A Vocalist and Keyboardist's Tale
A Vocalist's and Keyboardist's Tale ~ 21st July 2012
Why did you do the project in the first place?
I love warbling and tinkling with Touchstone but had some old and new songs which were not ‘right’ for Touchstone…or if they were I was too ‘close’ to them - and it had been ten years, so...
I also wanted to experience the ‘power’ of having full control – mwuhaha!! ; ) (Still looking for big fluffy white cat...)
What was it you liked about it all?
Making new, fresh, different music; dusting down old music; meeting old friends and making new ones, and experimenting with my new toys.
What was the least enjoyable experience of the project?
What’s not to enjoy?! Sometimes, I suppose, the hardest bit is being couped up in a dark studio while the sun is outside cracking the flags… but if one does not suffer for one’s art – then it is not art (apparently!)…?
When it's chucking it down outside, as it has been in Blightey most of this summer, that is definitely the BEST time to be holed up in a dark room with mugs of tea, naughty snacks and a mixing desk.
What was the most enjoyable experience of the project?
Going into the unknown – different studio; different band; some of it is very different music. Taking risks always helps you learn and grow, in my opinion. Also, the generosity and kindness of fellow band mates, and people involved in the project, has been fantastic.
Meeting some heroes along the way has also been brilliant – massively humbling.
Seeing the creative input from Andy and Hoss has been great - they take things up to a level I could not have dreamed of...
I also still love capturing sounds of 'real life' at unexpected moments, and seeing how I can use them in my music. SFX if used badly can sound - well, crass, but if used correctly, and at times subtly, can definitely enhance the overall feeling of a song...have to be careful not to overdo it, though...!
What was - for you - the funniest moment?
There have been a few, to be fair, but - after I’d asked him to detune the bass down - Dr Goat Foot telling me with a dead pan expression that it 'felt like playing a washing line' was a classic. Another one was Gary on drums – absolutely on his last legs at the end of day one - I plied him with steak, chips and a Guinness and within minutes he was like a new man! Reminded me of that scene in Back To The Future where Marty is fading away on stage – then suddenly springs back and hits a power chord!
Mysterious female vocalist (as she is at the moment) doing Telephone Lady was also an absolute classic - together with belching like a bloke into the mic and hoping we did not hear it. Needless to say - we caught it; we kept it - and we will blackmail with it! ;)
How much (or not!) you enjoyed the project?
Immensely – it’s not all beer and skittles, though – mainly because there are no skittles…but we managed to replace them with more beer...or Guinness...or Jamesons...or...
Which is your favourite track - and why?
They are all my ‘children’ so, of course, I love them all equally! A couple of songs nearly did not make it on the album though...but you will never know...
Some have been with me for literally decades - others only months - I will be interested to see if people can guess which are the 'oldies' and which are the 'newies'!
Anything else you can think of?!!
The studio has been excellent – Al, Chris and Jon have totally socialized themselves with the music and come up with ideas to enhance the final product. Frankly, nothing has been too much trouble. Although the naughty crisps and choccie in the kitchen are extremely tempting when you’re feeling a bit knackered! Too tempting, lads…!
Andy Wildman is also legend and should be made Prime Minister, but he wouldn't want the job and frankly - who would? How he can turn my concept 'stick men' into cool images is well beyond me - brilliant!
Hoss, my photographer, is also a creative genius, and yet again, we were almost rolling with laughter at some of our antics to get a few creative shots! Whether you will see them or not - well, that's another story...
Finally - would you do it again?!!
Well the last one was 2002 – it’s now 2012 – see you in 2022? ; ) And only if it’s in a recording studio on the Caribbean for six months or somesuch…
Unless it takes off, of course, in which case – who knows…
Why did you do the project in the first place?
I love warbling and tinkling with Touchstone but had some old and new songs which were not ‘right’ for Touchstone…or if they were I was too ‘close’ to them - and it had been ten years, so...
I also wanted to experience the ‘power’ of having full control – mwuhaha!! ; ) (Still looking for big fluffy white cat...)
What was it you liked about it all?
Making new, fresh, different music; dusting down old music; meeting old friends and making new ones, and experimenting with my new toys.
What was the least enjoyable experience of the project?
What’s not to enjoy?! Sometimes, I suppose, the hardest bit is being couped up in a dark studio while the sun is outside cracking the flags… but if one does not suffer for one’s art – then it is not art (apparently!)…?
When it's chucking it down outside, as it has been in Blightey most of this summer, that is definitely the BEST time to be holed up in a dark room with mugs of tea, naughty snacks and a mixing desk.
What was the most enjoyable experience of the project?
Going into the unknown – different studio; different band; some of it is very different music. Taking risks always helps you learn and grow, in my opinion. Also, the generosity and kindness of fellow band mates, and people involved in the project, has been fantastic.
Meeting some heroes along the way has also been brilliant – massively humbling.
Seeing the creative input from Andy and Hoss has been great - they take things up to a level I could not have dreamed of...
I also still love capturing sounds of 'real life' at unexpected moments, and seeing how I can use them in my music. SFX if used badly can sound - well, crass, but if used correctly, and at times subtly, can definitely enhance the overall feeling of a song...have to be careful not to overdo it, though...!
What was - for you - the funniest moment?
There have been a few, to be fair, but - after I’d asked him to detune the bass down - Dr Goat Foot telling me with a dead pan expression that it 'felt like playing a washing line' was a classic. Another one was Gary on drums – absolutely on his last legs at the end of day one - I plied him with steak, chips and a Guinness and within minutes he was like a new man! Reminded me of that scene in Back To The Future where Marty is fading away on stage – then suddenly springs back and hits a power chord!
Mysterious female vocalist (as she is at the moment) doing Telephone Lady was also an absolute classic - together with belching like a bloke into the mic and hoping we did not hear it. Needless to say - we caught it; we kept it - and we will blackmail with it! ;)
How much (or not!) you enjoyed the project?
Immensely – it’s not all beer and skittles, though – mainly because there are no skittles…but we managed to replace them with more beer...or Guinness...or Jamesons...or...
Which is your favourite track - and why?
They are all my ‘children’ so, of course, I love them all equally! A couple of songs nearly did not make it on the album though...but you will never know...
Some have been with me for literally decades - others only months - I will be interested to see if people can guess which are the 'oldies' and which are the 'newies'!
Anything else you can think of?!!
The studio has been excellent – Al, Chris and Jon have totally socialized themselves with the music and come up with ideas to enhance the final product. Frankly, nothing has been too much trouble. Although the naughty crisps and choccie in the kitchen are extremely tempting when you’re feeling a bit knackered! Too tempting, lads…!
Andy Wildman is also legend and should be made Prime Minister, but he wouldn't want the job and frankly - who would? How he can turn my concept 'stick men' into cool images is well beyond me - brilliant!
Hoss, my photographer, is also a creative genius, and yet again, we were almost rolling with laughter at some of our antics to get a few creative shots! Whether you will see them or not - well, that's another story...
Finally - would you do it again?!!
Well the last one was 2002 – it’s now 2012 – see you in 2022? ; ) And only if it’s in a recording studio on the Caribbean for six months or somesuch…
Unless it takes off, of course, in which case – who knows…
