Profiles

You only need to listen to Toby Keane's song, London, to know how he feels about the place.

London is one of two tracks on Toby's double A-sided single, and it lets you know why he packed his bags and headed back home to Devon after three years in the capital.

The other song on the single, Lady Napalm, doesn't pull any punches either, with the refrain: "you mean nothing to me" running through it.

"I wouldn't write unless it mattered to me," said Toby. "I like that kind of emotional music, and I love it when other people feel it too."

Toby's world has gone full circle since he left his home in Yelverton three years ago to launch his music career in London.

His return to Devon in July 2008 came just days after the release of Lady Napalm/London.

Toby hopes to release an album

"We launched the single at a party at The Luminaire in London. It's the first time I've made money in music, ever, in 10 years. It's a whole new experience."

Toby rented a recording studio in London which is co-run by producer Jamie Maher.

Maher has recorded artists such as Richard Ashcroft and Jeff Beck, so having him record Toby's songs was quite a coup - although it came at a cost: "I saved up and spent my wedding fund making this record," admitted Toby, who also paid for a session cellist.

It might seem an odd time to be moving back to the edge of Dartmoor, but for Toby, it makes perfect sense.

"I wanted to be happy. My partner and I really disliked London. We found it very cold place to be. In order to write, I needed to feel comfortable and happy. I need to have the right environment.

"Just an everyday thing like buying a carton of milk is a totally different experience in Yelverton, compared to London. People talk to us in Yelverton. This has always been our home. It's where our families and friends are and we are happy here.

"Plus I had a soul-destroying job in recruitment in London, and I decided to give up the day job."

Toby is now concentrating entirely on his musical career, and he feels Yelverton is as good a place as any to make music.

Seth Lakeman is also from Yelverton

He can also point to the success of two other acts from West Devon who have secured record deals and received national recognition - The Rumble Strips and Seth Lakeman.

"You can be on Mars and still get a record deal," said Toby. "And often, there's better music outside London, so it doesn't matter where you are.

"The internet helps a lot as well. Crucially, you need people to listen to your music, which is why radio play is very important.

"I imagined as I was growing up that I'd be signed by a record company. But the music industry does you no favours.

"I'm now 29 and it's been a real journey which is continuing. If people enjoy my songs - and I'm getting some good feedback from people - then I'd like to make an album.

"Ideally, I would like some investment to pay for that but if needs be, I'll fund it myself."

All in all, 2008 is shaping up to be a momentous year for Toby: a return to Devon, his first single, and a wedding!

You can listen to the songs and download them for free on Toby's website - see the link on this page.

And you can hear Toby performing a live set on the Late Show with Kev Hutchings on BBC local radio in the South West on Friday 29 August 2008, from 10pm.