*What's in this newsletter:*

1) Intro + subscribing and unsubscribing
2) New Release: Enright House / Pushmi-Pullyu Split EP
3) New Video: We Might As Well Have Stayed Young
4) US Tour
5) A general call for help (please read this!)


*1) Intro + subscribing and unsubscribing*

Hi, and welcome to the first Enright House newsletter!

Many of you have opted into this newsletter through various channels, a wee few haven't. Some of you actively chose to be on it by subscribing via Reverbnation, some of you are just friends and contacts of mine, many of you left behind your email address to download much of our free catalog of music.

None of you should, however, feel any pressure to remain subscribed to this newsletter, if you don't genuinely care to be on it, so if you would rather not get newsletters from us in the future, just reply to info@theenrighthouse.com with "thanks, but no thanks" or whatever you deem to be an appropriate response: "fuck you" would be harsh, but equally suitable, I suppose.

I would have provided an auto-unsubscribe feature, but then I would have had to use a newsletter client, and all the free ones use ads, or html, and all sorts of ridiculous other features, and all I wanted to do here is talk to you directly in the simplest terms possible. Plain text, no attachments, corporate logos, just you and I. Seriously, let me know if you already get too much stuff in the mail - my feelings won't be hurt (unless it's my mom or my girlfriend opting out).


*2) New release: Enright House / Pushmi-Pullyu Split EP*

We have a new release available for sale. It's a strictly limited CD (100 copies) that was just released by mam!records in Madison, WI. In addition to Pushmi-Pullyu's gorgeous music, you get two new Enright House tracks, and a really awesome cover of "Darkwave" by Pushmi-Pullyu. One song, in particular, I am totally excited about, namely "Distance". It was inspired by the acoustic tour we did in New Zealand, and features a long field recording of me and my old friend Mary talking about our college relationship, layered acoustic guitars, piano, an old vintage accordion, and a vocoder, as well.

You can either buy the release directly through mam!records' online store @ www.mamrecords.com/shop (which uses paypal), at our remaining shows in America, or, for all you back home in New Zealand who aren't into paypal, you can email me, and I will send you through my bank details so you can just do a direct bank transfer. Whatever your choice, the split EP is very reasonably priced, and we'll all do our best to make sure you get your copy as fast as possible!

www.mamrecords.com/shop
www.myspace.com/theenrighthouse
www.myspace.com/pushmipullyumusic


*3) New video: We Might As Well Have Stayed Young*

Ryan Alexander Llyod (ex-Christchurchian now living in Australia) shot a lovely new video for our song, "We Might As Well Have Stayed Young". It's now online on youtube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFh4_F9J3Tk, so please watch it, and if you like it, rate it favorably, leave a comment, and help us spread the word via facebook, blogs, twitter, word of mouth, etc.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFh4_F9J3Tk
www.vimeo.com/3742057


*4) US Tour*

Evan and I are still in the midst of touring America, with roughly four more weeks of concerts to go. If you have friends living in America, please let them know we're in their neighborhood. And if you're reading this and live in the US, then - f'ing A - come out and see us!

Our remaining dates are:

Apr 20 @ Dunes, Portland, OR
Apr 21 @ Kimo’s Penthouse Lounge, San Francisco, CA
Apr 23 @ 54321 fun! on KCSB 91.9FM, Santa Barbara, CA
Apr 24 @ Echo Curio, Los Angeles, CA
Apr 27 @ Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, UT
Apr 30 @ The Mountain House, Dallas, TX
May 1 @ The Vertical Violet, Wichita, KS
May 2 @ Czar Bar, Kansas City, MI
May 4 @ The Bridge PAI, Charlottesville, VA
May 6 @ WPTS 92.1FM on "The Live Show", Pittsburgh, PA
May 8 @ The Model Home, Philadelphia, PA
May 9 @ Goodbye Blue Monday!, Brooklyn, NY
May 11 @ Labyrinth Press Company, Jamestown, NY
May 15 @ CPR, Lexington, KY
May 16 @ Castle Sunshine, Bowling Green, OH

You can follow our whole tour (photos, stories, mp3s, etc) via our blog at www.theenrighthouse.com  and www.twitter.com/theenrighthouse.


*5) A general call for help*

This point, to me at least, is perhaps the most important reason why I finally decided to send out a newsletter. The Enright House, as many of you already know, is essentially a one-person operation. Evan, of course, is a huge part of The Enright House, and I don't know what on earth I would do without his dedication and musical input, but, the truth is, when it comes to promoting and financing my music, I'm pretty much on my own.

At first, this was never really an issue, as I adore the DIY aspect of making music, but as time goes on and our profile and amount of releases and videos slowly grow, I find myself at my end's wit with all the stuff that I should be doing, but can't, due to lack of time and energy.

In short, I just can't do it all by myself anymore. The myriad of social networking sites that need to be kept current, syndicating through blogs to myspace, entering tour dates in a million places, staying on top of last.fm, writing to blogs about our music and videos, writing and recording the music, booking dates, touring, organizing new releases, creating artwork and posters, keeping up to date with my own blog posts on my site, promoting new releases and videos, and so on and so on... it's getting to be more than I can cope with.

In short, what I'm looking for is help. From you. I'm hoping that amongst all of you are a few people who really genuinely care about my music and want to help it succeed in some way, and have a little bit of spare time here and there to help out.

Perhaps, you would be willing to run one of the many social networking profiles related to The Enright House, such as Reverbnation or Last.FM. Or, perhaps, you might offer to start a new profile for us on sites I haven't found the time to get to know very well, such as Bebo, Virb or Pure Volume, to name but a few.

Maybe you have friends who blog a lot. Perhaps give them a nudge and see if they would be keen to give away some of our music, or feature a video on their site? Do you have friends who work for magazines or newspapers? Maybe hand them a CD and ask them if they would consider writing something about us?

Basically, anything at all would help. Maybe a single twitter post that links to our new video, maybe a facebook message to your friends asking them to give our music a listen.

I guess what I wish for in my dreams is that a humble and tiny stream of gestures of help might help me raise the profile of my music ever-so-slightly over time. And, on a purely personal note, a few small gestures of faith that our music means enough to you that would consider helping out in small way, would be a wonderful thing to experience, and would provide much needed fuel for the months that lie ahead.

It need not be much, honestly, it need not even be prolonged; whatever you can do without it being troublesome to you in any way, is enough to make a difference.

The payoff, aside from the fact that many little small gestures can amount to something greater than their parts, is that I will try as much as possible to make it worth your while. I promise to continue to offer free releases and videos over the years to come. And for those of you who chose to offer more of their time (i.e. building and maintaining an online profile for our music, etc.), I would be more than happy to give you free copies of upcoming releases, send you signed posters, share unreleased demos with you, etc. Anything I can to show you my gratitude.

What I can't do, unfortunately, is pay you - it'll border on a miracle if I can even scrape together the money to release the new Enright House album! - but what I can do is promise to extend to you as much kindness, transparency, and generosity as I possibly can.

Please take a second to think about this. I know some of you value what we do with our music. Please find a way - any small way - to help us get the word out about the fact that we exist and are here to stay.

With all my gratitude for your interest and time,
All my love,
Mark (www.theenrighthouse.com)

Click to purchase the EP from the mam!records online store.

It's my great pleasure to announce a new release of ours, which is a Split EP with Madison-based Pushmi-Pullyu, called "Together". It's a strictly limited-edition CD (only 100 copies world-wide), and will be followed by an even more limited edition cassette run to be released soon after in the States.

"Together" is released on mam!records (also based in Madison, WI), and focuses on the more ambient / shoegaze side of The Enright House and Pushmi-Pullyu.

Track Listing:

Pushmi-Pullyu
01 Darkwave = MC Squared (EH Cover)
02 Manderly (He Walks, Lonely)
03 Where The Sidewalk Ends

The Enright House
04 Distance
05 Death And Unexploded Dreams (Alpha)

You can preview some of the tracks on our respective myspace pages, as well:
www.myspace.com/theenrighthouse and
www.myspace.com/pushmipullyumusic.
 
The CD comes packaged in a nifty, shrink-wrapped cardboard wallet, and will mostly only be sold on tour. Only a select handful of CDs are available from the mam!records online store. So, if you want to own a copy of this limited-edition CD, then act quickly, as they will sell out in no time! Furthermore, the EP and shipping (domestic + international!) are only priced to recoup costs, not to make a big profit, so if you like our music please help us finance more projects like this and support our efforts by purchasing a copy for yourself.

Hi, just in case you usually just follow our myspace page: we've been blogging a lot about the US Tour at www.theenrighthouse.com and twittering like crazy at www.twitter.com/theenrighthouse. So, if you want to keep up to date with our travels and various shenanigans, then either follow us on twitter or visit our website and follow our RSS via email or your favorite reader.

Thanks!

Hugs,
Mark 

So, most of you know by now that The Enright House is about to embark on an epic tour of the US, and, thus, delve into the magical and often-chaotic world of the "roadtrip". I am, safe to say, very excited to get on the road, meet new people, and, hopefully, in the process of it all, win over new fans.

Encouragingly, the most common reaction I get from friends and family, whenever I tell them about it is, "Wow... that is so exciting!" After which, however, almost always, I am asked some form of the following question:

"Are you going to be making any money doing this?" Or, "Are you doing this to get a record deal?"

The answer to the first question - just to be totally clear about this - is: "No." Now, regarding the question of a potential record deal, I just typically try to brush the question off, by explaining that the times have changed, and that record contracts (or at least the types of deals most commonly offered these days) are not the be-all and end-all, as they once were. Doing it yourself, for the most part, still seems to be the only realistic way forward for an emerging artist.

The truth, of course, is that I would absolutely adore finding a hard-working indie label to help me release and promote my music to a wider audience. However, one has to be prepared to go it fully alone, and then actually do some serious walking on one's own two feet, before labels will really show any serious interest in you. No one, these days, wants to help and work with someone, who cannot help themselves. And fair enough, too.

Which brings me back to the question of why, then, do this tour at all?

Well... perhaps, because I believe that when everything is said and done, that an adventure of this kind will be something I will be proud of; that I will reflect upon this time in my life as something profoundly liberating; that it will be something that unearths more of the person I want to become, and that this trip will provide an opportunity to make new friends and create worthwhile memories that will linger for the duration of a lifetime.

In short, I would very much like to think of this tour as the start of a life that is solely lived for the sake of living it fully, unapologetically, and free of fear. I don't believe in any version of an afterlife, and I am starting to feel deeply the brevity of life, and I want to make sure that when my life ends (as it will), that I will be proud of having followed my dreams.

If I am fortunate enough to enjoy a death that is not instantaneous, but rather, a death that is a process during which I have sufficient time to reflect upon the life I have lead, then I want to feel like I have given it my all, and that I was not a coward for seeking out security over idealism and adventure.

I love creating music more than anything else in the whole world, and the only true ambition I have in life is to leave something of enduring value behind. Without the possibility of eternal life, thus, I seek to create a legacy of achievement that will outlive me.

Why? Because what else is there? Why spend all this time, effort and money on this tour? Because it is a start - a beginning.

Horn and trombone arrangement for a new song, called "Night Sky Textures". Download the high-res PDF score.

All apologies for having neglected my blogging duties over the last month or two. I only have ten days left in New Zealand before I head over to the States. The US tour is shaping up nicely - though, admittedly, I have been a bit slow to book in the final 5-6 dates (I'm aiming for a total of roughly 20 shows). My main focus, aside from some wonderful developments in my personal life, has been to finish the recording of the new album.

Although I won't get it all done in time, I'm still incredibly pleased with the progress we've made over the last two months. Pretty much all of the instrumental parts to the twelve songs are now tracked, and what is left to do now is record vocals, mix the album, and get it mastered in the States. Even lyric writing, which traditionally takes me the longest, has been going far better than I had anticipated, with the majority of lyrics being near completion.

My good friend, Rob!

Contrary to A Maze and Amazement, I've decided this time around, to get a few more people involved in the making of the forthcoming record (which, as of writing, is still without a title). Most importantly, I opted to enlist the help of my friend Rob for tracking purposes. Although I have been recording all of the synth and drum machines at home, I wanted to get some outside help in recording guitars and live drums.

As the recordings progressed, Rob and I decided to organize some live brass for the album, as well. So this week we enlisted the help of Scott Taitoko (a stunning jazz trombonist) and David Cox (Christchurch Symphony Orchestra's principal horn player).

Rob's sweet 80's drum kit.

Now, truth be told, I was a bit nervous at first, as I had to prepare proper scores for both of them to sight-read, and I haven't written anything for horn or trombone since my composition days at university. Safe to say, I was a tad out of practice! However, as unsteady as my footing was, I enjoyed feeling like a music student again, trying my hand at composing music for all these wonderful and unique instruments.

Writing for trained musicians is a marvelous experience under almost any circumstances, but Scott's and David's sessions just utterly exceeded all of my expectations.

Scott and David, in short, were utter professionals. Both sight-read extremely well, they were utterly focused and very positive throughout their sessions, they took direction well, and, most importantly, delivered powerful musical performances that will play an indispensable role on this album.

In addition to recording Brass, Rob and I decided that a handful of songs could stand to benefit from some strategically placed live drumming. Consequently, Rob asked his old friend, Steve, to lay down a few drum tracks. Both, Rob and Steve, used to play together in a band called Throw, and Steve, like Scott and David, totally delivered in his session. We got some fabulous snare and cymbal work to add color and realism to what are mainly electronic drums on this album.

Rob's friend, Steve, laying down tracks for a new song called "Afterthoughts".

Last, but not least, I was really happy to get Evan to contribute some of his mad-scientist-synth-skills for the new record. Having proven to be such a strong and creative musician over the last two years of playing together, I was very keen to get Evan more involved in the actual studio work, as well.

So, in conclusion, Rob, Evan, Scott, David and Steve, have all done a fantastic job - thank you! - and I can't wait to start mixing the new album in February and March, and see how it all turns out. Exciting!
 

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for coming out to see our
last two Christchurch shows! Both, Evan and I, had a wonderful time
performing our new set for all of you.

So, as a way of saying thank you, I thought it might be nice to
share a live recording of a new song with you, called Elektra. The
version available for download here was recorded live to two-track on
Thursday at our Dux De Lux show. Hope you enjoy it! :)

Download link: http://theenrighthouse.bandcamp.mu/track/elektra

I’m really stoked about our final goodbye shows in Christchurch on the 18th of December at the Dux De Lux (9 pm), as well as an AA show on the 19th of December at the Physics Room (7 pm). Both shows will be with support from Halon Sirius and Valdera!

The shows themselves should be really sweet. Evan and I will be performing as a two-piece, with Evan handling most of the synths, whilst I switch back and forth between synths, drum machines and guitars. I’m not sure how “politically correct” it is to say this about one’s own band, but… I’m absolutely loving our duo at the moment! :)

Not only do I simply adore playing as a two-piece, but, the truth is, I’ve also never heard my music sound better than it does with Evan. So, in addition to a handful of goodies off of A Maze and Amazement, we’ll be taking this opportunity to play you heaps of brand-new songs, as well. And unlike the recent solo electronic set, which, admittedly, was rather ambient, our current show will be far more songy and varied - you might even be tempted to swing a leg once in a while ;).

But there are even more reasons to come down! We have a great idea for lighting up the stage, too. I went out and bought more fluorescent tubes, and with the help of wrap-around transparencies, we will be hanging these bulbs at various heights all over the stage, whilst, at the same time, drawing all the curtains in the Dux. The room will be nice and dark, with pastel neon drops hanging from the ceiling like liquid streams of color. It should be really special! :)

So yeah… please, please, please come to the Dux on Thursday the 18th of December and/or the Physics Room on Friday the 19th of December! I swear you won’t regret it one bit. It’ll be the best you’ve ever heard us, the room will look really unique and beautiful, and, chances are, it might be your very last opportunity to see us perform in New Zealand for years to come!

Like the recent Remixes and Collaborations album, our Acoustic EP, too, is now finally available as a free download at bandcamp.mu:

You can choose to download the album in whatever format you like, such as MP3 (128k, 320k, V0, V2), AAC (high or low quality), Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, or the iPod compatible Apple Lossless format. And, to top it all off, the artwork, too, is included.

Now, I’m not expecting there to be a mad rush on the album or anything, as it was never intended to be more than a spontaneous and fun exploration of my songs in acoustic dress, but still… I was always really glad we recorded the album when I was still playing my music with a band, as there was just something totally magical about the four of us being in this massive gymnasium together.

No rehearsals, no overdubs, no isolation booths, no release schedules, no pressure of any kind… just a big room and four guys sitting around in a circle and playing to each other, with only a handful of sparkly microphones casually listening in.



Whatever the limitations of such adventures might generally be, we felt uninhibited and free and joyfully creative on that day. Maybe it was just the warmth and sunshine of the afternoon, or perhaps just the simple quietude of acoustic instruments, but the recordings sound to me like the music is just drenched in the dusty sunshine and benevolent atmosphere of that late summer sunday.

So please, have a listen and, if you want to be part of our musical adventure, please support us by telling as many other people about its existence as you can.

Just a quick note about a new internet release that you can download for free and in various formats (mp3, aac, ogg vorbis, flac and apple lossless).

It’s a wee humble release that features collaborations between The Enright House and Misfit Mod, The Enright House and Coterie (Off Loving Memories), as well as remixes by, or of, The Enright House, A Flight To Blackout, Coterie, and Fiveandahalfminutes.

Here’s the track-listing:

[01] 3. (A Remix By The Enright House Of Fiveandahalfminutes)
[02] Driving (The Enright House / Misfit Mod)
[03] Unfolding in Limelight (Off Loving Memories)
[04] Exit Right (Off Loving Memories)
[05] No Idea Environment (Off Loving Memories)
[06] Fly Your Arc (A Remix By The Enright House Of A Flight To Blackout)
[07] Darkwave = MC Squared (A Coterie Remix Of The Enright House)

Make sure you check out all of the lovely and talented musicians to whom you owe these songs:


Misfit Mod (www.myspace.com/misfitmod)


A Flight To Blackout (www.myspace.com/aflighttoblackout)


Fiveandahalfminutes (www.myspace.com/fiveandahalfminutes)


Coterie (www.myspace.com/c0t3rie)

So yeah… I really hope you find some tracks on it that you enjoy!

...and, if you do, I would be really grateful to you if you could help me spread the word about its existence. Given that neither myself nor any of the other artists are making any money off of this release, we also can’t really afford to advertise it being there, so any help you can offer (posting it to your profile, emailing your friends, blogging about, sharing it, copying it, performing rain dances, what have you… :P) would be really sweet of you! :)

Thanks!