Hey everyone, hope you're all well.
Strange and busy week: Nizlopi played their first gig in what feels like ages (hopefully didn't sound like that). We played the Croissant Neuf Summer Party in a beautiful part of Wales. Sadly, like most festivals in the summer, it rained and very heavily, especially when leaving the site, think it's the first time I've ever had to be towed on to a festival site. The festival itself is lovely and next year I may well go as a spectator. We always play the Croissant Neuf tent at Glastonbury and have a great time doing so it'll be odd to miss that next year. We played well amongst a load of crazy gremlins that were messing with our sound.
Am enjoying playing the bass at the mo, have opted to play lighter, i learnt that whilst recording with me and bobby the other night. We did an all-nighter and there's something about recording music late at night, there's a peace to it and loads more space, it sometimes feels like you can hear it better, wish Nizlopi had done that more.
On non-Nizlopi stuff i've found myself a flat in south London which i'm very much looking forward to moving into. I'll be living on my own for the first time in well over a year and a half, but am looking forward to the challenge. Odd time to move just before Nizlopi's tour and before the first time in my life where I've no gigs penned in for the year ahead, to be honest am quite scared and concerned about that, but I know for the first time in my musical life I need to go out there and go get musical projects instead of waiting for them to find me, so i'll need to get a MySpace together and some business cards etc and find a good teacher in south London.
On that note, it's so damn hard to find one. I need a classical teacher, am desperate to learn but don't seem to have any joy finding one. If anyone knows any or can recommend one that'd be great.
Saw West Side Story at Sadlers wells with the family, and it was wicked, think every kid in school should see this work. It's funny, it's celebrating I think 50 years and yet it's still so relevant, what with knife crime, racial intolerance, fear and the consequences of violence and having nothing for kids to do. Oh and the music is good too, if you can get tickets it's a must.
Haven't really bought any music lately as my rent's about to go sky high. I'm avoiding spending too much money, although saying that I'm awaiting the new Roots Manuva album so that'll be good fun.
Finally got round to replacing my bow the other day and it's been so good to play with a quality bow that picks up all the subtlety (or lack of it).
Anyway, that's me, Nizlopi have a busy week for a change, we're playing the 100 club tonight (Tues) for MS then Cox's yard Thurs, Solfest Friday and Shambala sunday, it'll be good to be back.
Hope to see you at some of the shows.
Jpx