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From a whisper to thunder (part 1/3)

Traveled up to Scotland today to go to the Studio, and for a change I decided to drive instead of taking a flight. I thought this would be a great chance to unwind, take in the scenery and enjoy some reflective time on the way. This was a trip which would normally take about seven or eight hours. However, four hours in, I was beginning to question the wisdom of my decision as I found myself in a static traffic jam on the M6 which would result in me moving no more than three miles in the next four hours… Thankfully things on route cleared and eventually everything started to move again.

It had been a long time since I’d made this drive, usually I take a flight, which is much quicker  – fifty-five minutes from take-off to landing, but I must admit the scenery is completely breathtaking on the drive as you start to pull clear of the South and head towards the gentle tranquility of Cumbria and the Lake District.

It was a very typical British Summer’s day, which started off beautifully sunny in Southern England, becoming lashing rain through ‘the Lakes’, eventually turning to thunder storms and flash floods by the time I approached Edinburgh.

Finally, somewhat wearily, I arrived –  twelve hours after I left home…

Final Mixes

Walked around the City today, listening to final mixes for the album… It was a beautiful, sunny spring day and in the Cathedral square music from some talented musicians filled the air.

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In one corner there was a group of Japanese girls singing some lovely songs and handing out some pretty origami gifts in return for charitable donations towards the Tsunami fund.

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It was great to see so many people give money and to know that those caught up in the disaster are still very much on the minds of everyone here in the U.K.
There was a great atmosphere in town and it was lovely to see the first signs of spring, with an abundance of pink blossom hanging from the trees.

Julie

Easter Weekend, 2011

Spent a few days over the Easter weekend in the beautiful Kent countryside. The weather was unseasonably hot and the South East of England was basking in glorious sunshine.
Took some time out to visit a couple of National Trust properties, one of which was Knole in Sevenoaks. This was a stunning place which once belonged to the Sackville family and where the deer still run wild and free across four acres of beautiful grounds. It also happens to be the place where The Beatles recorded one of their first promotional films in the winter of 1967 for the double A side that was ‘Penny Lane’/’Strawberry Fields Forever’. In this particular film, the ‘Fab Four’ could be seen riding on horseback through a stone archway, which I thought I’d try to find. Luckily it didn’t take too long to track down (Photo attached), although the archway itself has crumbled slightly since then and the surrounding trees/foliage looks a great deal different.

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Original footage of The Beatles in Knole can be found on the internet and makes interesting viewing of what was probably one of the first promotional videos of its time.

Japan Tragedy

Yesterday morning, here in the U.K. we watched in stunned silence as the tragic events of the earthquake and subsequent Tsunami in Japan unfolded across our television screens. With all the horror of a ‘disaster movie’, we watched as slowly the full scale of this tragedy unveiled itself, with very real consequences for thousands of those directly affected by it.

I can’t begin to imagine the fear and panic that must have been felt by anyone caught up in the middle of such a situation – we are so used to the simple, gentle beauty of nature that we forget the power and ferocity which she can, on occasion, exude. My thoughts are with those in the region directly affected by this disaster and those worried about the safety of a loved one. Stay safe and take care of each other.

All my love,
Julienne

New Album Mixes

Having ‘lived’ with the album mixes for the past few weeks, we are now back in the studio making the final few adjustments to some of the tracks. It’s been a really positive experience taking the time to do this, as with anything, your thoughts and feelings about various sounds and how they work or don’t work together can change over a period of time. We now feel we are close to mastering the final mixes and things seem to be really coming together. Hopefully we will be ready to release in the not too distant future. I thank everyone involved with this album for their input and patience.

I’ll post a song soon!!

In the Mix

Really pleased to say that we’ve finally reached the ‘mix’ stage for the album. It’s great to finally hear some of the tracks with full instrumentation arranged with such care and attention to detail by our talented mixing engineers. There are some wonderfully played parts by very talented musicians whom I have been very grateful to work with. Everyone involved has been incredibly enthusiastic throughout the project, which has made for a very memorable and enjoyable experience. A huge thanks to all those involved thus far.

A cold & wet Edinburgh… but nice to be back!!

It was a very cold and wet Edinburgh Airport I arrived into on late Friday afternoon (7th Nov) to commence some further vocal recording at the Studio. As usual one of the producers, Stuart, was there to meet me and we wasted no time in getting back and getting started. It’s always nice to come back to the Studio and work with the guys (Stuart and Gordon). Its quite a homely place even if it is quite an old, imposing building, which incidentally used to be an old police station and cells dating back at least two or three hundred years! It certainly doesn’t lack atmosphere.

We had quite a busy time of it and the album is coming together well, although we did have time for one or two cups of tea along the way. You can also see from the photo the Studio as the grey building on the right hand side of the street. The plaque on the wall across the road commemorates the meeting of Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott, two of Scotland’s best known figures.

In the next couple of weeks it will be time for a return trip, let’s hope the forecast for snow is wrong…

Recording: October 19

I’ve just returned from Edinburgh where I’ve started work on my new album. The session went really well. We initially worked out the relevant song keys and discussed arrangements etc before putting down some very rough vocal guide tracks – things are coming together and should be good – It’s a very exciting time at the start of a new album and great to be working with Gordon and Stuart again, even though the temperature in Scotland is always a shock to the system!

It’s always nice to be back in Edinburgh, and I’m looking forward to being in the studio again – I’ve always found it incredibly creative even if it does involve sitting e.q.’ing a kick drum for a couple of hours! I’ll never get tired of it…

Will update you after next trip and will take some photos then.

Signing with Evolution

It’s really exciting to be able to confirm my recent signing to Evolution. Currently writing and recording new tracks, I’m very much looking forward to the release of a new album in the near future and of course planning some live dates in Hong Kong and Asia.

A big THANK YOU to Ashley Whitfield and all at the Evolution, I am very much looking  forward to working with you…