Stephen McGivern StoriesSongsPeople

Greetings from a wind swept northern France. Demo of new song. Enjoy.

Here’s a song which disavows happiness for something more like loneliness. Is it a manifesto or something instant and bitter? Enjoy more on Stephen McGivern Spotify

Where is your Lord? Here is a demo of my first attempt at a Gospel song. I suppose it is uplifting but also a little subversive lyrically. Whilst working with other musicians the song was abandoned in favour of other ideas as often happens. There is nonetheless something resonant about the demo which made me … Continue reading "Gospels2"

I wrote this song about 20 years ago so I can’t remember all the chords to play it now but the atmosphere or what we might call the mood is still powerful and resonant, I feel. Soultrain is about leaving for a better life and the failures/dangers which impinge upon such a decision. It was … Continue reading "Soultrain"

I have been uploading my music to Spotify. Actually some of the older songs go back over 20 years. It’s good to back whilst heading forward. Here is the song Awaken about how we wrestle with our feelings even in certainty. Enjoy.

A much needed return to podcasting. Having recently completed 6 songs in the electronic music genre I have posted them in my podcast along with some discussion about the project and the inspiration behind the pieces. It was a new direction for me. I hope you enjoy.

In late summer 2020 my wife and I attended the Exam protests in George Square, Glasgow. It was a potent example of how David can still stare down Goliath. The occasion inspired me to write this track – I hope you enjoy… You can also listen on Spotify by clicking the link below.

Recently I have been working on electronic music and completed four tracks. For some reason I started listening to a lot of Jacques Greene, Kelly Lee Owens, Surgeons Girl and Beatrice Dillon. There’s something very warm and deep about their music which was not something I thought possible with electronica. It’s a hard genre to … Continue reading "Electronica"

The Mantle Our old mantle had rotted at the base.  ‘I’m going to build a new one.’ My husband said. That’s when I knew he was dying. He pulled some timber offcuts from the shed and ordered fittings. Soon there was sawdust everywhere. Our daughter came to visit. ‘Your kitchen badly needs replacing and you’ve … Continue reading "The Mantle"

When I got back Harsvold was by the window, typing. It was best not to disturb him. Between my bags at the hydrangeas someone had left a plumped sack of petals, meant as a pillow. It could only have been Espen I thought. I lay amidst the scents and watched the motionless sun. Was it […]

Sommarøy Pt.2 I flew from Glasgow to Oslo before transferring onto a cramped Cessna. After thirty minutes, I could see Sommarøy below in bleached sunlight. The pilot didn’t speak much English. He walked with me along the tarmac to a small outbuilding. Above the doorway a sign read- Sommarøy Flypassen.  He took off his hat […]

Sommarøy Part 1 It was on my Graduation day that I discovered Sommarøy.  Calderwood told me there was a Careers Fair after our Conferment. I said I would go with him. We met in the University Cloisters 10 minutes or so after the ceremony. We were the only graduates without family guests. ‘This is all […]

It has been several months since I blogged and podcasted. I have recently moved house and finally recovered my equipment from a pyramid of cardboard boxes. For the last year I have been working on and off on a new short story about the coastal village of Sommarøy in Norway. The village was in the […]

For as long as I’ve loved gospel music I’ve been trying to write a gospel song. I think I’ve finally managed it this time. Gospel music to me is the root of Blues music and moves everyone. I hope I’ve achieved it with this song. Thanks to Sarah, Tina, Chris and Howard for helping.

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the seventh and final story below but you can also listen on […]

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the sixth story below but you can also listen on my podcast. […]

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the fifth story below but you can also listen on my podcast. […]

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the fourth story below but you can also listen on my podcast. […]

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the third story below but you can also listen on my podcast. […]

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the second story below but you can also listen on my podcast. […]

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the first story below but also you can listen on my podcast. […]

I had this idea for a song several months ago but it was left undeveloped. However during Lockdown I developed it very quickly. Undoubtedly the current situation helped focus the ideas into a piece of music. Once again our political leaders have been ill-equipped for real challenges. Somehow escape, whatever that might be, is a […]

This episode is a radio station where all the music from my project Lilian of the Estates can be heard. No words or poetry. Just the music. Enjoy everyone.

Parts 1 and 2 combined. Enjoy.

Part 2 of my spoken word and music project. Thanks to the great ensemble of musicians who helped make it happen – Tina, Sarah, Chris, Stefan, Sandy, Howard and John. I will post the complete project in the near future and also a songs only version.

Part 1 of a spoken word and music memoir for my mother, a woman I loved and eventually understood. Thanks to all the great musicians I worked with. Some I knew and others I contacted. They all gave their time and talents to what what must’ve sounded an odd project. Music for the project can […]

This episode features a story about the power of the dreams we have each night. Thanks to Stefan, Alana, Sham, Eva and Ruth for their great reading of the story. I am also joined by Sarah and Tina (pictured) who are collaborating with me on a big musical project – more of that for future […]

Do you believe in coincidence? Perhaps you shouldn’t. I am helped in this episode by Allan, Marie, Stefan and Alana. The story they read has caused a lot of discussion amongst readers. I hope you enjoy it! Paperback and Kindle editions of the story and others can be found here. Music used in this episode […]

Lots of music and discussion in this episode. The centrepiece is a very powerful reading of the story, Untitled. A mother lies dead in her room. Each of her three sons respond differently to her passing. Thanks to Eva for her moving narration with the assistance of David and Stefan. The poetry quoted in the […]

What do we want from a career? Is there such a thing as the perfect applicant? As well as lots of music, this week’s episode features discussion from Steven and Zahra who helped with the reading of my story, Application. A headteacher is seeking a new depute. Will she choose the right applicant? Songs – […]

This week’s episode features David and Keith playing some skiffle and talking about music. They also contribute to the reading of my story Fez which is about the selfishness which sometimes spoils a friendship. Fez along with my other short stories can be found on Amazon here. Listen to more of my music on Soundcloud. […]

If you can’t feel pain, can you feel love? Today’s episode features Alana and Stefan reading my short story, Ino. They also discuss their recent elopement wedding day. Featured song for this podcast is The World is a Wedding. I pinched the song title from Delmore Schwartz, the great American short story writer. Check out […]

This episode contains some Electronica, Kafka, Brueghel and reflections on my childhood and the terrors of society. I am joined by the very talented Arran Fitzpatrick who reads my story, At A Corner and plays trumpet on Hunters in the Snow and additional keyboard on Are You Talking to Me? My collected short stories can […]

The strange, impossible ways a hospital heals even in death. This week’s episode features a dramatised reading of my story Heliades. It is narrated by Marie Weir, assisted by Eva, Sham and Ruth. Discussion, History and Us, is provided by Marie and Eva. Tina Roscoe sings No Kind Words Violin, Keys and Drums by Adam […]

This week’s episode is more music than story featuring a duet with a difference. Songs and chat with musician Calum Slaven ex-Howson. Also included is a very short, dark story set in Kollwitzplatz and read by Caitlin Wallace. The story along with other readings can be found on Amazon here. The title of the story […]

If loneliness is a trap, so is freedom. In this episode I am joined by Arran and Kara for a reading of my short story, Rabbit Catcher. A young man named Cuno lives in the hills. One day he meets a girl who has run away from the city. Thanks to Arran and Kara for […]

Welcome to the 3rd episode of my podcast. This story was inspired by events I witnessed on Unter Den Linden, Berlin during the late summer of 2018. Have you helped the needy or walked past them in the street? But what is your need? Doesn’t it make us cry out for someone or something? Thanks […]

Finally is the opening story in Hits – Collected Short Stories available on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle. Imagine arriving in Heaven but where is God? Thanks to Ruth McGivern for voice and discussion. The podcast also includes a song I wrote a while ago. Sleepwalking Vocals – Sarah Binns Cowan Other instruments – […]

Are great adventures for everyone? A podcast featuring my short story, Fathom. Thanks to Stefan and Ruth. Song – The Devil Vocals – Steve Cotter, Fran Mulhall and Gabriel. Sample from public domain. No copyright infringement intended. Hits – Collected Short Stories by Stephen McGivern https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1099367492