Hello all!
I can’t believe it’s been a week already since my last blog update.. I also can’t believe we are not far off from August 2015, seriously where has the year gone? I look back over the last 7 months and so much has happened!?!
Since my last update, a couple of things have changed already, it just goes to show how unpredictable this music game is! The whispers of a band is no more (for now), however, I’m keeping my ears to the ground for a drummer (I think I jinxed it! Haha) My guitarist Adriano Gangarossa is still very much involved and I’m very thankful for that, he’s a great musician and we have the same influences musically. We do have a Bass player interested in getting involved, so we shall see how things develop! Watch this space….
I did a fun singing competition last Tuesday called the Blackout Talent Competition, where all the judges are blindfolded and I was one of the 4 which got through to the next heat, which was cool. All good fun and a great networking opportunity too, I met some great people there. I also did another competition too, which for now I am keeping under wraps but I got through to the third round and I am waiting to see if I am called back.. What will be, will be… 😉
I did a great local gig ‘Fete On The Field’ in my home-town Wivenhoe, Essex on Sunday, which was (windy lol) but fun. It’s lovely to perform to a home crowd, lots of people came along to watch and support me, which was great to see. It was a fund-raising event and I was really impressed by what went in to the day, there was lots of great stalls, food and activities for kids too, a massive well done to the organisers.
This Monday I had a meeting with Elliott Richardson of Highfield Studio’s to talk about some studio time for some of my other original songs I’d like to record. Elliott is part of an awesome band called ‘Missing Andy’ and he has worked with friends of mine on their recordings, he was highly recommended so I’m really looking forwards to getting in to the studio with him. We are going to be recording my song, which I co-wrote with Crazz called ‘Guys Like You’. I have been gigging with this song for the last year so I’m looking forwards to finally recording it with a bigger production.
This Tuesday, I was working in the studio for the first time with Simon Gogerly. Simon’s credentials really speak for themselves and he has worked a lot with friends of mine, who are in an amazing band called ‘F.O.X’. I’m so excited to be working with him myself on a new track, which he is co-writing with me. Simon is a great guy to work with, the day was so relaxed and I really enjoyed his company. He totally understands where I’m coming from musically and has really brought the song to life.. It all started from just a simple phone demo to him! I can’t wait to see how we develop the song and for the end result!
This week I have had more offers for slots at showcases and gigs (yay!) Adriano and I have also been rebooked for The Bull, Colchester for 5th September! I can’t wait to play there again in the main bar. Pop the date in your diaries 🙂 I also announce new dates on my social media, please give my Facebook page a ‘like’ and follow me on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date and keep in touch (links above on my website, you can click on the logo’s to go straight through to my pages).
This Saturday I will be performing on the main stage at Eight Ash Green Music Festival with Jake Blackman supporting me on guitar as Adriano is unavailable to join me this time. It will be mine and Jake’s first ever performance together, which will be cool and I’m very grateful for him stepping in to help me do the gig as I had to unfortunately miss this opportunity last year due to my car accident. I will be on at 2.30 – 3pm!
Don’t forget Sunday 26th July at 1pm I will be performing with Adriano at the Acoustic (Shindig) Stage at Jimmy’s Farm Sausage & Beer Festival. I’ve performed at Jimmy’s Farm a few times now and have met Jimmy Doherty a couple of times, both he and George Clarke from ‘Amazing Spaces’ on Channel 4 watched my performance with Crazz at the Christmas Fayre a couple of years ago now. It was really cool of them to stay and watch, they both gave me great feedback which made my day haha! It’s awesome to hear from the audience how much they enjoyed your performance, it makes me so happy and I always feel very humbled.
I’m really excited with how everything is going and developing. My blog is almost like a diary for me and it’s nice to be able to read back even if just for my own benefit, to remind myself what has happened over the last few months. Sometimes when you’re in the moment its hard to really appreciate what is happening and how far you’ve come. I’ve still got a way to go yet but it does feel like my dreams are slowly becoming reality, no matter how big or small! If you had said to me 5/6 years ago when I was just a party girl, unsettled and feeling lost with what I wanted to do, as I always knew I wanted to be in music and a singer/songwriter but it seemed so out of reach, that I would be actually be a singer/songwriter working and performing with awesome musicians, recording and working with one of the UK’s leading mixing engineer and producer, I would have have been very sceptical! It just goes to show if you really want something, take a leap of faith and go for it.
Anyway I think I’ve rambled on enough for now, I will keep you all up-to-date again soon enough! Thanks for reading and do check out the links below, which relate to all I’ve spoken about in this blog and my social media pages!
Simon Gogerly – http://simongogerly.com
Missing Andy – http://www.missingandy.com
Highfield Studio – https://www.facebook.com/highfieldstudio?fref=ts
Jake Blackman Musician – https://www.facebook.com/JakeBlackmanMusic?fref=ts
Black Out Talent Competition – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je8mcWoiUYw
F.O.X – https://www.facebook.com/foxtheband1?fref=ts
Eight Ash Green Music Festival https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eight-Ash-Green-Festival/133669109978789?fref=ts
Jimmy’s Farm Sausage & Beer Festival http://jimmysfarm.com/event/sausage-beer-festival-2015/
Speak soon! Helen xx
