(Source: miriamjones.com)
How Fire-lives is coming along
Hello Good-peeps. Just wanted to let you all know that the main tracking for my new album is complete and we are about to begin overdubs, mixing and the like. The house worked a treat as a studio - in fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever been more pleased with it’s serving-of-purpose. The weather was fine and we happily ate every Jez-cooked-meal outside around the glass table. The boys played with great genius and spirit as usual, and producer Matt Hay (who also got in a bit of play-time) pushed us all in some great new directions and fought for the best out of us.
I’m also very excited about how the artwork for the album is developing, but that’s a surprise.
The patron project is going absolutely swimmingly, and we are just shy of our £2,000 target. There’s still time to get on board and gain access to my Fire-lives blog (where you’ll find rough mixes, artwork progress, etc), get your name in the album sleeve, and even get a concert in your home or a venue of your choice. See my homepage for more details.
Hope you’re all enjoying this fine summer,
MJ
All the main tracking for my new album is complete! Spent last week and yesterday recording it in the house with producer Matt Hay, drummer Tom Hooper, guitarist/pianist Adam Carpenter, and bassist Jez Carr. Duvets abounded, drum screens, guitars galore, illustrious amounts of good humor, intense takes and re-takes, home-cooked lunches and dinners in the sunny back garden around the glass table. Overdubs and mixing to come. It’s going to be a winner folks.
There’s still time to become a patron and get in on my exclusive blog with more detailed accounts, artwork previews, mixes and the like, not to mention your name in the album sleeve, a free house concert and the like. See the homepage for links :)
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
—RevJim_LaityNameSong
Rev Jim names some of the folk at the Ministers to Artists conference at Laity Lodge this past March.
Me and Charlie Peacock, who produced my Being Here album, at Laity Lodge in Texas.
Pictures from our house concert in San Antonio, Texas. Soooo much fun.
“The secret to so many artists living so long is that every painting is a new adventure. So, you see, they’re always looking ahead to something new and exciting. The secret is not to look back. “
Norman Rockwell
Borrowed from ihatemornings, (aka Ben Walker): host, instigator, and setter-upper of these sessions, not to mention guest ukulele genius. Basically the guy who did all the work. I showed up, drank tea for Britain, and did what I love.
Here it is, folks, the last installment of the Solitary Songs project.
I’ve made a little video for it using the isight on my mac, just sat it staring at us while we were recording in the dining room - it’s a timid experiment, and not likely to blow your minds (I’m completely new to this video thing), but it’s gotten me thinking and tinkering, which is good, and I hope it’s a nice little compliment to your listening experience.
The record age was just a blip. It was a bit like if you had a source of whale blubber in the 1840s and it could be used as fuel. Before gas came along, if you traded in whale blubber, you were the richest man on Earth. Then gas came along and you’d be stuck with your whale blubber. Sorry mate – history’s moving along. Recorded music equals whale blubber. Eventually, something else will replace it.
—
Brian Eno (via New Music Strategies) (via ihatemornings)
Not sure how I feel about thinking of my music as whale blubber, but otherwise, that’s pretty right on, I reckon.
Abreviated MJ News:
Gig on Feb 9th at Cobden Club in Westbourne Park, U.S house concert tour in March/April, new album in the works, final Solitary Song on its way!
Purity of heart is to will one thing.
—Sören Kierkegaard
Microgigs
Playing my first ever microgig - actually, THE first ever microgig - on Saturday, February 27th in London. Championed by @solobasssteve, microgigs are a live music, community experience like no other. Check ‘em out - maybe you can host one?
