Just a quick update for you – our regular readers will know that we had the pleasure of seeing Spirit Family Reunion in the US earlier this year. We have been keeping tabs on the band since then, wishing we could’ve seen one of the shows with Hurray for the Riff Raff (who we hope to be interviewing soon), and we are pleased to report that the band have now released debut long player, No Separation.
We’ve only had the chance to listen to a few tracks but it sounds like the band we fell for back in March!
Please take a listen and let us know what you think.
We must have been doing this for a while now as, within a week or so, both of our first two, ‘The Music Doesn’t Stop…’, interviewee’s have released new material (and a FREE DOWNLOAD!)
Mat Gibson has completed his new album, Long Goner, and it is out on the 10th September 2012. Previous recording, Forest Fire was a firm someofitistrue favourite last year and I’m pleased to report that, Long Goner looks as if it will continue to turn people on to Mat’s music.
We said that the last record made us want to give Mat a cuddle and, FREE DOWNLOAD track, Before the Dawn, sounds like Mat is continuing to mine the seam of melancholy that has served him so well in the past. The result for the listener is an intense and enjoyable experience, Mat’s vocals sounding amazing.
Please give this a listen as it really is a fine song (oh, and please don’t cuddle Mat unless he says it’s ok)
We were very pleased to hear that one of our favourite artists EVER, Cat Power, is releasing new material later this year. The album, Sun, is out on September 3rd and you can hear a track, Ruin, on the official website (or below).
Only listened a couple of times, it sounds great – really looking forward to the album
Donna Fullman, a singer/songwriter based in Brighton, has just released her debut LP, Inner World. Anyone who enjoyed Donna’s previous EP, Happiness + Victory, will find a lot to enjoy on this record. In fact, anyone who likes a great female lead vocal, guitar led chilled summer vibes and a willingness to indulge their inner ‘hippy’ will enjoy this record. someofitistrue were lucky enough to see Donna play the album in its entirety at the launch show and heartily recommend you check out the live experience. For now though, let us introduce you to the lady herself:
Hi Donna – How are you, where are you and what are you doing?
Hello! I’m good thank you. I’m currently residing in Cornwall taking a few days out. I have the laptop, guitar, pad and pen. Anything could happen and also nothing. I’m open to both!
How does it feel to have released your debut album ‘Inner World’?
It’s a strange feeling of excitement, gratitude and relief! It took a year to record and much longer to write. There were times when I wondered if I’d be able to finish it at all. It’s quite something to hold the actual CD and to finally share the music.
What does the title mean – is this a peek inside the brainbox of Donna Fullman?
Ha! That’s a good one. I’m not sure about Brainbox but it certainly reflects my Inner World. Mostly I wanted to encourage the question of our collective inner worlds which I believe are far more interesting and eternal than the lives we externally represent and overvalue.
Are these all new songs written specifically for the album? There is definite sense of continuity between the songs.
Yes they were chosen and measured against the concept of Inner World – but some have been years in the making! I remember having the vocal melody for I Can’t Sleep as far back as 2006. In contrast, I wrote By The Fire whilst we were recording. At first I thought Inner World would be a song – it evolved into You Are My Love (the last track on the album) but I always knew it would be the title of the album.
Opening track, ‘By the Fire’ is a stripped back tune – why did you choose this song to open proceedings?
The whole tracklisting process was surprisingly difficult; I had a sense of wanting to get it ‘right’. Listening to the final mixes over and over again, the ear begins to ‘want’ certain tracks to follow others in a specific way. By The Fire is an invitation, at least I hoped it would invite and draw the listener in, then once round the fire – bang – the drums come in for track two – Oh The Words and you’re off…
I love when the string section comes in at the end of ‘Oh The Words’ – what other musicians did you work with on the record (assuming it is not you playing)
It really is wonderful I agree! The line-up of musicians on this record was superb. Hours of work and lots of arrangements, edits and re-recording. All captured using the finest pre-amps and vintage valve amps to capture the magic. The strings were played by my Producer Simon Janes on Cello and Andrew Stuart Buttle on Violin. I often sing the String parts and they end up as backing vocals or transposed onto strings. We laid the Cello down first. Both players were very responsive to the air and space on the tracks and worked very intuitively. I think it paid off.
Tell us a little about how you write songs
I always start with the words. I’m a writer first and foremost. although my writing process is certainly changing. I used to work solely with vocal melody – as my first instrument was my voice. Since gaining confidence with my guitar playing I’m writing more with the instrument. I play a Tanglewood full bodied beauty and I’ve grown to love her tone and how we merge together. It certainly adds more structure to the melody side writing with an instrument, but there are no hard and fast rules. I still consider myself a lyricist first and a musician last! My favourite instrument is a pen.
For those who follow you on Twitter we have been kept up to date on the recording process – is this something you enjoyed?
Sharing anything is always enjoyable and should be encouraged! Yes, the whole process was a wonderful spectrum of sheer terror from the first sessions, to laying down final vocals, all the way to the utter joy and satisfaction hearing the local choir sing You Are My Love. I hope I shared some of the reality of recording and gave an insight into the process – that’s the stuff I’m interested in – how things really work and happen.
‘Restlessness’ opens with a great lyric, ‘Homeless, penniless and hungry for success’. Is this lyric based in fact at all? If so, is any of it still true?
It is based on truth. When I write I write for us all and yet it’s always personal. That’s what connects. Being ‘Homeless’ is a reflection of being one of the many who cannot afford to own their own homes – renting and knowing that the landlord has power over the home really bothers me (‘The ladder, it gets taller, I feel smaller and depressed’). I had a flat and I sold it to pursue my career in music and to pay for the making of this album. Here’s to transforming the second and third part – penniless and hungry for success! I also see that life has many riches beyond bricks and mortar and pounds and pence.
How would you describe your music?
Honest, engaging and relaxing. A labour of Love.
Once, when I saw you live, you described yourself as a “hippy” – is this coming out in ‘Emerald Eyes’ when you sing, ‘The cars and the money don’t mean much honey / Peace in your heart is a good place to start’?
I can’t deny it, I’m a total Hippy and proud! I would love to go back to the 1960s and be wild. Failing that, I’d just like to save the planet.
What music are you listening to at the moment?
After listening intensively to the mixes and during recording – I had to stay away from all other music for a while to give my ears a rest. It sounds daft but the silence is all I wanted to hear. Now I’m listening to music again: Willy Mason, Dawn Landes and Jenny Lewis – all on the iPod. Vinyl it’s Dylan, T Rex and some old Soul stuff.
It was Bob Dylan’s birthday yesterday. What are your three favourite Dylan albums?
Desire, Bringing It All Back Home, Blood on the Tracks.
Where can people find out more about you and your music?
The main website is the best source with free downloads, blog, gig listings and video. You can also buy the Album there and I will sign and post it with a postcard message direct. The best way is to join the mailing list – which simply means I email the best bits plus exclusive offers. Facebook and Twitter are also good for interaction and speedy updates and other trivia!
Donna has a few gigs lined up:
THE ALBERT (Brighton) – June 20th with Conrad Vingoe + Dylan Robert Walshe, £7
BRIGHTON BALLROOM (Brighton) – June 21st – supporting Jack Savoretti, £7
MONTO WATER RATS (LONDON) - July 26th - supporting DAWN LANDES, £8/£10 on the door
Caitlin Stubbs is an artist who has been on our radar since somofitistrue picked up her debut EP back in April. Hailing from Brighton UK, Caitlin possesses an amazing ethereal voice which perfectly accompanies the strings, guitars and piano that dominate the sound of the EP. It is atmospheric stuff with flourishes of trumpet adding to the jazz imbued feel.
‘Firebreath’, with its piano led tune, reminds us of Little Earthquakes era Tori Amos. It is a haunting and melodic pop tune that gives us an insight into an exciting new talent. The video is rather fine as well.
We hope to publish an interview with Caitlin soon. In the meantime watch, listen, enjoy and let us know what you think.
Regular readers may remember that Peter Buzzelle was the first artist we interviewed on someofitistrue. His album, Museum of, was a firm favourite and remains so today. Peter’s music reminds us of the guitar bands we loved in the 90′s – the better ones that, although routed in heavy rock, maintained a knowing pop sensibility.
Peter and his band ‘Soul Clinic Bible School’ have been playing numerous gigs and radio sessions, one of which, “Live on WMFO 5.2.12″ has been released as a ‘name your price’ EP. Peter himself describes the performances as ‘seriously raw’ and it is a perfect description as the band leave nothing in the tank – no studio sheen just a full on live performance turned up to 11 (we even get an Echo & The Bunnymen cover for good measure.)
Have a listen, download, and let us know what you think.
Bowerbirds are fast becoming my musical find of the year. The album, ‘The Clearing’ is a beautiful thing, their live show in Brighton was excellent and now they have a very cool video for ‘Overcome with Light’. I hope you enjoy as much as I do.
“Falling Fast” is the lead single from Australian Singer/Producer Shoeb Ahmad’s debut solo record, ‘Watch/Illuminate’. It is a haunting four minute slice of ambient dream pop based on a neat repetitive bass line, muttered vocals and the odd splash of uplifting colourful chords as the arrangement progresses. Repeated listens certainly reap benefits, as the vocals become more apparent and the hooks start to dig in. “Falling Fast” is an enthralling enough mood piece in its own right, but as the lead track on ‘Watch/Illuminate’, we are interested to see how the ideas contained within this soundscape progress within the context of the entire record.
Shoeb Ahmad is making his debut trip to the UK in June 2012 and it will be fascinating to see how his sound translates to a live setting.
Regular readers will know that Early Ghost are one of someofitistrue’s favourite emerging bands. Their debut EP ‘We Crossed The Waves’ packed a punch in both its songwriting and musicianship. Anyone who has had the chance to see the band live cannot fail to be impressed by the assortment of instruments - and how many members of the band can play each of them!
Not ones to rest on their laurels, Early Ghost’s sound has evolved; recently the ‘We Crossed The Waves’ songs haven’t even made it into the live set. This could have disappointed, but I’m pleased to report the new material is even better.
‘Cadaques’, the first single from the upcoming debut album, sounds as if the band have locked themselves in a room with CDs by Ennio Morricone, The Shadows, a pile of Western DVDs and worked out how to mix them all up into an awesome single. Do give it a listen and let us know what you think.
Just to reinforce how talented they are, Sam Allen from the band also made this excellent video:
Download the single for free via the bands website:
RT @lazyacrerecords: So this is kind of awkward but... your CD collection called me earlier, it was kinda sad... it said it wanted... http:… 16 hours ago
