Wow...it's been almost a year since my last blog...can't believe how quickly it's gone over! Of course, the last 12 months haven't been easy, I was one of the 'lucky ones'...lucky to stay in my Job, while people who I'd met and had a lot of respect for (and still do) are no longer with us. I will be honest though, it does feel like a 'stay of execution' rather than a new direction...don't get me wrong, i work hard and push myself with what i do, but then again...doesn't everyone?
That said...I'm going to be selfish and say, that I'm not doing what i should be doing. i do what i do, because...because I can...Music, Web, Video...it's all the same to me! That may come over as being arrogant and is not intended to be, but I am a perfectionist, which means I want to do better and better each time, but the negative is that I lose interest very quickly, in what I've done before....where is the challenge in repeating yourself?
Yes, this is referring to work, but I find myself standing back and thinking..."why put so much effort in?" I have always done this, with previous companies...and usually get taken advantage of...i recognise that and can sniff people a mile off who do this...but maybe this post is more philosophical, more heart led and more positive in some ways...Though I realise that I'm not doing what I should be doing! Yes, Bills have to be paid etc and it's a fine line i'm on...as the Film say's...maybe this "is good as it get's"...I like to think it isn't.
You get one chance at this challenging, exciting...and at times...dull life. i need to pursue what i set out to do...i got side lined...time to get on track :)
Sorry for the rant or outpouring of honesty...going to get my Blog back on and deal with my journey with Technology both past and present...and hopefully you won't mind my honesty at times...stay with me ;)
Been a while since my last Blog and if you've read any of them, you can see it's to do with my personal interaction with technology, creativity and I guess a common theme or purpose. One thing I haven't spoken about, is the present and it's here that causes a bit of sorrow and is why i've steered clear, but will address now...no matter how uncomfortable.
But before I do this, maybe it's worth summing up 'who' I think I am! I don't have the 'family thing' with marriage and Kids and don't miss it...cause it didn't happen! Yes, I often think what it may have been like to be similar to everyone else, but i've never felt like everyone else...of course, we all feel unique and maybe i've took it to extremes, not that I think I'm better or anything, just that I seem to see things from a different perspective.
Always been the quiet guy who tends to listen, rather than interject or be as assertive as I should be, but this contrasts with being a Musician that has stood on stages in front of 2000 people every weekend, which didn't bother me...the more people in the audience, the easier. Now this may come across as being negative, but really it's not...I've devoted my life to filling my synapses with knowledge and ignoring the chaff...I feel good about this, but then again, to be outside of the 'crowd' has its drawbacks.
This post has really come about because i've been working on a 3 prong attack for many years, with Audio skills, Web Skills and more recently Video Production Skills, all amassed over a period of 20 years or so and believed they would all converge at some point...but I've hit a Brick Wall! I find that this journey that I've sacrificed a lot for is coming to an end, due to the economics...or should I say, incompetence of our financial system...(leave that to another time)
At last, the 3 components were coming together, but I can see are now, just beyond my grasp. Maybe a change of direction is needed, maybe this never ending thirst for knowledge is wrong and I should look for something else...but I can't let it go. If you were to sum me up in one word, it would be "Creative"...to do things that no one else has done (or very few).
Please, it's not sad in any way, but I think I'll always stay on the fringe of things...just the realisation that you've gone down a road that ends, is a bit...err... difficult to swallow! ;-)
You hear all that stuff about music being the "Universal Language"...all those cliche' comments, but you know what it's like...you've all been there. A piece of music, a Song, a Band...even a genre that...I don't know...Defines you in some way! Speaks to you on a different and personal level that is difficult to describe, yet...completely overwhelming.
This was how it was for me with the explosion of House Music, when it hit our shores in 87. I completely fell in love with it...the sounds, the feel, the emotion and energy it radiated. Again, like my Break-Dancing days, it was a movement, but not an obvious one. There was nothing in the main stream, but 'tunes' would be passed between mates and I realised that things were changing.
Of course, from my last post, I left it with how I got into DJ'ing and spent all my money on Tunes (vinyl) and DJ'd in a trio at a dodgy fun pub in Coventry. From there we did the odd Warehouse party and met up in a dodgy field with a PA and loads of people of their heads...Acid had took hold...both the style of House and the Drugs! Never did any of that stuff...too dodgy!
With being DJ's though, we weren't just content with scratchin over tunes or beat mixing, we wanted to create our own mixes. Radio 1 on a Friday night was where you could hear good mixes (megamixes...so cheese...lol) and a lot of vinyl was released that had multiple trax mixed together...this is what we loved doing...creating a 5 minute mix with 20 or 30 trax in...I guess, creating a new tune from other peoples work...completely mainstream now...
We had our decks, but we also got hold of a 4 Track, which allowed us to record 4 different tunes at the same time (mono)...yes...this is bugger all compared to now, but back then in 88 it was the best you could get and it was all on Cassette. We'd use a snippet off this tune, speed another one up and chuck it over the top and see what happened...Great fun.
While buying loads of tunes and listening to Radio, It was a natural thing for me to want to come up with my own tunes...I knew the beats, the sounds the genre and wanted to do my own stuff...not really obvious to me at the time, but something that was the next step. I bought a Drum Machine (from my ex Step dad funnily enough) and had the first affordable home Samplers (Casio SK1)...it was crap and you know those Birthday Cards that sing Happy Birthday when you open them...well...they are ten times better quality than this thing I had!
I loved it though, I could recreate all the beats from my hero's (Todd Terry was mine) and sample sounds of a record and play new melodies on the keyboard sampler...of course, it had a built in Microphone and I used to chase the Cat around the house (Smokey) to get him to 'Meow' and then play it back at different pitches "mmmeeeeooowww....mmmeeeoowww...meow...mw)...poor Cat ;-)
We were doing this and sharing it about friends, but I saw an Ad in DJ mag (this was THE mag to get at the time) and it was a Studio training course in Birmingham, which was run by "The Commission". These guys were like Pop Stars to us as they did mixes for DMC (Disco Mix Club). I gave them a ring and had a chat and the bloke I spoke to said "well, if we think you're rubbish, we'll send you home"..err...I was a bit worried, but thought...yeah, I'll do it!
At £12/Hr (which was a lot back in 88) I booked in at the Studio (Unique Productions) for my course. I went on a weekday evening and caught the Bus. I got there early and turned up outside a row of Shops and thought..."This is dodgy" and waited until someone turned up (remember...no mobile phones back then)
This guy turned up and we did the usual greeting and while we entered the building and went up the Stairs, I nervously said "Isn't this where the Commission do their mixes?" He said, "Yeah...I am the Commission"...I was in AWE! As soon as I walked in the Studio I felt...I don't know...at home...like this is where I should be...fate I guess.
All these Synthesizers everywhere, Samplers, mixing desk...so Professional compared to me in my Bedroom and...and...you'll find it funny, but you know when you get a new Car, there's a 'smell'...well it's the same in a Studio..I can smell it now...lol. Well we went through a few things of the equipment and I played him a Cassette of my mixes, but also an idea I had based upon, just my Drum Machine and my cheap Casio Sampler...
I was at home...this was where my future lay...all my hopes and dreams at the time, to become a Producer like my heroes...to get all these ideas and tunes in my head out, that my skills and fingers couldn't do...this place could help and mold me...it did!
I stopped buying vinyl for a few weeks and used all of it to pay for Studio time and must have spent about £300 on being in the Studio, plus I had to pay for hiring an 8 Track recorder...I ended up with a Track that you can hear below...complete Shite when I listen to it now, but this sparked off an obsession that continues to this day, which I'll go into how I ended up being on Radio, in Magazines and being Signed by a Record Company...
You can hear below the outcome of my first ever track in 88...It's off Cassette, so sounds awful...but brings a smile ;-)
Of course, this wasn't strictly my first exposure to Music...At the age of 2 and being surrounded by Musicians (Mum and Dad) It was kind of in my Blood...lol. Yes, I had Blonde Hair then..and don't you just love that 70's Decor! ;-)
Me with the Microphone and Drum Sticks in my Hand...lol
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Music…hmmm…How can anyone describe Music?…can it be put into a sentence? People try, but for some reason it’s a part of us…evolution has kept it alive…it must aid us to be who we are for some reason. Every culture, creed and race has music and it’s a cliche’…’Music be the food of God’s (love)...well, from what I’ve heard over the years…I guess the Gods are here…and have always been here!
Of course, if you’ve read my previous blogs, you probably can sum up that I was instilled with Computer technology, but also spent my days spinning on my back...but there was something else…something that was guiding me in a way…something that I wasn’t aware of…don’t get me wrong…nothing religious, but something I didn’t understand…I found Music!
Growing up, I was surrounded by Music…my Step Dad was a Guitarist and my Mum played the Bass and sang…which is quite funny…as she’s only 5 foot nothing…lol! They were both in a band, with a Drummer and Rhythm Guitarist and used to gig around Workingmen’s Clubs. Mum used to take us to some of the gigs and it’s a classic tale in the family, that growing up, I used to fall asleep, while leaning on her Bass Cab…a huge Bass speaker, but I ‘absorbed’ it in some way…this was before my Stepdad was involved…but I can vaguely remember it.
Growing up around Music was fun and to me, it was just normal…my Mum practicing and SD getting his guitar out and recording it...I mean, every family did it right? They’d be Drums set up in the front room, loads of wires everywhere and gleaming Guitars in their stands…loud noises and rhythm…it was just normal!
One thing…I have to thank my SD (r.i.p) for, is that he introduced me to recording…how it was done and what could be achieved. He was a Geek and when I look in the mirror, I realises, I’m more like him than I want to acknowledge…I wouldn’t be doing or have done the things I have without him…would have liked to have been there when he passed…don’t get me wrong…he had a…err…not so good side, but in all honesty…through the ages of 7-12…he made a big impression on me…thank you!
Going back to the Music though…I’d grown up with hearing traditional instruments, but fell in love with the Synthesizer…of course, I didn’t know what one of them was then, but the late 70’s, early 80’s Sci-Fi Films were full of them, but in terms of Music…There was only one person I wanted to be…Gary Numan.
I just couldn’t comprehend this sound I was hearing…it was like all the Space Films I’d watched, but it was put to Music…a loner…serious, intellectual…This is how it started for me!
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Acieeed…Acieeed
The late 80’s…I loved that time. From 87 to 89 was a very good time for me or at least my Brain Synapses seem to recall! House was born!
Early to mid 80’s wasn’t all about Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet etc There was a sub culture…an underground movement…that went hand in hand with the ‘Break Dancing’ I used to do. Hip Hop had arrived and just to let you know, Hip Hop wasn’t a style of music, it was a culture, combining Music, Art and Dance, but one that fell for!
Rap was one of the main, core types of music around and of course, Electro music was a huge part of this also. Around 86, the music started to change, with the tempo slightly raised to a Disco Beat (120 bpm+) and when certain pieces of Musical Instruments (Synthesizers) became affordable…The whole scene was kicked off in the US (Chicago, New York) and changed my life!
I left School in 87 and went straight into Engineering…Yes, drilled holes in bits of Metal, but it’s here that I met two guys who both had the same idea and love of music that I did…Jasper and Gaz! We all wanted to be Dj’s and back then, dance music was rap, house, soul…hard to explain, but they weren’t separated as much as it is today.
A favourite early house tune for me:
For me though, it was House and when it started to appear…it was like nothing else. Really simple beats, up-tempo and had sounds on the tunes that I’d never heard before. Myself and the other 2 guys, each bought a Record Deck and a Mixer (which is a story in itself) and started teaching ourselves to DJ (Scratching and Mixing).
It kind of exploded in 86/87, because there were new types of synthesizers that came out that Musicians wanted (Digital) and they just got rid of their old pieces for next to nothing. These were then picked up by the pioneers of House…using machines that weren’t intended to be used in the way they were using them…for instance, 2 of the main Drum Machines at the time were the Roland TR-808 and TR-909…these didn’t sound anything like real drums and were intended for use by Guitar and Bass players to go out and gig with…they hated them!
House pioneers, picked up these ‘cast aside’ pieces of equipment and used them as the core of their sound, rather than trying to apologise for using them! These bits of kit are still used as the raw source of electronic music today!
Pic of me and my Mum, when I was 17!
Anyway, in 88 we each go our own bits of kit and one thing I also did…don’t laugh…As well as working in a Factory during the week, I worked in a Bingo Hall calling Bingo! Yep…I did...though I was going out with the Bosses daughter and got paid for 5 shifts instead of 4! What this allowed me to do though was spend my money on Vinyl and to get all the latest US imports…because at that time…UK house music was a bit dire! So every Saturday morning, I’d get a Taxi into town, jump on the Train to Birmingham and be sitting outside Don Christie’s Record shop, before the bloke had even opened up!
You see, he used to get a delivery of Imports on a Friday afternoon and sort them out when he was closed, ready for the weekend. Now, I was really bad at this, but as there might only be a handful of Imports in the whole Country, the shop might only have 2 copies of a tune…if it was a good tune…I used to buy both! Just so, nobody else could have it for that week!
Back to Coventry on the Train, clutching my prized 12 inch’s under my arm…you know…I’ve just had a Flashback of the bag it they used to come in…lol. Once in Cov, it was off to ‘The Three Tuns’ Pub and I’d got to know the Dj there. Here, he would play out my tunes over the PA and I’d see who was ‘bopping’ to them…Bare in mind, this was quite a normal Pub…and here was this complete underground House blaring out…quite funny when I think of it.
The drinking laws changed and Coventry was one of the places to trial 12 hour drinking…before, the pubs shut at 2 in the afternoon. There was a ’fun pub’ in Cov (The Tally Ho) that opened in the afternoon from 1 until 4 and myself and the rest of the guys started to go.
Now, the Dj there (Shane) was playing chart music…all commercial crap that we hated and there was probably about 20 or 30 people in there (upstairs). We got chatting to him and I’d just got my Vinyl for the day and asked “Will you play them?” He was a sound bloke and did...then an empty dance floor started to fill!
He asked me to buy him the same tunes, but they were quite rare, so I made a profit on top...think I charged him £50 for 3 tunes, that cost me £15…lol Got him his tunes the following week and I’d just bought a load more, which he loved and I asked him if we could bring down our Mixer and have a go the following week? “Sure, no problem”.
All 3 of us practiced all week and got a few mixes sorted out and there I went on Saturday morning, with a ton of Vinyl and my mixer. Jasper turned up with some tunes and another deck (they only had 2 at the Pub) and we set up. I have to say the first time was one of the best times i've ever had. We were droppin' underground House, rap...scratchin' over tunes...the place went mad.
Shane was happy, 'cause he was getting paid and doing his favourite thing...chattin' up the girls, but for us...you can't describe it...playing all your latest tunes, scratchin', mixin' and it was loud as foook! ;-) After that first afternoon, nobody in the place wanted it to stop...we had massive beams on our faces, but unfortunately I'd drank quite a few Diamond Whites and smoked...err...a few things...came home and slept for 36 hours...my Mum can tell you about that (blush).
It then became a permanent fixture every week and in the space of a month, we changed the place from 30 people on a Saturday afternoon, to a place where they had to turn people away...200+...serious! We ended up getting Dj's from London coming up and doing 30 min spots...it was mental...and one the best times of my life...so far ;-)
It's funny...I didn't see myself as a Dancer...Poppin' wasn't just Dance to me, it was an expression, a way of fighting without punching...That's what it was all about! At the time, growing up in 'Cov' it was all Gangs and every area or School had Gangs...you walked into that area and you didn't know anyone, well...you'd get your Ass kicked! Maybe I'm painting a negative picture and maybe in reality, it wasn't that way...but it felt like it!
The whole Breakin' scene took off hugely...all the big Cities, London, Birmingham, Manchester etc got it first and Cov, which is just outside of Brum caught it. So you're thinking, "Well, it was just a bunch of lads (and girls) Dancing in the Street with a roll of Lino and and a 'Ghetto Blaster'"...err...no...it was life or death...seriously...it was a Battle against other Gangs (Crews).
Early on I realised what I was quite good at it...the whole Dance scene essentially broke down into Poppin' and Breakin'...Breakin' was probably the more energetic, exciting and dangerous, but Poppin' was more...I don't know...intellectual! Poppin' is what I did...and did very well!
Of course, in the early days before we formed a Crew, there were a few places you could show your skills and one in particular was near the Courtaulds building in Foleshill. This place was a Sports and Social Club, but on a Saturday afternoon, there were just hundreds of kids packed in and some of the main crews from around...including Future Shock. Electro music would be blasting out and every 5 minutes or so, you'd see kids gather round in a group...'cause there was a 'Battle' on!
So what was a Battle? Well essentially it was a case of someone doing a move and then the other person tried to do one better, until 1 of them gave up. Sounds simple, but in reality it was all about 'blowing out' the person...doing moves that took the piss out of them.
On one Saturday, I thought I'd make my move....but not just having a simple Battle...I'd take on one of the best in the West Midlands...Mr Freeze! I walked up to him while he was talking to someone, looked at him and he looked back and just knew...he was a veteran at this. I was about 14, in my cheap Hip Hop gear and he was this huge black guy in his late teens early 20's...all kitted out with the best gear...
The crowd could sense it, all eyes were on us both...BATTTLE CRY! With a crowd, gathered around us...maybe 5 or 6 deep...I started, did a bit of floatin', lockin' and tickin'...all my best moves at the time and thought...yeah...beat that! Now this guy was watching everything I did...he could tell what level I was at and knew how he would respond. This guy was about 10 feet away from me and in a blink of an eye...he floated all the way around me and then next thing I knew he was again standing 10 feet in front of me...only this time, he was wearing my Baseball Cap! All in a few seconds...I didn't even notice!
I was beaten and everyone knew it...it was my turn, but thought I'd save myself from anymore embarrassment, smiled and said "nah, nah", while waving my hand. Thing is, I got respect for that, not because I'd got beaten, but because I took on the best. Anyway, had a little chat with Mr Freeze after and he gave me some tips and encouragement...nice guy! I was determined then, I was gonna' get good!
Next time, I'll talk about the crew we formed (Sonic Beat), which ended up at one point being about 15 of us, where we practised and some of the scrapes we got into...especially one time when I 'broke the rules' and ended up with about 100 lads outside my house...looking for blood!
Of course, from my last post...I mentioned about the fact that I used to do 'Break Dancing'...this may come as a bit of a surprise to people that have met me in recent years, but...yeah...I did it! It wasn't just dance to me...it was a way of life...an entry into something that shaped everything that I am today. No it's not technical stuff, that's just a vehicle I use...it's one thing and one thing only...Creativity! To make or do something from just a thought...what's that saying? "Actions speak louder than words?"
Staying with the topic though, before I go into it...below is a video or an excerpt from a film that had a huge impact on me and countless others in 1985 who were part of...even though we didn't know at the time...a new movement...one that I embraced with every part of my body...Literally!
Maybe looks a bit old and tired now, but to me, still impressive. These 2 "crews" who played a part in the film, were real Crews at the time..."New York City Breakers" and the "Rock Steady Crew" and set the "Bar" at the time...but remember, there was no Internet at the time (or as we know it) so you couldn't find out what was going on...this Film, legitimised Street Dancing...and 'boy' did I fall in love with it.
The whole 'Hip Hop' thing came over to the UK in the early 80's and it wasn't just dance...it was a combination of Dance, Graffiti (or Art) and Music...that all were as important as each other, but for me, the Dance aspect was huge...this made me feel special, unique...a feeling that has stayed with me ever since...but it was bloody fun...sometimes dangerous and hand on heart, what i'm doing today and what i'll end up doing, is all because of this time in my life.
As mentioned in my previous post, it all started with Michael Jackson, when he did the 'Moon Walk" ...it was like..."how the Hell is he moving backwards, but looks like he's walking forwards"...I had to find out and my Kitchen that had Lino tiles was going to be my 'Test Ground'...I must have worn out countless pairs of Socks practicing that move, but then through School, the 'Wave' came in...this was the start for me, as well as probably the first Film that really went into the culture (Breakin') but was a cheesy movie, but opened my eyes to what was possible...
For now, i'm going to leave it at that, but my next post's will go into the type of Dance I did, how I nearly got the crap kicked out of me in a Battle and how we ended up doing shows in Workingmens Clubs doing this...but for now..."Ain't no Stoppin' Us"
