The new album’s coming along brilliantly and I’m pleased to give you a link to another nearly finished track – just needs a bit of mixing to finish it off.
http://soundcloud.com/chandra-moon/easy
In other news I’ve had a garden make-over and it’s wonderful to see the transformation from neglected space to a lovely, useable and green sanctuary.
Here are some more pics!
Here’s the latest preview for my new album – I do hope you enjoy it.
Here’s an unmixed version of Trust Me – a demo from the new album which I hope to release later this year. There are eight tracks nearly ready now, mostly more upbeat than this one and I hope you like this one.
Last night, Paddy (who plays keyboards with me as well as his own songs and multi-instruments) and I organised our second Songwriter Evening in Bristol at the cosy Halo Bar on Gloucester Road.
Mark Darkside
It went brilliantly well. We have a format of 4 people playing 3 songs each then a break and in the second half a couple more people playing 3 songs finishing off with a paid featured artist who plays a longer headline set. The people playing the 3 songs come in for free and a drink, the audience pay only £3 and the headline person gets a cut dependent on the number of people who attend – it seems to be a win win formula. I do the promotion and line-up, Paddy does the PA and co-organises.
Julie Dawn
We’re planning on running the sessions every other month or so as it’s great for people to have a chance to showcase their material without having to organise a whole gig themselves or for those who aren’t quite ready to do a longer set. It’s a more polished performance than an open mic as people practice their set and know they’re going to play.
Anyway – any Bristol songwriters out there who are interested in playing – get in touch and we’ll try and schedule you in.
Lou Bell
It’s been a sad week with the passing away of my Aunty Kathy – one of my mother’s sisters, after a short illness.
Amazingly, she’s the first of my close relatives from that generation to pass away which at my age of nearly 60 is incredible. My dad and his brothers and wives are all still alive, as is my mum and her sisters and their husbands until now.
She was a lovely lady – witty, clever, talented and always beautiful – she’ll be sadly missed by her family and friends. It will be sad at the funeral tomorrow, although I’m looking forward to getting together with the family to say goodbye to her.
Great day in the studio today. I’m mid-way through recording the only reggae track I’ve written called Before You Were Born about taking acid in the 70s (yea I know more than 40 years ago!!) and still not a forgotten experience though one never to be repeated!!
We’ve had such fun with this track looking for great dub sound effects and beats!
I’ve still got a few more tracks not started yet but most are in various stages of development and with various musicians contributing all sorts of instruments and backing vocals.
I’m hoping to have it all wrapped up by the autumn. Still not decided on a name for the album – was thinking of Over The Moon but now having second thoughts.
I’ve been back in the UK for nearly a week now and thankfully it’s been mainly warm and sunny which is always better when you come back from somewhere hot – last year we came back to freezing conditions.
The Kartong Festival was brilliant this year, mainly because for the first time the Kartonkas themselves did most of the pre-planning and organising! This gives us great hope for the future of the festival. They’ll still need some technical help next year – especially with lighting and wiring but they planned all the programme and artists, food for artists, publicity. We helped with providing a stage manager, electrics and ticketing/wristbanding but pretty much everything else was locally run. We’re planning on returning in November to do some training/pre-planning and then not attending next February for the first time as the only way to really make the festival happen without us for the first time – sink or swim but we believe they can swim now!! It will be the eighth year after all!
For the first time, I played at the festival myself – flute with my kora playing friend Moriba Kuyarteh.
Here’s a video of us jamming with some other musicians at Tesito Ecolodge – the sound’s not brilliant but you get the general idea. Thanks to everyone for making it such a great festival this year
I came to my blog yesterday in the mood to post something and found it blacked out to support the Wiki objection to the PIPA and SOPA acts in the USA. Although I agree that online piracy isn’t a good thing the terms of these acts are much too far-reaching and would have a terrible effect on the internet Avaaz petition.
Meanwhile, my lovely man has gone off to Africa to start preparations for the Kartong Festival in the Gambia and I’ll be joining him later – so missing him like crazy but getting on with things. My son’s in India at the same time and my sisters live in Australia so it feels like half my loved ones are all spread out around the world!
I had a frustrating day in the studio yesterday trying to record some nice flute parts on a track and I just couldn’t get it right. It goes like that sometimes – the bits you think would be easy take ages and other bit you think will take ages go easily! Plus I’m feeling a bit off colour, slightly virusish (if that’s a word) and that doesn’t help.
I’m still really enjoying being in Bristol though, being able to see my mum and friends regularly as well as regular practices with Paddy, getting on with all my music projects and going to see other musicians playing locally.
We’ve had such a lovely Christmas this year. My dear daughter, husband and grand-daughter came to stay as did one of my nephews.
Little L is now 3 year’s old and it was the first Christmas that she really understood more about all the family gathering together to share Chrismas time, food and presents. Even though my son couldn’t be here as he’s currently in India, he Skyped so we were able to see him and chat with him through the wonder of modern technology. My mum and her partner came for the day as well and we had a wonderful time. On Boxing Day, we had a small evening Open House with neighbours and friends and that was really fun too – especially as a couple of friends came who I hadn’t seen in many years.
Everyone’s left now and the house seems very quiet and peaceful after all the energy of the last few days so I shall savour my own space now.
I’m so happy to be back in my own home again looking forward to an exciting 2012.
It’s just so brilliant being back in Bristol – in just a few months my music mojo is firing on all cylinders and I’m feeling inspired.
I’m back out playing the open mics, did a great one tonight, I’ve got a proper gig next Monday playing a full set with my keyboard player and various other musicians.
Today in the studio a friend of mine who’s a really great percussionist recorded bodran and spoons on one of my new tracks and the album’s coming along wonderfully.
Tomorrow I’m playing flute with a hang drum player at a closing ceremony of a community organisation and next week I’m playing a couple of songs in a community church for a Christmas event (non-religious).
What a transition from rattling round the house when I was living in the countryside. I just love being back in the city – so inspiring being around so many great musicians and poets!
Anyway – just wanted to share all this positive energy with you!
Over The Moon Radio Station
Chandramoon