http://www.thesoundoftheladies.com/

Hello,

Martin & Helen invited me over, fed me, asked me to me play, filmed it and made a wee show out of it.

It's a wonderful project and this is the 4th in the series. Read all about it on the Sound of the Ladies page. David Bailey(The Title Sequence) played too that day because Matt Kebbell was poorly. Martin and Gavin also played, they are episode 3...

It was the best afternoon I've had in ages (Thanks Helen and Martin!!!)and I have something to remember it by which is sweet like Helen's 'Special Meringue'...y.u.m.m.y in my t.u.m.m.y!

Link at the top...featured here is 'Granny's House' & Bailey plays 'Lovers'.

Enjoy!

Samantha
X

Hello,

I should've posted a little something when I put up the new recording but my mind has been elsewhere...

I am not the fastest of songwriters. I like to take my time over it(I say it as if I have a choice!). However, there is this one song I've been working on for an unusually long time, even by my standards. I think words are usually where it begins and the rest follows with everything coming together at a fairly similar speed. This time words are where it started and guitar took over and the words have fallen behind as I can't find a way of saying the things I'd like to say in the way I want to say it and so they haven't been able to catch up with the guitar. This has never happened before so I guess all that guitar practice is starting to pay off! Every cloud and all...it's playing on my mind. Take a deep breath and breathe out fully through the mouth.

I was on the Iktoms tour this summer. It was a lovely time and I played a few lovely gigs with some lovely folks. It's strange the affection you develop for people you hardly know so quickly when your pushed together. I'm glad of it though as they are a special group of people and I won't forget it. 

We played three dates in Edinburgh at the Forest Cafe and the audiences there were so great!

I had the pleasure of being joined by Douglas Whates (The Brother) on Double Bass for the last gig. We have only played one gig together so far at the Montrose Music Festival (which my Grandparents did attend and they did get to hear Granny's House!) earlier in the year. It was a little on the under-rehearsed side but I was so happy with the show none the less. I think the Bass parts really help bring out the harmonies and themes in the music. It went down so well. I got amazing responses from songs that aren't always the showstoppers, especially, Eyes+Nose+Soul which flourished with the arrangement.

So, once i'd finished my stint of the tour, (which was cut short due to my low funds and having nothing to sell) I stayed with my brother for a few days and we got a quick live recording done of New Found Friends. We recorded the Double Bass, Acoustic Guitar and Vocal live then added our own hand percussion (Hand Claps, Castanets & Shaker) and backing vocals after. It's a little 2:17 gem and I hope you enjoy it. We also did a lovely recording of Granny's House with bowed Bass but I'm keeping that for special occasions as I'm happy with Graham's version that's up at the moment.

Anyways. I can't think of much else that I have to say at the moment so I'm going to stop blethering and leave you to go and have a listen to New Found Friends!

 

Samantha

xx

Following on from the June 16th airplay on Tom Robinson BBC 6 Introducing...They have kindly selected Ivor + Elliott to be on the Podcast. This is a album length version of the show selecting songs from the weeks Sunday and Monday shows.  

Thanks Tom and the good ol' BBC! 

X 

 

 

June 16th 2008: Ivor + Elliott was played on BBC 6 Tom Robinson Introducing show this morning.

I was having a listen and you'll also hear Jess Bryant on the same show...

You can  hear it again here...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/tom_robinsons_introducing/tracklisting_20080616.shtml

Samantha

 

Hello,

Put a couple of freshly recorded tracks up for your aural pleasure.

Granny’s House was a song I wrote during and shortly after the trip up to Scotland to record the Blue Rose Code album. It’s a gorgeous song and I’ve been so happy with it right from it’s arrival. Ross and I were driving through the norwest highlands and I realised how easy it would be to drop in on Granny...A common thought of mine even when I’m nowhere near Granny’s House.

Granny’s house is the only place that has been constant. The only place I’ve ever felt at home and the only place I know will always stay the same.

 

The Light is for those times when I feel nervous and exposed,’like my body doesn’t quite fit me right’. It reminds me of what’s gone and that things live on in other ways to keep us on the right track.

 

Thanks to Graham for spending his Saturday afternoon recording these for me. He’s a legend with the patience of a saint putting up with my diva antics!

He was nice and patient and accepted payment in Tea and Hot Cross Buns!

 

Bye for Now...:)

 

I have posted a new recording.

A wee while ago the lovely Ian offered to record a song for me at the Strongrooms Studio's. I said yes and here it is! I chose New Found Friends as I thought it was about time I got something a bit more 'upbeat' on here for you to hear.

I put the vocals and guitar down and left the rest to Ian's imagination.

He has arranged/sequenced/produced and mixed it beautifully and I am so greatful for the time he took to do it. I hope you like what he has done. I think he has really captured the meaning and emotion of the song.

Matt Kebbell sings the cracking backing vocals for me (thankyou very much Mr Kebbell they sure turned out great)...

The flute trilling away at the end is me...

I think the whispering (if you can pick that up on the wonderful sound quality of myspace) is all three of us?! We all put it down anyway. Mine might have been a bit too scottish sounding to leave in...:)

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Samantha

x

 

 

 

 

Oliver introduced me to some wonderful music. After a discussion of what I am trying to acheive he threw this listening suggestion at me. Susanna & the Magical Orchestra. Her voice is so rich in tone and everything that I am looking for in my own voice, there is no rubbish just thoughts of tone and texture to often replaced by a gimmick of the moment. I was reading an article where they said this and well thank god it happens to even Susanna & the Magical Orchestra!

'But how can this crystalline creation survive outside of the headphones? What happens live? They look at each other with alarm, then laugh. "The only two times that has been a problem has been in London," says Susanna. "Everywhere else, people come to listen and they shut up. Except in London, at the Spitz. Over here, if people talked that much it would mean they weren't paying any attention, and we would get no response at all. But the funny thing about the gig in London was that they were happy - they were really into it. It was just a different culture of listening."

:)

 

Helpless Burdens-

This is a recording that I have had knocking around since last summer. It has taken me a while to come to terms with. I'm not used to singing with such 'secret' in my voice; more prone to 'belting' out the tunes. Recording the song in this way allowed me to really explore my lower register and understand that holding back can be something to cherish and realise that it can be as emotionally satisfying. It is still quite strange hearing my voice so low in the second verse.

The instruments you hear are mainly : Bass, Marimba and Distorted Marimba..

 

Anyway, enjoy!

 

Samantha