Sometimes I forget I'm in on the joke

Hello Sunderland it’s DJ slash singer CP Thompson

The last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind of infamy as I became a viral sensation in the below video from a lovely local vlogger called Vicky (mackemlife_)

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A post shared by Vicky | Sunderland and North East Travel (@mackemlife_)

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It’s so funny to see The Bunker from the outside because I’ve seen it from the inside for so long (20 years!) Not just The Bunker but the whole local gig experience. The chaos of it

I spoke to great man and promoter John Knox recently about this - sometimes it’s difficult to connect with gig-goers in that way, to sell unknown experiences, because we’ve known what to expect for so long, and so take it for granted

Experiencing it through someone else’s POV - someone who you can also see experiencing a lot of what Sunderland has to offer, on her Instagram - was actually quite refreshing to me. The whole experience looked cool and I really hope she enjoyed experiencing all that for the first time.

I do take for granted the leaps and bounds The Bunker has taken over the last few years, to be a legitimate gig space with a big staff and volunteer community. It is so, so good for our local musicians, and for those attending the gigs.

I also think Vicky was super fortunate in the lot she drew - a Bunker ‘band club’ called ‘Cborus’ who were shredding all over the place, really good. That could have been shite. And of course the angel Lottie Willis who is legit THE VOICE, and her band are sharp

What’s fucking hilarious is that I was also on the lineup. Just leaning over the decks heavy mouth breathing and drinking Asahi Zero. It’s arguably the least experienced performance I’ve ever given, having picked up the guitar when I was 12, and the decks since April

Sometimes I get anxious and bitter and contrived about MUSIC because I do live for it but it asks so much of me. I can’t help but invest so much of myself in it emotionally

And then I am reminded of how RIDICULOUS the whole thing is. The ABSURDITY of standing in front of a crowd doing my little tunes - not even playing an instrument. Becoming an OVERNIGHT SENSATION in Sunderland the music city

And I get away with it! It’s like an elaborate practical joke

Anyway thanks for reading - no the new tunes aren’t nearly done, I am busy as fuck doing literally anything else

See you round the twist

CRISPY