When musician Shaun Buswell found himself locked up in an American jail for three days, he decided to use this opportunity to make connections with his fellow inmates and have discussions about the American penal and justice system.

It was 2002, and Shaun was hoping to make inroads in the film industry, writing music for movies. Instead he got engaged to a stripper, who turned to heroin. He says he tried to help her but after a furious argument in the car, he asked her to pull over, so he could get out – and finally grabbed the wheel. They collided with a parked car and though no-one was hurt, he landed in a jail cell with a Mexican gangster – while his fiancée burnt his possessions.

Shaun, 41, who was born and grew up in Swindon, said: “I spent three days looking at the skylight. But I wasn’t afraid. When something that extreme happens, you lose the fear – because when everything has gone so wrong, you have less to lose and it makes you more confident.”

By some strange coincidence, he had been reading a book about the US prison system just three months before heading for America, and wondering what it was like. Now he had a chance to see for himself. He was keen to find out about the thoughts and experiences of others.

“On the day of my hearing, I was in a cell with other prisoners awaiting trial at the court. I ended up talking to lots of different people, in a discussion, and finding out about the part drugs play,” he said.

This interest in others, and a willingness to engage with people he did not know – even under such potentially dangerous circumstances – has informed many of his musical challenges. 

In court, Shaun, who was then 26, was sentenced to three days – which he had already served – and released. He had only $6.17 in his pocket and spent three days living on the streets.

“It was the fourth of July weekend, and very hot. I got newspapers and I had sunglasses, so I would sleep while I was pretending to read it. I even knocked on someone’s door to asked them to fill my bottle with water. I broke down in tears,” he recalled.

Finally, he managed to contact his family in Swindon and they sent him some money – but even this was a challenge, requiring the penniless Shaun to walk for eight hours to collect and cash the money transfer.

“By then I had worn through my shoes,” he said. His flight home was still three weeks away, however, so he called a friend in Seattle, someone he had met travelling, and she paid for him to fly to her place, and finally he had somewhere to stay. 

Sometime later, this friend died - suddenly and tragically - but Shaun treasures the memory of her generosity.

The concept of the kindness of strangers remains with him, part of his musical challenges. He approached complete strangers on the London Underground to ask them to join an orchestra – and often they have indeed said yes.

Shaun was born in Stratton, Swindon, and went to Kingsdown School. He admits he was not a good student.

“I was always interested in listening to music, but I never studied it. I had poor attendance at school. A lot of the lessons were boring, and I didn’t apply myself,” he said. 

Music has long been important to him.

“I remember one Christmas getting my first Walkman and tapes of Michael Jackson’s Bad, and one by Wet Wet Wet. I was 11 years old.

“My parents were into Queen and the Beatles. The bands that opened my eyes to music were The Smiths, Stone Roses, Nirvana in the US, and a band called Shudder To Think. The leader singer was openly gay and I was struck how political and social concerns could be expressed by music.”

Shaun went to New College for a year, but says he was asked to leave for being a disruptive influence. On one occasion, after a discussion about sexism, he recalled wearing a dress to school.

“That caused a lot of gossip and discussion,” he said.

Later he went to Swindon College, and did A levels in maths, art, sociology and psychology – and was all set to study maths and Japanese at university.

“I love maths!” he declared. “It has helped me with music making – if applied with love.”

But in the end, he decided not to go and stayed in Swindon and focussed on his music. “Music is the way to express what I find difficult to put into words. It can affect your emotions and moods,” he said. “When I was 18 or 19 I wondered how I could make music in an industry I disliked. Money is such a driving force in the music industry.”

His mother, Kath Cummins, was supportive of his ambitions.

“My mum and step-dad came to see me playing at the Monkey Club in Rodbourne. I was wearing a kaftan, and in a band called Omega Red. For years my mum had heard me making music in the garage, making a row – but after the show, she said, ‘whatever I said about college, do not stress about it. Do this’.”

Shaun took a day job at Zurich while he worked on his musical career, and in 2007 he released an album called Buy Me New Shoes. Since then, he has undertaken a range of musical challenges – starting with the Royal Wootton Bassett Orchestra Challenge in 2011, when he composed and arranged music for an entire orchestra even though – astonishingly – he can’t read music.

Shaun’s Underground Orchestra Challenge was a charity-based musical challenge, to raise funds and awareness of children’s charity Daytrippers.

The orchestra was made up of strangers he met while travelling on the London Underground. They performed at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – and then became the Underground Orchestra – a company of 150 musicians who now perform under various guises.

In 2014, he spent 10 days gathering a 24-piece orchestra for a one-off concert, and the following year, his Geronimo Busking Challenge involved creating a multi-screen video with 12 buskers and musicians on the streets of London in three days. In 2015, he joined forces with Swedish musician Erik Nyberg and they travelled around the UK, creating pop-up orchestras.

Shaun has just released a new album – Stitched Shoes and an Irish Wristwatch – which was performed live at Swindon Art Centre on Saturday. He lives between London and Swindon, and is keen to promote creativity in the town.

“I have a love/hate relationship with Swindon – there are so many musical venues closing, so it is difficult for live music. It is a huge town with a lot of potential, but I don’t know what people do for creative interest. But there is a huge amount of creativity here, and people who are passionate about what they are doing.

“I am also working as a motivational speaker, and I would like to be working in schools. I want to promote and encourage creativity.”