Hey folks (especially those in the Midlands) -
What are you doing this Saturday (9th August)? Are you coming to Rugby Music Festival?
I'll be playing on the marquee stage at 1:45 p.m. and it would be great to see you there. I'll be on straight after a young lady called Lucy Taylor who I imagine is going to set the bar pretty high, so why not settle in for an afternoon of acoustic goodness?
If you're still undecided, can I tempt you with a licensed bar, a fairground, and 22 super acts on the bill in addition to me?
Plus.....it's free!
Programme, directions etc are all on the Rugby Music Festival website. See you there?
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
Sunday, 2 March 2014
February Album Writing Month 2014
I had such good intentions. I really did. I was going to do regular blog posts throughout February while I took part in FAWM (February Album Writing Month), chronicling the highs and the lows of the creative process as I attempted to write 14 new songs in 28 days. But while the songs got written, the blog did not....
Still, blogging laxity aside, 2014 feels like one of my best FAWMs yet. I completed the challenge, writing a total of 14 songs during February, with accompanying demos for each one posted to the FAWM website. More importantly, though, I pushed my boundaries and experimented with some new sounds. And in doing so, I made some music that I'm really pleased with.
In the past, writing lots of songs during FAWM has tended to pen me into my comfort zone: acoustic singer-songwritery stuff, often with a rather miserable slant. (Hey, happiness is for losers, right?) There were a few gloomy acoustic ones again this time ("I will just not dance", "An asymmetric longing"), however, I also tried my hand at some more synth-y stuff ("Excuses", "Medicate my mind"), plus some upbeat guitar-pop ("Can't wait forever" and "Say hello to adventure" - my absolute favourite from this year's crop). Another personal favourite was the first song I posted, "Get this started", which seems to have been widely interpreted as a song about songwriting. Curious, that wasn't what I intended!
Something I often struggle to write is love songs. Unusual for a songwriter, perhaps. But I did write a couple this time. I couldn't resist adding a few incidental snails to one of them ("Escargatoire"), but the other is pretty normal ("Captains of the ship", probably one of the happiest songs I've ever written).
As in previous years, some of the super-talented folks on FAWM gave me a chance to collaborate with them. Massive thanks to Kristian, FAWM's very own synth wizard; I've certainly never before done anything like our collaboration this year ("Hymn to spring" - dreamy synth-pop with an almost spiritual feel) - thanks for challenging me! Also to McTown, whose lyrics again pushed me into unfamiliar writing territory and inspired me to work on improving my own ("More than your song to sing"), and to Balance Lost, whose command of arrangements and textures appears infuriatingly effortless ("More attractive all the time"). Finally, to Helen - my bandmate in another of my musical projects, the Random Mind of Meg - who is now well and truly complicit in my efforts to bring daft, stalker-ish pop songs to the people of Cambridge ("I really, really like you").
Hey, while I'm on the subject, check out Helen's EP-a-month challenge - she's recording and releasing an EP every month during 2014. Nutter. February's installment includes another of our collaborations from a previous year ("In conclusion"). Enjoy!
Still, blogging laxity aside, 2014 feels like one of my best FAWMs yet. I completed the challenge, writing a total of 14 songs during February, with accompanying demos for each one posted to the FAWM website. More importantly, though, I pushed my boundaries and experimented with some new sounds. And in doing so, I made some music that I'm really pleased with.
In the past, writing lots of songs during FAWM has tended to pen me into my comfort zone: acoustic singer-songwritery stuff, often with a rather miserable slant. (Hey, happiness is for losers, right?) There were a few gloomy acoustic ones again this time ("I will just not dance", "An asymmetric longing"), however, I also tried my hand at some more synth-y stuff ("Excuses", "Medicate my mind"), plus some upbeat guitar-pop ("Can't wait forever" and "Say hello to adventure" - my absolute favourite from this year's crop). Another personal favourite was the first song I posted, "Get this started", which seems to have been widely interpreted as a song about songwriting. Curious, that wasn't what I intended!
Something I often struggle to write is love songs. Unusual for a songwriter, perhaps. But I did write a couple this time. I couldn't resist adding a few incidental snails to one of them ("Escargatoire"), but the other is pretty normal ("Captains of the ship", probably one of the happiest songs I've ever written).
As in previous years, some of the super-talented folks on FAWM gave me a chance to collaborate with them. Massive thanks to Kristian, FAWM's very own synth wizard; I've certainly never before done anything like our collaboration this year ("Hymn to spring" - dreamy synth-pop with an almost spiritual feel) - thanks for challenging me! Also to McTown, whose lyrics again pushed me into unfamiliar writing territory and inspired me to work on improving my own ("More than your song to sing"), and to Balance Lost, whose command of arrangements and textures appears infuriatingly effortless ("More attractive all the time"). Finally, to Helen - my bandmate in another of my musical projects, the Random Mind of Meg - who is now well and truly complicit in my efforts to bring daft, stalker-ish pop songs to the people of Cambridge ("I really, really like you").
Hey, while I'm on the subject, check out Helen's EP-a-month challenge - she's recording and releasing an EP every month during 2014. Nutter. February's installment includes another of our collaborations from a previous year ("In conclusion"). Enjoy!
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
It's 2014
Happy new year, I hope 2014 brings you awesome things.
Last year turned out to be a bit of a quiet one for Expendable Friend. I kept myself busy gigging with various other projects (Jacqui & Geoff, new trio The Random Mind of Meg, plus a pre-Christmas gig playing with The Blurred Edge of Reason), but real life prevented me from doing much in the way of writing and recording in 2013.
2014 is looking rather more promising, so expect to see me out and about a bit more in the coming months. Plus, of course, February Album Writing Month is just around the corner!
Last year turned out to be a bit of a quiet one for Expendable Friend. I kept myself busy gigging with various other projects (Jacqui & Geoff, new trio The Random Mind of Meg, plus a pre-Christmas gig playing with The Blurred Edge of Reason), but real life prevented me from doing much in the way of writing and recording in 2013.
2014 is looking rather more promising, so expect to see me out and about a bit more in the coming months. Plus, of course, February Album Writing Month is just around the corner!
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
The Tidy Ship is released!
Here it is! A free download of my new album, The Tidy Ship:
I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please share it with a friend. Massive thanks to Fabienne Ericher for the awesome artwork she made.
I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please share it with a friend. Massive thanks to Fabienne Ericher for the awesome artwork she made.
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
New album - The Tidy Ship
I'm pleased and proud to announce that my latest album, The Tidy Ship, will be released tomorrow (30th January 2013) as a free download.
There are 10 tracks on the album, all of which were written as part of the February Album Writing Month (FAWM) and 50 Songs in 90 Days (50/90) challenges between 2010 and 2012. It wasn't my intention to record an album entirely of such songs, it just so happens that they're my favourites (and some of the ones I've played live the most).
So, check back tomorrow to get your copy...
There are 10 tracks on the album, all of which were written as part of the February Album Writing Month (FAWM) and 50 Songs in 90 Days (50/90) challenges between 2010 and 2012. It wasn't my intention to record an album entirely of such songs, it just so happens that they're my favourites (and some of the ones I've played live the most).
So, check back tomorrow to get your copy...
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Hurtful Nothings by Das Binky (featuring EF)
My second post today! But this one deserves its own entry.
Towards the end of last year, as part of the 50/90 challenge, I contributed vocals to a track called "Cannot" by Das Binky. Yesterday saw the release of "Hurtful Nothings", Das Binky's latest EP, featuring six tracks including "Cannot".
You can listen to "Hurtful Nothings" in its entirety online, and download it on a pay-what-you-like basis from bandcamp: http://dasbinky.bandcamp.com/album/hurtful-nothings
Go forth and enjoy! Big thanks to Das Binky for inviting me to contribute.
Towards the end of last year, as part of the 50/90 challenge, I contributed vocals to a track called "Cannot" by Das Binky. Yesterday saw the release of "Hurtful Nothings", Das Binky's latest EP, featuring six tracks including "Cannot".
You can listen to "Hurtful Nothings" in its entirety online, and download it on a pay-what-you-like basis from bandcamp: http://dasbinky.bandcamp.com/album/hurtful-nothings
Go forth and enjoy! Big thanks to Das Binky for inviting me to contribute.
2012 > 2013
Hello. It's been a while since I've posted an update on here. It looks like I only posted twice in the whole of last year. I took to using Twitter a lot more in 2012 (@exp_friend) and got a bit addicted.
Anyway, lots of bands seem to be doing a summary of 2012 / looking-forward-to-2013 thing on their blogs, so I thought I'd better join in so that you all realise I'm not dead.
2012 was a fairly quiet year for Expendable Friend on the gigging front, which was a bit of a shame. It wasn't intentional, but it was probably a side-effect of moving out of Cambridge. I'm going to make an effort to get back into playing live over the next few months, starting with a few open mics over the next few weeks, hopefully with some local gigs soon after.
On the plus side, all that staying at home in 2012 did help me to complete both FAWM (February Album Writing Month) and 50/90 (50 songs in 90 days). In total, I wrote over 70 songs last year. I think http://fawm.org is currently down in preparation for the 2013 event, but you can still listen to my 50/90 efforts here for a little while, should you so wish: http://fiftyninety.fawmers.org/users/expendable-friend
I've also started putting together a new album. All the recording is done, there's just the mixing and mastering to finish. I won't make any promises about when it will be done, but I hope it'll be available some time in the next few months. Check back for updates.
If you'd like to keep up with Expendable Friend happenings in 2013, why not enter your email address on the right, or follow me on Twitter?
All the best for 2013.
Anyway, lots of bands seem to be doing a summary of 2012 / looking-forward-to-2013 thing on their blogs, so I thought I'd better join in so that you all realise I'm not dead.
2012 was a fairly quiet year for Expendable Friend on the gigging front, which was a bit of a shame. It wasn't intentional, but it was probably a side-effect of moving out of Cambridge. I'm going to make an effort to get back into playing live over the next few months, starting with a few open mics over the next few weeks, hopefully with some local gigs soon after.
On the plus side, all that staying at home in 2012 did help me to complete both FAWM (February Album Writing Month) and 50/90 (50 songs in 90 days). In total, I wrote over 70 songs last year. I think http://fawm.org is currently down in preparation for the 2013 event, but you can still listen to my 50/90 efforts here for a little while, should you so wish: http://fiftyninety.fawmers.org/users/expendable-friend
I've also started putting together a new album. All the recording is done, there's just the mixing and mastering to finish. I won't make any promises about when it will be done, but I hope it'll be available some time in the next few months. Check back for updates.
If you'd like to keep up with Expendable Friend happenings in 2013, why not enter your email address on the right, or follow me on Twitter?
All the best for 2013.
Saturday, 25 August 2012
Leaving Before Last Orders
I'm still learning about mixing and mastering all the time, but I'd like to think I've made some sizeable strides in the last year or so. As a result, I've found myself listening to what I've already released and hearing all the flaws all over again, only 10x worse than before...
Therefore, I took it upon myself to remix my last album. And here it is, much shinier than before:
http://expendablefriend.bandcamp.com/album/leaving-before-last-orders
If I ever display any inclination to come back and mix these songs for a third time, please put me in a straightjacket - I'll thank you in the long run.
Therefore, I took it upon myself to remix my last album. And here it is, much shinier than before:
http://expendablefriend.bandcamp.com/album/leaving-before-last-orders
If I ever display any inclination to come back and mix these songs for a third time, please put me in a straightjacket - I'll thank you in the long run.
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Friday, 2 December 2011
Death by Tinsel
I promised you a Christmas EP.....so here ya go....
http://expendablefriend.bandcamp.com/
Enjoy!
Oh, and I'm playing at the Mill Road Winter Fair in Cambridge tomorrow (Dec 3rd). I'm on at 1:20 at the housing Co-op stand (near Argyle Street). It'll be my first ever outdoor gig, so come along to see who will triumph in the battle of My Fingers vs The Cold.
http://expendablefriend.bandcamp.com/
Enjoy!
Oh, and I'm playing at the Mill Road Winter Fair in Cambridge tomorrow (Dec 3rd). I'm on at 1:20 at the housing Co-op stand (near Argyle Street). It'll be my first ever outdoor gig, so come along to see who will triumph in the battle of My Fingers vs The Cold.
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