I have been gigging quite extensively over the last few years, but apart from the odd dep, I have given up playing live as a musician, though I am looking for a singer/collaborator in the Bournemouth/Poole/Ringwood area for licensing songs to promote and sell as soundtracks for films, TV etc, and promote the singer as an artist, gigging in the local area as a full gig, or alongside a network of local musicians in the area. I have been cursed with a terrible singing voice, so I cannot promote myself. I have a wide ranging taste of music, which I incorporate within the music I do.
Music is a great way to convey a message, plus I love to find melody lines, I have listened to music since I was about 3. The first songs I remember were Lily The Pink by Scaffold, Sherry by The Four Seasons and I Can See For Miles by The Who. I was entranced by Glam Rock even back then, especially Marc Bolan & David Bowie.
I would love to make it as a songwriter, I have been cursed with a terrible singing voice, so I have to enlist others to sing it for me, which means singing it to them. Those who may have listen to the track 'Terrapin Moon, will get an idea how terrible my voice is tonally, that is why I speak the lyrics. Simply, I would like to make a living out of writing and producing music and songs, it's not about fame, I am not necessarily looking for lottery win money, but ideally I would like to live comfortably, so I could concentrate on music. I have given up performing in a band, but that doesn't mean it has to end.
The only effective way to make the world a better place would be to level out the wealth. If everybody had the same, I feel the world could function very comfortably. There are continents where there are total extremes, the very rich and the poor ghettoised areas. The rich have more money than they'll ever use, so if somehow one could gather up all the worldly funds and divide evenly, we would all be happier, healthier and far more comfortable.
I think Blockbuster by The Sweet, I remember hearing David Bowie's The Jean Genie a day earlier, then I saw Top Of The Pops, then on it's regular Thursday night BBC 1 7:30 slot, and the opening number started with a siren, then that Jean Genie blues derived riff. The vocals came from this long blond haired man (Brian Connolly) who, to someone of 7 or 8 years old, looked like something from a different planet, with the silver clothing and high platformed boots. You have to remember, this was a time when black & white TVs were the norm, but it almost seemed like the picture turned full colour, especially with the negative effected psychedelic visuals which were big back in the day.
I tend to waver on that, depending on which current fascination grips me. I went through a 'goth' phase recently (never claimed to be fashionable) so I started listening to The Sisters Of Mercy, Bauhaus etc, both of which I love. Also David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, Eno, Danielle Dax, Steve Forbert, XTC, Brad Paisley, Marilyn Manson, The Damned, Kevin Ayers, The Cramps, Lou Reed, Bach, Hans Zimmer. and on, and on....................................
Never one defining thing, I may listen to something and it spurs me on, I may just decide to just see what happens, if I see a licensing opportunity that requests something in particular, I try and adapt to that style, it usually comes out slightly eschewed, as I have a somewhat unorthodox way of approaching things. At the moment, I am working with 3 different singers, two of which are collaborations and one I am writing songs for. You could say I am inspired to make music by the requirements of those I work with.
That is very simple, one has to feel anything is possible, there are many ways of approaching things, and it is not for anyone to say a way is wrong, maybe just not the way they do it personally. The world is full of inspirational music, which is achieved by those who take a risk. Music has progressed over the years by innovation, by someone who sticks to their guns, and follows their vision. The message is.......integrity.
Mixed feelings, you can't expect every night to be a standing ovation, though most places I've played in the past have been pubs and bars, so people are standing anyway. The simple answer is anxious!! is the sound right? will they like what they hear? When in the past, I have been greeted with indifference, I have left the venue crestfallen, then someone leaves me a Facebook message saying, your songs are great, when are you playing again?
With the rise of the internet, it's a kind of double edged sword. Opportunities arise such as this fine site, where our music can be heard, the downside, it is easy to take someone's work burn it off and move on. I like the other artists on Drooble, want the same thing, to have their music played and get the proper recognition. What could be improved? that is difficult to say, it depends on the site. Drooble give us the opportunity, it is for us to use it to it's full potential.
It's a great way to put your music out there, and see what others are doing. As time progresses, music will become more widespread, you could place a track on here, and someone hears it in Brazil! that is the great thing,
Not being able to sing.
Just support the local live scene, look at their sites, and spread the word! Finding venues with fringe artists and telling the local bar of a great artist they should book. It's not enough the artist themselves network, help them out, tell people about them, if they have You Tube clips put them on social media.
Drooble is a great way to get to a larger audience, though you may not be aware of who's listening. Music licensing sites such as Songtradr and Broadjam give great opportunities for artists, providing requests for tracks and music for film, TV advertising etc. I have music playing in shopping malls in the US and Canada, though payment is slow, it's still getting it out there, plus there are opportunities on these sites for publishing contracts. The simple answer is network. Someone may be looking for a song you wrote, it may be perfect for a film or even a record company, but they are not going to come to you. Someone hearing a song and saying, who is that? I want that? is a billion to one, put the work out there, think further than the local scene, and as I said, network.
Rich Baxter, Leigh Crowe, Owen Jones, Angus Simpson, Emma Jame Toop, Chris Payn, Emile Louise McDade all deserve to be heard!!!!