A STIRLING man who spent his recovery from a serious injury working on solo material has released his debut album.

Graeme Ferguson was shackled to his bed for weeks while he healed after crashing his mountain bike in September 2020 and shattering his hip and wrist.

He was unable to walk and faced lengthy time off from work, so he decided to put his mind to work.

Having been a musician all his days – including being part of the newly-launched 3Soul with Pete Macleod, he turned to his craft and began to explore new avenues.

From October last year onwards, he became a songwriting machine, taking dance elements of his youth to craft an expressive Balearic sound.

Now, after almost a year, 'Fergy' released his debut album Solstice – choosing, the summer solstice as a fitting release date.

"I had a choice," Ferguson said: "I could have taken the time to rest, recover and get back to what I was doing, or I could have challenged myself to do something I had never done before and might never get the opportunity to do again.

"I'm sure there are lots of people who say they would write an album 'if they had the chance' or something. My chance came to me – not in the best of circumstances – but that was my chance all the same.

"I didn't wake up one day and decide to it; it was a gradual thing. I wanted something to occupy my mind while my body was fighting back, and with the injuries being what they were, I knew I could take my time.

"I began working on Ableton and started exploring a few ideas. Those ideas became songs. Then more songs came, and it wasn't long before I had an album worth of material.

"If nothing comes of it, then that's alright. I'm not expecting this to change my life or anything. But to have something positive come from something so dark and negative is all that really matters."

Fergy's album takes its name from its surprise release date: with Solstice unveiled on Monday, June 21 – the summer solstice.

Ferguson continued: "I love the sentiment. Sometimes there are those tracks that just make you want the day to never end – to chill out and give yourself a break.

"I'm sure we've all felt that way recently; and I'm sure we are all yearning for the time when we can take a break from it all and maybe even get away and recuperate the soul."

He added: "Everything just seems to have fallen into place: an accident gave me the time to work on it; my bandmates gave me all I need to finish the album and get it ready; and the summer solstice comes around at the right time. It all just feels right."