Former BIMM student Luke Sital-Singh admits he spent his time living in Brighton stalking the songwriter who would later collaborate with him over three EPs and his forthcoming debut album.

“I have been a fan of Iain Archer for a long time,” says Sital-Singh, who lived both in the city and in Portslade for his three-year course.

“I first met him when he was teaching at BIMM in my first term. I was keen to learn from him – it was like working with a hero. His opinions and tastes have held huge sway.”

At that point Archer was most famous for co-writing the massive Snow Patrol hit Run – which earned him a Ivor Novello Award for his work on the parent album Final Straw.

Archer featured in the Snow Patrol spin-off bands Tired Pony and The Reindeer Section, as well as releasing three albums under his own name.

In recent years he has gained acclaim for producing Jake Bugg.

“We have got some trust,” says Sital-Singh, who wrote his most recent single Nothing Stays The Same with Archer.

“It’s a really good working relationship. You need someone who really gets it and is sensitive to your unique artistry, without trying to trample all over it.”

Archer has helped develop Sital-Singh’s sound from his early acoustic-only solo recordings to bringing in band elements – as most obviously heard on Nothing Stays The Same.

“The band was inevitable,” admits Sital-Singh as he embarks on only his second tour with a band, having previously performed solo.

“We were biding our time, as the solo thing is easier and more financially viable to do. Playing solo is so flexible – you can do anything.

“I had grown to the point where I needed to bring a band in – it felt like the right time.”

He enjoys playing with a band but ensures each set has moments where he can just perform on his own.

“It’s fun to have some mates along with you on the road,” he says. “Being able to captivate a crowd on your own feels satisfying too – I don’t really think that applies to a band. If it’s not working though I can hide behind a band and make a big loud noise!”

Nothing Stays The Same has benefited from the bigger sound – seeing him reach wider audiences through the radio.

“It’s hard to get radioplay for a song with no drums on it,” says Sital-Singh, pointing out that although his first acoustic single Fail For You got lots of airtime it was never playlisted.

“If you want lots of radioplay you’ve got to play the game a bit. With Nothing Stays The Same it feels like we’re growing into success – it didn’t feel wrong or like I was being dragged into something.”

When he speaks to The Guide he is still working on his debut album, which will mix favourite and reworked songs from his three EPs with new material.

“The debut is up and down – I wanted to keep it raw but it has some upbeat moments and some ballads on it,” he says. “It’s quite balanced which I’m proud of.

“I wanted to make quite a short album that you can listen to in one sitting. I didn’t want it to be an album where no one listens to the last track – my favourite songs on most albums are always the last one.

“Usually it’s some amazing ballad – I’m always disappointed when an album ends with lots of energy, it doesn’t feel like an ending.

“For my kind of music I feel like ending on a bang can mean a really simple beautiful song – I really love pin-drop moments rather than big raucous endings.”

Also on the bill for Communion New Faces are Eliza And The Bear, Farewell JR and Annie Eve.