Jeff Peterson Music

Songwriter

welcome to my website

From the Streets of Somerton to the Heart of Songwriting

Growing up on a council estate in Somerton, Newport, South Wales, it was a place that shaped who I am and echoes through every note I write. One of my songs, Somerton Memories, paints a vivid picture of those early years—gritty, honest, but filled with raw, unfiltered hope.

From a young age, music was more than just sound—it was my escape, my therapy, and my playground. I found comfort in writing poetry and short stories, eventually trying my hand at makeshift rap lyrics. My friends and I would breakdance on street corners, spitting rhymes that weren’t polished, but they were ours—and they meant everything.

As I reached my teens, I was a mix of contradictions: loyal and loving, but also anxious and angry. I didn’t know it then, but I was beginning to awaken a powerful creative force inside me. I remember going to my GP, worried I was losing my mind—random words and sentences would trigger song ideas that wouldn’t stop. The doctor simply told me, “You’re not going mad. You’re a songwriter. Find your outlet.”

So I bought my first guitar—not to become a virtuoso, but as a way to bring music to my words.

Like many aspiring songwriters, I recorded lo-fi demos and posted out hundreds of unsolicited CDs to publishers and record labels. Nothing stuck. Then came Myspace—my first glimmer of opportunity. I even quit my full-time job to write for a musical in development… until the 2008 recession brought it crashing down.

In 2010, I became a single father again. Music had to wait—but it never stopped. I kept writing, entering songwriting contests, and earning semi-finalist spots in the UK Songwriting Competition.

Now, with over 30 songs professionally demoed and my children grown, I’m fully focused on my craft. My goal? To license my songs to artists and publishers who believe in emotional truth and powerful storytelling. I want to earn a living doing what I love—and build a legacy my children can be proud of.

I am a member of

The Guild of International Songwriters & Composers

I hope you enjoy
listening to my songs

Please contact me if you would like me to
email you any of my lyrics or manuscripts

1. Paranoia