Tag: recording

I have a love hate relationship with recording

1 Comment

IMG_4218

I have wanted to get an EP/ album out for what feels like forever and after the past few years being very up and down I’ve finally got a great band and decent songs, the only thing that stands in the way of a release is recording vocals. Hm. There is some definite love and definite hate when it comes to me recording vocals. For a long time I was so anxious and wound up that trying to record was a nightmare, I was a nightmare. I’d get so worked up that I’d cry or be sick because I was so nervous and nothing came out sounding how I wanted it to. I’ve definitely grown a lot in terms of my music in the past year and Ali’s finally found ways to help me relax enough to get things done…even if that includes recording in my simpsons pj’s in the middle of the day. Hey what works, works!

I still have another long day of recording ahead tomorrow, with two songs down we have another four to go but so far it is sounding the best it ever has and I’m in a good mindset about it. So hopefully by christmas I can give you all a link and you can go and download the EP! Eeeeeek! For now though if you haven’t go and like our facebook page! You don’t even have to go far because I’ve added a box on my blog if you look to the right and scroll down! See, No People Club will take over the world!

As always thank you for taking the time to catch up with my blog and if you haven’t already I’ve just posted a post about my recent trip to Amsterdam. As always I’d love to hear your thoughts!

This Time

Leave a comment

This afternoon I had the euphoric and exhausting delight of finishing the third song on our EP!!!!!! It only took about 4 hours and endless takes but it’s the quickest we’ve finished a song which was an amazing feeling. The song is called This Time I think it was the second song I properly wrote up here, it was about moving and just having that feeling that every time you move you’ll get it right this time and move on. 

Without realising I started writing about myself and how I was feeling at the time. I wanted everything to change and work out instantly at uni and it didn’t, so I realised that maybe it was me. I suppose if I’m being arty about it all my songs are how I work things out in my head. I haven’t written one in a little while I’ve been so focused on performing but I’m hoping the summer will bring out more songs to jam out with the boys in September. 

Day 3 in the studio!

Leave a comment

Image

 

The glamorous look is definitely not an option for a serious recording session…well not for me anyway

I was very relieved that I didn’t have to get up too early to record today a lateish start for recording today and I definitely needed it. Tonight I am really tired but happy too, we’re half way there! 2 songs down and 2 to go! Yes! It’s been a long day full of messing up, awesome takes, not so awesome takes and frustration but we got there in the end and the boys were incredible! I can’t wait for everyone to hear this EP but I still have work to do 1 or 2 more sessions in the studio to do but we will have it ready for Basingstoke Live this summer! If you do want to keep an eye on us put in No People Club in Facebook or @NoPeopleClub on Twitter! I don’t have much else to say apart from I really do have amazing band mates and I’m really expecting big things from how the last few days have gone! Watch this space! 

 

Getting my groove back!

Leave a comment

Image

 

Not my best photo but it was in a dark pub! 

As corney as the title is I genuinely felt like I got my groove back tonight! I’ve been in a rotten mood all day after waking up late, my bus breaking down and feeling overly emotional. Being around people was the last thing I wanted to do this afternoon so I wasn’t all sweetness and light at band practice today. Although Ali being Ali decided it would be  good idea to give me a mic stand rather than to just giving me the mic and it worked. Although at first I wanted to stick it somewhere for him even suggesting it, I got into it and I started to sound better, although slightly deaf at the end of it. I knew we had an open mic night tonight and I was nervous, I think this also made my mood a little bit more crappy than it normally would be. I just felt stressed and nervous and still had yesterdays driving lesson on my mind.

The venue turned out to be very different to what we expected and after some discussion/ slight worry Ali and Rhys headed back on the bus to grab acoustic guitars instead and we just went ok lets give this a go even though we’ve never practised it before. That’s what being in a band is about right? I can honestly say being up in front of everyone and singing was the happiest I’ve been in weeks. Instead of feeling nervous I kinda just gave in to the music and felt like I was on cloud nine. The once noisy pub now had its eyes on us and was clapping and cheering for us, even the new songs. It was incredible and a total hit! IT might not have been the crowd we thought we’d be playing to but it was damn fun. Also Rhys surprised me with his INCREDIBLE backing vocals!

It’ safe to say we all left tonight in a seriously good mood and ready to kick ass with the EP. It’s put me in a good mood for recording tomorrow, even though I’m still pretty nervous. The thing is people really liked our sound, they liked us and I really loved people being so positive about our music. I’m insanely happy and ready to crawl into bed and get a good nights sleep before recording again tomorrow.

Back to the Studio and back to being me

1 Comment

Today something changed. I’m back online and the happiest I’ve been since I got back from Easter break. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that I’ve been struggling for the last few weeks and I’ve been deeply unhappy and felt very alone. This week, so far, seems to be transforming that mind set. I’ve still had some times where I’m alone in the flat but not as many. I’m not hiding in my room as much as I have been the last few weeks. 

After going home for the weekend I started feeling better, then my meeting with my MH mentor made me feel so much better. She understands and is used to seeing people like me but never makes me feel like I’m just another student. I talk to her when I’m feeling particularly down and we try and work out ways to help me. This time it was more talking things out and she understood why I’d been hiding and why’d I’d felt so low lately. She knows me well enough that when I said I’d sat in silence without even my music she knew something was wrong. So that (after a long introduction) is what today’s post is about. 

Music is a huge part of my life, but sometimes it also makes me so anxious. It was finally my turn in the studio today and I was nervous. I hate making mistakes but this is the kind of thing where you make so many. Take, after take,after take but it wasn’t that bad. Despite only having a few hours we managed to get one song finished, 3 more to go and more hours in the studio tomorrow! It was tiring but it actually started to get fun and I started to feel better. I didn’t dwell on every take, I just kept going. 

As much as I hated watching the boys walk the opposite way home I’m smiling tonight. I’ve got my music back on and I’m singing along, so you know I’m on the mend. I wouldn’t wish my lows on anyone, no matter how much they’ve hurt me. I wouldn’t wish not wanting to get up, to do anything and to neglect the things and people you love because of something you can’t control. That said, I wouldn’t change who I am. This illness doesn’t define me, it’s a part of me that sometimes does take a few days away. I’ve had it for so long I worry about what they call ‘going back to normal’ I’ll never be a 13 year old girl again and that’s who I was before any of this kicked in. I suppose I’m realising that maybe this could be the start of feeling better. The things I’ve noticed so far? As my friend Will says (see I told you I wouldn’t say you were evil on my blog :P) I have a smile that means I could get away with murder with anyone BUT Ali. I know that I’m actually pretty nice when I’m happy, I care about people a lot and my pain, my joy, my life comes through my music. I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Last day of recording and Lola and Ralphie’s birthday!!

Leave a comment

Exhaustion has set in for all five band members and Sophie. Today’s absolutely beautiful weather was spent in the Kingston Hill Lodge studio again, although we did manage to sneak out to catch some sun light, even if it was only a little bit. We had to meet again at 9 and be in the studio setting up by 9.30 although time passed a lot quicker this morning (it slowed down a lot this afternoon though). Today was for Guitars and Bass! Woo! which ended up taking a lot longer than we thought, as I write at 6pm the boys are still there and will be until 10 tonight just as they have been since Friday. 

Embedded image permalink

Rhys and I early this morning in the sunshiiiiiine

It hasn’t been easy, spending 3 days in a small studio with the same people is hard work. We’ve been tired, happy, laughing and half delirious from a lack of sleep but I think we’re doing ok…even if we shut ourselves away for a little while and don’t see each other haha!! No on a serious note as much as we may want to kill each other now I’m proud of all the boys they’ve done really well over the last few days and for Rhys to keep drumming again and again and again for about 12 hours yesterday was amazing to watch even if I thought he may pass out (he didn’t it’s ok!). 

Embedded image permalink

Studio Selfie

This EP is going to be something special once its finally finished and something amazing happened today…Sophie managed to get real pictures of us that we can use for things, REAL PICTURES!!! She even managed to get a smile from Ali on camera, something which is almost a myth around here. It was a great thing to do just before the sun went down. People have said that to me today, don’t you wish you were in the sun? No, not really. When I look back on this weekend it wont just be another sunny weekend, we worked our butts off and spent our breaks running around like children and cilmbing trees, yeah that actually happened. 

Image

A shot Sophie took on my camera…her pictures are the proper ones though!! 

 

 

Another thing today it is my baby cousins birthday’s!!! Lola and Ralphie turned 7 today, something which Ali didn’t quite believe. It’s been hard not being at home to see them but after speaking to them on the phone I know they’ve had a great day on their new bikes and being spoilt rotten as they should be! You’re only 7 once!  

Image

Baby Lola 

Image

 

Baby Ralphie 

So now I’m back at the flat, tired although not as much as the others are I don’t think and I have a really busy week ahead of me…and no lie ins at all! All in all it’s been a really great weekend, it was hard no question, being constantly around people is something I’m not used to but I wouldn’t chose to spend it with anyone else. Here’s to a great week after a fab weekend!! 

 

A full day in the studio

Leave a comment

Image

After spending last night getting all the mics set up and ready today Rhys had to do his thing…for 12 hours. We’re finally done and Rhys ended up falling asleep on the floor, on the plus side it may make his sleeping pattern go back to normal! This morning was definately an early start after passing out last night, waking up at 7.30 did not seem like enough sleep to live on. 

Image

Me this morning…so, so sleepy. 

Rhys has drummed all day, we’ve all heard the songs over and over and over again and finally realise why bands don’t listen to their own music after it’s done. We sat around watched Rhys, the boys positioned mics, played on our phones etc. We’ve already eaten more sugar and salt than is healthy in a wekk but this is studio life not a hotel..although that would be pretty cool actually. No today has been chocolate, Doritoes, fried chicken, Redbull, Fanta, all the fizzy drinks they had in the shop and the smell of farts…mentioning no names!

 

Image

Rhys’ snare and sticks at the end of a long day 

Tomorrow will be Bass and Guitars and hopefully we’ll nearly be there…also we might be more awake? I doubt that but right now I need to climb into my bed ready for another early start tomorrrow…yawn. 

It’s days like today that remind me why I’m a musician

Leave a comment

I spent today curled up in the Kingston recording studio listening and watching as the boys did their thing. Today wasn’t a gig day, we didn’t get to play to a screaming crowd but it sure as hell put a smile on my face. After years of trying I’m finally bonded with people who want this to work as much as I do. I’ve had a few ups and downs when words like ‘tour’ were mentioned. It’s not because I don’t want to, it’s because I want it to work so badly and I was terrified of getting my heart broken again. 

We’ve only been a full band since December and we’re gigging, writing, recording, sorting out a tour and we get a good response. It’s all going so fast and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t freaked out but it’ll be worth it. The boys have been at the studio now for at least 10 hours recording Rhys’ drum parts over and over but no ones in a bad mood, no one is too tired or too pissed off. It’s that kind of energy that makes all the difference, I’ve never experienced that before. Sure, we all have our own ups and downs but we try and deal with them together. The bottom line is I already love them all and I don’t know what I’ll do over the summer if I don’t see them. I really think we’re on to something pretty special…watch this space.