A 61-year-old grandfather from Norwich has set himself an ambitious festive goal: to reach the coveted Christmas number one spot with a deeply personal new song. Peter Tuttle, a hairdresser who turned to songwriting during the pandemic, is hoping his latest single, 'Christmas Time (On My Mind)', can top the charts this December.
From Hairdressing to Heartfelt Songwriting
Peter Tuttle's musical journey began out of necessity during the Covid-19 lockdowns. With his hairdressing business on hold, he channelled his energy into writing music. His first track, 'In My Bubble', explored the personal struggles of isolation and found a receptive audience locally in Norfolk. This encouragement spurred him on to write more, culminating in his latest and most meaningful release to date.
Speaking about his unexpected career pivot, Peter told Metro: "I started taking my songwriting seriously in lockdown through total boredom as I am a hairdresser who couldn't find work. The first three songs I wrote went down really well in Norfolk… but that’s where it ended." Now, he's aiming for a much wider audience with his festive offering.
A Song Born from Loss and Legacy
The inspiration behind 'Christmas Time (On My Mind)' is profoundly emotional. The song is a tribute to Peter's father, Anthony Tuttle, who died at the age of just 28 in 1968 while serving as a Royal Marines Commando in Brunei. Peter was only four years old at the time.
The track imagines the last Christmas the family might have shared and reflects on the lifelong impact of his loss. "The objective of the song was to keep his memory alive," Peter explained. "Getting it out there for the general public to hear could give it longevity. It’s a very hard thing for a grown man to sing a song about missing his dad and I think I probably hid it behind a Christmas theme."
He revealed that the final verse, which ponders whether his father knew it would be his last Christmas, was the "hardest of all" to write. The song's core message to his father is a simple, poignant one: "I’m doing okay" despite the childhood trauma of his death.
The Uphill Battle for the Top Spot
Peter's quest for Christmas number one is no small feat. He faces fierce competition from established festive giants. The race includes the perennial favourites like Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' and Wham!'s 'Last Christmas', as well as new entries such as a surprise Netflix release and Kylie Minogue's latest festive track.
Undeterred, the Norwich-based singer-songwriter remains hopeful. "I would love for it to get somewhere in the charts," he said, "but without getting your music out there you’ll never know." His own favourite Christmas songs are George Michael's 'Last Christmas' and Paul McCartney's 'Wonderful Christmastime'.
Now a grandfather of four himself, Peter cherishes the strong family bond he has built with his three daughters and grandchildren, creating the fond Christmas memories he himself was largely denied. 'Christmas Time (On My Mind)' is available to stream now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube.
