Howdy good people of the blog reading kind.
It’s been a busy few months and I keep trying to kick my behind into shape and write another blog, so hear it is.
It’s another year and I am trying to suss a new game plan to get my music out to the masses and the people who might want to put some real cash behind it. There seems to be plenty interest, so hopefully I am the right track with my music.
The dark side
Given the current state of the ‘financial climate’ no one seems to give two hoots at gigs anymore or wants to PAY for music (Shocking I know, who’d have thought that many people would want stuff for FREE?)
Many venues seem to be about making the promoters money and not a lot else. Often the bands that can bring the most mates to gigs get the good slots to play, meanwhile the humble solo act get naff all. (I am not bitter though –honest – just more determined) This is part of the reason why I am playing less gigs, but being more choosey which is better for my sanity I think; -P
I have heard sooooo many industry folk talking about how great the Internet can be and how easy it is to record your music and get it out there. Well I think that there is a flip side to that. In my humble opinion the market place has become flooded with music. While I LOVE THIS, I also HATE THIS. A&R people have gotten very lazy. They surf the Internet looking for the ‘next big thing’. No one seems to be going to gigs and it is SOOOOO frustrating. I mean, how can you be ‘the next big thing’ if you can’t cut it Live??? The mind boggles.
Somewhat ironically, I get paid to sing other peoples songs in bars, clubs and restaurants which, if ya think about it is totally backwards. Thankfully this means I get to pay my bills and eat food ;-)
Session singing is pretty pointless, as most of the small labels/DJs don’t want to pay ya OR can only pay when royalties come in – which is usually 12 months or more later. Because of the state of the industry this usually means I get diddly squat. The artist is always the last in line to get paid so when the distributors go bust (which is happening all the time) the royalties go PUFF into the air, low and behold – no money. It is all doom and gloom at the moment. Well it seems that way doesn’t it?
The force is with me - honest
Ok, so I have had a good old rant about many of the bad things so here where the mood of this blog changes.
Work is pretty quiet at the moment, which means I am getting time to write a load of new tunes.
I have felt ‘many pennies dropping’ over the last few months and ‘creatively’ things are falling into place FINALLY.
I played at the BBC again last night. It used to be Russell Walker Tuesday turns but Russell has moved onto to new pastures. The new chap holding the rains is Shourjo Sarkar's and a nice chap he is too. We talked about random subjects like, who is your newest friend (There was a text in and phone in about this). Shourjo played a sound bite from a riverbank of a guy called David Pilgrim who is crazy about fishing. It was all a little strange, but in a nice way. I managed to play 3 songs, which lets face it, is why I headed to Leeds in the first place. I am trying to get hold of an mp3 so if you missed the show so watch this space and I will see what I can do.
I have played at the Leeds BBC several times and never remember to get any snapshots, so this time I did – YAY ME, well Kate (The producer) who was kind enough to work my camera phone.
And the winner is…
I was in Glasgow last week playing a very EXCLUSIVE GIG with some lovely peeps.
It was a bit of a busy week to say the least. I took Bass player/studio engineer ‘Mon’ to the airport – He has moved to Canada (and who can blame him). This of course meant a few glasses of red wine the evening before and very little sleep. Gig day so the two blokes from DARNELL (Darren and Junior) arrived at my house and I headed over Manchester to pick guitarist Pete up then it was onward to Scotland. Nearly 5 hours later (and a couple wee breaks) we arrived in bonnie Glasgow. Ian Morrow’s studio is rather impressive. All around the walls were platinum disks, many of which were from albums I had listened to.
Sound check, chitchat, practicing songs and a brew, then we headed to a local restaurant where there was a camera crew set up. We each did a 10 min chat in camera, which was pretty chilled. I am sure the footage will be sorted soon enough.
Anyhoooo the gig itself was in the HOUSE OF ROCK STUDIOS. Lights, 3 (hi definition) camera guys, stage, candles and lungs filled with dry ice. The gig was fun but nerve wrecking. Pete played electric guitar and as usual, was fantastic. We only had time for 3 songs, which were ‘No fool to this game’, I can’t cry anymore’ and ‘Goodtime girl’. There were a number of journalists there including a chap from The Guardian and The Daily Express plus some more I have forgotten about. So ya get the general idea?
New project
I am gearing up to record the next project this month. As I said earlier, I have been writing and recording loads of new demos and I feel that everything is falling into place.
I will try my best to keep you updated, maybe some video blogs would be easier, although I do feel rather strange talking to a little handy cam like it’s my new best friend.
A friend of mine called John recently introduced me to a great band called THE JERZEY STREET BAND (see my top friends). We have talked about doing some writing together so watch this space.
GOODTIME GIRL video is getting there. Craig (from http://www.cd-inc.co.uk/) has sent me a few clips. It’s a lot of work, which is why it is taking so bloody long. They have been very supportive of me since I met them a few years back, they are also behind the artwork and duplication of ‘Paint the sky’ and www.donnamariemusic.co.uk.
Well I guess I should get back to the studio. Times a waistin’ and I am not getting any younger LOL
(Which reminds me, I had a lovely surprise Birthday meal with some friends in Manchester on Saturday, sneeeeeeky little monkeys!)
TWENTYONE AGAIN! Yes, it’s true!
Tooooooooooodles for now lovely Kerchoonerz
Donji x
PS, I am sure I have left loads out, but just like an Oscar speech, I ran out of time, and lets face it - too much text is boring
I am trying to suss out how to place images into blogs via HTML, it ain't working, it's probably me being a baboon ! 
