At 75, Steve Bradshaw returns after 15 years away, reignited by a family wedding and guided by lifelong collaborators. Your Name Is Love blends Beatles-shaped roots with hard-earned wisdom and renewed creative purpose.
1. After stepping away from music for 15 years, what sparked your return to songwriting and recording this album?
My eldest son, Josh, married Maggie Amini in Texas in December 2024. Maggie’s a well-respected singer songwriter and recording artist. One morning before the wedding I woke up with a song for them and made the effort to write it down. They asked me to sing it at the wedding and it was well received. Billy Smiley, Maggie’s producer was there and he suggested recording the song. I suggested that Maggie might like to! After I returned to London, I started going through some of my stuff to see if she liked any of it and eventually it was proposed that it would be my album, not hers.
2. You’ve mentioned The Beatles as your main influence. How did growing up near Liverpool shape the sound and emotional core of Your Name Is Love?
I attended secondary school from 1962 to 69 in Birkenhead, just across the river from Liverpool, so Beatle music was the backdrop to my growing up. We were all proud of their achievements, being local lads, and many of us started playing and singing too. My first attempt at songwriting came after listening to ‘Let It Be’. People have always said there’s a Beatlish feel to my songs. It wasn’t deliberate but I used their songbooks to learn guitar, so it must have rubbed off. When I met Bob Smart and started writing with him, I soon found out that he also was a fan.
3. Working with long-time co-writer Bob Smart and producer Billy Smiley brought decades of history into the studio. How did those relationships guide the creative decisions on the album?
Bob and I know each other well and spent many hours working on songs in the 70s. When I returned from Texas I naturally spoke to him about the experience as it takes another songwriter to fully understand. We spoke of the possibility of unearthing old treasures or even trying out some new ideas. It had been a lifelong dream to achieve some form of recognition as writers. Billy Smiley took it one step further, saying that the songs would sound best if I sang them. As a lifelong writer, performer and producer, Billy’s depth of understanding regarding arrangements and musical possibilities added greatly to the project.
4. The recording process was clearly a family-driven experience. In what ways did having your sons and Maggie Amini involved impact the energy and authenticity of the music?
The boys were a great help. They are all music lovers and have grown up with a singing, performing Dad. There was a lot of humour involved and when Billy suggested they contribute, and then brought out unexpected talent from them, that was very pleasing. They were in awe of the musicianship of the session men, we all were. Maggie is a complete professional. Her vocals are exceptional and Billy was extremely discerning in his choice of harmonies and in deciding which songs suited which voice. All suggestions were carefully considered and Maggie’s Dad, Michael, himself an accomplished musician, brought another level of expertise and encouragement.
5. Tracks like “Fool for Love” and “Jesus Is” carry deep personal timelines—from 70s demoes to a wedding song that relaunched your musical journey. How do these songs represent the past and present of Steve Bradshaw?
‘Fool For Love’ harks back to a time of endless optimism and abundant energy. My vocal range was greater but my lyrics were rather vague! I tweaked the lyric for the album, partly because the recording we had was rather muddy and the words werent clear, but the energy of the song was still there and the musicians, especially Mike Payne on guitar, picked up on it. ‘Jesus Is’ comes after over 40 years of engaging in worship music and learning to appreciate the calmer side of life. The lyric is specific and heartfelt. If there’s wisdom in it, it’s been learned through many ups and downs. ‘Fool For Love is a young man’s song, ‘Jesus Is’ reflects a certain maturity.
6. At 75, you’ve embraced the idea that it’s never too late to create. What message do you hope listeners and curators take away from Your Name Is Love?
I hope the album entertains. There’s a spread of musical styles, so hopefully that will broaden the appeal. Lyrically, it’s pretty plain speaking. For those who agree with the sentiments, I hope it provides encouragement. For the undecided, I hope it provokes a desire to investigate further.
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