NEW SINGLE ‘SMOOTH’ JUNE 5th 2026
W: Karl Watson
The Lifeboat Playlist is a raw, deep dive into the sonic DNA of the artists we love, stripping away the noise, lights, and labels to reveal the music that truly matters. It is a survival kit built on gut-level resonance—a collection of anthems, heartbreaks, and high-octane riffs that define a lifetime.
For this edition, we sit down with Craig Campbell to identify the ten definitive tracks he would carry into isolation. These selections are more than just influences; they are blueprints. Ranging from stadium-sized roars to vulnerable late-night confessions, these ten songs represent the standards Campbell measures himself against and the kind of songwriting that inspired him to pick up an instrument in the first place. Together, they capture the ambition, atmosphere, melody, and conviction that form the foundation of how he approaches writing and performing today.
1: John Mayer - Edge Of Desire
The lyrics to this song really shine through to me, I remember hearing this for the first time in my mums car as I was heading home form school, and
being utterly blown away.
2: Nobuo Uematsu - To Zanarkand. Distant Worlds
In my opinion, the most beautiful piece of music to come out of a game, I much prefer Final Fantasy 7 to 10 (which is what To Zanarkand is from) but this piece sticks with its fantastic use of orchestration.
3: Tatsuro Yamashita - Sparkle
This track started my deep dive into funkier guitar playing and reminds me of the beginning of my musical journey in college.
4: Paolo Nutini - Iron sky
The power and emotion portrayed in this song remind me of so many times in my life when it has come on at the right place, at the right time. It’s
inspiring to know that music can be created of this calibre.
5: Freak Power - Turn On, Turn In, Cop Out
Funky, groovy, upbeat and reminds me of one of my best friends families, when we all listened to the radio while chatting away, still love it to this day.
6: Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule
One of the songs I heard when I was very young and always thought sounded so cool because of the guitars in it, properly inspired so many techniques in my life for clean sounds and chord changes, reminds me of growing up and learning more about this song as it came on through the years.
7: Stevie Ray Vaughan - Lenny
In my opinion, the most gorgeous instrumental guitar track I’ve ever heard. Written for Stevies wife, I heard this while first playing guitar and the tone
of his Stratocaster has been the foundation of what I play and sculpt for different guitar sounds.
8: Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media - Painted Paradise
This song reminds me of the time in my life where I was massively unsure of projects that I was in at the time, and had no clue on where to go – The
bassline from this track got me into learning more jazz bass techniques, and developing into funk, which was a very informative time as a musician.
9: Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana
Jennifer Batten remains as of the guitar gods, her ability on guitar is unreal, and the tone, solo, chords and techniques used by Jennifer in Michaels track blow me away every time I watch the live Recordings.
10: Gregory Alan Isakov - The Stable Song
Reminds me of the time where I got made redundant, my engagement broke down and it was in the middle of COVID, and I would use this song
to get back into playing guitar after not touching an instrument for about 2 years. Reminds me of how far I’ve come.