Nick Fletcher Interview 23rd October 2025

Nick Fletcher interview 23rd October 2025.

Photo taken at Knutsford Little Theatre 25th September 2025 by the author

Jws Good day Nick trust that you are well?

NF Yes, I’m just recovering after a few busy dates with the John Hackett Band where we played in Aylesbury Tonbridge Wells and Colchester.

JWS Quite a few miles travelled then for you, I bet you are very familiar with the A1 these days?

NF Indeed we are, It winds up what has been a busy few months for the John Hackett Band in a very positive manner. The audiences have been very receptive to the music we have been making each evening. We’ve also been joined by some lovely singers, Dikajee, Amy Birks and Heather Findlay along the way.

JWS That’s always good to hear, I think you very been amazing the three times I’ve seen you this year, hopefully there may be another time in Liverpool soon.

JWS So let’s talk about the album The Mask Of Sanity, I obviously heard it and reviewed it for Progressive Voyages, it is a similar vein but it’s different, obviously there is a theme of Psychoanalysis based on the writings of Carl Jung, what’s the story behind that?

NF Well I always like to have a concept to work to and to hang my thoughts on, having beèn through a lot of therapy myself, I became fascinated by the writings of Carl Jung and thought that it would be an area to do more research on and seek to adapt musically. I’m always interested in how my therapists draw the conclusions they do and Jung’s writings are a part of those processes I feel.

Jws I’m sorry to hear that you have experienced some issues in your life that has affected you deeply. I notice that you are somewhat dismissive of your abilities musically, possibly as a result of things you have experienced.

NF The last bout of therapy I had I thought about how the therapist used concepts that Jung espoused which gave me the idea to delve deeper into the writings if Jung for myself.

JWS Yes, I notice that in the booklet and the poem from Samantha Turner.

NF, I like poetry, I don’t write lyrics and read a lot of poetry as it expresses in words a lot that I am unable to, I think that the music , the photography and the words all combine together to work to offer a “way in” so as to understand and appreciate the music that I make, I hope so anyway.

JWS Before I wrote my review I listened to the previous 2 albums, but this one is different somehow, I notice the difference that Roberto Porto makes to the sound, on the opening track where he comes in powerfully after about 90 seconds with a strong and masterful presence.

NF that was a deliberate decision on my part to introduce him that way, I think it worked well. The album is musically very upbeat and I felt that was a great way to introduce his talents.

JWS I also liked how Dikajee wordless vocals worked so well and sounded very Pat Metheny like in tone, I like how she sounded with your guitar and blended well together.

NF Dikajee is the first vocalist I’ve worked with who has really understood me and what I am trying to accomplish, I feel she really does “get me”

JWs You have also done some music with Rick Loveridge on his albums ?

NF We played with his band the Kentish Spires, I did a session with him and he used some of that session for his first album and saved the rest for his second. He is a lovely chap, he has been through a lot with his cancer treatment and now his Parkinson’s diagnosis yet he still remains positive about things, I feel his musical endeavours help him with this.

JWS He has a third album Instrumentals that’s only on download at the moment.

NF He might release it on cd if it gets the attention needed and the demand is there for it.

JWS So what’s next for you ?

NF Well I have another album planned, it’s a continuation of the themes of this album.

I’m not sure when to start recording I could start soon or I could wait till next year to start, Roberto will be on it as will Jonathon.

We then went onto talk about Christmas music with Nick telling me about an album he produced for the Kingsway label called Immanuel, A Celtic Celebration Of Christmas , in turn I told him of an album that Neal Morse sent me called A Very Proggy Christmas and we also spoke about how we both found King Crimson not to be amongst our favourite Prog groups whilst we both appreciate their musical skills we both agreed it was not really our thing as such.

I confirmed that this interview should appear on the Progressive Voyages website and that I would send Nick a link to it.

We then hoped to meet again at some stage and exchanged best wishes for the season that is rapidly approaching us.

Author John Wenlock-Smith