Author Archives: Olivia

An Interview With Mark Spence (Royal Chant/Designer Mutts)

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Sadly this interview wasn’t done face to face as Royal Chant live on the other side of the world to me. In an ideal world we’d be finding the best whisky and bands we could get our grubby hands on, but alas…we’ll have to wait a while before that happens.

My friendship with Mark started last year I think, or maybe the end of 2011. He followed this blog and wrote some lovely words to me. Words that I sometime read back on when I think “balls to it!!” I didn’t realise he was in a band for a while, but when I heard Royal Chant I instantly fell in love with their music. I’m fortunate enough to call someone like Mark a true pal because he’s just a brilliant bloke with a genuine heart. Of course that is the same for the band in general. If they were assholes, I wouldn’t write about them.

I’ve always loved Royal Chant’s lyrics above most. I love how Mark doesn’t need to create pretentious prose in order for you to truly get where he is coming from. His honestly and that raw tone to his voice is what makes you believe in every single word. If you cannot be honest in what you do, then don’t do it. If only politicians would do the same.

I started writing this a few days ago, but I got distracted and frustrated with what I was writing. But now I have no excuse to get this done as I’ve sliced my big toe, got blood all over my girlfriend’s flat seconds before she was to go out. I pick my moments to have accidents. Walking is going to be fun over the next few days! Anyway, enough with the distractions.

I sent off my questions to Mark hoping I hadn’t asked my pal ridiculous questions, but I like to think I know him well enough to know that he’d tell me that they were shit. Or in this case, give me something to work with. And that he did. What I love the most about our exchange for this was what that he told me the songs that were playing as he was typing up his responses. Here is the first one:

I asked Mark if there was any obvious corruption within the Australian music scene. In the UK and America, you can see who has been marketed as a brand rather than a band, but does it happen in Australia?
“I honestly don’t know.  Possibly.  Probably.  Myself (and thus Royal Chant) exist on the periphery of mainstream media/music, so it’s hard for me to say.  I actually had to think hard to remember the last band that I felt was being “handled” or specifically marketed, but even that seemed mostly self-imposed.  I’ve come across a few bands that were definitely aiming for that 1st tier of pop-wankdom, but it was nothing they didn’t opt-into of their own volition. 

Ultimately, the same rules apply here as anywhere else: money will help.  It can’t make people like you, but it can certainly get you in front of more people and into some enviable situations.  You can get jaded or cynical about that, but the easiest and healthiest thing to do is attempt to operate with an entirely different mindset, to create your own reality. True independence is a realm that few bands actually manage to obtain, and the longer we do this and the more responsibility we shoulder for both making the music and getting it out there the more I realize that most of the B.S. media machine is predicated on people & bands buying into it.  Simply put: don’t.”

Of course people will ALWAYS buy into the shit they are force-fed. Just look at reality shows we secretly watch. The outcome of it seems to always take people’s brains over. In England. Christmas is ruined because of that fucking programme. Every year it seems a regurgitated piece of shit is churned out for people to spend their money on as “stocking fillers” or just you know, a 3 minute piece of audio torture. These shows are everywhere- it is sheer pop-wankdom. This isn’t going to die out anytime soon, and that’s what is truly upsetting. Nothing really lasts anymore does it? Everything is throw-away. When One Direction split up, there will be another pretty boy band to take their place. But what can we do?

“Allow me to digress.  Australia is a very big country with a very small population, whereas the UK is a very small country with a very big population.  Coming from the USA, which is both, Australia seemed very comprehendable.  There’s only a few capital cities, and even Perth is a bit of a stretch for most bands (we’ve never been).  There’s only so many stations, so many stages, so many people that one would need to deal with in order to have the scene “sorted”, although it still seems vast enough for my tastes. 

It’s pretty well established that many bands, once they have had a taste of success and been around the block a few times, tend to get a bit disillusioned with Australia, finding it a bit backwards and provincial, hence the inevitable trek to the UK, Europe, the States, or all three.  It’s a bit back and forth.  There’s heaps of bands trying to claw their way to the top of the Australian heap, and then another level of bands that would like nothing more than to leave. 

Corrupt?  I don’t know.  Probably no more than any other time and place.”

We’re all fucked.

Surely with all the world’s frustrations inside of us, we are desperate to unleash them somehow. Mine is kept in various notebooks that no one reads. Thoughts are private and words are public. There’s always an equal balance I suppose. We look to music to provide some insight into how we can free ourselves. It is so easy to feel trapped and into fall into the traps of modern life. Modern life is dull. It consists of the amount of friends you have on Facebook and if there is an App for anything/everything you do. I really hate, and no part of me can relate to it. Hashtags annoy me, modern slang is fucking awful- and our brains aren’t functioning like they should. Eat junk, turn to junk. Read lies, become a liar. No one wants to have heart or be honest. I think this is ultimately why I really REALLY listened to Royal Chant. I listened as hard as I could because straight away I got it. I got the rage, I got the desire to fix the broken parts and to stop caring for what anyone thought. When a band can drive you like that, then you stop turning to shit when nothing goes your way. So these songs that they write, what does writing songs mean to Mark?

“I don’t know any more, but I reckon it’s my attempt to make sense of the world. It may be the most truthful I get in life.  It may the be most dishonest I get.  Perhaps I’m singing what I really mean but am too cowardly to say in real life, or maybe it is a mask I wear that slowly changes as I do.  It’s what I can do, for better or for worse. I like words, I like melodies.   Songs are perfect for doing what they do best, but quite inept at doing what they shouldn’t.  I’d like to think I’m getting close to both.
I love songs.  The older I get, the more I am in awe of them.  I will listen to the same song for weeks on end, and am always amazed at their power.  Even “bad” songs can change the world, or at least a person’s world, so I’d like to think I’m a lot less judgemental now than I used to be.”

Music cures all. It stops bad moods, it eases nagging thoughts and it can make you feel good about yourself. For instance the other night when I saw Jessie Ware, it somehow managed to make me feel a lot more love for my girlfriend when I looked at her. I really didn’t think it was possible, sometimes things happen and it’s just bloody beautiful. I also once listened to Radio 1 and realised I disliked a lot of their “presenters” but that’s a different story.

I like to know certain things about bands I love, and they are probably sick of always being asked it- but I like to know what made them want to make music and when they feel like chucking it all in; what makes them want to continue. I knew Mark would give me an insightful answer because he’s that kind of guy.

“I always thought I could do it so I did. I was always drawn to music, even before I could make it.  Singing songs and dancing around, doing stupid performances like all kids do.  Also, writing songs from an early age, and always believing that I was better than I actually was.  Delusion, ego, & arrogance were essential to my development.  I can’t speak for anyone else on that though.

The thought that we can always do better.  I love it.  I’m an addict.  Hearing a great song will definitely do the trick, or being inspired in any way.  There’s always a guitar around, and always some melody in my head and a few words that need to find a home.  There’s got to be ego involved in there somewhere, right?  I guess, whether rightly or wrongly, I believe “I can do that”, and haven’t stopped trying.

That’s pretty rare, but a good sleep and a good idea have always done the trick.  I can count on one hand the times I have thought about chucking it in, and even if that happened I’d keep on making music on my own.  I’m a full-time musician and music teacher, so even if I said “right, that’s enough, no more Royal Chant”, I’d keep humming & strumming in some form or fashion. 

I guess I could always quit the whole thing and do something else, but I’m not really fit to do anything else.  Anyone need insurance?”

The fight that Mark has is evident. It’s in his solo work, with Designer Mutts and with Royal Chant. There is an equal amount of passion in his music, regardless of who he is making it with. The way he is with his approach to music is inspiring. There have been many times where I have questioned why I bother writing about music, but then I read something Mark has written or I listen to Royal Chant and everything starts to slowly make sense. Slowly. Always slowly. I think as well, it is because I know that he means every words. It’s the same with the likes of Patti Smith and Morrissey; you know they mean their words which is why you truly believe in them and cling onto them. You cling onto them with red raw hands and teary eyes- everything you have and are just depends on it. Music is more important to me than I first realised. The older I get, the more I come to depend on it. I’ve never depended on a person, it has always been music. And I think it more than likely will always be that way, for many reasons.

Royal Chant have a song called Nothing Ever Happens, It Just Seems To. The occasional cynic in me really loves this song, and it is by far my favourite song by the band. And it is (so far) my favourite song that Mark has written. I do tend to change my mind a lot, but as it is a song I frequently listen to, I know it will remain my favourite. There is something about it that just basically sums up the daily disappointments and frustrations we all feel. You cannot escape it, ever. Even the toughest and happiest of people are bound to feel a slight twinge of these feelings that many deem as “ugly” or whatever. I regard them as what makes us human; everyone is different thought, thankfully.

I thought now was a better time than most to ask Mark about this song. I’d been meaning for some time, but I held back and listened to it more and more before I asked him about it.

“I’m always happy to talk shop! If I remember correctly, I was working on a cruise ship again at that time.  When I left America I was in pretty bad shape.  For all the normal, human reasons…heart broke, cash broke, strung out, a worthless waster, etc etc.  Hopping on a cruise ship largely saved my life. 

Having said that, once the magic of Europe wears off (or once I become stupid enough to become immune to its eternal magic), playing drums on a cruise ship is a somewhat insane experience.  Repetition.  Endless repetition.  I also flew out to LA twice to record the Water Never Waits EP by Sickboy (my moniker/band at the time).  Los Angeles has never been a good fit for me, from the biggest aspects down to the smallest detail.  It’s a weird, crazy place, and I would be happy to never go there again. Having said that, I did enjoy recording there, but it’s not like I was in some fancy studio. 

Anyways, string all those lines together…my shit metaphors for LA, my mindlessness, my recovery from my former life, my not-quite-adjustment to my new life, general confusion, a bit of optimism, a large chunk of skepticism….
Flat tyres, prescription speed….yeah, that’s LA, and a pretty big metaphor of my life, if I may be so bold. I do remember putting a reasonable amount of effort into that song, as it was a fairly hefty “piece”.  I mean, it wasn’t a throwaway, so I kind of knew that I was dealing with something that meant something, even if only to me.  Some songs are beautiful throwaways, while others are bloated pieces of crap.  Sometimes it’s OK to be serious, at least that’s what I tell myself.”

The band doesn’t really play this song live anymore, but if you’re so lucky to find yourself watching Mark do a solo set- he does a stripped back/acoustic version of the song.

Royal Chant have a new song out called New Nowhere which can be heard here: http://royalchant.bandcamp.com/

Of course you must play it as loud as you can, just to hear how raw it is. For me, it’s the Royal Chant that I know and love. It sounds like something I heard by them over a year ago. They have a distinctive sound that echoes throughout their music, but at the same time they never repeat themselves in what they do. They make bold and unapologetic music that appeals to those that know there is more out there. That there is more to life than what we have. Thing is, we are the only ones who can change that. With a new song out, Royal Chant have no plans to be quiet. They will come to the UK right?!


“Of course we’re coming to the UK!  In the simplest of terms, I want to keep writing and recording and touring, for as long as this band lasts, and beyond (if it should ever come to that).  If you want to get down to brass tacks we’ve got our new Small Town Bruises all wrapped up, and then we’ve got another LP worth of material after that (tentatively titled Societé Catastrophe) , so it’s really just a matter of keeping things together and keeping everyone sane and happy with enough food and cash so that they’re not throwing their whole lives away.  I don’t know if it can be done, but it seems we’re making a decent go of it.  I don’t want to stop and am not planning on it. 

Things we want to do: take Royal Chant to Western Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, the UK, Europe, and the USA (again!).  Rinse. Repeat.”

Music aside, Mark is a pal that appreciates two of the finest things in life; tea and whisky. I couldn’t interview him and not ask about his best and worst whisky. I’ve tried some whisky that made me feel like my insides were on fire, and it is a really awful feeling. I’m not someone who sees the appeal of getting drunk or thinking alcohol is the cure to all social situations. I like whisky because like tea, it has a comforting and warming feeling. Tea is obviously cheaper, and whisky is rarely consumed by me but when you have a bad one, it is terrible. Like anything really, right?

“It happened 3 weeks ago, as best I can remember.  Here’s the scene:  I’m playing drums for this amazingly talented musician named Lioned Cole (who just so happens to be from my hometown of ATL, Georgia, USA), and we’re hanging out in the…I dunno…hangout area with the owner of the bar/venue.  Of course he wants to meld his trumped-up sense of power with actual musical authenticity, so he trots out his bottles of really expensive Japanese scotch/whiskey and commences pouring these heroic shots whilst explaining its value. 

Look, there’s a long story about its origins and cost, but what happened is that I skulled my shots coz I thought he was yelling at me for being too slow, but I found out that he was yelling coz I drank them too quickly and failed to pay homage to their expensive and convoluted origins.  It may have been premium stuff that only rich people can afford, but it felt like firewater going down my throat.

Worst?  Is there such a thing? I guess there’s some pretty nasty stuff at the bottom of the shelf that I’m sure I’ve gotten into at one time or another, but anything will do if you put enough mixer in it.  No mixer? Who cares. Just get it down and it will do what it’s meant to do.”

I haven’t written this much in a long time. But if you can’t write highly about a pal, then who can you write about?! There were a few more questions I asked, but I wanted to keep in with a certain theme. I’m not sure if I know what it is, but for now..the rest is hidden. For a while.

Royal Chant are a band to believe and invest in. They are a comforting crutch and genuinely adore their fans. Their fans adore them.

They are a band destined to play the dingy and sweaty bars with questionable health and safety regulations. Their music is powerful in ways most miss out on doing. They could be your next favourite band because of their sheer honesty and love for what they do.

Brilliant song-writers who do not need to write ridiculous phrases in order for you to connect with the music or for you to feel something completely new. Their advantage is their love for what they do and the music they play.

The sooner they come to the UK and the rest of the world; the better.

Finally, I must add how Mark ended his email as it is possibly the best sign-off ever:

“Big hugs from down under.  Hopefully 2014 is the year we make it across the pond.  Your friend in tea, cider, whiskey, & boobs xoxo“

 

JESSIE WARE. Abbey Road Studios. 19th September 2013.

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I’ve been to some brilliant gigs in my time. Some have been in questionable places that disregard health and safety. Others have been in beautiful places that I’d be totally fine with sleeping in if no one knew I was there. Thing is, I prefer the venues that look as if they are going to fall apart and are so dark you think a door is a person, so you speak to them without realising. That could just be my shit eyesight though….

I got a phone call on Monday evening. I never answer my phone because it is always on silent and I have no idea why someone would want to call me. For some reason, I answered. I was told I had won tickets to see Jessie Ware at Abbey Road Studios on Thursday (last night.) I never win anything (okay so a week before I got an email saying I’d won tickets to see Ellie Goulding at the iTunes Festival but shush!) I hung up after all was confirmed. Told my pals who I was with, and invited one of them with me. Apparently my girlfriend should have been my first choice. OOPS! So with my pal and I excited about the gig, she got exactly the same phone call as me! What are the chances!

Let’s talk about the show now.

Abbey Road has this incredible atmosphere that just hits you as soon as you walk in. My favourite thing was the photo of Jamie Hince (The Kills) on the wall. I was thinking of ways to take it, but realised quickly the photo is as big as me so it wouldn’t work. It’s not like it was a print I could roll up and shove in my back pocket.

After indulging in the free drinks (I dislike wine but free wine tastes really nice, as do free cocktails) we shuffled towards the front. I was stood directly in front of the mic. I like to be at the front; mainly because I’m a short arse who cannot see.

Jessie strides onto the stage with the most glorious smile I’ve ever seen; thing is, during the night her smile just gets bigger and bigger. She plays pretty much all of the songs from Devotion. If you don’t own her record, you are missing out. Her voice is so beautiful. She’s my generation’s Sade mixed with Aaliyah. Throughout her set she speaks to those who have come all the way from Canada, high fives people at the front, takes photos with fans as she’s singing and pretty much has the best time ever on stage.

What made this gig really special was that, it was in an intimate venue that holds a lot of history. The chances are one of your favourite bands have probably recorded here at some point. The love in room was just simply euphoric. I’ve been to Morrissey gigs where people have tried to launch themselves at the stage, but this was something else. There is something deeply captivating about Jessie Ware, and it isn’t just her voice. You can tell that she truly loves what she does, and the sheer happiness that just pours from her falls into the crowd.

For me personally, when she sang Running for about 10 seconds whilst looking at me was delightful. As was having a photo with her afterwards, and her thanking us for being at the front. NO PROBLEM JESSIE!

Devotion is one of the best records I’ve heard in years. It has pure soul and expresses love on different. Hearing songs such as Taking In Water (written for her brother, probably my favourite) and Night Light (written for her boyfriend, but he doesn’t really like it!) live just left me in awe. The way she sings so effortlessly and is so gracious, she is undeniably the best UK female singer around. She has this genuine soulful feel to her music, and because it is so natural it just takes you over in such a magical way. Watching her made you feel like the luckiest person in the room because you were witnessing something memorable. You can tell every single song means the world to her, and I think that is what makes us fans feel the same way. Her connection with the crowd was stunning, and to have a quality like this is quite rare- which makes you instantly treasure her.

Jessie’s band are incredible. Everyone on stage has this infectious grin, and I’m pretty sure I spent the hour watching them all just grinning back like a loon! But the thing is, you really cannot help it. Live music to me, is everything. Music is a massive part of my life but live music is something else. It allows you to unleash everything with the person responsible for the sounds stood right in front of you. To not be moved by something like this is something I cannot quite get my head around. I suppose it is because music is that important to me. Shows like this will be talked about in years to come, because it was so intimate and special.

This show was made up of beautiful moments that all there were so lucky to have witnessed. What truly blew my mind, as I’ve said above was just how happy Jessie Ware is on stage. You can just tell how humble she is, and how every cheer and when word is sung back to her just means so much.

Last night made me fall in love with London even more than I already am. It was a spectacular event with brilliant people. I also now enjoy Campari. As an Italian, I feel I should and as it was in the free cocktails, I became a fan. Hopefully it will taste as good if I ever buy it… Oh and the goodie bag we were given was a treat too!

A huge thank you to Wayne who called on Monday to say I had won the tickets!

 

* The photo above was taken by my girlfriend because she’s got one of them iPhones that takes alright photos and my phone is crap!

JENSON TAGG.

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When a singer can passionately unleash a fraction of any feeling you may have once, or currently feel, in a way that you simply cannot do.

I dislike current musicians that claim to be Folk, when really they’re just someone with a guitar. They spew out lyrics that hold no meaning; no one can relate to the pretentious mess that pours out of their mouths. I’d happily name them, but that’s not very nice is it. Still, I dislike them. However. HOWEVER, there is one guy who could be classed as Folk, if you wanted to play that game- that’s if you don’t really pay much attention to his music. If you listen intensely to Jenson Tagg, you will hear someone who has been influenced by the Blues. His music sounds like how Jack White would sound if his music was slightly stripped back. Jenson has so much power in his voice- he’s just a brilliant musician.

His music is an infusion of Rock music and the Blues. He merges them in a careful way that keeps a genuine tone in his voice; why he isn’t known by EVERYONE is beyond me. I really don’t get it. But I guess if you look at the Top 20 you’ll see why. His lyrics are perfect, and his debut record Scream shows just how beautifully talented he truly is.

Scream is a stunning debut that causes you to drift off, in a way that means you aren’t paying attention to anything or anyone around you. As you listen to him your thoughts are sort of aimed at something or someone who once happened. There’s a lot of longing on this record (Come Home pretty much sums it all up.) But, my favourite track on Scream is I’m Done! It’s a song with attitude, although when you listen to Jenson’s lyrics, you get the feeling his a real gentle soul. Those kind of people are the best.

Honesty is lacking in people. You’ll never meet an honest sales person or politician, you just won’t. People tell lies to keep you around, I guess we are fools for believing them. Or maybe we’ve fooled them by making them thing we believe them. I suppose the latter makes us as bad as them. But in music, you will always get honestly. Scream is a record that is a creation of honesty,I’m Done is the song that just expresses all of that fury in a few minutes. A few glorious moments that exposes being fed up and uncomfortable. Two things which I can probably relate to more than I wish to.

Over the past few years Jenson has toured up and down the UK, written two records worth of material and has played for the athletes for the Olympics 2012. His music is for anyone, you don’t need to be a music snob on this one. He has this magical way of tugging at your heartstrings, but at the same time just offering you a blanket of comfort with his open lyrics. The fact that his words at times are vulnerable means you connect more. To connect to lyrics/songs is a beautiful feeling, because we live in an age where everything is summed up by how many “friends” you have on social networking sites to how many photos you upload to that bloody awful Instagram shit. STOP HASHTAGGING. Sorry, it gets me angry. Anyway. The fact that Jenson is so open with his words means you can take them in a way that fits you. Whatever mood you’re in, his music can either heighten it or soothe you. An equal balance done in such a way that means you cannot help but treasure his music.

His debut record, Scream is out on 7th October.

MAZZY STAR-Seasons Of Your Day.

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When you wait a hell of a long time for a band you like to put a new record out, you desperately don’t want it to be crap. I’ve had this disappointment thrusted upon me a few times; more recently it was MBV. I don’t even know if I made it through the whole record, I sort of just..gave up really. Typical, I know. I got so far and thought better of it. As I listen to Seasons Of Your Day by Mazzy Star, I’m slowly realising that this disappointment doesn’t have to be a frequent thing.

Yes everyone loves Fade Into You. Yes it is one of the best love songs of all time and yes I cannot listen to it without wanting to cry. Let’s move on from that, because their debut record, She Hangs Brightly will always be my favourite thing they’ve ever done. I also love the songs The Jesus And Mary Chain featured Hope on. I think it made their record, Munki alright. When you can accept weak albums from your favourite band, you know you’ll love them for life. Thing is, I don’t just love The Jesus And Mary Chain. Religious people have their scriptures and the like; I just have music.

Seasons Of Your Day pretty much sounds like Warpaint meets Beach House meets Cat Power’s Myra Lee record. The opening track, In The Kingdom sounds as if it was an outtake from Beach House’s last record, Bloom. Seasons Of Your Day just oozes love and devotion. It is, to put it simply; a pure and delicate piece of art that makes you feel as if no time has passed at all since their last record, which was actually 17 years ago. I feel really old now…

It is obvious that Hope Sandoval is a painfully shy character, most of us are. Sometimes it gets a bit frustrating because you want songs that have a bit more bite to them, but this is what makes Mazzy Star so distinctive. They still have that ethereal atmosphere to their music with beautiful psychedelic sounds. You close your eyes and you feel as if you are on some trip. I’ve never done drugs, but I can go dizzy if I stand up too fast. Old age..it is sure creeping up. The bastard.

I was quite young when I first heard of Mazzy Star, and as I got older I read their lyrics intensely and I sort of learnt the true meaning of devotion from their songs. When they delve into the hypnotic and captivating throes of love, you cannot help but place yourself in that situation that Hope is singing about. Somehow I don’t think Mazzy Star are capable of doing something as aggressive as say, Violet by Hole. I love Courtney Love, and no one can do honesty like she does; she exposes ugly feelings and makes you feel alright with feeling them. Sometimes, it is a bore to feel completely clean.

I’d imagine a lot of people would bake to this record whilst wearing an awful jumper. Don’t wear a jumper when baking; you’ll get too hot. Don’t wear an apron either. You’ve not successfully baked or cook unless you’ve made a mess and got half the ingredients in your hair.

I’m aware this is probably the worst record review EVER, but who cares? My point in this is that, unlike some bands- Mazzy Star have been away for 17 years and they come back sounding as gorgeous and as gentle as they did back then. It is a style that I don’t think will ever leave them. I hope it never leaves them because they have created something to just shut your eyes to, and dream away life and everything in it.

One of the things I really really adore about Seasons Of Your Day is that there is an obvious Blues influence here. The bottleneck effect on the guitars is just stunning on this record. Anyone who dismisses that genre is denying themselves of some of the most heartbreaking and honest songs ever. Taylor Swift isn’t echoing your thoughts about heartache; Bessie Smith is (well not anymore obviously..but back catalogue, you’ll see!) The Blues was a genre that my mum was obsessed with; she’d play Muddy Waters to me, and it was such a comforting sound. She had a tape of him that I pretty much took ownership of. Without the Blues you really wouldn’t have a large chunk of the music you have now.

Seasons Of Your Day does not disappointment. It is perfect for long-term fans of the band, and for those that have never heard of them. Or have only heard THAT song. Yes THAT song is beautiful, but there are beautiful songs on Seasons Of Your Day. The sincerity in Hope’s voice is nothing short of divine, she lives up to her name (sorry…)

17 years was obviously a long time to wait, but things do take time. Usually things of greatness. Seasons Of Your Day was recorded between 1997 and 2012, and as you listen to it, you can sort of tell that these songs were done this way as there are certain changes in the sound. There are leaps into a solid sound on Seasons Of Your Day, and this solid sound they have created here makes you hope that they don’t wait another 17 years to release a record. Mazzy Star are a band that are secure in their own sound. They don’t need to change their sound drastically in order for you to listen. You love them because they have a relaxed and (I hate to use this word) dreamy feel to their music.

Seasons Of Your Day is 50 minutes of bliss, something we should expose ourselves to more often rather than want to rush everything. Take your time, because there are beautiful moments in this record that you will miss if you preoccupy yourself with other matters.

Happy 30th Birthday AJW xxxx

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For some, 14th September is just a normal day- but for others they know that today is a pretty sad day. If it wasn’t for that horrible day two years ago, today would have been a special day for one person and her family. Sadly it isn’t. A loss is a loss, regardless of who experiences it.

Today would have been Amy Winehouse’s  30th birthday; today is also Nas’ 40th birthday. A rapper she really loved, and spoke beautifully about it in her song Me & Mr. Jones. She even sampled Made You Look by Nas on her song, In My Bed. Both songs are incredible, and probably the two I can sort of listen to without this weird and awful feeling just hitting me.

If Amy wasn’t so open with her lyrics, if you thought she didn’t mean every word- then I guess her music is probably easy to listen to. I remember hearing her many years ago on Trevor Nelson’s radio show he had on a Saturday afternoon on Radio 1 and he played Stronger Than Me. I then saw her on Jools Holland and she had this baby blue guitar and leopard print trousers on. She looked a little vulnerable but an element of control was around her. Anyone who saw that performance knew that they were witnessing something that would become such a vital performance. More importantly it was one of the best performances on that show. Ever.

Of course we must not be sad, but there will always be an element of sadness when her name is mentioned. Or when we think about Amy Winehouse. Her music, her words..they made you feel as if you knew her. Of course we didn’t but she was so open with her words- you couldn’t help but feel something like, she was your pal. Her music got you through heartbreak. So many have leant on her record, Back To Black to get through emotional pain. It was a raw record that exposed the ugly and haunting feelings we have in a way that we never could. That no one else may ever do. She was a phenomenal song-writer; the sheer honesty in her songs was just absolutely beautiful. The way in which she sung them made them what they were; perfect.

Since her passing, Amy’s family have set up the Amy Winehouse Foundation. You can learn more about who they are and what they do: http://www.amywinehousefoundation.org and all through September they putting on events to celebrate her 30th birthday. Get involved.

Today is a sad day, but it..happens. She died far too young, and it is so easy to think of what could have been. But what we have is what we should treasure. There will never ever be anyone else like her. She will always be the Queen Of Camden, always.

Happy Birthday Amy xxxx

SISU-Blood Tears.

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We have moments of clarity and realisation in really peculiar moments. The worst is when it happens when you’re stuck on train or whatever, and you cannot get out to do something about it. Or you have pen and paper near you to write anything down. I have a shit memory at times, so I just forget anything that could be of use to me. Sometimes though; I manage to cling. More people should learn to keep secrets, and keep their own. But sometimes we are given an insight into a world that’s a billion times better than our own. You know where you can find a better world? Right inside the depths of SISU’s debut record, Blood Tears.

SISU is fronted by Sandra Vu who is the excellent drummer in Dum Dum Girls. If I could drum, I’d want to have the talent she has. She adds something a bit aggressive to a band that are wonderfully delicate. So what kind of music does she make in SISU? Well, if you’re looking for a Dum Dum Girls clone don’t bother. SISU are quite synth focused which adds a really dark and reluctantly I say this, a “goth” vibe to it. If Bauhaus merged with say, Depeche Mode- this is what you’d get. SISU’s music has a wonderful New Romantic feel to it also. Blood Tears is a record you need to play whilst walking late at night with a heavy mist looming. There is something quite sinister about this record, and that’s why I love it. The song Electronic sounds like it should be featured in a horror or thriller film- as the bad guy approaches his next victim. The record is gorgeous and creepy; it makes you want to put a cape on and go deep into the night. Or you could just stay at home and play it. I’d go for the latter, it is much safer.

I’m not going to make any comparisons to Dum Dum Girls as I think that’s quite unfair. They are separate bands with completely different sounds. Different is always good, especially in music. The structure to this record is just perfect; every song flows perfectly into the other. It flows majestically even if it feels like a haunting soundtrack to a dream you once had. The darker the sound, the better. SISU’s music was made for those creepy basement bars where you are surrounded by people who just “get” you. Without words, but a knowing nod- they just get you. Blood Tears is a debut record that I know I am going to hold very close to my heart for some time. I think this is how my brilliant stepdad felt when he heard Siouxsie And The Banshees for the first time. You know you are hearing something incredibly inspiring here. I hope they play the UK, because there are some brilliant venues here that were made for bands like SISU.

I could happily praise this record for as long as words fall out of me. I’ve noticed something in the song Let Go that reminds me of Garbage’s debut record. There is an attitude to SISU’s music that is found in Garbage, and although I said I wouldn’t compare them earlier- you find this in Dum Dum Girls’ music too. But you probably knew that. Shirley Manson is an incredible force that has evidently influenced so many.  I have no idea if Sandra is influenced by Shirley, but her voice has the same “I’m going to make you listen to me” feel to it. It’s bloody empowering.

I believe music is probably one of the few things in life that can give you a real sense of pleasure and freedom. Blood Tears feels like it could strengthen the weak ones. That it can find those who truly need to be found. The dark atmosphere that is in this record is nothing short of divine and you never want it to end. Ten songs just isn’t enough, but you can always hit repeat can’t you.

I sincerely hope Sandra and the band are proud of this record because it is honestly unlike anything else I’ve heard all year. SISU are on that Dirty Beaches level (who they are currently on tour with and I really wish I lived in America right now because of it!) They aren’t conventional with their sound and you can just sense a lot went into the music. I think when you pick up on that, you gain a different insight to the record. I’m not for conventional anyway, which is why bands such as SISU mean a lot to me.

A debut record can have a massive impact on the fan/listener; you fully get that with Blood Tears. It is a passionate and bold record that I cannot wait to have in my possession and play on a daily basis. That eerie bass-line in Sharp Teeth is enough to make The Cure go to the studio and make something as ethereal as Seventeen Seconds. It may be 2013, but SISU truly take you somewhere else. I don’t know where, but being found doesn’t matter.

Blood Tears is out on Mono Prism Records on 17th September. Even if you are on poverty row, go buy this record. I have so much more left to say about Blood Tears, but I’ll stop here….for now.

LUUUL.

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Chillwave was a style that was apparently set out to bring out hipsters and pretentious oiks in full force. Music is music, and you cannot be a snob about it. I’ve been called a “music snob” more times than I can remember, it used to offend me but I’ve learnt not to listen to people. I’m just massively passionate about music, and to be honest I think it is the only thing that validates my music. Writing about music is one of the very few things that make me feel like I’m doing something of use. I do it for no one but myself, and I think if I did it because I had to/for others- I wouldn’t care. If you’re not going to put your everything into something, then please just leave it alone. So you can say Chillwave is only for certain people, that’s fine- but that makes YOU the daft one. I know to an extent a lot of it sounds the same, but you can find that in any genre. I’d rather listen to hundred of bands that sound like Youth Lagoon than be told Katy Perry is one of the best singers around. (I’m still mad at her UR So Gay and I Kissed A Girl songs.) So I should probably leave this rant alone and move on to what I intended to write about.

LUUUL is one guy who makes music that makes you feel like you constantly have the sun on your back. He makes you feel as if nothing in the world right now matters. For the most part, I guess not much does matter. It depends on your outlook. But as I listen to LUUUL’s music, everything feels like a dream and nothing really matters. Music can help you create beautiful moments in your mind. It doesn’t matter what they are, because no one can take them away from you. The Morning After is the perfect song to listen to as the morning sun hits your tired eyes. As sleep falls away from you, LUUUL’s music is the hope you find a new day. Everything in the moments his music creates is just perfect. His music is the picturesque sunrise you wish you could paint. It stays locked in your head, and gently falls down to the depths of your heart. The moments are kept safe for as long as you wish.

I’m not someone who seeks hot climates and wishes to laze about on a beach, but LUUUL has this gorgeous way of making you wish you were on a beach staring at the sun’s rays hit the glistening sea. What song by LUUUL is perfect for this? Beach of course. The beautiful moments never stop with his music. The bass-line to Beach sounds like how Warpaint would sound if they went in this direction. Both make entirely dreamy music to just lose yourself in, and it never felt so good. The best thing and the most beautiful thing about music is the feelings it gives you. Feelings you probably thought you couldn’t feel or would ever feel. Certain key changes in the songs you love or that one line in your favourite song of all time can just make your heart beat quicker and can just cover your body in goosebumps. Your favourite song is like looking at the person you’re in love with- nothing matters, just that moment. That’s how LUUUL’s music makes you feel. But of course, this is just my personal opinion.

For any emptiness you feel inside, there is always a band or a song to make it alright; you can find it in LUUUL for sure. His music is the sun on your bones, warming you up and just making you feel alright.

You can listen to more of LUUUL right here: https://soundcloud.com/luuul

His bio may say it is just a guy, but it is obviously more than that. It is one person creating truly beautiful music.

WOMAN’S HOUR.

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True love is found and felt in weird places. I think I experienced it this morning at its strangest. I saw two grey hairs on my head (I’m 26!!) so I whinged about it, and my girlfriend pulled them out before she went to work. I was being dramatic, but I don’t think I’m ready to go grey just yet. Nor do I fancy colouring my hair, that’s not for me.

True love can also be expressed in music, and the band I’m listening to right now express love and everything around it in such a delicate manner. To the point where they break your heart just slightly. Only slightly. I feel no connection to singers who just stand with an acoustic guitar singing songs that just oozes ridiculousness. It isn’t for me; I cannot connect to it. I want ethereal gems that surround me with a feeling nothing in this world can probably give me; a feeling that goes beyond words. A feeling that is extremely delicate and one you can only treasure.

I’ve found a similar feeling in the band, Woman’s Hour. If you look them up, you might get some stuff about that brilliant Radio 4 show, but that’s okay. Both are good, so it’s fine.

Woman’s Hour have a song called To The End which is exceeds the word “stunning.” I wish I could describe how good this song is, but words for the most part, do fail me. The singer, Fiona has such a delicate voice (think Jessie Ware meets Aaliyah meets Sade- it is that beautiful.) Their music is much like what I listen to, perfect for the night-time when no one else is around. If they are around, tell them to go away or stick some headphones in and just get lost in this captivating world they have created with their music.

They have this haunting way of just soothing your soul in the way Say Lou Lou do- if you’re looking for reassurance, then Woman’s Hour will give you that and more. They are like a comfort blanket for the days where you just want to say no to everything and everyone (I have them more times than I should.) What instantly formed my love for them was that, when I listened to them all essence of colour slipped away. You see things in black and white when you listen to them, with hints of grey. There is a lovely dark atmosphere to their music that quite simply, makes them easy to love. And love them I sure do.

With the daylight appearing less now (it’s not a bad thing) bands like Woman’s Hour are the perfect sound for the crispness of Autumn and the fragility of Winter. Woman’s Hour are perfect to listen to as everything just passes you by. But try holding the one you love as you listen to Our Love Has No Rhythm, and just let everything carry on as normal; ignore it all and create your own moments that no one on this earth can take away from you. Their relaxed sound is good for the soul. Think Beach House meets Sade, then you’ll have it. Every insecurity or feeling of doubt just swims away as you listen to Woman’s Hour- they make you take it easy on yourself, they fill you with this heightened feeling that goes beyond words. But you feel it in your soul, and that’s how you know you are listening to one of the most exciting bands around.

Their single, Darkest Place is going to be released via Luv Luv Luv Records.

You can listen to their enchanting and tranquil sounds here: https://soundcloud.com/womanshourband

Fall for them; and fall freely with your arms open. Your mind will be cleared and your spirits lifted.

LONDON GRAMMAR-If You Wait.

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“I’m feeling shyer and the world gets darker.”

 

When I first wrote about London Grammar in January, I said they reminded me of Imogen Heap meets Youth Lagoon; this was based on just one song. I wasn’t sure if they would keep something like that up, that maybe Hey Now was just a taste of how ethereal they were going to be.

As I listen to their debut record, If You Wait it becomes more obvious that they evidently have made a bloody strong debut. If You Wait sounds like a record you’d expect from a band that are at least 5 years or so deep into their career. It goes beyond all expectations of a debut record.

At its best, If You Wait is a haunting catharsis. Everything about it feels like some kind of release and Hannah’s voice is just so so sad. There’s so much sorrow in her voice, and the fact that the lyrics are as equally as vulnerable as her voice just breaks your heart a little bit more than you anticipated. Wasting My Young Years makes me hate that I’m getting older. But hey, free bus pass! Although by the time I’m 60 I suppose they’ll have scrapped that idea. As I listen to If You Wait, I start to feel everything that London has eventually come to mean to me. Maybe it’s because I’m with the one I love (finally) but London feels like home. There’s so much security in London Grammar’s music, it feels like home. Hannah’s voice is as delicate as the likes of Anthony Hegarty and the music is as soothing as my personal favourite, Deptford Goth. London Grammar are London. They are that awful night bus journey home, they are that last tube home journey. As you gaze out into the night with nothing but the street lights acting as stars to guide you home. For me, I think Sights sums this feeling up more than most. Although it is pretty much constant throughout.

I’d imagine those that listen to London Grammar, and I mean TRULY listen to them will pick up on feelings that those who just skim through will miss out on. There’s innocence and fear on this record- two of the things that make us human. Having these vulnerable characteristics will cause you to pick up on every tiny detail on If You Wait.

As someone who is more delicate than tough (I’ve reached the stage where I no longer wish to try to change this) If You Wait is sort of like..well, it is almost as if London Grammar are telling you that it is alright to be a bit of a coward. To be a little lost, to be a little troubled. If I wasn’t so tired, I think I would have cried listening to this record. This is tugging at the heartstrings at its finest.

If You Wait is made for the shorter, dark days. It is made for solitude. It is made for inner peace. It is made for you to find pieces of yourself that you daren’t share with others; because they’d deem it as ugly. Music will never call out your traits or make you feel ashamed. That’s why I love music. That’s why I believe that If You Wait could possibly be one of the most ethereal records I’ve heard in a long time.

As the sky is now dark, I urge you to click on this link: http://www.londongrammar.com/ifyouwait and close your eyes. Close your eyes and go somewhere where nothing and where no one can disturb you. Find your inner peace and do not let go of it. Cry if you want; better out than in. Let Nightcall be the song that breaks your heart. Let this record be the record that breaks your heart in the most angelic way possible.

London Grammar; London’s finest.

WILLIS EARL BEAL-Nobody Knows.

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Those who struggle with their own reflection and for those who constantly feel uncomfortable in the skin they were placed in; there is an outlet for all of these ugly feelings. Sometimes you are not the one who gets them out, sometimes it is someone else with not just a gift, but a blessing to unleash everything you feel because sometimes, you just physically cannot do it.

At the start of 2012 I wrote about a singer that I accidentally found, proving that sometimes accidents are no bad thing. I became fascinated with Willis Earl Beal’s music because there was nothing about him floating around on the internet. Nobody knew who he was. Nobody knew really where he was. Those that found him were more than likely feeling the same as me; lost. And those that listened to him immediately felt as if they had found some kind of home in his music.

Willis posses the soul of Sam Cooke and the gnarly,raspy drawl of Tom Waits. Willis has soul, and it is infectious. It is the most beautiful thing. Willis had nothing before his debut record was released. He was homeless. He made posters with his number on for people to call just to hear him sing. Willis took it back to how it should have been done, how it always should be done. So what has he done a year on from his debut?

Well, his music is still as raw. His music is still as heartbreaking. Nobody Knows is a phenomenal record, and I sincerely hope this is labelled as a record of the year because it is seriously unlike anything else we’ve had in such a long long time. Chan Marshall (Cat Power) features on Coming Through; with her distinctive voice and Willis’ heartbreaking (it is the only way to describe his voice) just sounds so perfect. I can only hope that this is the start of something musically beautiful between the two. I hope they make a haunting Blues kind of record; enough to make you feel like you’ve experienced the worst kind of pain possible, but tough enough to pull through it.

Whilst his debut, Acousmatic Sorcery seemed to focus on dealing with isolation and despair- Nobody Knows seems to have slightly more positive tones to it. Yet, Willis has a voice that is just made to break your heart mainly because of how much soul is there and how you can tell every single word he is singing means the world to him. And because of this, his words mean everything to you.

I’m too young to have experienced the likes of Howlin’ Wolf first time round, but I can imagine those that were fortunate enough to do so felt like I did the first time I ever heard Willis Earl Beal. Nobody Knows is the kind of record you play when you’re searching for answers that nothing nor no one can seem to give you. Too Dry To Cry is a wonderful example of how strong his voice is. The production on this record is just as raw as Willis’ voice. I think if you listen to his music and you don’t believe him, you’re not listening to it right. I know I’m being entirely biased, but I really cannot understand how anyone could not fall hopelessly and helplessly in love with Willis Earl Beal.

One thing I’ve noticed (amongst many) is that Nobody Knows fits perfectly after Acousmatic Sorcery. Acousmatic Sorcery is the thunderstorm and Nobody Knows is that much-needed sunshine. Nobody Knows is another raw record that serves as a beacon of hope. Sure it may be a bit more positive than his debut, but there are songs on this record that will just bring you to the brink of tears; the song I have in mind that may possibly ruin you is What’s The Deal? It’s a song that resembles being the only person left in a bar and consuming too much alcohol. It is the realisation of being alone, even if you are pathetically told over and over again that you aren’t.

Willis sums up the best and worst feelings a person can have in his music, and that’s what makes him a source of comfort and an ounce of strength for when you really have nothing left. He’s my generation’s Townes Van Zandt, and I am so proud to be a fan of Willis Earl Beal.