Blog
This time last week.....
Posted on 30 January 2012 | 7:25 pm
....We welcomed the wonderful Gary Brooker into the studio to lay down some Piano and Hammond on a couple of tracks for us! Gary is the founding member of the band 'Procol Harum', and wrote the world famous song 'Whiter Shade of Pale'. He's recently played on Kate Bush's last couple of albums, 'Aerial' and 'Director's Cut', so it was a real honour to be able to work with him.
We've now also finally finished all the recording on the new album which will officially be called 'River Man'! The next stage is mixing, which will take a little while as it's where everything is tweaked and levelled out and put into it's final form. Jez will be spending most of Feb locked away in a dark studio doing this! Hopefully this will be complete by the end of March/beginning of April, but will keep you all updated on this, and the new arrival!
Anna x
Senegal Radio
Posted on 16 January 2012 | 5:02 pm
Hi all,
While back at home Fily (see below) has been plugging some extracts of the new album on radio in Senegal, and apparently, it's been going down very well! Could 2012 see my first gigs in Senegal/ West Africa (I will need to work on my French, *alot*)? It's a possibility! Keep an eye on this blog! :)
Walf Fadjri Radio
http://www.walf.sn
Anna x
Goodbye 2011......
Posted on 3 January 2012 | 2:48 pm
.....and good riddance? From talking to the majority of my friends and indeed family, 2011 has been an incredibly challenging year which most of us are glad to see the back of! It always saddens me to hear and/or say things like this myself. I try to view every year as a gift with new horizons and opportunities. By the time I'd reached July in a state of absolute mental and physical exhaustion, I'd had enough, and that was before the enforced incarceration due to various pregnancy complications! However saying all that, there have been some rather brilliant musical highlights which I thought I'd share with you.
One of my favourite highlights was the photo shoot John (Milton - long suffering friend and photographer/designer) and I completed at the Roman Baths, in Bath, earlier in the year. We came out with some stunning images for the new album and felt truly honoured to be able to photograph in such a beautiful location. I'd spent the previous months researching Roman fashion and finding the props to re create an image from the Villa d'Arianna in Stabia, near Pompeii and I'm so pleased with the results. The album won't be out until later in 2012 (gives me a chance to have a baby, get it mixed, mastered, oh and write a book!!!) but I thought I'd post one of the images up here so you can get a taste of what's to come in 2012. It's all change, in a by good way!
I was also lucky enough to go back and play the first ever unplugged modern day singer/songwriter gig at the Baths in April and to be able to film it. That footage is now up on You Tube if you haven't seen it already and features a couple of tracks from the forthcoming album, all be it acoustically. The acoustics at the Bath, despite the pouring rain, were amazing, I've never had such good sound!
From late May to July the band and I start work on the songs for the album, running through ideas and initial arrangements. We also had a chance to run through our set for Guilfest which was an incredibly fun gig. It was so nice to be back after a long break and the crowd was great.
Then it was 14 days straight in the studio for the new album with some of the most talented musicians I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Luckily they were also good at helping me retain my sanity, especially when I discovered I was expecting baby #2!! It was an exhausting, but very productive time, and I got to work with Patch Hannan, the drummer from one of my all time favourite bands 'The Sundays'!
Pregnancy complications meant that from the end of July I've been on enforced rest, but in retrospect, it's actually been good to have a bit of a break and to go back over what we recorded in July. In December I was able, with a little help, to make a few days back in the studio to review and do some more recording which has been fantastic. Jez and I have revamped quite a few songs and it's sounding better than ever. We also welcomed the wonderful Jali Fily Cissokho in to the studio to put some Kora on a few tracks. All very good stuff.
So with a pretty eventual year over, what's next? Baby #2 should be making an appearance in March so they'll be a little settling down time, but 2012 will see the new album finished, mixed and mastered, ready to unleash on the world late September, early October. The artwork is ready and I'm in the middle of writing the book to accompany it while trying to rest. There will of course also be a tour, but a very different kind of tour....I shall leave you with that thought....Here's to 2012!
Anna x
An inspirational meeting......
Posted on 19 December 2011 | 7:20 pm
Hi all,
I thought I'd share this with you about the recording session with Jali Fily Cissokho last week. It was a wonderful and inspirational experience and I can't wait for you to hear the tracks we've worked on together! A huge thank you to Fily and his manager Chris for taking the time to be part of these recordings. There should, fingers crossed, be some live shows coming up together mid 2012. :)
Anna x
www.kaira-arts.co.uk
Thanks to Anna and Jezz skyline studios. An inspirational meeting. I listened to Fily working on Anna's tracks in Oxford. He had changed to the traditional tuning Tomora and Silaba.. Afterwards he played and sang a beautiful track FILY SUSSO YA DE YA DE KA that he had composed as a small boy age 6 whilst jamming with his family. "I haven't played this track for years. Anna has taken me back to when I was a small boy in Senegal" Fily said. "I was surprised to hear it being played on the local radio one day in Casamance. Apparently my Uncle had had seen me singing and dancing to my new composition and loved it so much that he had gone to record it at our local radio station. The track was very popular. Uncle playing it on the kora at localceremonies. On one occasion he called me to come and dance and sing the track with him. I was very happy at this young age as the local people gave me money for my performance! I'm working on a new traditional CD and it's as if this track is saying don't leave me. I think I will now claim the track back and work on it again.." The recording session also inspired me to play Kelefaba . My first traditional melody and song that my father the late Jali Kemo Cissokho taught me to play. It seemed to fuse perfectly with Anna's western compostion." We are looking forward to 2012 with great thanks to Anna and her beautiful compositions~ More cultural exchange to come! Chris Lord
Jali Fily Cissokho
Posted on 15 December 2011 | 7:12 pm
This week we had the wonderful Fily in session down at Skyline studios. What an amazing session and what a lovely guy! I felt very blessed at having such a talented musician being part of this project. It was also lovely to hear how some of the songs reminded him on the songs he first played on the Kora with his father. Be prepared to see him on stage with us at some point in the future, in the mean time here he is getting ready to 'do his thing.
A huge thank you to Fily and his manager Chris for taking the time to come down and play for us!
Is very pleased to announce......
Posted on 10 December 2011 | 1:13 pm
Jali Fily Cissokho, The world renowned virtuoso Kora player and singer from Ziguinchor, Southern Senegal, will be heading to Skyline Studios this week to play on the new album! I'm so excited about this, he's a phenomenal musician and I can't wait to hear some of his beautiful playing and singing on the tracks we have lined up. It's all shaping up so well, this is one very proud lady! :)
Check out this video of him on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG9gfE9XAUg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Anna x
Album update
Posted on 7 December 2011 | 8:50 pm
Morning all,
After a five month break, this week sees a return to recording and finally finishing the new album! Jez and I hope to get all the recording side of things completed by the end of January, before I get incarcerated in a certain Guildford hospital for the rest of this pregnancy from hell!
As you know things have been very difficult, and I won't bore you with all the many and varied complications, but I've managed to get some of the sickess under control. Sadly though I'm still not well enough to get back on stage yet. On a postive note I'm very pleased to announce that as well as Patch from The Sundays, we have a couple more special guests 'guesting' on the album. I'm very excited and will reveal all once everything is confirmed. Fingers crossed I can get through this last bit!
After the recording is finished Jez will be locking himself away and mixing everything while I have this baby! Plans are then to go to mastering, once we've lived with the mixes for a bit, and then, a video for the title track 'River Man', providing all is well! :)
It's been a long journey so far but one that will be well worth it in the end, the recordings are my best to date, as is the concept and artwork. I'm truly proud of everything we've achieved so far and couldn't have done it without yours, the musicians, family and friends support. Roll on September 2012!
Anna x
Bandcamp
Posted on 25 November 2011 | 10:28 am
Hi folks,
My album 'Touch' and EP 'Handle With Care' are now on Bandcamp as 'pay what you like'. All cd copies of 'Handle With Care' have now sold out so go and grab a bargain!
Touch:
http://annaneale.bandcamp.com/album/touch
Handle With Care:
http://annaneale.bandcamp.com/album/handle-with-care
Anna x
The Modern Day Cost of Music
Posted on 17 October 2011 | 1:17 pm
Back in 2005/2006, I was pretty up with all the MySpaces and the-then new Facebooks, now I struggle to get around to updating 140 characters on Twitter! I do, however, try to make the time to read what is going on in the world of Twitter. It's a stream of international consciousness, which once you get your head around it, is pretty fascinating for a songwriter. It's also, in my opinion, one of the most important sources of information for an independent/DIY artist.
During my morning 'pilgrimage' to Twitterland I've discovered quite a few blogs by other artists and even national newspapers about the real cost of being a DIY artist. Of course any record company knows the real cost of nurturing an artist and releasing an album, it's why they often don't anymore! The thing that I found most interesting is that these artists are now willing to disclose what it truly costs us to make music.
I've found it really refreshing to read that others are in the same boat and that they're willing to be so honest. There was a time when you wouldn't dare reveal what your sales figures were, unless they were amazing (a feat only usually achieved with a PR company on board). In this day and age when the humble CD and even MP3s are slipping further away from being an essential part of daily life for the masses, recorded music is making less and less impact. The biggest selling artist of 2011 is currently Adele, and she hasn't sold anywhere near the same amount as Leona Lewis' second single did in 2007.
In a way that's sad, but it's always been difficult to make money from music (look at Mozart). Becoming rich and famous is only a recent phenomenon and is something I think we should all remember. I love creating music and playing with new ideas. The recording studio will always be my second home. It costs me a fortune but it's been a sacrifice I'm always been willing to make. If one person out there is willing to listen to my next mad idea and like it, well then it's worth all the hard work. Even if music now is "more like a scented candle"
(Jarvis Cocker - Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/oct/16/jarvis-cocker-interview?CMP=twt_gu),
there are still those out there who value music and the art of songwriting. I personally am still fascinated by the art of songwriting.
If you'd like to follow in my footsteps these last couple of days this blog by 'DIY' artist 'She Makes War' is one that I've found particularly enlightening and informative.
http://shemakeswar.com/blog/2011/10/15/diy-music-how-much/
Update on Gigs - Sep 2011
Posted on 24 September 2011 | 8:41 am
Regrettably I've had to postpone all remaining gigs for the foreseeable future due to continuing HG (Hyperemesis Gravidarum). I've been having good and bad days and have been hoping for it to pass but at the moment it shows no signs of letting up. I don't want to risk having to cancel another show at the last minute like last nights Lightbox gig.
It's an incredibly hard thing for me to do and at the moment I can't say when or if things are going to improve. Worst comes to the worst I shall be back on stage about June 2012, but lets hope it doesn't come to that!
Anna x
If you've been wondering why things have seemed a little quiet lately......
Posted on 25 August 2011 | 3:06 pm
Hi guys,
I just thought I'd give you a little personal update to let you know why things may have seemed a little quite this end! August has been a really difficult month and has meant quite a few gig cancellations. I thought it might be time to let you know that this is because I'm expecting baby #2! Usually very exciting news but unfortunaley I've been struck down with the same Hyperemesis I suffered with while expecting my son back in 2008. Needless to say it's been a very challenging time but fingers crossed, I'm nearly 10 weeks now and should be facing the end soon.
The baby will be due in March, all being well, and so we're looking at a September release date for the new album. This should give us plenty of time to get some new videos done (before I turn into a whale) and promotion. It should also give me time to get some kind of figure back! I'll keep you posted!
Anna x
Pledging towards the new album
Posted on 25 August 2011 | 2:49 pm
Hi everyone,
For those who are continuing with their pledges towards the new album, you can send any pledging payments through to Pay Pal at this address: me@annaneale.net
If you'd still like to Pledge towards the album and get exclusive e-mails updating you on the progress, there's plenty of time, below is a list of options you can pledge towards.
Signed CD
Signed CD & Your Name in the Credits
Signed CD & 4 A4 Prints
Signed CD & Videos
Signed CD & Making Of Book & Name in the Credits
Signed CD, Handmade Scrapbook & Name in Credits
Signed CD, Original Acoustic Demos & Name in Credits
Signed CD, Making Of Book, Scrapbook & Name in Credits
Signed CD, Book, Name in Credits & Exclusive House Gig
Signed CD, Book, Videos, Credits & Skype Gig
Signed CD, Name in Credits & Studio Time.
Signed CD, Book, Scrapbook, Videos, Acoustic CD, House Gig
Signed CD, Book, Name in Credits & Gig at Your Home.
Anna x
In the st st studio!
Posted on 23 July 2011 | 12:03 pm
Well folks,
I'm about 3/4's of the way through putting down the main elements of the new album 'Eunomia'. It's been pretty hard work but it's all starting to sound fab now. We had a real break through moment yesterday, and I'm really pleased to announce that we have a couple of special guests who are going to come and play for us (I am ridiculously excited!). I am loving the sound we are creating, and I'm especially enjoying harking back to the 90's! It's like being 13 again! So start digging out your Sundays/Cranberries albums!
Anna x
Guilfest thanks
Posted on 17 July 2011 | 10:49 am
Hi all,
We had a great show on Friday at Guilfest. Three of us played in the back of a black cab just before our set for eFestivals so look out for that footage online very soon. A huge thank you to Adam Aggiss, Harrison Peck, Katherine Clarke and Ed Clarke for playing so fabulously despite the odd sound issue! Also a big thank you to you if you came down to watch us (and shelter from the rain). The crowd were absolutely fab and easily joined in with us, I even saw the odd Brooklands graduate in the audience! I still hold that the acoustic stage is the best stage for live music at Guifest with some of the best local talent. Trevor and James, well done on a good job.
Anna x
Guilfest
Posted on 12 July 2011 | 11:04 am
Don't forget, the band and I will be playing on the Acoustic Stage at Guilfest this coming Friday, 15th July, at 8.15pm.
We've been working on new songs and arragments, and have a special surprise cover for you, so if you're there, don't forget to come along and see us. It's going to be one hell of a show.
Anna x
