Cityscape Presents

Here is a new site in the making from my good friend Andrew O’Donnell. Here’s his blurb to tell you a bit more about it, send him good quality stuff. Click the banner above to go to the site . . .

The Fiend is edited by Andrew O’Donnell, and is a journal whose main emphasis is on poetry and translation. It was conceived in 2008 as an avenue for new talented writers to find their feet, become more acknowledged, or to find new audiences.

It accepts submissions of original poetry or translations from any corner of the globe, as well as critical prose, visual art of all kinds, philosophy, journalism with an international emphasis, plus essays and articles on a large number of themes relating to the politics of being alive, creative and open-minded in the twenty first century.

The journal is printed annually, and these pages feature some selections from the printed format of the journal. We pay small negotiable amounts to contributors through our publisher: Open Season Press. All submissions and enquiries to andrewodonnell@riseup.net (email for our postal addresses, if necessary)

www.openseasonpress.com
www.myspace.com/ajodonnell

Here’s a video shot by Irene Partington, one of the attendees at our last Cityscape Presents . . . at the Octagon Bar – Thanks Irene! I’m afraid that the youtube format doesn’t really do justice to the epic stereo effects on this track but you get the gist. And I have to admit that it’s mine and my girlfriend’s heads in the way throughout the whole thing – sorry! Next time Irene, just ask and I’ll move my fat head or put the camera at the front :0) Thanks Irene, and everybody else, enjoy! If you like Jon, here’s his site: http://www.jongomm.com/

A little nib from the Bolton News mentioning Saturday 24/9/10 ‘s at the White Horse on the A6 in Westhoughton

Click the pic for the original article!

Hi Alex, how are you?
I’m very well thanks, a tad worn out from too much gigging but that’s hardly a complaint.

Which instruments do you play?
I play acoustic guitar, vocals and piano as my main instruments but I dabble in mandolin, cajon and bass.

What made you decide to be a solo artist and not want to be in a band?
I’m not really to sure, I was originally in a couple of bands before I started doing things on my own. I still think that nothing beats the feeling of playing in a band and having a great time with your mates, but I just seemed to get more done on my own and the quality of what I was producing was much higher so I kind of stuck to it. I still have a band back at home but we spend far more time writing than actually playing.

Do you work with the same musicians when recording as you do when performing live?
I’m still a solo act live although I am thinking of getting some musicians to play with me for my next release, not too sure yet though.

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t yet heard you?
Pop/Folk/Indie music. Heavilly picked guitar with catchy pop vocals but with an underlying feeling of alternative folk giving taking it away from being as main stream as say… Paulo Nutini.

What have you been up to recently?
Gigs, gigs and licking stamps to put on envelopes actually! My Debut E.P. (Which you can listen to on Somojo) is being released on July 12th (Digitally) and 19th (physically) so I’ve been working hard getting the press and promotion ready for  that, hence the large amount of sticking stamps on envelopes. As well as that I’ve just come back from my first year at LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) and so I’m busy getting my calendar chock full of local gigs now that I’m back home.

What can your fans look forward to in the next 12 months?
Firstly the release of ‘The Wood’ which I can’t wait for but also the release of another single ‘Dare’ which I should be getting back from mastering any day now as well as some big gigs that are coming up across the UK.

Photography by Gemma Harrison

Are you self-taught or did you have lessons?
Half and half, I’ve had electric guitar lessons since I was about 9 years old but my picking technique is self taught so my left hand has had lessons and my right one does what it wants!

Do you use the same equipment live as you do when in a studio?
Live, I use a small quantity pedals the main feature being a Boss RC-50 Loop Station. I’ve seen a lot of artists use these but I don’t use them as a gimmick or a drum machine, I record all my loops live both guitar, vocals and vocal harmonies as I play as well as percussion and a few other things to build the sound but within the song rather than taking ten minutes to set up the loop before launching into the track. For example Keep Chasing (Track 2 on The Wood) sounds almost exactly the same live as it does on the CD, minus the cajon percussion. It’s hard work and when it goes wrong it really goes wrong.

Would you sign with a major record company?
It’s the dream i guess, but I’m very happy with Cityscape Records who are doing a sterling job, check out the website www.cityscaperecords.co.uk

Do you have any new recordings planned?
Loads, got my next E.P. to get under way which will take up the majority of my summer… can’t wait .

Do you write songs/tracks only about personal experiences?
Yes and no. Some songs are derived entirely from personal experience. Drifting (Track 3 on The Wood) is about the effects of dementia happening to my Nana and about her literally drifting away from us on a mental level. Other songs like The Wood (track 1 on The Wood) aren’t really about anything in particular, they just capture a mood or a feeling that I’m experiencing at the time.
Do you find song writing easy or difficult?
As with anyone who writes, the best songs come in a matter of minutes. Some songs take longer at the moment I can’t seem piece one together I’ve got about 9 different ideas all of which I like but I can’t get a whole song out of them.

Is there anyone who you would like to collaborate with on writing songs or performing?
A superb local artist who’s making a name for herself everywhere she goes especially in Canada -Steph Fraser. I’ve been gigging with her nearly my whole solo career but we’ve never collaborated, something for the future I guess.

Do you use any websites like ‘Reverbnation’ or ‘Soundclick’?
I do have a Reverb Nation account but I more frequently use myspace and Twitter.
Here are the links.
www.myspace.com/alexhulmeacoustic
www.twitter.com/alexhulmemusic

Do you think such sites and the internet are good tools for independent and unsigned artists?
I like them but they suffer from over subscription, Myspace is going down hill a lot lately, but with places like Somojo, the future’s definitely bright.

Is there anything you’d like to add?
Thanks a lot for having me on and check out ‘The Wood’ at www.somojo.net/alexhulme

Bandcamp is basically another way of us uploading and selling our music quickly and easily. Getting things on itunes and the like takes a little while to sort but with Bandcamp we can have things up and moving really quickly. Here’s a screen shot/ link to our Bandcamp page which we’re using to initially release our new single Listen Up! (Sam Flanagan Rework). We keep trying these things to see what we like to use best but this one seems pretty simple to use – give it a go and let us know how you get on :0)