WE’VE all heard of the place, but have you heard the sounds of the performer who goes by the same name?

Solo musician Chris Farrance has taken a unique approach to making live music, looping different instruments using a guitar-effects pedal.

Though perhaps even more bizarre is his decision to give himself the stage name Canvey Island.

“I used to go camping in Canvey when I was younger,” explains the 27-year-old solo artist, who actually hails from Brentwood.

“But the main reason is that a friend said if I called my act Canvey Island he’d buy me a pint and I’d be famous.

“The bit about the pint came true, but I’m still waiting on the famous side of the deal.”

Yet there is a more serious aspect to the title of the project, as the performer admits himself.

“I like to go down to Canvey and just sit on the seafront,” he says.

“I get a lot of inspiration from there, because it’s such a unique location.

“It has a fun town vibe, but at the same time the town has an industrial element, and I think that’s similar to life.”

Like his view of Canvey, Chris’s evolving musical compositions, that start with only one instrument and finish with as many layers as a full band, are different. I loop sounds using a Boss loop station pedal which allows me to build up the songs,” says Chris, who by day is a microbiologist at London’s Imperial College.

“I sing, and use guitars, synthesisers, a glockenspiel and even drums.

“I can go out into the crowd and get them to do loops for me as well, like a clap for example.

“When I first started doing this I thought people may have seen it before, but it seems to be quite unique.”

The artist is performing at eARmusic, at Monkey Chews, in London, tomorrow, and at the 333 Club, in London, on Monday.

“There’s so much that can go wrong, like looping feedback, but that’s what make’s it exciting,” he adds.

To check out Chris’ music visit www.myspace.com/canveyisland