Hello all
The wonderful ms emily webber has helped me to set up the brand spanking new site for my vocal exercising Anna Madeleine
I also have a new RSS feed here. Frankly I’m not sure what that means but the lovely web-mistress tells me it’s a good thing…come on people, I only know about music technology not ordinary technology ha ha!
Hope you enjoy.
xx
This weekend has been different. I have experienced what it feels like to be the other side of the stage/lense etc.
Firstly I went to Lexapalooza. This is an awesome annual one-dayer in aid of breast cancer charity. Because it was a charity gig, I bought a ticket online like a good-gig-goer and even got there at the start in time to catch the first band (Chris T-T and the Hoodrats who ripped it up!). Anyway, I got there a little bit early and although I know the lovely and gorgeous Evan and Dani, I didn’t jump queue or talk my way in early and was quite happy chilling in the sunshine outside the event with the other fans.
Having not had to queue for a gig for quite a long time, this set me up in a different way – I had already decided who out of the crowd I thought was a twonk and who I thought was really cool because of overhearing their in-queue banter (I guess it’s the equivalent of when you’re watching a play and everyone’s going “oh, YES, I saw Patrick Stewart’s one-man show last year and blah blah BLAH” – trying to sound like they really know what they’re talking about). It did also build the anticipation, along with hearing faint bits of the final sound checks etc from inside. Then finally we were let in YIPPEEE – such a good afternoon!
The festival was really really good. I particularly enjoyed the set from Jedethan who are metal rock insane and their guitarist looks a lot like the skinny guy out of series 2 of the Wire (Ziggy). Of course I really enjoyed the aforementioned Hoodrats and CT-T as well, especially their hardcore King of England (without me *sobsob*) and the last song Where Were You? which both rocked hard the bassy and very very loud sound system. Evan and Dani did a really amazing job and I hope they raised lots of money through ticket sales and through the collection boxes dotted around. If you are reading this and didn’t go to the event this year, please do find out how to donate anything you can to them via their various web-presences (search: Lexapalooza).
Although the festival went on well into the evening, I went home early to watch Cronos with Kal. It’s a weird, glorious, influential 1993 film by Guillermo del Toro, I think it might be his first film, I’m not sure. It has hellboy in it playing his uncle’s muscle and a young girl who wears red a lot who has that young girl haircut (fringe and short straight bob a la pan’s labyrinth and leon etc). Won’t say too much cos I hate spoilers. Aces.
The second half of my weekend (sunday) was spent chilling in Victoria Park with my friend Emily looking forward to the Akira the Don gig at the Natural History Museum (one of my very favourite places in London). He did not disappoint.
As you all know, I am a huge Akira the Don fan. To be on the other side like this is a strange feeling. I have seen fandom by proxy before from backstage, from standing around in the wings and from the cosy yet exposed merch stall but not quite so directly from the fan’s-eye-view (apart from a few idols: PJ Harvey, Liam Finn, Bjork, Dan le Sac and Scroobius Pip, I don’t get star-struck at all easily but did on this occasion). It was an awesome gig, definitely a harder sound than the first time I saw him live and much more stage involvement from both Joey2Tits and James which added to the atmosphere and did make you want to hear more from them both. The vast array of influences actually gives Akira’s music a completely individual sound and there is such a high quality of live performance from him and his whole band.
The famous Pan Mask made an appearance and the set left the whole crowd wanting more (especially me who was left shouting ‘more more’ after everyone dispersed – embarrassingly a FAIL ha ha!). The lovely Rachel sold me a copy of the early AtD CD and I went home on the tube with a big grin on my face. I hope to see you all at the next gig – avidly awaiting details.
So all in all, this weekend has been a time for turning the tables on myself. To seeing truly what it feels like to be a fan and feel a bit awkward and embarrassed when around your idols is all part of the experience. I only hope my next few tunes/gigs measure up to those I’ve seen this weekend. I’ve got a lot of practicing to do!
xx
The day after Obama was elected in the US, I joined Amnesty. I had always kept up to date with their work through their mailing lists and when I was a child, my parents were both members. I remember the yellow envelopes arriving regularly and all of us typing or writing out the template letters to send off in protest of human rights violations, my parents explaining carefully to us what the situation was so that we might make our own decisions and opinions only sending letters if we wanted to.
Political activism was encouraged in my childhood home, along with self-education.
My older brother and sister both went to regular protests both local and national. I naturally followed in their footsteps and protested a number of issues including supporting nuclear disarmament and protesting against the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
In fact the very first proper gig I ever went to was an anti-racism march run by the Anti-Nazi League; I was 11. This annual event later turned into the Rise Festival which has now been abolished by the Conservative Mayor of London (nb: who is also now claiming to support the diversity of the capital – eh?! – he is an idiot).
Following the empowering change earlier this year for the world and progressive movement forward for the whole of the United States, I felt pushed into doing something, anything to help make a difference. Obama will make positive changes not just for the States but for the whole world, he is an international citizen, as are we all.
It is not all positive “over the pond” though. California, (the state I would live in if I ever lived anywhere but London and home to San Francisco, gay/hippy capital of the world) made a ruling to pass Proposition 8, outlawing gay marriage. This did really come as a shock, a country moving positively away from racial discrimination but negatively towards sexual discrimination. Particularly there of all places; first they stupidly elected Arnie and now this.
A few weeks ago, I watched on i-player an interview Jonathan Ross (@wossy) did with Martin Sheen (Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez). Martin Sheen is a very active political campaigner and has been his whole life. It was a hugely inspirational (if too short) interview and his humble and honest accounts of his strong political views and actions despite over 60 arrests spurred me on to find out more. As Ross said has “inspired me to be a better person”.
Finally, last night Britain took a turn for the worst. Yes, today is a very sad day for all British people. We have until now been ahead of the rest of the world in our politics and social diversity. Our country has generally been a step towards socialism than the rest of the world and our political parties tend to be further left-wing of their foreign counterparts. But, with yesterday’s vote there are now two members of a fascist, neo-nazi party sitting on the european parliament and it looks as if the next general and local elections will follow this shift to the right. Today I joined the Green Party.
The impact of the right-wing and racist influence on government has yet to be seen. I live in a multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-disability, multi-orientation, multi-gender society and I fear for all of our freedom. I cannot begin to show in text how the result of this vote makes me feel.
So, what are the next steps? To move home, but where? No. To become socially and politically active as a society, all of us, together. To take a stand. To look in the mirror and make a change, however small, to help move our piece of the world forward again.
Here is the start of my synth wish list. I can’t afford any of these or even a downpayment on one yet but I’ll keep you updated how I get on.
Of course if anyone hears of anything going in a dumpster/skip then please do grab it for me!
Korg MS-20, Juno 60 and of course, my dream-machine, the Moog Voyager:
Today I am all bunged up, sneezy and moany (since I had planned to do some vox recording, I can sing with a cold but recordings sound all weird and nasal cos of the blocked nose.)
Hiding from the rain under the duvet I have decided to while away the unwell hours today with some manga.
Starting off is the anime version of Bleach, I left off at episode 40 so I’m starting there, the crew are all on their way to save Rukia, led by the hero-in-training Ichigo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleach_(manga)
Then later on will be the English version of Karas which is the original episodes put together into two feature length films with English speaking actors dubbed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karas_(anime)
Hi all
Just got back from playing a stormin’ set at the Marie Lloyd unsigned night.
The evening started a bit strangely, I was very nervous and didn’t know why. I think I instinctively knew that a lot of the audience there wouldn’t get my stuff. I warmed up early into it though and was pleasantly surprised at some great response.
The Marie Lloyd bar is a great venue situated in the heart of my manor. It’s a fairly big venue for a small pub-style gig and has a wine-bar feel which can be a bit weird from the stage. Some people are there just to have a drink somewhere local, some are visiting the Hackney Empire where it is based and some are specifically there to hear new music at their Signed/Unsigned weekly night.
I know that my music is an acquired taste so I was not at all thrown when a few people decided it wasn’t for them. All in all though, it was a supportive crowd and since the doors were wide open onto the street some people from outside started to wander in to listen as well. I battled a bit with the sound especially as it lacked any bass (not good when all your tunes are designed to be on phat clubby bass speakers!).
I caught the start of the next act who were a very tight, well rehearsed guitar band playing Kasabian-style stuff. Not really my cup of tea but they did a good job of it.
It was also great to meet Hannah from Blind Baby Animal www.myspace.com/blindbabyanimal.
Next gig Bull & Gate on 16th June. As it’s a longer slot I’m going to get the opportunity to play a couple of different tracks and I’m hoping to include a new song I’ve been working on as well! Very excited.
Signing out for now, gotta catch some zzzzzzzs, will upload photos later (please do send me any you have).
Thanks so much to everyone who came along.
Anna Madeleine xx
Just been to an awesome gig by Akira the Don. The night started pretty weirdly in a goth/metal-looking bar in Holloway, London. Akira (Adam/Alex – I was told different real names throughout the evening) had asked everyone to dress as zombies which despite the amusement factor of this dressing up, did leave me and my friend wondering who was a regular in the bar and who usually looked normal but were just dressing up tonight.
The music was absolutely great. The DJ we caught played a variety of experimental electro/disco/breakbeat stuff including Aphex Twin so although the atmosphere was a little weird, I was a very happy bunny.
The live acts got off to a shaky start with a hip hop double act, their beginning rhymes were frankly basic and they mentioned various bits of genitalia in most of their tracks but their energy was really great and I liked about half of their lyrics (couldn’t tell you which half right now!), the beats were also really good and their DJ looked like a chubby Chris O’Dowd. There was a bit of a gap between the style of music and the venue, this was exacerbated by the zombie outfits and the lack of dancing by most of the crowd.
Akira started with one of his new tracks: hood up and lights down; definitely felt like he could’ve held his own at Plan B or Herbal at a proper hip hop night. Another favourite of mine was the duet with ‘Envy’ – they both played off each other very well. I have to say that although the crowd seemed to love his older, ska-y sing-a-long tracks, the tasters we got from his new repertoire sounded like proper music, unlike his older stuff. The gorgeous and probably hugely talented backing vocalist was inaudible due to the soundman despite him being asked politely by management to turn her up – this does seem to keep happening to good female musicians who just get on with their jobs without any drama, sexism is still rife among the music industry.
It really was a great gig. I’m very glad I went to Holloway this evening. I will definitely go to see Akira play again and will buy the LP which is out now.
Back home now for some drunkenly-made haloumi wraps. Yummy.
xx
Insomnia and aching muscles can only be soothed by blog-writing.
Some interesting things from this week:
Some of my students are singing jazz at the moment. The best way to learn jazz is really by listening. As a singer, listening particularly to instrumentalists is so important if you want to be able to improvise and mess with lines of melody and cross rhythms. I have arranged for my good friend Andy Dickens: http://www.myspace.com/andydickens to host an informal chat about jazz instrumental playing and the life of a touring musician specially for students and friends. This is preceded by a visit to one of his gigs, where he will be playing with other great jazz musicians. To contrast with this, the singers will also get the opportunity later on in Summer to see Tomorrow’s Warriors who are definitely the young, modern face of the style but still have their roots firmly in the traditions of jazz music.
This evening (if I haven’t collapsed from tiredness by then) I am off to the East End Thrift Store for their monthly shopping party – it is very exciting and I am hoping to find something vintage and lovely to match the jacket I have just gotten back from the menders. The jacket used to be my mum’s when she was younger than I am and is a very worn and beaten up hooded suedey grey thing – I love it!
Friday evening will be Dawn of the Don, a large scale gig with filming for a music video all rolled into one. It is hosted by Akira the Don (see blogroll) and is at the Gaff – there are still tickets available.
Until then I’m getting ready for the gig on 3rd June. I have decided to mix the set order up a bit and am hoping to include a different track, that is if I can figure out how to play it! Performing solo has been very challenging especially as you can’t rely on anyone else to cover for you if you make any mistakes and you have to keep the energy/focus of the performance the whole time as you are the only person there. I am really enjoying it so far though and the compact nature of my set-up means I am able to play any time any where as long as there’s a plug socket and a PA.
One of my favourite characters is Poppy from Happy-go-Lucky, a film by Mike Leigh. She is cheerful in the face of anything that modern life throws at her and insists on having a laugh whatever. “I’m Marmite” she says.
Without giving anything away, Poppy has driving lessons from a hilariously awful man. I plan to start taking driving lessons later on this year: I did have lessons when I was 17 but I drove into a wall at a prominent crossing in Winchester when I spied a boy I had snogged and gradually veered towards him, unable to steer any other way.
Luckily the car had dual control. I didn’t have any lessons after that.
Perhaps I will start up a driving blog.
In my search for some inspiration I was pointed in the direction of some really really great artists:
James Yuill: myspace/jamesyuill who does these really sweet songs mixing electronica and acoustic instrumentation. Proper good photos too like geek-chic extraordinaire.
Holy Fuck: whose album LP on spotify is just amazing, insane, electro, rock. hardcore band this.
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I’ve also been re-listening to Metronomy on spotify, who really needs no introduction
and Gagarin (myspace/ggrn) who does weird electronic soundscapey stuff with beats and sounds – also is part of Raf and O who are great.
That’s it for now folks – happy listening!
xx
Tuesday night was the first (of many) solo gigs for me. I played a 20 minute set at Biddle Bros in Hackney to a mixed crowd of locals, friends and family. It was absolutely stormin’.
Biddle Bros is a really lovely small arty bar, with books you can pick up and read and a few beaten up leather sofas. The night itself was called MySpace or Yours and featured a range of artists from myspace. The crowd was great and the songs successfully stood up to their first airing.
