Good evening.
By this point, I've been awake for around 40 hours.. I have 9 AM lectures and I am going to HURT by Tuesday.
I'll reflect upon Halloween at Chris' in more detail in another post, but the party KICKED ASS and we had a lot of fun playing a set for it.
So, speaking of the set.
We filmed ALL of the songs, including the covers thrown in there, along with the banter between songs. I'll be making some of the footage available on Youtube in it's raw and un edited format. However the chunk of it will be nicely edited (With some audio messing aroundness) and put somewhere with some goodies (Cover art, maybe some exclusive B-sides / home footage) for FREE as a live 'dvd' of sorts.
"Living Dead: The Angry Seed Live On Halloween" is my current working title.
Stay Angry
James
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Thursday, 27 October 2011
The Heart of the Sea
I am one flakey-ass-motherfucker.
Very few people read this, save maybe my band-mates and the odd randomer who swings by when they Google a random phrase.
I just feel like getting something off my chest.
I'm scared that I'm not good enough, that it'll all end one day.
Very few people read this, save maybe my band-mates and the odd randomer who swings by when they Google a random phrase.
I just feel like getting something off my chest.
I'm scared that I'm not good enough, that it'll all end one day.
Sunday, 18 September 2011
The State
I usually turn to Twitter to moan, but right now 140 characters or less won't really cover it for me.
This post is going to be divided into two sections, a quick moan about myself and then a nice vent about how I feel about the current state of the music industry and those involved.
First things first.
So, I go back to University next week, no mean feat, let me tell you that. I finished year one back in late May, where I walked away from my exams with the biggest pair of balls on this lingering scent of arrogance that followed me out of campus, which in the end was all in vain.
The long and short of it is, I came very close to failing my first year due to a lack of effort across the board, at this point I'm still not in the best standing as I believe I'll be resitting ESPL in it's full fucking self along with my year two modules this year, which is really not the best thing ever.
But I guess what I'm getting at is.. work hard, seriously. No matter what you're doing, do a good job first time and life will be easier. It won't leave you with people disappointed in you and you losing every wink of sleep because you're so fucking terrified.
So, anyway.
The music industry, or the vacuous hole that used to be the showcase of the finest talent in the world.
My hobby is recording, I got into it a few years ago with a shitty microphone and Audacity, which over the years has currently reached a Pro Tools based system and some tasty outboard gear that I love to pieces.
Why do I record? Well simply because I write alot of music, but also because it's so much fun! My ethos with recording is the lauding of mine and my band mates ability to do "One take Jakes" where a guitar or bass part is recorded in one shot, no edits, no nothing. Which sounds simple, but when you're layering 6 guitar tracks, 2 bass parts and however many layers of vocals, when you're returning to zero when you make a mistake, it can be frustrating.
Why do it? Well it preserves the performance, sure I might be a second behind a note on track 5, but the fact is, you can hear me play that and you know it's human!
What winds me up is the emergence of the "Sturgis" recording school, a group of engineers and bands who are recording guitars NOTE BY NOTE. Which sounds like an exaggeration, but it's absolutely true.
These people sicken me, watching vids of them performing life is almost as laughable as it is cringeworthy.
I'm not going to moan over and over about this, but god damn. We take our time to provide our fans with the best performance we can, both live and on record, yet theres jokers out there who pull that shit?
This is why I hate the big leagues.
James
This post is going to be divided into two sections, a quick moan about myself and then a nice vent about how I feel about the current state of the music industry and those involved.
First things first.
So, I go back to University next week, no mean feat, let me tell you that. I finished year one back in late May, where I walked away from my exams with the biggest pair of balls on this lingering scent of arrogance that followed me out of campus, which in the end was all in vain.
The long and short of it is, I came very close to failing my first year due to a lack of effort across the board, at this point I'm still not in the best standing as I believe I'll be resitting ESPL in it's full fucking self along with my year two modules this year, which is really not the best thing ever.
But I guess what I'm getting at is.. work hard, seriously. No matter what you're doing, do a good job first time and life will be easier. It won't leave you with people disappointed in you and you losing every wink of sleep because you're so fucking terrified.
So, anyway.
The music industry, or the vacuous hole that used to be the showcase of the finest talent in the world.
My hobby is recording, I got into it a few years ago with a shitty microphone and Audacity, which over the years has currently reached a Pro Tools based system and some tasty outboard gear that I love to pieces.
Why do I record? Well simply because I write alot of music, but also because it's so much fun! My ethos with recording is the lauding of mine and my band mates ability to do "One take Jakes" where a guitar or bass part is recorded in one shot, no edits, no nothing. Which sounds simple, but when you're layering 6 guitar tracks, 2 bass parts and however many layers of vocals, when you're returning to zero when you make a mistake, it can be frustrating.
Why do it? Well it preserves the performance, sure I might be a second behind a note on track 5, but the fact is, you can hear me play that and you know it's human!
What winds me up is the emergence of the "Sturgis" recording school, a group of engineers and bands who are recording guitars NOTE BY NOTE. Which sounds like an exaggeration, but it's absolutely true.
These people sicken me, watching vids of them performing life is almost as laughable as it is cringeworthy.
I'm not going to moan over and over about this, but god damn. We take our time to provide our fans with the best performance we can, both live and on record, yet theres jokers out there who pull that shit?
This is why I hate the big leagues.
James
By the seat of my pants..
Hi everyone!
It's been a very long time since I signed into this blog, let alone posted anything on it. So if I come off a little rusty, I can only apologise.
Well, what's been happening over at TAS HQ in recent weeks? It's been a wild one.
After a really successful first show at the Noize Level Critical all day festival, we walked away with heads held high, as we went down a treat by the sound of it. This was great, as it was a first gig for all but myself and the guys did an amazing job! Nothing went wrong and it was just a great maiden voyage.
Shortly after the show we parted ways with our guitarist, Joe, who remains a friend of the band and knows that if we ever need him again, his phone will ring first!
So that's the recent happenings, what about the future?
Because I know that a limited number of people are going to read this, I have no problem announcing anything early, because it won't go 'viral' (in the loosest sense of the word)
The really big news is that Chris and myself are in the VERY early stages of starting an independent record label, I can currently give you no more information than that! There is no name (Aside from my idea of an imprint, Cadaver Avenue.) and nothing to really announce.
The idea of the label, aside to follow in the footsteps of ground breakers such as Asian Man, is to bring the up and coming to the people.
One of the main reasons behind this move is to be able to promote ourselves and our friends in a variety of ways, whether it's recording exclusive song's for label compilations or playing shows as a group, drawing fans of one another together and immersing everyone in everything we can offer, the possibilities are endless right now!
As news on that develops, I'll keep this thing updated.
We're also in the process of writing for our second album! This is particularly exciting as this time it won't just be me behind the helm. Joe has been writing some material that I've been made privy to, which suffice to say.. I am excited as fuck for!
Another big part this time is the addition of LIVE FUCKING DRUMS to the recordings. Chris is off to study Music Tech at University, which means we get access to the studio at reasonable rates, which with enough practise and the work ethic (That alot of bands lack, but I'll save that for another post.) we can track the album (And B sides) in a few days, then bring the sessions back to my home studio (Also in the process of being renamed..) to edit them, track all the guitars / bass. From there, we'll take the sessions across to Chris' to sort out keys and samples where needed, record vocals and then back to mine for the mix!
It's exciting times.
Sorry if this is long and very unstructured, but that's just how I roll.
Regular updates, hopefully.
James
It's been a very long time since I signed into this blog, let alone posted anything on it. So if I come off a little rusty, I can only apologise.
Well, what's been happening over at TAS HQ in recent weeks? It's been a wild one.
After a really successful first show at the Noize Level Critical all day festival, we walked away with heads held high, as we went down a treat by the sound of it. This was great, as it was a first gig for all but myself and the guys did an amazing job! Nothing went wrong and it was just a great maiden voyage.
Shortly after the show we parted ways with our guitarist, Joe, who remains a friend of the band and knows that if we ever need him again, his phone will ring first!
So that's the recent happenings, what about the future?
Because I know that a limited number of people are going to read this, I have no problem announcing anything early, because it won't go 'viral' (in the loosest sense of the word)
The really big news is that Chris and myself are in the VERY early stages of starting an independent record label, I can currently give you no more information than that! There is no name (Aside from my idea of an imprint, Cadaver Avenue.) and nothing to really announce.
The idea of the label, aside to follow in the footsteps of ground breakers such as Asian Man, is to bring the up and coming to the people.
One of the main reasons behind this move is to be able to promote ourselves and our friends in a variety of ways, whether it's recording exclusive song's for label compilations or playing shows as a group, drawing fans of one another together and immersing everyone in everything we can offer, the possibilities are endless right now!
As news on that develops, I'll keep this thing updated.
We're also in the process of writing for our second album! This is particularly exciting as this time it won't just be me behind the helm. Joe has been writing some material that I've been made privy to, which suffice to say.. I am excited as fuck for!
Another big part this time is the addition of LIVE FUCKING DRUMS to the recordings. Chris is off to study Music Tech at University, which means we get access to the studio at reasonable rates, which with enough practise and the work ethic (That alot of bands lack, but I'll save that for another post.) we can track the album (And B sides) in a few days, then bring the sessions back to my home studio (Also in the process of being renamed..) to edit them, track all the guitars / bass. From there, we'll take the sessions across to Chris' to sort out keys and samples where needed, record vocals and then back to mine for the mix!
It's exciting times.
Sorry if this is long and very unstructured, but that's just how I roll.
Regular updates, hopefully.
James
Friday, 6 May 2011
Post album release
Dudes.
So, Joe and I finished the last few songs for the album on Tuesday, we had the artwork and we decided it was time to make it public.
Since then, life has been AWESOME; you guys have got us up to nearly 1000 plays on the Soundcloud, we've spoken to web-radio stations, had someone offer to design a website for us.. no Vikki Blows quite yet, but I'm sure she's just busy.. ;)
So, how did it feel to get it out?
Cathartic, I mean for me the whole album writing process was a catharsis for how I was feeling at the time, what I'd been doing and my general mood over the past few months, as The Angry Seed started with "Valentine" and evolved from there.
I feel a great sense of relief now that I know people are hearing me out / enjoying it to boot!
Leftovers?
Yeah, we have a few, "Bloodsuckers" didn't make the album, despite being finished a while ago; my intention with this track in particular is to save it for "The Night Shift EP" as a B-Side of the album, but I'm going to have a friend of mine record the vocals, due to it having a much more.. well suited to him feel about it!
"Happy Hour" is also sat around, with all but the vocals tracked; the issue there is that I couldn't decide who I wanted to sing on it, so my intention with that is to record a version with my voice and a version with Joe's voice and release them on the same disc, I think!
Other than that, it's mostly half done songs or sets of lyrics and riffs left over, I have a few acoustic songs that are ready to be used, such as "Table Wine" which is going on the EP, but the rest will probably see the light of day at an intermediate release between that and the next album!
I'm avoiding saving songs for the album, due to not wanting to be singing about stuff that was then and not appropriate to how I feel now; My belief with the Angry Seed is that if I cannot give a solid performance and have people hear my emotions, then I'd rather not do it at all!
The future?
Play the album to my flat mates tonight, get trashed and work out what I want to do tomorrow!
Then work on some songs that may or may not be for TAS; they have a bit more of a horror / sleazey feel, but we'll see!
OTHER NEWS?!
Joe approached me a week or two ago about releasing a companion EP to The Angry Seed, of songs written by members that weren't entirely appropriate for the final album, so that's gonna be worked on soon!
Along with that, I'm busy working on cleaning the songs up for the radio "**** you saint Valentine" doesn't really have the impact.. but hey!
And finally, I'm still working on "The Last Of The Panel Shows" which is a collection of demos and songs from my musical career (lololol) so far, that'll crop up one day soon!
Take it easy!
Stay Angry <3
James
x
So, Joe and I finished the last few songs for the album on Tuesday, we had the artwork and we decided it was time to make it public.
Since then, life has been AWESOME; you guys have got us up to nearly 1000 plays on the Soundcloud, we've spoken to web-radio stations, had someone offer to design a website for us.. no Vikki Blows quite yet, but I'm sure she's just busy.. ;)
So, how did it feel to get it out?
Cathartic, I mean for me the whole album writing process was a catharsis for how I was feeling at the time, what I'd been doing and my general mood over the past few months, as The Angry Seed started with "Valentine" and evolved from there.
I feel a great sense of relief now that I know people are hearing me out / enjoying it to boot!
Leftovers?
Yeah, we have a few, "Bloodsuckers" didn't make the album, despite being finished a while ago; my intention with this track in particular is to save it for "The Night Shift EP" as a B-Side of the album, but I'm going to have a friend of mine record the vocals, due to it having a much more.. well suited to him feel about it!
"Happy Hour" is also sat around, with all but the vocals tracked; the issue there is that I couldn't decide who I wanted to sing on it, so my intention with that is to record a version with my voice and a version with Joe's voice and release them on the same disc, I think!
Other than that, it's mostly half done songs or sets of lyrics and riffs left over, I have a few acoustic songs that are ready to be used, such as "Table Wine" which is going on the EP, but the rest will probably see the light of day at an intermediate release between that and the next album!
I'm avoiding saving songs for the album, due to not wanting to be singing about stuff that was then and not appropriate to how I feel now; My belief with the Angry Seed is that if I cannot give a solid performance and have people hear my emotions, then I'd rather not do it at all!
The future?
Play the album to my flat mates tonight, get trashed and work out what I want to do tomorrow!
Then work on some songs that may or may not be for TAS; they have a bit more of a horror / sleazey feel, but we'll see!
OTHER NEWS?!
Joe approached me a week or two ago about releasing a companion EP to The Angry Seed, of songs written by members that weren't entirely appropriate for the final album, so that's gonna be worked on soon!
Along with that, I'm busy working on cleaning the songs up for the radio "**** you saint Valentine" doesn't really have the impact.. but hey!
And finally, I'm still working on "The Last Of The Panel Shows" which is a collection of demos and songs from my musical career (lololol) so far, that'll crop up one day soon!
Take it easy!
Stay Angry <3
James
x
Friday, 29 April 2011
Rock and roll is all I got!
Doing multiple posts in a day, classy.
I should probably make people more aware of my twitter and do it there, complete with hashtags.. ANYWAY.
It's been a while, guys.
Sat here, listening to the Murderdolls, pondering.
Within the next month, The Angry Seed will have their self titled debut album out, free to download, hopefully getting a few hard copies made up so you guys can buy one (cover print costs, thats all!) and hold the seed in your hands! <Wink wink>
After the album comes out, we're going straight to work on The Night Shift EP and I'll be following that up shortly afterwards with The Last of the Panel Shows, an EP/LP (Depends how I feel.) of songs I recorded as ideas or general demo's for both The Angry Seed and my own solo stuff, which then became the 'Seed!
Can't wait for you lot to hear it!
James
x
I should probably make people more aware of my twitter and do it there, complete with hashtags.. ANYWAY.
It's been a while, guys.
Sat here, listening to the Murderdolls, pondering.
Within the next month, The Angry Seed will have their self titled debut album out, free to download, hopefully getting a few hard copies made up so you guys can buy one (cover print costs, thats all!) and hold the seed in your hands! <Wink wink>
After the album comes out, we're going straight to work on The Night Shift EP and I'll be following that up shortly afterwards with The Last of the Panel Shows, an EP/LP (Depends how I feel.) of songs I recorded as ideas or general demo's for both The Angry Seed and my own solo stuff, which then became the 'Seed!
Can't wait for you lot to hear it!
James
x
Bank Holiday Friday!
Saplings!
Sat to one side at a Royal Wedding celebration, with a cold can of Rockstar Juiced (mango, passion fruit and orange, however I believe the orange to actually be cigarette butts, has such a funky after taste.) and listening to some music through my iPod, as 1 more Devlin song and I'm going to show them how angry a seed can be.
Anyway!
I'm back at the studio tomorrow for a few hours, so I'll be posting the album masters of Valentine and Sharks, then when I go back to my flat for good on Monday, I'll be re recording the vocals for Cope and hopefully recording "Roger That", another punkier number along the vein of Resentment!
Then it's a meeting with Jurwell to sort out getting some stickers of the album artwork printed up, can't wait to sort that out!
Stay tuned for more updates :)
James
x
Sat to one side at a Royal Wedding celebration, with a cold can of Rockstar Juiced (mango, passion fruit and orange, however I believe the orange to actually be cigarette butts, has such a funky after taste.) and listening to some music through my iPod, as 1 more Devlin song and I'm going to show them how angry a seed can be.
Anyway!
I'm back at the studio tomorrow for a few hours, so I'll be posting the album masters of Valentine and Sharks, then when I go back to my flat for good on Monday, I'll be re recording the vocals for Cope and hopefully recording "Roger That", another punkier number along the vein of Resentment!
Then it's a meeting with Jurwell to sort out getting some stickers of the album artwork printed up, can't wait to sort that out!
Stay tuned for more updates :)
James
x
Thursday, 28 April 2011
The Future, I guess.
Hey guys
Well, it's a thursday night, I'm BEYOND shattered and now I'm sat here blogging to amuse myself and keep myself busy.
Whats new? Well, my day (And Joe's) has consisted of workworkwork! I had two assignments due in for University, which I had to complete away from the comfort of the flat thanks to my PC dying on me at the wrong time (Now fixed!) and making my stressful day a little bit worse.
Then I got lost twice driving home, thanks to being lost in the thoughts of someone I adore dearly, but hurts me so much to think about; yeah, welcome to part of the reason that The Angry Seed exists, it's my lyrical catharsis, plus theres theres nothing more fun than beating out power chords at 240bpm!
So what's happening now! I'm staring at a pile of stickers with The Night Shift EP artwork on that arrived today, they're lush and if you're reading this, be one of the first 5 to write on the FB wall and I'll give you one!
Along with that I'm reading back lyrics and writing some new ones; I demoed a tasty little number called "Roger That" into my phone, hopefully gonna record some of it on saturday and you'll have a demo at least to hear!
I guess what's evident to me at the second is twofold; firstly The Angry Seed just got alot angrier, some of the songs I've written recently are alot darker and alot more.. angry! Roger that is really bitter and a biopic of how I felt the night I wrote it, sadly it's a bit of a personal stab at a few people, but I love them dearly and I was having a really, really bad day.
Secondly, I'm so struck by the momentum this little band from Ilkeston is getting, sure we're gigless, sure we're poor, but 600 plays in a month is amazing for a bunch of angsty songs I wrote cos a girl didn't want me!
I love you guys, I love my bandmates and I love life, lets hope it keeps getting better!
Mood; Down as fuck, with a hint of optimism
Soundtrack; "Sugarcum" - Acey Slade and the Dark Party
Stay Angry, all of you <3
James
x
Well, it's a thursday night, I'm BEYOND shattered and now I'm sat here blogging to amuse myself and keep myself busy.
Whats new? Well, my day (And Joe's) has consisted of workworkwork! I had two assignments due in for University, which I had to complete away from the comfort of the flat thanks to my PC dying on me at the wrong time (Now fixed!) and making my stressful day a little bit worse.
Then I got lost twice driving home, thanks to being lost in the thoughts of someone I adore dearly, but hurts me so much to think about; yeah, welcome to part of the reason that The Angry Seed exists, it's my lyrical catharsis, plus theres theres nothing more fun than beating out power chords at 240bpm!
So what's happening now! I'm staring at a pile of stickers with The Night Shift EP artwork on that arrived today, they're lush and if you're reading this, be one of the first 5 to write on the FB wall and I'll give you one!
Along with that I'm reading back lyrics and writing some new ones; I demoed a tasty little number called "Roger That" into my phone, hopefully gonna record some of it on saturday and you'll have a demo at least to hear!
I guess what's evident to me at the second is twofold; firstly The Angry Seed just got alot angrier, some of the songs I've written recently are alot darker and alot more.. angry! Roger that is really bitter and a biopic of how I felt the night I wrote it, sadly it's a bit of a personal stab at a few people, but I love them dearly and I was having a really, really bad day.
Secondly, I'm so struck by the momentum this little band from Ilkeston is getting, sure we're gigless, sure we're poor, but 600 plays in a month is amazing for a bunch of angsty songs I wrote cos a girl didn't want me!
I love you guys, I love my bandmates and I love life, lets hope it keeps getting better!
Mood; Down as fuck, with a hint of optimism
Soundtrack; "Sugarcum" - Acey Slade and the Dark Party
Stay Angry, all of you <3
James
x
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Afternoon
Greetings from The Angry Seed HQ!
I'm sat here, writing assignments that are due in tomorrow, so I decided I'd take a break to start this blog and update it with a post so it's not totally empty.
The album artwork arrived today..
<3
I'm in love with it!
Other news, in this brief work break; Got a few songs left to finish then the album is going to be released, then it's STRAIGHT BACK into the studio to record the Night Shift EP :)
Stay Angry <3
James
I'm sat here, writing assignments that are due in tomorrow, so I decided I'd take a break to start this blog and update it with a post so it's not totally empty.
The album artwork arrived today..
<3
I'm in love with it!
Other news, in this brief work break; Got a few songs left to finish then the album is going to be released, then it's STRAIGHT BACK into the studio to record the Night Shift EP :)
Stay Angry <3
James
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)