Maddox Jones pens ‘love letter’ to hometown of Northampton
A musician who has penned a ‘love letter’ to his hometown has said the single represents identity and a celebration of being from Northampton.
Singer-songwriter Maddox Jones decided to write the song following a conversation with a BBC presenter who asked if he’d ever thought about writing a track like it.
‘It Ain’t Perfect, But It’s Home’, was released last month with Mr Jones explaining he wanted to capture a mixture of honesty and celebration in the track – which he says could only have been written with the passage of time and his own experiences.
He said: “At first I didn’t know where to begin, but once I started thinking about growing up here, the streets, the memories and the people, it all came quite naturally.
“It became less about specific landmarks and more about what Northampton represents to me. Home, identity and the journey of leaving and finding your way back again.”
Maddox Jones has been a familiar name on the Northampton Music scene since the early 2000s, playing in bands including indie-rock outfit The Departure and the more electronic edged Born Stranger.
After releasing Headspace in 2020 – his first EP as a solo artist - he has gone onto release the albums Believe It and most recently Waiting For The World To Turn in 2024.
During that time, he has gigged across the UK, playing headline shows as well as supporting the likes of Will Young and Lucy Spraggan.
This month, he is heading to Europe to play his first solo dates supporting Tyler Hilton.
Maddox Jones said aging is pivotal to the way people view a place.
He said: “I think as you get older you start to see where you’re from differently.
“When I was younger, like a lot of people, I couldn’t wait to leave and see the world.
“But over time you realise how much your hometown shapes you, your outlook, your creativity and your resilience.
“I wanted to capture that feeling honestly, not just celebrate the place but reflect the real emotional connection people have with where they grew up.”
Asked what the best thing about his hometown is – Maddox Jones explains it’s the people and their authenticity.
He said: “Northampton has this quiet creativity, musicians, artists and independent businesses, people just getting on with things and supporting each other.
“There’s a strong sense of community once you look beneath the surface.”
On the flip side – when asked about the worst thing about Northampton, he said like many other towns, it struggles with confidence in itself.
Adding, when people ‘talk the town down’, it can subsequently shape how ‘outsiders’ see it too.
However, he adds: “Actually those imperfections are part of what gives a place character and honesty.
“I think Northampton sits in an unusual position. It’s close to big cities but isn’t always loud about its own identity.
“There’s loads of history, culture and creativity, but it doesn’t always shout about itself. “Hopefully the song reminds people there’s a lot to be proud of. Sometimes it just takes seeing your home through a different lens.”
This summer, Maddox Jones will join other acts from across the county alongside the likes of Boyzlife, The Hoosiers, The Charlatans, Embrace and Cast at the Roseshire Festival which is taking place at Chester House near Irchester over two days. Tickets are on sale now.
He also hopes to release more music and play more shows across the UK. ‘It Ain’t Perfect, But It’s Home’ is out now digitally on streaming platforms.
For more information, visit https://maddoxjones.lnk.to/itaintperfectbutitshome