Mojo Matters

Well, since I got back from Queensland that mojo I found has been working overtime!  A number of projects are already underway while 2 have been put on the backburner until the second half of the year.

Today I completed the first studio session for a brand new album and it's just sooo delightful to be working with the excellent skills of Robbie Long once again.   Not only a multi-award-winning fabulous musician, Rob's also a master behind the desk in his sound studio here in Newcastle.  I reckon he could make a duck with laryngitis sound good!  I'm over the moon that in just 1 x 5hr session, we've actually got the bedding tracks for a whole album locked down.  12 tracks in one session - down to my satisfaction....that's outstanding!  {and if Hachabel is reading this....the renovated studio is very comfortable boys hehehe!]

I'm opting to keep this album simple and uncluttered.  Not too many instruments, not overproduced.  As others have commented to me previously,  "the songwriting is the artwork - the songs can stand up proudly in their own right.  They don't need to have masses of instruments or sounds to enhance them".   I've finally come to believe in that principle.


The songs on this album are an eclectic mix ranging from Jazz/Blues, Comedy, Soft Rock, Urban Folk, and even a touch of Mozart would you believe it?!?!  I'll tell you more about them later when the album is ready for release.  In the meantime, if you have any ideas for a title I'd love to hear them.  Tell you what - there'll be a free copy of the new album for the best - selected - suggestion!  Put your thinking caps on, eh?

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On other Mojo Matters,  

• I'm trialling a new initiative at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Newcastle.  For the month of July I'll be doing a series of morning shows - every Tuesday in July.  The format will be a morning tea followed by a show loosely based around the theme of *Gravity *Grandchildren  and *Ageing Disgracefully.  I'll have a guest artist at each show.  If you'd like more information on this one - like to come along, or tell a friend - check the theatre's website:  www.royalexchangenewcastle.com.au
• I'm also organising some fundraisers in the next few months - for Heart Magazine [a not-for-profit publication that recognises and celebrates the achievements of Australian Indigenous Women]  - and for Folk in Broke [a not-for-profit community festival in the Hunter which showcases the music, talents, art and produce of the Hunter region and welcomes Australian talent from across the country].  If you'd like to jump on board and help or support either [or both] of these worthwhile projects, please check out their websites and contact me for details.   www.heartmagazine.com.au  and  www.folkinbroke.com.au

How to Find Y' Mojo!

It was only a short tour but Holy Smoke!.....it was just what I needed to get my mojo working again.

Here's what I learned I need to locate my zing, get my inspiration back, get excited again:
I stayed with muso's.  I played with muso's. I hung out with muso's. I met new audiences....and new audiences met and loved my music. Oh yes - I LOVE BRISBANE!  Some 22 hours of solo travel time - to and from, with just me and my thoughts. Hearing new bands and other songwriters. Just goes to show it's not quantity [or length of tour] that counts but quality [richness of the experience] That's my recipe and you're welcome to share it!

Here are just a few of the highlights of this little tour:

• Making Magic at Redland Folk  - Sunday afternoon could only be described as magic when I invited a whole bunch of musicians I didn't know to play on various songs in the set.  Chrissy and Julie on single then duelling harmonica, Chuck on stunning guitar, Richard on Trombone, and of course those gorgeous harmonies from Mary and Anne.  Didn't the audience just love it?!   And didn't we?!! Just an extraordinary experience, sharing the passion of music
• Discovering the gold nugget of Foco Nuevo - totally unexpected, totally different from what I'd anticipated.  Having Steele Chabeau turn up to play de-lovely Bass on my set with me - no charts, unknown songs, just cold play ....and he did he rock!!!!  Delightful audience.  Stunning music from Jumping Fences who were just soooo tight and polished.  A great set from the Toni Pollard Band [although just a tad long - and how the heck does she keep up that pace for so long?! impressive]
• Staying with friends Chris and Peter - Pete is a songwriter and lovely guitarist who used to live in Newcastle.  Yakking our heads off about music music music....and then lending a hand to write a great set of lyrics to a brilliant melody of Peter's and turning out an excellent song!   My first successful collaboration. 

    Plus many more little joys and delights to add to the memory bank [and subsequently flavour some new songs with in the future].....and a couple of experiences that I plan to forget once I reach the point where I can laugh about 'em [like a crap last gig, getting lost driving to Ballina via Ipswich].

I returned home with my head absolutely stuffed full and buzzing with new ideas, new projects, and new enthusiasm.   Doesn't take much, does it?!

Green 'n Clean

What a lovely Irish night at the RX theatre on Wednesday evening - St Pat's Eve!  And thanks to all the people who trooped out for it ....including some genuine Irish folk in town.

The feedback on Borderless was most gratifying with audience members commenting that they just loved the stories and appreciated that somebody was bringing this information to light.  For some, it was a real insight into just how influential Irish womens settlement was on Australian family and society today.  And with @ one-third of Australians claiming Irish ancestry, that's a whole lot of influence!

The audience also enjoyed some cracking Irish yarns from Clark Gormley and Catherine Knight - such accomplished storytellers! - as well as some sweet Irish songs from Bilbo.  And everyone - performers and audience alike - expressed appreciation of being able to celebrate St Pat's day [albeit in advance] in such an authentic way.

Those comments contrasted glaringly with some anecdotes related to me only last night...... "we went to 3 local pubs after work at it was ghastly!  They were all full of ugly drunks and there was NO music!!  We couldn't believe it!  What's St Paddy's day without Irish music?!" ... and this  "we found music at lunchtime in one pub but it wasn't REAL Irish music.  We were hoping to hear some traditional Irish but what we got served up was plastic paddy crap which just sooooo bad and then it deteriorated into stupid rock music sung in this ugly false accent"

I reckon it's a pretty poor indictment of local venues disrespect for their patrons.  And maybe that presents some good opportunities for alternative initiatives NEXT year.   If patrons can't get what they're looking for from their local pubs, they'll find it somewhere else.

Oh well, you know what they say .....it's an ill wind.......

WAITING FOR .....INSPIRATION?!

Oh Dearie Me!!
What a start to 2011......trapped in the Queensland flood, a traumatic escape, devastation for my son, and we're all still trying to come to terms with the experience and the fall out.

Is it any wonder that I'm lacking inspiration right now?

Funny, but everyone says "oh, there'll be a great song out of this, won't there?" Yet that's the last thing I feel like doing.
Fortunately, I'd finished a couple of songs during December - when I took a much needed break after a very heavy 2010 - planning to be back in the studio for recording in January.   Well, with the studio dates set for late January, the floods put a stop to that too!  So those new songs will have to remain as live-performance-only for the time being.

I'm back in SE Queensland in late March for a short tour and a series of small gigs so if you're around the Brisbane area and want to come along to one or two, just let me know.   Here's a brief look at a couple of the newies that I'll be sharing - and eventually recording:

• Cover Your Load - purely for laughs....about getting caught short on a road trip - we've all done it!
• Day is Done - a ballsy blues with guts
• Wasting Time - a funky little number
• All Dressed Up - a quirky tale of love's revenge
• Granny Hell- yeh, I said I'd never record it but I will - shhhh, don't tell!

Hope to see you at a gig soon.

OH.....by the way....for those of you in the Newcastle area who have been wondering when I'm going to get around to delivering the Borderless project here - it's coming to the Royal Exchange Theatre in Bolton Street on Wednesday Night March 16 (that's St Pat's Eve - appropriate for a show about Irish female settlement in Australia, eh?)