All my music is now on BANDCAMP :-)!

 I have re-worked all my previous albums and released the entire lot on bandcamp:

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!

Some beautiful new artwork for every release has been made by the wonderful artist Jean Walter - https://www.artstation.com/waltjan9

I have a fully functional, if not very simple website: MDTB's website

I am also working on music for visuals.

MORE INFO HERE!

So, if you need a jingle for your YouTube channel, some music or sound effects for a game or app, or even a complete film score, hit me up!

I hope you are all well and happy?
Stay fit and strong!
Rich

The Night Moving Company

Original artwork by Jean Walter

My latest album "The Night Moving Company" is an example of my fascination with the need to escape.

In Japan there are companies who offer "Night Moving Services".  These companies help people to disappear, abandoning their lives, jobs, homes and families.
There are many reasons why someone might choose to disappear and the whole idea intrigues me.

Thinking about whys and hows, there are many wildly varied answers to consider about people escaping or leaving their lives behind;  kidnapping, alien abduction, problems with the law, monies being owed... Some of these answers could be considered outlandish.  Some are more serious and real.  One such reason could be an abusive partner or family member.

Most people probably don't know this about me, but, I lived through an abusive relationship.  It lasted more than 5 years.

It was mostly psychological and emotional abuse, but sometimes things would turn physical.
I am not a violent person.  I hate violence.

My upbringing was fantastic.  My parents are both amazing people who gave me the best childhood.

So, to find myself living with an abusive partner was a bizarre, disturbing and shocking experience, the long-term effects of which I am still living with some 25 years on.

There's a lot of accounts about what it all means to live through such traumatic experiences so I don't feel the need to recount my particular story, but recently I have come to realise that, still living with the consequences of that time have shaped, not only my personality and my personal life, but it also seems to be the fodder with which I find inspiration in my music and career.

The first single from the album is "World Looks Sideways", featuring the wonderful lyrics and vocals of UK singer Stevie Toddler.

Original animated works adapted with kind permission from Karlijn Scholten.

Writing about the inspiration for my music is not something I've done before, so it has been enlightening for me to realise that my work seems to be born from the life changing trauma that I lived through.

 

It was life changing in literally every way - notably, it was when I first picked up a guitar and learned to play and write songs.

 

I am intrigued by the mysteries of the human condition; our individual experiences, our own personal perceptions towards ourselves, to each other and to the events & experiences that we all have.

 

My music is mostly instrumental (with some rare exceptions which I have collected together on the E.P. Animus/Anima which you can hear here), so without the benefit of expression through words I have to find other ways to get my musical message across.

 

 

On "The Night Moving Company", the main theme throughout being "escape", I have included subtle hints at various reasons and ways to disappear; 

 

There are the sounds of boats creaking, conjuring images of ghost ships adrift... (Parrhesia) 
 

There are interpretations of aliens and spacecraft, making me think of abductions or a disappearance that wasn't planned... (Vril) 

 

There's the a suggestion of aircraft taking off (or landing), making one feel the beginning of a long journey...  (Hypersanity)

 

There is a sudden broken ending, unexpected and awkward... (Pokkuri Death Syndrome)

Original artwork by Jean Walter

I also put a lot of value in the ambiguity of the titles I choose;

The Rashomon Effect for example, illustrates the fact that an event can have contradictory interpretations giving differing perspectives.

Loss Of Simultaneity is explained by The Andromeda Paradox, (the idea complimenting The Rashomon Effect.)  I am very motivated by the concept of differing perceptions.  (Right and wrong can be quite changeable depending.).

Hypersanity: Hypersane people are calm, contained and constructive.  RD Laing presented madness as a voyage of discovery that could open out onto a free state of higher consciousness, or hypersanity. But if there is such a thing as hypersanity, then mere sanity is not all it's cracked up to be, a state of dormancy and dullness with less vital potential even than madness.

Pokkuri Death Syndrome (PDS) refers to an unexplained type of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) with unknown cause.

Parrhesia is a verbal activity in which a speaker expresses his personal relationship to truth.  This is particularly fitting, not only to this post, but also to the ideas on The Night Moving Company.

Total Internal Reflection for me is the most ambiguous of all the titles on the record, with my own interpretation being quite an introverted look into ones own psyche and experience.
The real scientific meaning is quite different:  Total internal reflection is the optical phenomenon in which waves arriving at the interface from one medium to another are not refracted into the second medium, but completely reflected back into the first medium.

I am still coming to terms with some things from my past and how it has changed me, but, I am happy to have lived through this.  It has given me new perspectives, new ideas, personal strength and inspiration.

The Night Moving Company is out 1st December 2021:
The Night Moving Company

Animus/Anima is out now: 

Animus/Anima

I hope you enjoy the music.

https://mrdogthebear.bandcamp.com

New Album and 2017 to date...

Hello again!

(I never know a good opening for a blog post...)

Anyway, there it is.  I am writing again to share more news about stuff I am doing:

After a successful few shows with Losers in the summer, I had impressed enough to grab the notice of another band, whom, short a drummer, asked if I could jump on board for a couple of shows.

The incredibly good Bullet Height (Sony), with who Losers played in May in Berlin, contacted me a couple of weeks back.  Their drummer Michael was on tour with another of his bands, and so I ended up traveling 20 hours in a van over 3 days to the Czech border and then across to Holland.

The shows, the music and the band themselves were (and are) very very cool.
I had some amazing fun and am extremely happy they asked me to join for this mini tour :-)  Thanks guys!

People reading: If you don't know Bullet Height, you should definitely check them out and immediately make a purchase of their debut album "No Atonement".  It's GREAT!

Next up is a new album due for release on playdead sometime before the end of the year.

Mr Dog The Bear's 2nd album features a host of guest musicians and vocalists, making it something a little different from the first record.

https://mrdogthebear.bandcamp.com/

I am well excited!

Just a short post today, but there will be more soon.

Dr Paradiddles may have some news in the next week or two too!
:-)

Happy Sunday!

New Music

New Choons, New Website, New News!

It seems, even when I'm not busy I have plenty to do...

2016 hasn't seemed quite so crazy as the past few years, but, nevertheless, I have managed to cram in a huge amount of stuff in the first 9 months.

My drum school got flooded, giving me a good excuse to finally give the place a long overdue overhaul.
I even made a new website for it :-)

www.drparadiddleswonderdrumporium.com

I think it looks pretty cool.

:-)

I also made a shop with some nice Dr P's 

The Dr Paradiddles Shop!

Not to mention all the records, one already out and others coming out in the next few weeks which I have been proud to be a part of!

This year I began working with Marakesh.  If you want to know more you can read stuff here.

You can watch some more videos here.

And you can "like" on facebook here.

Today(!) see's the release of a new single from Mr Dog The Bear: "Fireflies"

You can listen to/buy it here

There are two record release shows also imminent.  The first from Vincent Bella for his upcoming album and the second from Rockn Rollf!.  Both shows will be in Berlin and I intend to make sure I am at both parties!

Incidentally, both records were recorded at Legato Sound Studios in Berlin, with my good friends Giulio and Nadav behind the desk.  I love working there :-)

So, if you're around in Berlin on either (or both) the following dates, make sure to come and drink and party with some great music!

Vincent Bella

Album Release Party!
23rd Septemeber

@ James June, Berlin

Rockn Rollf

Album Release Party!

4th October

@ Speiches, Berlin

I am also very lucky, (pun intended), to be work on some new music with this lovely and talented lady:

You should immediately go and listen to her music, and catch a live show if you can...  Incredible stuff!

I am sure there's more news, but that'll do for now

Latest News

I don't post often, but when I do there's usually a lot to discuss...

So, straight to it:

I now have two more teachers available to take students at my drum school in Kreuzberg, Berlin; "Dr Paradiddles Wonderdrumporium".

Lessons can now be offered in English or Italian and we are open for new students :-)

I am personally almost fully booked now but the other guys are happy to take on new students...

Next, my updated portfolio.  I am in the process of updating both my teaching CV and my discography.  It's been busy and I have been working with some truly amazing people this year already:

I am looking forward to the music video for the single "Cold Call" by Marakesh which should be ready in a couple of weeks.  We shot the film in February in the deep, deep south of Berlin.  It's going to look incredible I think...  I will post it and spam you all when it's online.


I have also been working with two of the UK's biggest names in studio recording and education:  BIMM and The Abbey Road Institute.

I was lucky enough to have been a part of the opening at Abbey Road, Berlin last week and helped demo the drums and studio as part of the opening night.  It was a huge honour.

If you would like to know more about studying in Berlin either at Abbey Road or BIMM, they offer very different educational programs and I am happy to talk with you more about how they work and what the deal is.

As well as working with these two amazing organisations, I am still offering workshops and masterclasses at The Academy of Music and Sound in the UK, with a trip booked this month (March).  So, if you are in Swindon or Birmingham and want some drum type lesson, let me know and we can book it in - (I will be in the UK 14th to 19th March).


Today also sees the release of the album Sharks and Butterflies from Mr Dog The Bear featuring my playing.


https://www.facebook.com/mrdogthebear/


Last but not least, I had the extreme pleasure recently of working with a new young band, who only thought of a name for themselves after we'd recorded the album!

"Harpo Dell" spent a few hours getting drunk and playing music in my studio while I helped record and mix; an easy job when the songs and players are as good as these guys.  A raw, emotional, dark & brooding album, it was a short but beautiful experience - and Thursday I get to see them play live :-)  I am very excited...

Check out the record here.

Enough for now.

I will get on and update my CV
Byeeee
:-)

Mr Dog EP release

Our friends at The Siren Sound have reviewed the Mr Dog The Bear EP...

Go have a looksee:

http://www.thesirenssound.com/

(The original review can be found here:
http://www.thesirenssound.com/2015/10/19/mr-dog-the-bear-2/ )

And then think about supporting MDTB by buying their lovely EP:
https://www.facebook.com/playdeadlabel/app_251458316228… for a CD

or download the stuff from one of the following outlets:
https://itunes.apple.com/…/i-am-jacks-broken-h…/id1046794495
https://play.google.com/…/Mr_Dog_The_Bear_I_Am_Jack_s_Broke…
https://mrdogthebear.bandcamp.com/releases

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.

Latest Session - Mr Dog The Bear

Mr Dog The Bear

The song-writing and producer team "Mr Dog The Bear" have recently employed me to record and mix some drums for their debut E.P. being released later this year...

Listen to the initial mix for the self-titled song on my SoundCloud here!

And listen out for more coming soon...  :-)