Part of my brain (small but insistent) is hardwired to source quotes from the music of Buffalo-born singer-songwriter Ani di Franco to suit almost any occasion. For example: every time I make soldiers for boiled eggs, I hear in my head: ‘The butter melts out of habit; the toast isn’t even warm.’ Writing something about… Read more »
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Vin’s Night In at The Hospital Club, 22nd February
Vin’s Night In is one of the most enjoyable and authentic events in independent music, one that truly celebrates artists, collaboration and (sometimes) cheese and pineapple on cocktail sticks. I’m really excited to be joining Lorna Blackwood, Ben Mark, Jay Scott & The Find and Vin himself at the Hospital Club in Covent Garden on… Read more »
The Story of Lila
When I was about eighteen I fell in love with a band called Morphine. In particular, with their album The Night, an album as mystically dark and nocturnal as its name. Using a palette of low voice, low cello, low drums, low piano and moody, mournful backing vocals, the album conjured visions of parties fuelled… Read more »
Friday 24th January at the Provenance
I’m really looking forward to playing with the wonderful Hannah White, Vin Goodwin and Jinnwoo at the Provenance at 8pm on Friday 24th January. For more information, visit the Facebook event Hope to see you there.
The Story of Atlas
This song is one of my favourites from I Am Not The Night. We added it to the album late; it was written just before we started recording. It came from a handful notes, originally: the A major chord with a rising scale in the right hand, and a D sharp, played over the arpeggios…. Read more »
Album Tracking, Day Three
November 11th – Day Three 9.40am I don’t understand how you do it: the no-sleep, the nights so late they become nonexistent, just darker passages of studio days, the clockless spaces where time is marked out only in barlines and beats. It’s like Marwood’s commentary in Withnail and I: ‘Time change… you lose, you gain…… Read more »
Album Tracking, Day Two
November 10th – Day Two 10.15am I make my way to the studio, running slightly late, stopping at the Hale Village Tesco for additional supplies en route. It’s a clear, crisp morning; the sun twinkles on windows and car bonnets, and the Millmead Estate is calm. There’s a lot to do today. First, I make… Read more »
Album Tracking, Day One
November 9th – Day One 9.28am I have packed as if for an Arctic excursion: thermals, fingerless gloves, lemons, energy balls made (by me) from dates and desiccated coconut, camera, bottled water. Coloured pens for notes, Green and Blacks miniature chocolate bars for novelty value and sustenance. Assorted chargers. The morning is grey and rain-tinged,… Read more »
Stage fright and singing lessons: the story of Self Help
In February 2009, I started playing acoustic gigs again after a very long break. I chose the venues I knew and loved best: the Regal Room, the Bedford, the Cobden Club (alas no more), the Troubadour. I had a case for my keyboard that rendered it nearly-unliftable, but would protect it well in the backs… Read more »
Making a new album…
…doesn’t happen very often. So I’m excited. I’m also excited to be working with composer and producer Paul Ressel, who’s worked previously with Bryn Christopher and Lana Del Rey. We’re still at the preproduction stage, which means arranging strings and experimenting with a pallette of instruments for each of track (as well as drinking a… Read more »
The Story of Divine
This is the first in a series of posts that will tell the stories behind the songs on I Am Not The Night. I plan to write them in the order in which the songs were written; with Divine, it’s easy – I was eighteen!
Review from the Afterword of Vin’s Night In at St James Theatre
A little review from the Afterword by the lovely Azeem of my performance at St James Theatre on the 20th September. Thank you Ellie Rose for the photograph.