t get me wrong. There were still hiccups. Moments where we hit walls and couldn’t see past them.

But that’s what the community was so good for. The mentors guiding us to make the music the best it could be. The other members supporting with ideas and feedback. It pushed us to understand the crafting process in ways we’d never noticed before.

Just how detailed it actually is.

The warmth of this community has led me to create what I genuinely think is my best work. Helped me develop my sound. Gave me this clear artist compass that guides me along my path.

Eight months of development. And for the first time, I feel truly confident in myself and my music.

And here’s the mad part? Both tracks ended up on desks at Warner Chappell and Primary Wave. Actual publishers. Actually considering our covers.

Twelve year old me with the too big guitar would’ve lost his mind.

I really hope you enjoy these as much as OCCHIBLU and I do. Let us know what you think in the comments.