Music Maestro

Rainford’s Music Maestro

by Nicola Gray

It has been said that self-doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will; but for Rainford’s Ross Harrington, failure simply wasn’t an option when it came to pursuing his passion for music. The 21-year-old, better known to the music world as producer, NAVOS, has just been signed by Island Records and is tipped to be the sound of the summer as his new hit ‘Believe Me’, rockets up the official charts. Ross’s story is a modern day fairy-tale backed up by passion and lots of hard work. Ross grew up in Rainford and has lived in the village all his life, attending Rainford CE Primary, before moving on to Rainford High Technology College and Sixth Form. Ross added, “I’ve spent a lot of my time here and I love a night out in Rainford, some of my favourite places to go are The Golden Lion and the Junction Pub. I worked in the Junction Pub, that was my first real job. Ross continues, “Music has always been my passion though, since I was 12 or 13 years old. I have always been into music, I played guitar in primary school and it just grew and grew from there. “I went to an Avicii show in Manchester in 2015 and I thought that’s what I want to do as a job. From there it started as a hobby, I got a computer for Christmas and the necessary software and the rest is self-taught. It all comes with a lot of time and effort.

And effort is exactly what Ross has in abundance; last year saw him finishing his last year at Edge Hill University and up until a few months ago was working in Dunelm in Liverpool. Ross added, “It was a lot of work, I was completing the last year of my Sport Therapy degree, so there was a dissertation to write. I enjoyed University but I’m concentrating on producing music, I think you get one shot at this and I intend to give it my all.” I like a good back story, so I wanted to know where Ross came up with the name NAVOS, he laughs, “That’s a funny one, when I was little, I wanted to be in the Navy so that together with the last part of my first name gave me NAVOS.

Ross’s name isn’t the only thing that has changed in the last few months; he’s made the move from University and Dunelm to the studio and the heady heights of the music charts. Ross explains, “My work mates are always texting to say I’m smashing it and that they’re really happy for me. Everyone has been so supportive. “Life is quite a bit different, sometimes I can’t believe that I’m doing interviews and going to photo shoots, but it’s cool and I’m loving it.” The pretext to all of Ross’ success is his hard work, when I ask him about an average day his head is most definitely

on his music, “I just want this to happen, so I’m willing to put the work in and that means putting the hours in at the studio. I also like to get out for a walk and I’m looking forward to being able to go for a drink with friends when we can.”

Born in lockdown, ‘Believe Me’ became an instant hit and currently stands at number 27 in the charts, with more than 16 million streams on music site Spotify. Ross says, “Lockdown has given me time to focus on my music, being locked in the house, I got my head down and it was a way for me to keep myself occupied and doing something. “I put aside quite a few hours a day and without that time I wouldn’t be where I am today. This is the dream and I’ll keep working hard for it.” So, what is next for Ross and where would he like to take his music career? Ross explains, “I would love to go on tour, have a few top 10’s and to headline Creamfields or Glastonbury.” For now, though he intends to enjoy his success, work hard and continue to keep his feet firmly on the floor, he says, “My friends always keep me grounded, the banter is always there and although they like my work they still treat me the same, I’m still me; my hobby just turned into my job!”

Quiz

Theme: Land and Sea

1. Which country is sometimes referred to as the

“land of the rising sun”?

2. Who used the stage name “the Sea Monster” when she first began her career in stand-up comedy?

3. Which act won the 2004 Brit Award for Best

British Album for their debut album, Permission

To Land?

4. Marked by dropping a ring into the sea inscribed with the Latin for “we wed thee, sea, as a sign of true and everlasting domination”, the Marriage of the Sea ceremony is an ancient ceremony that is still performed today in which European city?

5. What is the only landlocked country with a name ending in “land”?

6. The Sea of Marmara separates the European and Asian parts of which country?

7. The poem The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot begins by saying that which month of the year “is the cruellest month”?

8. The Suez canal links which two seas?

9. According to the book of Genesis, which “land” was Cain exiled to by God after murdering his brother, Abel?

10. Which famous fictional bar is located directly below a restaurant called Melville’s Fine Sea

Food?