New releases

So much has been happening!  I have hardly had time to sleep...

...and I really don't know where to begin.

I am gonna go with alphabetical order:


A.  Arttraktiv Berlin.  I have been working with these guys the past few months to help advise and build a new recording studio.  The project is underway and should be completed by the end of the summer.  We have some amazing equipment being installed and I will be heading up the producer team, (including myself), with a bunch of super fantastic guys on-board ready for any music project.  They even have a grand piano in the place - it's amazing!  I am very honoured and excited to be working on such a fantastic project and can't wait until it's ready to go!  If you need a place to record and want your choice of producer, contact me or directly with arttraktiv - info@arttraktiv.de
They also have hundreds, (literally!), of practice rooms, alongside music education programs and other musically creative spaces.  GET INVOLVED!

B. The Blowbacks.  I hear that the album is almost finished...  Until it's release, go have a listen to some of the tunes on their Soundcloud here.

C. Cymbals.  I have been using Diril Cymbals for about 7 years now.  They are amazing handmade Turkish cymbals, which not only compete sonically and visually with the top name brands, but also cost half the price...  In fact, I would go so far as to say, these actually exceed (in most cases) the top end series of the big 4 or 5 top name brands; These cymbals really are twice the value and without any compromise.  I love them.  If you want to try some or need any new cymbals, get in touch - I can order direct from Turkey.

D. Deja Nova Trio.  An even further departure in style from my rock roots.  I have joined this beautiful Harp and Bass duo to complete the trio on stage and hope to perform more in the future.  Swing and Jazz style loveliness.

F. Flemming Borby.  Having recorded on Flemming's album "Somebody Wrong" earlier this year, the record is now out to buy.  We also played a couple of shows to release the video and the single "Somebody Wrong" here in Berlin and look forward to the official album release party in September.  Listen on Soundcloud here.  Watch the Video for "Somebody Wrong" here.

I. The Incredible Disappearing Boy.  The record is out now.  If you like Americana style music, check out this EP.  One of the finest I've ever had the pleasure of playing on, and with some deservedly fantastic reviews, this EP should be in your record collection...  (even if you don't like Americana - it should still be in your record collection).

L. Le-Thanh.  Well, what can I say about Le-Thanh...?  I recorded the album last year and it finally had it's release a month or so back.  Instead of trying to describe the sound, it's probably better if you read a review, or even better, listen for yourself and decide for yourself how beautiful this record actually is.  (Or maybe watch this video of us playing in a cinema)

M. Mr Dog The Bear.  Post-Rock, Alternative, Instrumental, Soundtrack style goodness...  The first EP from Mr Dog The Bear will be out in September/October this year but work towards the second EP is already underway...  There have been a couple of nice reviews for the debut release already and also some airplay!  Listen here, here, here, watch here, or here and read a lovely review here!!!

N. Nadav Meir.  Nadav is an Israeli singer-songwriter.  I recorded drums for his debut album earlier this year and it's now out to buy.  A collection of emotional songs, this was an amazing album to have been a part of.  Listen here.  Or even better - buy it now and listen again and again...

P. Pop Music, Song-Writing and Production.  Last year was extremely busy for recording, having been featured on about 17 albums and music projects around the world.  It's strange as a busy session musician - It's embarrassing to admit, but I sometimes forget some of the work I've done...  A friend recently asked me how I manage to do so much; I think I just prepare for whatever the next project is, whether it's a live show or a studio recording or a music video.  Then I move on to the next one.  So, it's easy to lose track of some things as I always seem to be moving forward.

I even find it hard to update this blog so often - I think my last post was about 4 months ago.

Anyway, I digress...  In the past 4 month (since my last post), some interesting work has come my way and I have diversified hugely, opening up a lot of new opportunities for myself.  Not only am I playing drums for an eclectic and assorted collection of bands and musicians, teaching at my school, working on a new studio build and running my rockschool club for young musicians, but I am now also mixing, writing and producing music.  The first proper project I have is co-writing an album with German pop singer Charlotte Giers.  It is a challenge, but it is amazing work and so exciting to be involved in so many new creative ways.  I think I have found a new love in production and song-writing.  Creating music in the studio is, it seems, my latest passion.  And I am excited about what Charlotte and I can produce together. 

R. Radio & Reviews.  BBC Radio Introductiong, Radio 1 Germany, Amazing Radio and many, many reviews for a lot of the music I have recorded.  Here's a list:

Amazing Radio - Mr Dog The Bear
Radio 1, Germany - Le-Thahn
BBC Radio Introducing - The Blowbacks (no longer available online)
BBC Radio Introducing - FlyCatFly (no longer available online)
Sentric Music Podcast - The Incredible Disappearing Boy
Dancing About Architecture Album Review - Le-Thahn
Dancing About Architecture Album Review - FlyCatFly
Gig Monkey Review - The Incredible Disappearing Boy
Americana UK Review - The Incredible Disappearing Boy
The Siren Sound Review - Mr Dog The Bear


S. Sticks. Agner Swiss Drumsticks are now supporting me and Dr Paradiddles Wonder Drumporium!  Whoop!

T. Teaching.  I still have space available for private students at Dr Paradiddles.  I am still running drum workshops at Super Sessions, Berlin and will probably be offering some workshops in the UK later this year (December) as well as something more regular at Arttraktiv, Berlin.  I am in need of a bass player for my Rockschool band.  Hit me up should you be interested in any of this.

U. UK.  Sam Bates.  Sam.  He seems to be the only reason I travel back to the UK.  I have flights booked mid-August to record an album which Sam is producing.  He won't even tell me who for.  I love you Sam.


V. Verb.  This project is so new that I can't give you any links or pictures or anything!  But, I can tell you what it's all about:  I am so so lucky that I have began making some sounds with Ksenia Zake, the unbelievable Latvian singer and guitarist, formerly the front woman from Tribes Of The City.  It's just the two of us so far, but we are making a lot of noise...  Watch this space.
Listen to Tribes Of The City here.
Watch a video here.

Halfway through the year...

So far, 2014 has been a mixed year:  Some good, some not so good, some exciting stuff, some boring stuff, some promises not kept and some very nice surprises...

As far as my music and drumming goes, I have had a lot of varied projects so far with what looks to be like a lot more to come in the second half of the year.

I will think back and start at the beginning of the year and work forward chronologically up to now, and beyond...  This list is purely for recording work.  My live shows can be viewed here.

:

At the beginning of this year I had the opportunity to work with two amazing singer/song-writers, one here in Germany and the other back in the UK.

Zeki Min (ex-frontman of The Driftwood Fairytales) asked if I would play drums for his debut solo-album, "Majestic".  I of course said "yes"...  So, he and Mr Hadl (producer extraordinaire and bassist for the album), came over to my place and we recorded the album live in a weekend!
The resulting album is stupendous and I am extremely proud to have been a part of it...
We also played a few shows in Berlin and I was asked to help in the creation of this interactive video too:

Click on the icons and have a play around with the awesome interactiveness!!!

If you like your music to be edgy yet familiar, glorious, yet understated and acoustic with a punk attitude, then you should definitely check Zeki's debut album "Majestic" out immediately!
Visit Zeki's website here!
Buy Zeki's debut album "Majestic" here!


Not long after recording with Zeki I was asked to fly over to England to work with Mr Josh Kumra - we spent a week writing and recording demo's for Josh's new album.  

Hopefully work on the album will commence soon and a release won't be too long in the waiting...
Visit Josh's official facebook page here!


I also have been involved with loops and beat-making.  Mr Ilkka Ala-Fossi, AKA Ile, used some of my loops in one of his songs which you can listen to on mysoundcloud, here:
"The Best Day (Demo)".
Visit Ile's SoundCloud page here!


A couple of months back started a surge of recording work with UK singer/songwriter Si Hall calling upon my [remote] service for his forthcoming E.P.
More along the lines of Chuck Ragan, Dave Hause and Tim Barry, Si's E.P. is almost ready to be unleashed on the world...
Find out more about Si Hall and his music here!


The work, coming in thick and fast, then took a slightly more exotic turn (no offence Si!):
The wonderfully colourful Mr Rameez Khalid emailed me and asked if I could record drums for his new single.

Another amazing opportunity...  I jumped at the chance and I must say it was a pleasure to work for such a talented and kind man.  I look forward to working again with Rameez sometime in the future...  Who knows, maybe I will even get to do some live work with him one day...?!
Visit Rameez's official facebook page here!


Keeping things international, I have been working on an album for Italian duo "Mr Dog The Bear".  The album is in the very early stages, but I am being encouraged to have a lot of input: Some production input (and happily a lot of creative input too!), the first song, (self-titled) can be heard on their soundcloud page here:
"Mr Dog The Bear"


This about gets me up to speed as far as the year has gone so far...
...but what does the rest of the year have in store?!!!
Well, let me divulge a little more:


There are 2 new projects definitely coming up in the next couple of months, not to mention the continuing & "in-progress" work I already spoke about and also the possibility of 2 or 3 more projects which are "under-discussion"...


The two projects coming up that I can say are both quite simply amazing:


The first is a chance for me to stretch my funk muscles.  Rachelle Jeanty has been singing professionally for the past 20 years. She has toured the world as a backing vocalist for Celine Dion and has given performances as a solo artist at ''Les Francofolies de Montréal'', with the Vienna Boys Choir and at the United Nations in New York.

A powerful and soulful presence on-stage (I've seen her twice and she is quite simply outstanding), the talented Ms Jeanty has a new project with an American based guitarist and song-smith underway, which will see me on-board as the beats man - excited is an understatement!
Visit Rachelle's website here!


The most recent session to land on my table is a studio album for Le-Thanh Ho.  This one is so fresh, all I can say at the moment is that the studio is booked for August and I am the drummer (unless I totally mess it up in rehearsals!)
Here's looking forward to working on this project as much as the rest!
Visit Le-Thanh Ho's website here!
Visit Le-Thanh Ho's official facebook page here!

So, there it is.  2014 so far with some things to look forward too :-)

And I hope you enjoy the music as much as I do.