I look after Tim Ten Yen, the sensational Singing Salaryman. Off we go, into the London night to some venue or club where he’ll sing his songs.

I watch out over the crowd before he comes on, keeping an eye out for keyboard thieves. Sitting on his keyboard, catching the light, drawing the girls in closer with my eyes, I then MOVE MY HEAD.

All the girls, like clockwork, run away giggling, screaming and pointing at me shouting “Did you see that?? It mooved!!!!!”.

Allow me to introduce myself - I am The Sinister Cat.

At worst, I’m a lame device that my master can use to dodge answering interview questions in the first person. At best, I am a mystical dragon-like creature that looks out for Tim and controls his destiny.

He’s a solo performer, in the karaoke-style. He’s essentially a businessman, in his suit, who with a monk-like dedication writes Karaoke Pop songs as if his life depends on it. And then performs them like his life depends on it.

Doing shows as one man is daunting, and that’s where I come in. Live, I give him the confidence that comes with being in a band. It’s not just him against the world (or at this early stage in his career the somewhere like the Lock Tavern), it’s us. And that’s what music is all about. It’s not one bedroom musician’s ‘vision’ of how music should be, lobbed out to a crowd who have seen everything and who are discerning to infinity... It’s about... sharing something with the audience, and making a magical connection. I am part of that magic, and once I give Master Yen his confidence and he really gets going, there’s no stopping him. I look on proudly as he dances and waves his hands, looking like a complete idiot though the crowd seem to be okay with that.

If you’re lucky enough to catch Master Yen live in the future, or, if the wind blows in the right direction, hear him on the radio - remember me. Bands and even solo artistes aren’t just about the person singing - it’s, to quote the pilot of the fastest ship in the galaxy, what she’s on the inside that counts.

Or something like that. There're always others involved.

Yours,

The Sinister Cat

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