Since Sept 2019 I’ve been bashing out musical satire at home, often Brexit related and often quite jolly (considering the subject matter).

Thanks to a long career of playing for dance training, I specialise in mangling and mashing-up famous tunes from any source I can get my hands on: ABBA (obviously), Chopin, Strauss, Rossini, The Beatles, The Village People, Radiohead + Baccarra (together at last), Jamiroquai, Britney Spears, Edith Piaf and Frank Sinatra have all made it into the mix so far, along with several festive favourites, a diversion into calypso and, um, Yakety Sax.

Well, you get the idea.

Sometimes I've used other people's words for lyrics, including early on a few direct lifts from the podcast formerly known as Remainiacs (since rebranded as Oh God, What Now?), a little Partygate-themed poetry juxtaposed with vintage Sassoon, the 'One Nation One Britain' song, and of course the succinct mystery civil service tweeter of summer 2020. But more often than not I've simply put my own pen to paper.

It’s all a bit rough n readily recorded on to my phone, but that keeps the set-up quick and easy when inspiration strikes. (Other satirical pianists with bigger budgets or electric keyboards are possibly also available. I like the close-up on the keys anyway.)

Music may not have the power to change the world directly, but it can damn well make it more bearable. And there’s something to be said for conveying heavy messages with a light touch and a grin, not to mention a well-placed key change.

While populism still threatens liberal values, democratic functioning and international cooperation, while the deceitful execution of Brexit still continues to do immense damage, and while the charlatans and wannabe authoritarians responsible are still in positions of power and influence, I will continue to play my small part with some carefully crafted, if slightly cheesy, musical resistance.