FORMER Busker Matt Chipperfield has achieved a lifelong ambition by releasing a debut album of his own songs on iTunes.

Matt, 37, busked in the town centre on and off for a year and a half to build his confidence and bring in extra income after having to stop working due to a painful spinal condition.

The acoustic guitarist and vocalist is now back in work following an operation and he has released his first album, Will Dance 4 Cider, which he sees as a major milestone.

Matt said: “With the back injury, I was in 24-hour pain and I went through a lot, so this is the culmination of two and a half years for me.

“It’s quite a big thing for me really because it has taken so long to get there and I have been plugging away for a lot of years to just get a name for myself. And I think getting it out there basically gives me an opportunity to play for people who wouldn’t have heard me before.

“So I think the best thing is now there’s a way these people who may have seen me busking and thought ‘He’s quite good’ can actually go online and buy my CD and help me a little bit more.

“I did get a good response when I was busking and it helped me not only to project my voice a bit more but to improve my performance personality.”

Matt, who lives in Swindon town centre, used to run a clothes concession in Debenhams and had to leave his job after suffering a prolapsed disc about three years ago.

He went busking to build his confidence and supplement his incapacity benefits, mostly playing covers but also trying out his own material.

Matt, now part of the band Grand Primo, recorded his album of eight songs with the help of his friend Lee Buxton, who was studying music engineering. He designed his own artwork for the cover and sold a limited edition of the CD to friends, but was not able to finance its promotion.

Matt, who now works as a customer service agent in a call centre, has released the album on iTunes and in a few weeks it will be available on other music websites.

Matt said: “It is very melodic. I pride myself on my voice. They are very simple tunes. I just try to write things people are going to enjoy listening to.”

For more information or to buy the album, visit Matt Chipperfield’s Facebook page and follow the links to the online stores.