SINGER SONGWRITER
NEXT LIVE SHOW
Now booking for the 2012 season.
JANUARY 2012
Happy New Year! Hope you had a good festive break and are raring to go again.
Best Christmas present I had came a little late, but with the news that the Live Music Act has been accepted by the House of Commons and will now go on to Royal Assent. This act relaxes the music licensing needed by venues that wish to have live music. This corrects the huge mistake made by previous government in entertainments licensing in the early nineties. The relaxing of the regime means venues will no longer have to seek local council permission to put on entertainment. This will certainly increase the number of venues, and means young and inexperienced artists can find smaller venues in which to learn and hone their craft. These had all but vanished in the nineties when venues discovered they suddenly needed to pay huge sums for council permission to have entertainment.
This is great news for live music in the UK.
It also means acoustic acts and singer songwriters especially should find more and more smaller and more intimate venues opening up, and I hope it will stimulate more writers to perform their material, as an alternative to simply performing covers.
As I write I am busy gearing up for the season ahead, with a new show, new gear, and most importantly new songs. Nothing like good news to inspire me. Watch the gig pages for dates near you. I hope to see you there.
DECEMBER 2011
Welcome back. And Seasons Greetings to you!
2011 is almost finished, leaving us just enough time for a few festivities, a last minute rush to get presents sorted out, and the opportunity to look back on a life changing year. "Miser! The Musical" dominated the first eight months of the year. Directing a stage musical has turned out to be one of the most involving things I have ever done. More on that in a moment.
I relocated back to the south coast to enjoy quite possibly the longest summer I can remember - we were all still kicking about in jeans and T-shirts until late November. Rain? Snow? Where on earth did autumn go? The studio was back on its feet quickly, and finally settled back into the same room it started out in, which has been remodelled since. No patio windows here any more, and the room has been widened.
OCTOBER 2011
I hooked up with the guys from Quo Vadis and we talked over a possible reunion and charity fundraiser. It was a good opportunity to catch up, and see what the intervening twenty years had brought each of us. Sometime next year, and probably near Southampton. Watch this space.
And congratulations to Mady and Patrick upon your engagement!
Next October I shall be jetting out to perform at their wedding celebration in Germany.
MISER!
This is a collaborative creative project I have been involved with, by playwright and fellow composer, Anthony Steven.
The show was performed in July 2011, at the West Walls, Theatre in Carlisle to a packed audience.
With a fabulous cast and backstage team, everyone was up for the work involved to put on what has been hailed as the best show Carlisle has staged. No expense was spared: from backdrops, to website, to costumes, props, and special effects. It was a very time consuming project but so rewarding to work with those with a passion for live shows.
Musically this was a very challenging project, not only in terms of content but in the working method. Scoring choral music is a far cry from the studio and electronic process of production I am used to. This was all harpsichord or piano, and multiple choral voicings for singers. Not a drum or bass guitar in sight!
The performance was captured in full HD from multiple cameras with pull shots and close ups, and a feature length DVD is now available.
For more information, a background history to the life and times of Margery Jackson, the infamous Carlisle Miser, or to order your copy of the DVD, please go to www.miserthemusical.org.uk .
NEWS of SONGS
2011 has been a very productive time for me creatively. Naturally, Miser dominated the first part of the year, but there have been plenty of other ideas bubbling through, and the autumn period has given me some studio time between other commitments. Briefly, here is a quick peek into what I have beeb working on.
"That Song..."
It happens. Sometimes the most important part of a song - the strong title - does
not emerge until quite late on in the writing process. Although some songs suggest
themselves from a title idea, I normally get something in the middle that grows
over time, and improves with every passing edit. So I am not worried - it's a temporary
problem - a title will come. He says...
I am particularly pleased with this one. For one thing it's just a lovely song, but as time has gone on it's become a favourite. It has very accidental lyrics, and it is impossible to force words like that. They arrive when they are good and ready, almost without me pushing them to - title included. Approaching a work in this way is a matter of some patience. It has taken a long time for the song to take shape. The result is certainly more artistic, possibly even indulgent, but I am living with it, seeing where that approach is taking me.
It is possibly the most expensive piece of music I have undertaken to write too - in time, emotion, and travel. I don't think it's licensable, but it will occupy a special place in my repertoire. At this point, it's almost ready for recording. And then you can have a listen.
"Integrity"
This word sublimely covers the entire subject matter of the material. It is (in
contrast the song above) first class disposable pop, and would not be out of place
in Sam Sparro's repertoire. It's a bit of a challenge to perform, requiring the
vocal gymnastics of someone like Mica. I know, I've tried... And also by complete
contrast, took just a single day to birth. The demos are done - I'm just letting
it settle a bit.
"Never Say Die II"
As I mentioned in the last update, the original "Never Say Die" celebrates it's
20th anniversary this year, which throws up an invitaton to do something new with
the song - possibly a re-release, or new recording of it to update its style.
The way things are looking at the time of writing, there will be a two new versions of the song available next year. The version I am recording with updated lyrics is maturing nicely, and it's finished in all but few choice words, and getting a half-decent take in the studio. Perhaps it's the passage of time, but I prefer this version - far more gentle than the original AOR setting.
And Canadian artist, Mat Twist also has also a version in production for his forthcoming album. No news to add at this point. I have heard some great demos, but making an album takes time. It'll be worth the wait. Really looking forward to it, even if it's running behind.
SONGS OF THE SEA
These last few years I have known a definite pull to the sea, and whenever I have the chance I try to get down to the beach. Nothing like a day by the sea to refresh your senses! Living on Hadrian's Wall for so long was great but denied me the regular contact with the open water I had enjoyed down south. Found ourselves going to the north east coast for a day out on several occasions. One time we watched the sunrise... at 3am, on the summer solstice - but that's another story!
Then summer 2010 I discovered Portobello beach in Edinburgh. If you have never been, I can only recommend you go find it. It's miles of well kept sand, with a sea- front of coffee shops, arcades and pubs, as the inset image shows. It's a great place!
One song very afflicted by the need for the sea is "Bermuda (Deep Water)" which has been on my workbench for far too long. I recently won a hard fought battle for the third chorus in this song - frankly I had abandoned it - but quite by chance, a dig through Wikipedia for information on cannons for my son threw up some new words and ideas. Really am looking forward to developing this into its final form - it's one of the songs I am most pleased about. Very reminiscent of the sea - moody, unpredictable...
AUDIO
Click
here to download your FREE MP3 of the classic ballad
Holding You Tonight written in 1984.
VIDEO
Highlights
of the Blackstrap shows in Canada, 2007 - Paris In The Spring,
The Cornfield and Somethin' 'Bout
Mary as performed with all Canadian session band.
"Invites parallels with David Bowie..." - Canadian Music Press 2007