So with 2008 all finished I'm feeling well on the way with much progress being made and this album is finally starting to find it's feet!

I went into Sing Sing studio's last month to record the first 4 songs of the album with producer and engineer Francois Tetaz (Gotye, Architecture in Helsinki, Lior, Wolf Creek), it was an awesome week. I've had various rad musicians involved so far, including a live brass and strings section, and other friends of mine. Feels so great to be working with people I respect so much and putting together a really unique sounding collection of sounds and instruments. Sing Sing Studios was such an inspiring place to record, with the likes of Nick Cave, Kylie, Mars Volta, Silverchair and Kanye etc having left their mark there, woh. I've put some photo's up in an album for you have a little preview into the whole process. Preview as.

I spent Christmas and New Years back in NZ which is just what I needed creatively and spiritually. It's nice to return home after the absence, you start to see the country through different eyes, rather than just as the familiar, you see it for the place it is - one the most beautiful on earth! Gives a real feeling of refreshment and peace. I've had a more spiritual awarness since my time there also, I feel like we can experience God that bit more when our surroundings reflect a beauty beyond the work of our own hands. Rad.

On a further exciting note, I leave to Los Angeles on the 15th of Feb for 3 weeks. I'm very exited about getting away to the US for a bit and even more excited to be writing and working with friends of mine in the radical band As Tall As Lions from New York. They're currently recording their album in LA, it's going to be incredible so get, like, excited. I'll be staying with them and spending time getting creative and being inspired. I'm also hoping to spend the last week in New York. I should be straight back into the studio once I return to record the rest of the album.

Untill then, we start the main vocals and mixing on the first 4 tracks next week so I cant wait to have them done, and perhaps I can put sneaks of them on here! They're all sounding very different but rad... From a theatrical, acapella based song to a symphonic space rock anthem... to an 80's love-boat-reminiscent track then an obscure oriental sounding ballad. Yeyah.

It's going to be really exciting to see how it all fits together. Feels great to be exploring all the different possibilities which become available in the studio and creating interesting sounds in authentic ways. We've had a real focus on finding organic ways of recreating lo-fi sounds, mucking around with tiny old 60's amps set up in small rooms miced with vintage mics before running through the desk, been learning so much about ways in which you can recreate sounds without having to just press a button which feels a little less-satifying....

This year I'l be gigging more round Melbourne so make sure you come along to any shows! I have two lined up, one on the 5th of Feb at the Toff with The Rise and Demise (myspace.com/theriseanddemise) and the 6th with siB (myspace.com/sibmusic). These will probably be the only shows I do before I leave to the States so come along and spread the word! I'll have posters soon.

I just put some new album demos up for you to check out, these are tracks I've been working on at home but will probably appear on the album eventually. Check them out.

Also, go to www.myspace.com/youngdeadactors - I've been collaborating with my good friend Jono, making sexy club music, it's rad. Go check it out, we'll probably get real famous from it.. so...

On the outer music front, I can reccommend some tasty records for your ears...

• The latest Facing New York record, called Get Hot. You can hear some of it on here (www.myspace.com/facingnewyork)
• Department of Eagles - In Ear Park. (The other side to Grizzly Bear, with frontman Daniel Rossen)
• Britney Spears - Circus. 3 terrible tracks, 4 okay, 6 brilliant. That's a worthwhile buy right?
• Mr. Oizo Lambs Anger
• Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion - I'm sure you've heard plenty of raving about this record. It lives up to every expectation.
• The Bird And The Bee, ' ' - Totally amazing. Check out the self-titled record, and the EP 'Please Clap Your Hands'. Brilliant.

Excellent.

Much love x

Ps Yeah that's me on the new Nesian Mystik single for those who have been asking...