S2 E4 - Nothing Is Under Control: The Million Pound Poet (Ft. Murray Lachlan Young, Keely Mills & Mark Grist)

Recorded at Backland Studios, this episode of We, The Poets dives deep into the remarkable journey of Murray Lachlan Young — poet, playwright, performer, and the only poet ever to sign a million-pound record deal with EMI.

With his trademark wit and theatrical flair, Murray opens up about the surreal highs and devastating lows of fame. We explore what happens when you do get everything you thought you wanted — and how to rebuild your creative self when it all starts to unravel. From performing on Glastonbury’s main stage to going off-grid in the woods, this is an honest, funny, and deeply moving conversation about ego, collapse, and finding your way back to joy.

Murray reads his iconic piece Nothing Is Under Control, and we’re also thrilled to feature two brilliant guest poets:

• Josh Cake – sharing I Am Tired of Being Pizza, a searing poem about identity, belonging, and labels.

• Abbi Jinks – delighting us with Portaloo Number Three, a hilarious and heartfelt ode to a legendary festival event.

This one’s packed with poems, confessions, and a generous helping of bodily humour, spiritual healing, and glitter. Whether you’re deep in your writing life or just curious about the mess behind the magic — this episode’s for you.

Find more of Murray's work at www.murraylachlanyoung.co.uk

Find more of Josh's work at www.joshcake.com or @joshcakemusic.

 Find more of Abbi's work at www.abbijinks.com and instagram is www.instagram.com/abbijinkspoet

💌 Want to feature your work on the show?
Email your recordings to mark@wethepoets.com

🎧 Produced with public funding from Arts Council England