"So here's the thing, compare me to whoever you want. Really, I don't care. If it means someone takes the time to request a song on radio or buy a CD or play a track for a friend because they heard I sound like such-and-such, so be it. I don't care how I get heard, provided I get heard. There's a lot to say so we'd better get moving." Meet David Gillespie. A 20-something with a lot on his mind. Hardly the po-faced tortured soul that is these days expected when the term singer/songwriter gets bandied about, David brings an enthusiasm to his writing and performance that seems so entirely out of step with those hurled loosely into the genre, you could almost be forgiven for thinking it was a novelty act. We say "almost" of course, because novelty acts don't write songs this good. Born in Australia, he grew up in Hong Kong and spent a bit of time living in America as well. The result is a thoroughly messed up accent and a global village view on cultures and ideas. Oh, and music, which is why we're here. Spouting influences from Springsteen to Prince, David Gray to Dave Matthews, the result is an eclectic mix of styles that seemlessly blend from one to the other and which David is quite happy to simply label "pop". "I don't get precious about the boxes, the comparisons, the labelling. It's going to happen regardless," and here he laughs. "So if somebody says "He reminds me of James Blunt" that's fine, so long as they add "with a pulse" at the end!"