Talent competitions such as ‘Live and Unsigned‘ have established themselves as a solid gateway for acts and do much more for grassroots musicians than the X-Factor.
However it is businesses who now need to consider bring music into their environment, especially if they have direct contact with the public.
The best example of this has to be Red Funnel Ferries who gave Charley Macaulay the opportunity to entertain passengers on their voyage between East Cowes and Southampton, following her success during ‘Live and Unsigned’.
“I met a lot of people doing the ferry gigs and I wouldn’t have done the half the things I’ve done
without meeting them,” Charley told me. “It’s been great for contacts and a completely different gigging experience altogether.”
In fact it led quite quickly to Charley supporting Anastacia at Osbourne House in the summer of 2009.
But rather than rush out a quick release she’s bided her time and will launch her debut EP at The Brooke on Saturday October 29th.
Surprisingly Charley’s got soul: full-band soul: “It was kind of a logical step to write music that I like and play it with a band that can create a Soul feel but with a modern edge.”
With a set of original songs waiting to be heard its time for Charley’s career to set sail.
First published in the Daily Echo Friday 7th October 2011
One of my favourite lyrics comes from U2’s The Fly: “Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief. All kill their inspiration and sing about their grief.”
We know there are many musicians who have caused their own hardships and yet prospered from the experience.
But Bono’s brilliant observation is a bit harsh on those who have travesty thrust upon them.
One such artist has only just returned to the stage following the derailment of a promising career thanks to a marital disaster in the 80’s.
Chris Loveridge can quite happily boast that his duo ‘Kay Sway Cries’ filled in for ‘Wet Wet Wet’ when they couldn’t support Betty Boo at Earls Court.
In the cold light of the 21st Century that doesn’t seem too hot but it was for Children in Need and in a sizeable venue.
Although the years away from music have been good for Chris he is still drawn back to limelight.
“I’m so passionate about performing that I could play to 3 or 300 people. I love it!” he explained. “So it doesn’t matter if they say they liked a song or just tap their foot, I’m happy playing.”
Writing this collection of songs has been cathartic for the New Forest composer and his album ‘Choices’ will be released in September.
Produced by Lou Stonehill it took two years to complete and contains a collection of songs that Chris describes as “everyday situations that most people can relate to.”
Scratch someone who works in media and underneath you’ll find a musician.
It’s true for me.
I used to play bass in a rock band and breaking into radio was one reason for stopping, the other was that being in a band had lost its appeal and soloing wasn’t an option.
But technology has changed over the last ten years and the best example of solo bass playing is Southampton’s ‘A Ninja Slob Drew Me‘ the project created by Daniel Brown.
Dan gets a really full sound in the studio but I was curious as to how he reigned in the creative juices.
“The great part is that there are no limitations to what I write or record. A lot of the time the end result is completely different to what I had initially imagined.” And, he also added, “The new EP and the album I am working on is an experiment in trying to use that creativity to communicate specific ideas and to be more precise and coherent than in previous efforts.”
The EP is called ‘We Are’ and is six solid tracks of ambient musings that also allow you to drift off. Which made me wonder how he transposes this when gigging?
“This is very tricky to replicate live,” Dan explained, “so on stage I’m joined by Shaun Smith who takes control of the synth parts and beat/sample triggering.”
Technical challenges will stop me from following Dan’s footsteps but not from seeing him live.
After a reasonably quite 2010 Southampton’s Thomas Tantrum are making news with a record deal, a new release and some free downloads for the holiday period.
“We had a few new tunes knocking around so thought we’d just record them and give them away as a Christmas present.” Singer Megan Thomas (centre) explained. “It’s a chance to get the ball rolling in preparation for the single and album next year.”
The single ‘Sleep’ will be released February and the album following shortly after that.
As for the label it’s been a rather courteous courting process that involved some major labels but as Megan delicately puts it: “it was clear that signing to them would be a small fish in a big pond situation.”
Thomas Tantrum in the studio
They signed to a brand new label called Stranger Records run by Cameron Jenkins who, Megan says, impressed the band by his enthusiasm: “he seemed so interested in us, and keen to make us succeed, that we decided it was the best path for us.”
With his other two acts based in New York it definitely has an international possibilities and in our crowed market that can only be a good thing.
Meanwhile the free recordings will give you a good idea of how Thomas Tantrum have evolved as songwriters with the track ‘Birdsong’ showing great promise.
Their unexpected but deserved success over the past years might be a burden on some acts but I think this band have the nouse to work it to their advantage.
