The Lady Husk Diaries

April is full of showers!

2008-04-30T12:46:00.004+01:00

It feels like this month has been a complete washout! In my reference to the weather, I guess it is inevitable during the month of April to get exactly that April showers...And as I look out of my window at work, and see yet another downpour and wish of being in warmer climes and listen to the Blade Runner Soundtrack forgetting how wonderful this album is, I like that, when you re discover those little gems. Well i am back from a wee short break from the blogging, just been working like a dog on so many things, and I start a new job in the next few weeks as a music coordinator for a youth arts project based in South East London, in fact its in a place called Downham which has a history of racial tension and was once a strong hold for the BNP! So I feel already this new job is going to be throwing up a lot of new challenges for me, thankfully it is only part time and I can at last give some proper time to the new album which I know every time I write this blog that I am saying I am almost done, almost done, then like I always do I get distracted and have to work on something more pressing, or a job that will pay me a little money to pay the bills and the rent. Such is the life of a musician, but nope I am not complaining as I feel at times this is what keeps me firmly grounded and keeps me in touch with reality.
I am still working with the young people on the Ain't No Black in the Union Jack project, we had a big disappointment the other week though, one of the laptops at the studio got stolen, with everything on, all the hard work from all the music groups just gone!! what urks me the most, is the studio is in a building that has CCTV and its like Fort Knox getting in, you need a pass key and then keys to enter the studios!! What hurts me the most is that someone must of known what the place was and just saw it as an opportune moment without realising that this is project for young people to help them realize their dreams and their passion for music. After the initial shock and sadness, I did manage to find some of their tracks on another computer and we can at least salvage some of the material, and all the groups took the news so well and all had something positive to take from it, saying that they felt they could deliver their vocal tracks much better the second time around...
So all in all it is going to work out in the end.
Life still has its up and downs for me, and like anything everyday has it's challenges, and at times it feels like I am banging my head against a brick wall!
I feel at times that I am having to deal with other peoples problems trying to help them through their little blips, and often forget mine, I honestly don't mind being there for certain friends and family as I know they have been there for me in the past. I think I am partial to forgetting that maybe I too need a shoulder to cry on every now and then.
I do have a bit of a gripe though a really good friend of mine who shall remain nameless has been writing a blog for a long while now, and its one of those blogs that just happens to rant about her life, brilliant and witty, and I have often wondered that she would make a superb TV writer, some folk may find her writing offensive, but are we now in a world, I feel at times that has gone PC mad, don't get me wrong I want this world to be a better place and to have us all living in harmony, end the war in Iraq, stop racial hatred all the things most people would not tolerate, but what I find incredible is that have we now lost the power of freedom of speech and are we going to be policed for merely expressing an opinion? There are certain words that we can no longer use for fear of upsetting folk, even though it may be used in a context that ultimately is not offensive. So my question is to all you out there, is do you think that the word PC is now over used and are we now having to dumb down everything we say? Some food for thought perhaps.......

Dreaming in Technicolour

2008-03-26T13:56:00.002Z

I have a headache today, maybe it has something to do with Chlorine at the Swimming Pool this morning....It sure is nice though to swim at 6.30am outside, to hear the birds chirpping even in London Fields! I do think however they need to clean the bottom of the pool out, as there were some rather interesting remnants sitting on the bottom, some of which were rather disturbing!
So I seem to be back in the world of writing and am glad that I may have gotten over that creative block, well I hope I have....I do however sometimes, listen back to stuff and think, Oh god that is just shite!

One great thing this week is that Hipnotica the lovely band from Portugal have made a film to go with their remix of Joe Luke and its pretty damn good so visit www.hipnotica.net and check it out and please tell all your friends.

One of the worse things to happen over the last few weeks is that one of the laptops I use with my students got nicked with everything they have worked on, it was very bizarre set of circumstances and I really feel like it was an inside job! The place where I teach is over the top on security and you have to go through so many doors to gain access to the studios. For me its not so much the laptop being stolen, but what guts me the most is all the hard work we had all put in and how this will be gone forever. So now we have to go back and re record over 20 tracks!
Bless the students, they took it all in their stride and even managed to make a positive out of it, saying that it gives them the opportunity to do their vocals again as they all felt that they had improved since recording...It happens to us all at some point when we loose our work and sometimes it happens for a reason, you often find yourself recreating something so much better than the original.
So I am hoping that we will overcome this little blip and create something bigger and better!

Its out!

2008-03-05T14:50:00.003Z

Hi its me again, i know i have been so slack in blog world of late, not really having much time to write.
Have been working like a dog, and burning the candle at both ends. But its great to be back in demand especially as a DJ, not done that for a while, so having to dust off all the old vinyl so they get to see the light of day once again. Deep joy, especially playing all the old electronica from the mid to late 90's, aah the good old days!
Also been trying to get my head back on straight as I have been somewhat consumed with matters of the heart, but i have finally distanced myself from all that crap, and trying to get back to looking after me! So back on the good ship Neotropic and looking for a smoother ride than of late. So jump aboard me shipmates as this is going to be a glorious trip!
Hooray the album Whiter Rabbits is finally on the streets and I have good word that its doing very well, if only out for a week! So all you loyal fans thank you, I am extremely appreciative of all the support I am still getting.
Lets hope i get the new album finished before the end of the year!
The tracks are finally shaping up and I have found some great new folk to work with, and ideas are springing forth from all corners of the globe!
Once I get some cash I am looking at finally upgrading my lovely but now very old power book which is just finding it too hard to cope with all the audio, so a new machine is on my wish list, along with some new studio monitors which I have managed to score some second hand ones for a really good price.
Been working on lots of different projects of late, recording voice overs for documentaries, one on Air the other day. Along with a couple of really interesting art projects with some very interesting artists, so fingers in many pies as they say. Also there are some other promising collaborations in the pipeline of which i will tell more once they are solid.
Ok folks I hope you all have a great week.

Freakin Friday!

2008-02-22T14:58:00.004Z

Hi its moi again, yep I have been away for a while....mainly because the site has been out of action, getting all its bits sorted thanks again to my main man Dan in New Zealand, he rocks!
Life has had its ups and downs of late, but each day brings its own challenges as it does for us all and that is what living is.

I am hoping that finally I am getting ever closer to finishing the album, I have found some lovely folk to work with over the last few weeks, a cello player, a couple of drummers who seem to play a whole host of instruments as well, so I feel very blessed that I have the opportunity to work with other like minded souls. I have also been working with the lovely Diana from Candythief who is an exceptional guitarist and just a joy to work with, she and I have worked with each other on her own project and if any of you are interested check her out on MySapce.

I am also very excited at the prospect of working with a wonderful film maker in NY, and I will be making a trip hopefully in the spring to swim among the fishes under the Brooklyn Bridge! Can't really say anymore than that at this point as its top secret, but
Dallaire has some great ideas for two new tracks off the new album which if I haven't mentioned already is called Equestrienne, she will be definitely working with me on Sirens Sister to start with and she has also expressed some great ideas for a track called Hezbollah Girl. So I am pretty stoked to be finally working toward some visual work again and with a very unique director. Can't wait to be back in the Big Apple!

Whiter Rabbits has been put back till the 26th February due to the distributors schedule so apologies for anyone who thought it was out this week, it will be worth the wait I assure you, promise..... If you are finding it hard to track it down, please go to the MySpace page of Squids Eye and you can pre order it there.
My recommendations for music this week are
Les Savy Fav
Postal Service
MGMT
And if any of you out there live in London I will be filling in at the Scary Gotcha Club at The Redchurch for the next 3 Sundays spinning as usual an eclectic set of tunes for your delight and also the next 3 Mondays at the Vibe Bar which will be alongside live music from Audio Porn and Bruise on 25/2/08, Shuffle on 3/3/08 and Now
10/3/08 all great bands so pop along for some great new music too.

From Small Acorns!

2008-02-08T14:27:00.000Z

So its Friday and I am looking forward to getting home this evening and closing that door behind me...Its been pretty full on this week, but as my title suggests from small acorns, and I feel like I have planted a few of those this week, in the hope of some large oak trees in the future!
Time to get back to the writing and recording, seems like an age since I was able to do that, seem to be working for everyone else except myself these days, no matter it keeps a roof over my head and gives me warmth when I am cold....
I met and worked with an artist last weekend who is original from Iran, she escaped when she was 9 because her mother and grandmother where on the wanted list once the shah was deposed. Her work is about her past and what she feels it is like to be seen by the world and how people perceive her, most people assume so much when they cant place you and this definitely had some resonance with me. People are forever asking where I am from, I get everything from Spanish, Italian to eastern European so quite a mixed bag really, of course they are on the wrong continent, and this is too what Shabz (Iranian Artist) experience has been and like her I don't always feel like I am home, where is home?? Being in a city that is predominately made up of many cultures i often wonder how many people ask that question themselves, Where is Home?

Dan the web man, yep that does sound a bit corny, has been working his arse off for me on sorting the website out and if there have been any inconveniences this week I can only apologize as we have been trying to iron out some glitches, well Dan has. Hopefully in the coming weeks it will be in tip top form. Also with the imminent release of the album you can pre order it from Squids Eye Recordings and be one of the lucky few to get a bonus copy of Prestatyn, so hurry while stocks last!

Finally I am hoping to finish the album very soon but am trying to work out the best way to do it, its pretty much written it just needs to be finished and I am on the look out for all kinds of peeps to work with, and so far the response has been great, I am so blown away by peoples generosity and their kind words of support it is truly a humbling experience.
But if any of you out there that are budding film makers or animators I am looking to work with, so please contact me.

Well the sky is blue and its one of those great days when I wished I was out horse riding through crispy fields of green with the wind in my hair, oh the freedom....beats sitting in a stuffy office, inspirational me thinks, oh well I can day dream......

Recommendations

2008-01-31T16:39:00.000Z

I just had to post this as I have just discovered the most wonderful artist called Bon Iver.
Recorded in his fathers cabin in the middle of winter in Wisconsin, it evokes such beauty and something so fragile.
If any of you have seen the film Into the Wild this would be the perfect soundtrack! Not sure when the album is released but I suggest you go and check him out on Jagjaguwar. There is a great story behind this album and for me just makes it all the more wonderful to listen to....anyways just wanted to share it with you guys....

Back in the saddle

2008-01-30T13:05:00.000Z

Its been a few weeks since my last post, been away as they say....But all is good in Neotropic world and with the imminent release of "Whiter Rabbits" which is fantastic and its been a while coming but lift off will be on the 19Th of February.Check out the beautiful artwork too.

Good news too am hoping to get back into the studio in the coming months with a some live musicians, the album is a 3rd done but I am not looking to bring a much more live element to the mix and collaborating with the talents again of Aiden Day who has already worked with me on some of the new tracks on Equestrienne, bringing a whole new edge to the Neotropic sound.
Also hoping to fit in a couple of live shows at some point too just to test the waters with the new material. So all in all some good stuff in the pipeline.
Please keep checking back to see when I may well be in town near you.

Big up to Squids Eye for all their hard work in getting the stuff out there.

Is it cold enough to snow!

2008-01-03T14:10:00.000Z

Another day is well under way and it does seem to be dragging, every time I look at the clock it has barely moved and yet it feels like I have been here for hours. My head is full of
things I wish it wasn't and trying to concentrate is a feat in itself and I slept real bad last night too. You know those nights when your head is spinning with too much information and unable to switch off. Waking up on the hour, every hour, so I feel completely wiped out today. All kind of spacey and light headed....
It must be bad if I did not even attempt to go for a run too, that is definitely out of character for me.
I feel sick and have wanted to throw up all day. Not nice.
Even trying to eat my favorite foods does not even have the desired effect, and I even
smoked a couple of roll ups yesterday, me the one who never smokes, hates in fact, but it gave me a bit of comfort, short term and a blazing headache today too.
The sky is Grey and dark and it feels like an eternal night and I just wanna get back under that duvet and wait for the spring to arrive.
Ride out this storm as quickly as possible, that is my impatience kicking in and I feel like an ass or is it an arse!
hmmmmmm I am undecided by that one.
I should be working but as I have not really had a lunch break today, this is making up for that.
No plans for this evening, gotta get some food at the supermarket as the fridge is pretty bare, well apart from a couple of bottles of champagne, one opened.. sounds kind of decadent to have champagne. Be nice to actually crack one open and share it rather than sipping one glass and putting the bottle back in the fridge!

Climb every mountain!

2008-01-02T13:33:00.001Z

A perfect title for what feels like the biggest mountain of all today.
Life just doesn't seem to go the way I would like it sometimes even me Riz
ever the optimist, (well most of the time), how ever shitty it gets. I
write this blog to share some of my thoughts as they happen. Today is
one of those days.
Its a strange day, filled with much thought and contemplation and I am aware that we are at the start of a new year.
We all have our dreams and hopes for the coming year. I have my dreams and hopes too,
but I seem to have them on hold today because my
thoughts are with someone else's dreams and hopes for the future.
Someone who I love and care for.
Someone I at times was not totally aware of their needs.
Someone who needed me as much as I needed them and just was not able to be there all the time.
Someone who looked out for me.
And so many other things.

These past weeks have been like a roller coaster,
and at times I am barely holding on. Coming to terms with loss is so
difficult as it goes through so many stages. Today is stage one, the
biggest mountain of all!
I have to throw it out to the universe in the hope that perhaps in time it will return.

As another year closes.....and we say bye to 2007

2007-12-30T17:11:00.000Z

I am not one for normally being bah humbug at this time of year, but to
be honest I have not really felt like celebrating it this year. And
this is why I chose to spend it on my own, not even to wallow in my
blues but to really look at what Christmas really stands for me. This
holiday my family are trying to get through it the best way they can
without their
step mom and more than anything celebrate her life. My siblings have
their kids and this for me is the one thing that really sums up
Christmas, their faces lighting up when they unwrap their gifts or the
sight of the Christmas tree all shiny and bright.
Alas
these days the Father Christmas legend is lost as the gifts become ever
more
expensive and parents ultimately have to come clean and tell their kids
that Santa is pretty darn broke and he is going to have to get a loan
from the credit company to buy thatXbox 360 that you so desperately want!
My
parents did not have loads of money and never ever had a credit card,
my mum would be saving money throughout the year to buy our gifts. Not
only that they did some elaborate tricks to keep the Father Christmas
illusion alive for us for years, to the point of putting reindeer prints and sleigh tracks in the
snow. We would creep down in the morning before our parents to see all
the milk drunk and carrots eaten and would often find a half eaten mince pie!
One
year we thought we had been missed and that our presents had not been
delivered only to be fooled again by our parents as we were taken out
into the garden to receive out brand new bikes. I don't think I got off that bike for the whole day.
When I was a kid, I never wanted Christmas Day to end and forever wished that every day could be Christmas.
Whatever
happened to just getting a bike or a skateboard, this is what I mean we
are all driven by its commercialism and have we really lost the real
meaning
of this time of year, that it is also about family and friends,
thinking of those who are far away or not around anymore. Perhaps we
are all so nervous that it can also bring a lot of frustrations and
stress. I mention stress because I dared to venture to the supermarket
on Christmas Eve thinking, it will be quiet, how wrong was I, it was
bedlam and people were like crazy to the point if you were an alien
looking in your really would think that the world was headed for some
kind of disaster!
I unfortunately don't
have kids and therefor am not able to know how much pressure that is
put on parents today, I know for a fact my sister spent a fortune but
shopped carefully not to over spend or spoil her kids. So in my own
humble way I wish that every kid in the world got the one gift they
really wanted and appreciated it. Even if they still think Santa bought if for them.
So
I did indeed have a thoughtful Christmas and of course it brings about
reflecting on the past year and what it has brought both good and bad, and
how I would like to do things differently in 2008.
Perhaps
think a little more before I open my mouth or push the send button!
This I may add has always been a work in progress....

So here we are at the
end of 2007 feeling sort of optimistic considering and I hope this
will carry me through till the end of 2008.

I hope to finally get
the new album finished as it has been a long hard road and one that
still has to be conquered and it will in its own time. You cannot force
these things, especially when there is so much to do in one day alone.

Whiter Rabbits is set for release on the 19th February and I am looking forward to seeing how it does considering it is a re release, but with an added disc of fantastic remixers, who all did such amazing work and I feel extremely blessed by that. With it's brand spanking new artwork too which hopefully will grab the eye of one or two new converts.

This
year has also made me see what great friends I have both old and new
and how they have helped me grow and learn to understand things about
them and myself.
And also my family too, we have had out ups and downs but i think through all of this it has brought us all a lot closer especially lately, putting all our differences aside and being there for each other.
Knowing that I have such a great friends and a family if a little disfunctional at times, brings me
again to why this times of year should also be about appreciating those
people
around you, and letting them know that you love them. I know that might
sound like some old sentimental bullshit and yeah I guess I am at times
that romantic sentimentalist or maybe I am just getting old!
We have all had our rocky moments this year, but we always seem to come
through the scrapes and if anything grow all the more stronger for it..

So before I go off on some tangent here which is not necessary as I
know, we all know this.
And as Frank would say "the end is near, the final curtain" for 2007 at least and I can
look forward to all the adventures to be had in 2008.

Christmas spirits

2007-12-16T21:35:00.000Z

I have not had a lot of time to keep up with my blog of late; there has
just been so much going on, both in my working life and in personal.
Not that I am a bah humbug kind of person but it does seem at times
that everything and anything is sent to test you as this time of family
get tog ether’s, it certainly is a time of reflection as it is also the
end of what seems to been a year that has passed me by! A lot has
occurred and now it is again time to look forward to what is in store
for the next year.
With a new album on the horizon, well the re
release of White Rabbits, now called Whiter Rabbits, new artwork and
new mixes due to land on the 19Th Feb 2008. It will be good to finally
get it out as it has been finished for what seems like months, but like
everything it needs time to be sent to all the relevant press peeps in
the hope it will be given some, it is difficult to say at this point
whether it will as it is such a competitive world out there and every
one is vying for even the smallest amount of press. So I am keeping the
fingers and toes crossed that maybe one or two reviews will help its
cause.
I went to Berlin a few weeks back, not been there for a good
few years and was surprised at how much the city has changed, and how
different it feels to London, of course it feels a lot smaller and
friendlier on some levels and makes me feel at times that London could
do with looking at its European counterparts and maybe take a leaf out
of their books. Obviously this is just my opinion, but it felt so much
cosmopolitan in some respects and not a city that felt like you were
being ripped off at every opportunity. Or have I just become far to
cynical and jaded in respect to what has become my home town, I just
feel at times that however great London is for music, fashion and art
in leading the way, and this is something that I am totally spoiled by,
but just being able to get around this great city can be such a
struggle at times and so bloody expensive to the point that you are
often pressed up against the window or being breathed on by someone who
has not cleaned their teeth in weeks! Unfortunately I do have to wok
and take the bus to work, thankful that I will only be on it for no m
ore than 20 minutes, no wonder folk are so miserable do you really
blame them when they often have to wait long periods of time to catch
their bus or train only to find that is absolutely jammed solid. I have
travelled a lot and of course there are cities that have similar
problems but none to that of my experience of London’s.
Maybe I do need to leave and go and live like a hermit in some far off place maybe that is why I have nightmares for it!
But
on another hand I do love London for this as well and how we all just
accept that this is what we have to do, and as a people we are not most
known for our complaining skills which perhaps if we did complain more
then maybe things would improve, anyways less of this ranting and more
on how my life will get better next year as this one cant really get
any worse.
The loss of a relationship that promised so much.
The loss of a stepmother who was far too young to be taken from this world.
Life
can just be so cruel at times and how on earth do we manage to keep
going, but we do and I have learnt to take each day and what it throws
at that and me is all I can do.
The great thing is there has also
been some wonderful moments this year and I feel blessed that I have
those and that I can look forward to what my new adventures will be in
2008.

When it Rains it pours......

2007-11-06T15:30:00.000Z

I am sure all of you have bad break up stories, well mine is probably no different to that of others!
Why do these things have to be so horrible and why do we need to be so cruel to one another. I have to say even though it is only Tuesday, I feel like it has already been a long week..I am emotionally drained and perhaps this has to do with not having much sleep and worrying unduly about a number of things in regards to my emotional state. I never want bad blood with anyone and perhaps that is why i get so hurt in these kind of situations, I guess I am never going to be in the stakes of Super Bitch! This lion is all heart, well perhaps a broken one at the moment......anyways less of my miserable woes as this can be tedious for the best of us.
The one shining light is my new found music adventure and sometime soon you will be able to hear what I have been up to with my new sonic partner in crime. We have not come up with a name as of yet for the project but like the music its gonna take some time to find our niche.
Still working part time at the website and even though I love the folk here, I just feel that it is more of a case of paying the rent with this work, and I find myself just becoming almost robotic and that I am jacked in to the main frame.

I was lucky enough to go to my first civil partnership reception the other night and was a great excuse to get those girlie glad rags on, and to hang out with one of my best friends Paul who looked dapper in his suit. The reception was held at the Royal Opera House which was very decadent..There was some interesting and flamboyant people there and it was so lovely to do something so different and after a few glasses of bubbles and being entertained by the ever fabulous Faye Presto, who managed to make my ring disappear and then reappear in a packet of cigarettes!
Saturday night was an old friends 30th birthday and i have known Daniel since he was 17 years old as we used to be both signed to Ninja Tune, it is hard to believe he is now 30 and one of the most talented TV composers, hence his name Mr TV! Lovely evening spent most of it mooching around on my own but hey again after a few free drinks it didn't seem so bad! Plus the karaoke band were excellent, people just got up and sang renditions of their fave punk songs, very original.....
Ok it is time for me to leave work and head over to Bethnal Green to teach.

Sonic Sunday

2007-10-28T13:15:00.000Z

Its my weekly blog, and it is looking like this is the only time that I get to write these days!
Too many things to and not enough hours in the day to do them all in.....
Yesterday was my students first proper gig, and after a week of students backing out
it was good to see at least one of the groups actually participating in what was a very disorganised event, as the usual scenario goes through my time as a musician nothing is
as planned and throughout any performance set up the goal posts are constantly moved as was the case yesterday. On arrival we were told that the stage needed to be moved and the soundsystem would be changing. So after arriving at this outdoor event on what was not the nicest of October days, we had to wait around for almost two hours before we could really set anything up.
I guess in retrospect this would at least show these young people that there will be times when they would be faced with these kinds of situations and knowing how to deal with them.
I have also started a new music project with a very talented but yet undiscoverd artist
Ross Adams, who has been working mainly in film sound for the last few years and we are embarking on some new ground together. Our first steps are to create some music together in the hope that we can release it at a later date. It is nice to collaborate as I feel a little isolated sometimes working on my own and to have ideas to bounce off someone else can be really rewarding, of course it does not always work out as sometimes personalities can get in the way and this is always a test for artists a like as we all have our distinct ways of working.
It is early days yet but so far it has been a real easy going with no pressure, no mad moments or ego's getting in the way which is really refreshing.
So another week is upon me and I feel somewhat optimistic for the next few weeks and even though I am not a huge fan of the winter months, it does however offer up time to be inside writing so that can't be a bad thing can it?

Autumn Delights

2007-10-21T12:19:00.000+01:00

It's one of those beautiful crispy Autumn days that you just long to be
out in the countryside or at least the local park. I would actually
prefer somewhere that was not so populated but at least there are
places to escape in the city even if you have to fight your way to find
a spot. I unfortunately am unable to get out into the fresh air just
yet as I am going to be helping a good friend of mine Diana tidy up one
of her tracks so she can send out to perspective labels. Her band are called Candythief
and they are one of my favourite up and coming acts. So this hopefully
will be over by late afternoon and maybe I will get the chance to pop
out.
Been a great week and have had a packed one, both night and
day, not much time for rest at present but all good. I went to catch
the launch of GeorgeDemure's new album at the Macbeth in Hoxton which was a fun night and got to hang out with some of my dear
friends which is always a bonus when you have not had time to see any of them.
Friday I went over to see another friend of mine play some records at a pub, which was great as it has been a while since I have taken the time out to rediscover my love of
electronica both old and new as I seem to of got caught up in listening to everything but electronica, so I can thank Ross for doing that for me and for inspiring me as well.
Last
night I went out with Emily to catch some comedy and something I can
honestly say I have only done once in the past, and not something I
would say I was an expert at, but I do know what I like. It was
interesting and in someways looking at how vulnerable you are as a
comedian, as one of the acts was so bad and died a death, in
fact I
got the impression his material was just lacking in any kind of humour
and his delivery was just painful to watch. But all the other acts were
superb and I can only commend them on their fearless approach to
something I would not in a million years ever try.
So all in all it has been an eventful week and another week is already upon me, which a load more things to be working on.
My students next week will be performing at a festival in Shadwell Park as part of an
event
called Patchwork, we have a whole afternoon of performances and
workshops. I think this will be a great opportunity for the general
public to see how talented they all are and for the students to get
some great experience.

Anyway Diana will be here shortly and I just fancy a brew.

Tooth Ache

2007-10-14T19:12:00.001+01:00

There is no other pain like tooth ache and I have suffered with it the past week!
This
throbbing comes and goes, and I am so thankful I have a dental
appointment tomorrow as much as I hate the dentist, plus it is not
cheap. I am worried that I may loose this tooth, which is something I
don't want, as more than anything I cannot stand having teeth pulled,
Have
had some terrible experiences with teeth, once I had had so much
Novocaine that when I got up from the dentists chair I collapsed into a
crumpled heap on the floor!
Plus
I have had two wisdom teeth extracted in the chair which was awful, the
other two thankfully were at the hospital under a general anaesthetic.
It has been another full on week and I am sad as it is already Sunday evening, my every
waking
moments are packed, I at least give myself a lie in on a Sunday and sip
coffee
and read my emails, but today I had to get some Cd's burnt and a film
on to tape and a mix to finish and get mixed down. I am happy to say
all have been done and now I have a
few
minutes to write my blog this week, I was in the hope that I could do
it daily and I hope this week I can at least get a couple more in than
I did last week.

I am still in the the throws of writing and like everything it comes in fazes and now I am itching to start a new track,
I have been lucky enough to of been sent some great guitar stuff from
an artist called Center Divider and hope to work my magic with it and
create something for the new album.

The tooth is still throbbing and I am tempted to dose up on pain killers, but I fear I have none of my rather strong ibrofuens left as they work magic in no time!

Plans
for the evening, well I would like to catch up on some movies and this
week I have managed to watch Zodiac and Scanner Darkly, both of which I
can recommend but I am sure if anyone actually reads these are well
ahead of me on the film side of things and have seen both these ages
ago!

My other fave thing right now is the last series of the
Sopranos and I am sad to see this being the end but hey all good things
an all. I think that is on TV tonight so I have that to look forward to.

Teaching
was great this week, and all the groups now have vocalised at least one
track and I am extremely excited to mix them and to see what they come
up with next as they are constantly surprising me, again I am sure you
have all heard this but I am truly blessed to be working with such
talented young people, one of which has gone on to record with Asian
Dub Foundation at the age of 15, how cool is that! I look forward to hearing the results.

OK I do need to source some pain killers as this is too distracting..more soon....

Sunday Sunday

2007-10-07T18:07:00.001+01:00

Where does the weekend go to!
I feel like no sooner have I just got into my weekend stride, and suddenly it is Sunday evening! Oh time flys when you are having fun.
Got a lot done, finally got all the studios up and running for the groups at AFED and am pleased now we can accommodate
all the students so they don't feel like they need to sit around and
wait their turn, we shall see tomorrow with my largest group and see if
they are more productive, I am of course ever the optimist in this
situation as I really believe they have a lot to give as young artists.

Was out last night at a friends birthday dinner, went to a rather nice Turkish place in Exmouth market very reasonably priced and very nice food. Of course the company was exceptional
as it always is with my friends and good to see people I have not seen
in a while. A few glasses of vino and then home by 12am, did a bit more
work on a new track I am working on till about 1.30am.
Met also with a band yesterday call Paraglyder
who want some help in recording their new album and will be starting
that in November, so a lot of interesting things happening, just need
to remember to finish my own album.

Oh my neighbour downstairs
is playing guitar again, the same tune that she has been working on for
over a month! I have resorted to working on headphones these days as I
feel that both my neighbours, especially the one upstairs who never
leaves her flat, but just seems to creep around which kind of bugs me.
I guess I seem a little ungrateful at times at my situation, but that is
what it is like when you all live on top of one another and all have
wooden floors. I just feel like I can never really let rip, I mean I do
like to play music loud now and then but I do feel somewhat inhibited
as neither of my neighbours has the courage or even the knowledge of
how to communicate their grievances each resorting to a somewhat
childish outburst. Kind of sad when they are both adults. But hey I am
not going to let them ruin it for me and stuff it if they got a problem
more fool them for not taking the time to talk to a neighbour......

Need to take out some time tonight and perhaps just kick back and watch a movie.
Make some nice food too.

She's Lost Control

2007-10-04T19:00:00.000+01:00

Aah Thursday evening and a week is almost over, another full week and
it doesn't stop here, off out in a while to meet with a friend for a
drink.
Was lucky enough last night to see a preview of the new film
Control about Joy Division and Ian Curtis. An exceptional film and I
can see why it has already won an award. Beautifully shot in black and
white, adding more grunginess to the somewhat grey town of Macclesfield where most of the film is set. The lead role is play by Sam Riley who I feel was perfect in the role of Ian and his mannerisms
especially when they played live was just amazing, I know I may be
gushing over this, but to have all those great songs in my dreams last
night, must of had some bearing on how it effected me. For all those
who may or not know anything of Joy Division then please do yourself a
favour and go and check it out, highly recommended by me.

I am
excited with the prospect of the weekend and wanting to get my teeth
back into the music, feels like ages ago last weekend now. Trying to
find myself a bass teacher as I am wanting to brush my skills up.
Looking forward to getting my teeth into something new to learn. Also
have been thinking of working with an illustrator to work on an idea
for an animation, still working that one out in my head, but excited by
the prospect all the same. Feels like I have a lot in this head of mine
to explore it is just getting the time to do it all, and right now I
just don't seem to have any, unless I stop sleeping!

The
teaching has been good but we are fighting to get our large space back
as it has been given to a rival organisation which is unfortunate and
no warning either, but everyone involved inADFED has expressed their concerns and I believe there is a meeting tomorrow to see why this has happened at the expense
of the great work we are already doing and have struggled for the last
few years trying to build up the trust of the young people in the
community and to suddenly be told at a weeks notice that the one place
these young people could feel safe and now this is put into jeopardy because of the actions of a larger organisation
without thinking or even asking those involved how it would effect
them. So my fingers are crossed and that tomorrows meeting will
resolves our grievances.

Back again on the road of a new week.....

2007-10-02T14:31:00.000+01:00

Another week is upon us and already is full on. I actually had a very productive weekend and managed to get some writing done at last, been a very unproductive few months on the music and at last i feel like I have had a bit of a breakthrough, which is always encouraging as you start to feel you have lost it completely. But I am not alone as I found out while talking to one of my good friends who herself is a musician and she too has similar bouts of not much and then a great crop of stuff comes out. It is nice to know that I am not totally alone in feeling like this. Been listening to the track over the last few days and I am pretty pleased with it, needs to be finished and I am looking at getting some violin on it, yet to run that by Jason.
I might even get the rather sexy talents of Diana from Candytheif to play some guitar as I think she may well give it something real special, anyways am just running through ideas in my head, it feels good to be excited by music again.

Teaching last night was kind of OK, I am struggling with this group at times, as there is a little resistance from some of the students but more down to the fact that their mentor is not really communicating with one another, oh well this is a real small thing that needs to be ironed out, and I have conveyed my views to the manager of the course.
I still think this group of students are immensely talented and i love their drive and enthusiasm.

Am at Goat Central right now and just taking time out to write in my blog, always fun here even though job can be a bit laborious, it pays the rent that is what I need to be doing right now, I am ever the optimist even though I do at times have those moments of self doubt and yes I do cry over the stupidest things these day, anything can set me off, I just seem to sensitive to stuff.

am teaching again in a few hours and only another hour here at G Central, listening to great music from our resident Diva DJ Emily and I mean that in the nicest possible way as I really like Emily she is a very cool lady and we have very similar humour which is always nice.

Don't you just love Sunday

2007-09-30T11:23:00.000+01:00

I was never one for a Sunday, but of late I have really began to relish
my Sunday's, to have a bit of a lie in. Lounge around in my PJ's catch
up with the latest of the Archers on the Radio, yes I am one of those
sad people who loves the Archers, must have something to do with
growing up in a farming community. Sipping a cuppa coffee, just really
lazy for a few hours.
Went out to catch some live music last at the Bar Academy in Islington, in a weird
place I think for a rock and roll venue, in a shiny shopping complex.
Met up with Diana and Jeremy, not seen either of them for a while, so
always good to catch up with friends.
Well the first band up,
words cannot describe how awful they were, in fact I got kind of rude
and started shouting out to get them off, which is not at all polite
and I feel kind of bad for doing it, but all the same they were a
really really bad softrockish almost to the point of every cliche in the book was thrown at the audience!
Ouch.....
I was so glad when they left the stage.
I was there to see Alex a mutual friend who plays bass for a band called Silent
Alliance, and I have not seen them since one of the first gigs, and I
liked them then. Wow, when they hit the stage the energy was so
different to that of the previous band, they looked the part they were
awesome, great sound, great songs, oozing confidence compared to the
last time I saw them. Inspiring to see people on stage really doing
something good and enjoying it too.
So will be giving them a glorious write up on Remote Goat tomorrow.

Off to see Sian later and check out a friends open gallery, over in Hoxton. Sian has been in Ireland for a few days so have not seen her for a while.

I had a productive day yesterday and finally got down to some writing and I think I may of started something kind of interesting, been a struggle for a while and as I was dicussing last night with my fellow musician friend Diana, you just seem to go through fazes of writing lots and then nothing. We both agreed that sometimes you give so much energy to other things emotionally and this can almost hinder your output, I feel I have been in exactly that place for the last few months.
So it finally feels good to have some down and I am sure when I have a listen back later know doubt I will hate it.

Fighting back for some kind of democracy

2007-09-26T13:20:00.000+01:00

I sit here at work wondering how life is for those in a country that has been ruled by the military for well over a decade and how at last people have decided that enough is enough. There have been demonstrations for over week no win Burma, home to my grandmother for a few years so I feel like I have some affinity with the people. Over the years I have researched in what life is like for people in this country which elected a democratic leader, but she has been under house arrest for over ten years and never able to take her role on, and so it is great to see that Buddhist monks have led a non violent protest to highlight the plight of the people who are not even able to express how they feel or even protest in anyway without the fear of being arrested and subjected to years of imprisonment, torture or even death. I wish I were in a position to be able to go a document such a historic event, but I am keeping up with the BBC online news and wishing for a peaceful outcome, but already accounts have suggested that there have been beatings and a possible death today.

Today is another day at goat central the sun is out and even though there is a bit of a cold snap, but i like these kind of days which are a bit crispy but still have that brightness of the last days of summer, the smell of Autumn in the air and the horse chestnut trees boughs are full of conkers a reminder of a childhood of playing conkers in the playground. Sore hands from when you missed and got hit on the knuckles for it ouch!@

Feeling pretty tired today, went for an early morning swim, it was just beautiful this morning at 7am and light mist above the water, met with my good friend Elaine, always good to see her. I have to have a bit of a moan but there are some odd people who go swimming and take it so seriously, and also those ones who just splash you to death, even though i am in the real slow lane, what is it with that! I often want to say something like, why don't you go in a faster lane. Is that just me being a bit silly, just because I am slow and wanting to relish my time in the water. I did 26 lengths today, legs feeling it today but I like that endorphins rush after exercise.

Teaching tonight and even though I love the groups I am working with it has been a bit of a struggle this week, due to many of the students not coming prepared to the sessions.
But I guess it is difficult for some of them as they are in their final year of school and have to prepare for GCSE's which some of which is understandable, so I have to be a bit patient.
Lets see how it goes tonight.

Monday once more!

2007-09-24T15:25:00.000+01:00

A week is here once again, I was just too busy and tired yesterday to write yesterday.
Had a pretty productive weekend, had to re do some of the voice over for the Oi Skins in Beijing Documentary. Needed a bit more zest apparantly.
I also uploaded a few of my films and a live performance of Neotropic ad the Montreaux Jazz festival in 1998 so nearly ten years ago!
i still have yet to get back into the music writing fully but have been trying to find a drummer to work with on some of the tracks for the new album Equestrian! Nothing is set as of yet but there are a couple of people I have in mind. It is not important for them to be based here as I have in the past been able to get folk to record themselves and then I fly and mix everything in my studio.
Teaching tonight, a long session too, 4 hours and after a day at goat central inputing date, I know I am going to be feeling it come 9pm tonight!
Went to a house warming event yesterday with my lovely best friend Paul, was good to catch up with him and also meet some of he work colleagues who were all real nice people.
Twenty five minutes before the end of my day here and then over to Bethnal Green. I am thinking that perhaps if i could get some more teaching work then I could perhaps cut my hours down here and hopefully give some more time to music.
Ok I should get back to some more inputting even though i could really go to sleep right now.

Are people just Dumb!

2007-09-22T20:38:00.000+01:00

So here I am just doing my own thing, minding my own as they say and then at 10am this morning I am confronted with this crazy neighbour of mine, who incidently does not know
the art of communication. She would rather scream and rant at the top of her voice below me in the depths of her dark dingy flat and believe me this girl loves to stay up late, playing guitar extremely badly, I thought I was bad but she takes the biscuit for
the worse playing ever! and too be honest her songs ain't that great to boot, but she has a great voice, just shame about the material. But then who am I to pass judgement, its more a matter of taste.....
What is it with folk in London, the art of neighbourly conversation has ceased to exist for me for a long time, people just wanna be aggresive and talk at you through their front doors, rather than engage in human contact!
It is a shame as I am a nice person and am very accomodating if people would at least acknowledge their greivances, but when they stoop to the level of playground mentality I just loose all hope in the human race when they resort to these kind of tactics.I have given them the name of Fruit Loops, I am sandwich between two women who are incapable of any form of communication, but resort to the most immature ways of dealing with their stuff! The fruitloop upstairs likes to play Nelly Furtado at over the top decibels to make a point rather than talking to me. She never leaves her flat and to be honest i think she has some issues! When I first moved in, I made a point of saying I was a musician and that on occasion I may make noise, but again these people seem to make the rules up as they go along and there just seems at times there is one rule for them TV blaring at 4 am most nights and I have gone down on more than one occasion to ask nicely to turn it down as my bed is right above her TV.
So this is what life is like in a city of 11 milllion people all crammed in and living on top of one another. It would not be so bad if folk just got round to talking and I think then it would be a lot more like a community but that ain't gonna happen.
Less of my ranting, and more of the good stuff. Saw a great gig last night and I have to say it has inspired me to get my bass playing back in full swing. Post rockness overload, but I have to say a hark back to those heady days of the late 90's for me and even though it may well of been all done before, both bands I saw were good at what they do. Reminded me of Lateduster out of Minneaoplis, if I could of lifted bothe bands and put them in the mid west of America I think they would of felt right at home.
Today I have been sorting out all my old films and trying to post the stuff on youtube and get a version of my gig at Montreaux to a documentary film maker who is making a film about female electronic musicians of the late 90's. Which fortunately I have had some contribution too.
Also been trying to get my head round this drum machine I have, taken me all afternoon to finally understand how to programme it! Yikes what was that read the manual Riz!

Yeah it is Friday!

2007-09-21T19:33:00.000+01:00

Hooray it is Friday.......
The weekend is here, just home from work and looking forward to meeting up with Emily and John to check out a friend of hers who has a band, kind of post rocky....been a while since i have seen some good music, looking forward to getting out of the house and being around cool peeps, and soaking up the atmosphere.
Plans for the weekend, nothing as of yet but wanting to get down to some writing as it is long overdue, I have a good bed of ideas I just now need to develop them. Really want to find a good drummer as a couple of the tracks could do with live drums. Have put the word out to a few folk, so who knows.

Listening to music before I head over to Islington getting in the mood, don't wanna cane it though, I just can't do the crazy drinking anymore, takes longer to recover when you get older not like in your twenties when you can bounce back almost immediately no matter how much you consume.

Love this track by the Dukes of Stratosphere, had no idea it was made by one of the guys from XTC, a tasty track this one, Mole of the Ministry.

Ok time to get my skates on and head out, talk more tomorrow.

Thoughtful Thursday

2007-09-20T14:24:00.000+01:00

Well up at the crack of dawn , pounding the pavements of East London, well the canal and the park for my run. Then headed off to the Hospital to meet with my new consultant which was a real insight. More tests and a bone scan, I have to wait four months to get the scan, that is the NHS unfortunately a long time between appointments, but at least I feel more informed now of what may well be the problem, it is as yet still undefined and I guess it is easy to think the worse.
I am itching to get back to some music and am luck enough to listen to a huge amount while at work, which unconsciously seeps through. Feeling it today though, 3 days of 10 hours a day, rushing from work to teach, and yeah the teaching is so rewarding and I feel like this has to be one of the best teaching projects I have been part of. Just the enthusiasm from these young people is just so inspiring for me and the talent just oozes from them. i hope to see some of these great up and coming artists in the music press of the future.
I am so looking forward to getting home tonight and just cooking up some good food and catching up with life.

Wednesday's Pet Peeves

2007-09-19T15:55:00.000+01:00

One thing I cannot stand in this world is when you go to the toilet to find that the person before you has left an empty loo roll when there is a full roll next to it!
but they are just too bloody lazy just lift and place the new roll on the holder!
ah ha is that so difficult
possibly for some folk i guess.....
anyways off to teach again this evening and another 10 hour day! 6.15am out in the open for a swim and the weather is getting much chillier and so the mornings are kind of bracing when swimming!
Blogging is late today as I usually do it my lunch break, had to pop out today so was not able to take the time, rushing it right now before I head over to Bethnal Green to meet my Group from Camden, another talented bunch, tonight we are laying down vocals, so should be an interesting session as they all have to spit 16 bars each and i think there are five MC's. Will write more tomorrow as need to leave now. Until then.