Last weekend I had the pleasure of going on a songwriters retreat in an old manor house in  the middle of the gorgeous Kent Countryside.


It was at the invitation of Singer- song writer and BBC presenter, Tom Robinson, and the event was sponsored by Notting Hill Music,  Publishers behind hits for acts  including Beyonce, Eminem,  Michael Jackson, Christina Aguilera , Prince, Usher, Madonna, and countless others.

 

It was a really inspiring trip, in a really gorgeous  setting. Basically  12 song writers from various bands were invited  to  write songs using a technique known as  the ' Immersion songwriting ' method, collaborating with each other, over a period of 30 hours.. well with time off for sleeping, probably 24 hours . And in that space of 24 hours, some great songs were written in that time, and some firm friendships made!

The other writers-artists on the trip were Singer- Songwriter Alice Gun, Producer  Al Mobbs from ambiguous Records, Singer Dan Whitehouse, Nik and Lou from duo, Hoodlums, singer Al Joshua from Indie band Orphans and vandals, Singer- songwriter Natalie Ross, and Tony and Aleysha, from paper Street Soap Company.

Right at the end of the retreat, we had to get up and perform the songs in front of two executives from Notting Hill Publishing.

So there was i, singing five new songs I hadn't rehearsed the words to, in front of all the other acts, plus the chairman and Head of A&R of the Notting Hill Group. Talk about pressure!! 

To let you into a little secret- we all knew that we had to perform in front of two executives, but Tom had played it down so well, that we only realised afterwards that we were being watched by the head of the Company, and the Head of A&R, which is just as well, as none of us felt inhibited.

Anyway, tomorrow- saturday night on BBC radio 6 music's Tom Robinson Introducing show, you can hear all of the above mentioned acts, plus Tom will be spinning a tune by Mooli. So check out the show if you can. It starts at midnight, but for all you clubbers and early birds, you can of course check out the show by logging onto the BBC website, where for 7 days, after the live broadcast,  you can listen to the show online.

 

Ben :) 

 

 

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After producing some new artists, inc a fine new female singer called katharina Wild, and overseeing some recordings of a new  female led indie band called Hibiscus, I have been getting down to the business of writing some new tunes.

On the current album ' Concubine' there were a number of tracks that I did guide vocals on initially, including ' Underneath the same sun' and ' Time' .

 

Being a backroom boy, who basically enjoys hiding away, tinking  in the studio, or standing at the back at gigs, it's not easy to raise my head above the parapet and allow myself to face the flak of letting you hear me sing  on one of the tracks I write but somehow, I have been persuaded to be brave and foolish- live a little as they say, and post up one of the new songs I have written for the next album, leaving it in it's original state.

 

So on our player is the new song ' Don't mention me'. Hope you like it. Goodness knows how it will sound by the time it's out on the next album- out sometime next year, all being well!

 

I probably won't leave it online for too long, but let me know what you think of the song.

 

Apart from that, I am talking to a  publisher about a new publishing deal, which is pretty exciting,oh  and ' Concubine' will soon be available at stores throughout the middle East, inc Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.

 

There has been an offer regarding Mooli playing at a festival in Dubai in a couple of months time, but to be honest I don't think we'll be able to do it. Hopefully if the offer is still there next year, and things have settled down, we'll be able to take part. I'm sure it will be fun!

Ben :) 

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