Hello Friends
It's just occurred to me that I only write these things once a month, that doesn't really seem a lot but it doesn't really seem like theres too much to tell you apart from that we're writing our album, blah blah blah. When it comes to January we'll try to update every day or at least every couple of days with pictures and videos and things because then at least new things will be happening all the time. We've literally just got to the first venue in Germany for the first date of our tour but before that we were working on another new song which takes our tally up to 12 songs. We'll be able to use the boring time in the van to carry on working on vocals, when we get back we might have time to write another song but it will be mostly tidying up everything, sorting out a tracklisting, i guess you could call it pre pre production or something because im sure we'll go over everything again after that.
We've also decided on a name for the new album, its going to be called 'The Truth is...' and we've actually been talking about artwork ideas today in the van and we have some good ideas knocking about so we can sort that out once we get back. Not much more to say really so i wont bore you with unnecessary waffle but ill write another one of these maybe half way through the tour and let you know how its going. Last time we came to Europe it was fantastic and so im sure this time will be the same, just much colder, haha.
Tchuß!
Simon
Friday 16 November 2007
Tuesday 16 October 2007
Pressure
Yo
It's been a while since i last posted, even though for me it doesn't seem like too much has happened but I guess things are happening all the time and time is getting on. First things first, The final half of the tour was really cool, again a belated thanks to everyone that watched us/helped us out with lending us gear/gave us a floor to sleep on. We were all a bit weary about the final date in London as it was our first time playing a headline gig in the capital but we needn't have worried, the gig was great! We had a great crowd, played well and had good bands supporting us, what more could you ask for. There is a diary of the whole tour written by our merch guy/good mate Ben at the following url:
(http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=2649955&blogID=319587363)
During the tour we managed to have a good chat with Pete Miles about the album, we talked about how we want to record, where we're going to record and lots of other geeky conversations. We toyed with the idea of recording the main backline (twoguitarsbassdrums) live as opposed to our first album where everything was recorded separately, but with us being perfectionists to a certain degree and wanting sort of a middle ground between the two extremes we decided it would be best to track the drums and bass live. Then after that we are most likely going to record everything on top of that, which is what we did when we recorded some recent demos with Pete, such as 'Help Yourself'. This way the album will have a very 'live' feel but won't lose some of the power and clarity of the songs which can sometimes happen on albums recorded live. We'll also most likely be recording in a big house in Devon, probably in the middle of nowhere so we'll be in beautiful surroundings to inspire us as we record. However it's not like we'll see any of it though because we'll be recording, haha. Nah we'll have some days off during recording so it will hopefully help us to relax if nothing else.
Since then, we've had a few practices and suported Idlewild at Preston Uni which was a big shock, seen as we found out we were playing two days before by chance. It was great to play with a band I think we've all liked and had a lot of respect for since we were all at school. The gig itself for us was a bit of a nightmare and technical problems aside, there were a few small reasons why we didnt play better but, for me personally I know I let the fact that we were playing to a crowd and with a band much different than we're used to get to me a bit. But you live and learn and all that stuff.
Practice-wise we've been over most of the songs lyrically, although they're done, we've just been practicing through them and ironing out any problems (guitar parts clashing, vocals etc). We also began writing another new song (is it 'We also began or We have also begun? I don't know), anyway I think we're on the begining of song number 13 but its slowly dawning on us that we have about 10 or 11 weeks till January and we might not get to write as many songs as we wanted to. It's a been a hard time being creative but having to be quick about it with a deadline looming, it definatly takes us a while to write a tune with three main songwriters pushing and pulling in certain directions and its been so much more difficult this time around because our expectations of ourselves, each other and what the new album is going to be has been so much higher. Also by the time our second album is released it will have been two and a half years since we released 'What We Are Today' so even though we had our own expectation musically, and even though we didn't need to set a deadline, we wanted to also bear in mind other commerical expectations too, no matter how small they might be. Maybe if we'd carried on putting it back, everyone that knows us would probably get bored of waiting. You know that Axel Rose is up shit creek without a paddle at the moment because of that very fact, haha. Maybe we've thought about it all too much but I think we care too much not to think about it all the time.
Thats all for now, its stupid o clock and I need to go to bed. Im going to say thanks to Andrew (for leaving the comments) and also Joe and Al for being the only people I know that are actually reading this, and all other possible voyeristic readers of this blog. x
It's been a while since i last posted, even though for me it doesn't seem like too much has happened but I guess things are happening all the time and time is getting on. First things first, The final half of the tour was really cool, again a belated thanks to everyone that watched us/helped us out with lending us gear/gave us a floor to sleep on. We were all a bit weary about the final date in London as it was our first time playing a headline gig in the capital but we needn't have worried, the gig was great! We had a great crowd, played well and had good bands supporting us, what more could you ask for. There is a diary of the whole tour written by our merch guy/good mate Ben at the following url:
(http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=2649955&blogID=319587363)
During the tour we managed to have a good chat with Pete Miles about the album, we talked about how we want to record, where we're going to record and lots of other geeky conversations. We toyed with the idea of recording the main backline (twoguitarsbassdrums) live as opposed to our first album where everything was recorded separately, but with us being perfectionists to a certain degree and wanting sort of a middle ground between the two extremes we decided it would be best to track the drums and bass live. Then after that we are most likely going to record everything on top of that, which is what we did when we recorded some recent demos with Pete, such as 'Help Yourself'. This way the album will have a very 'live' feel but won't lose some of the power and clarity of the songs which can sometimes happen on albums recorded live. We'll also most likely be recording in a big house in Devon, probably in the middle of nowhere so we'll be in beautiful surroundings to inspire us as we record. However it's not like we'll see any of it though because we'll be recording, haha. Nah we'll have some days off during recording so it will hopefully help us to relax if nothing else.
Since then, we've had a few practices and suported Idlewild at Preston Uni which was a big shock, seen as we found out we were playing two days before by chance. It was great to play with a band I think we've all liked and had a lot of respect for since we were all at school. The gig itself for us was a bit of a nightmare and technical problems aside, there were a few small reasons why we didnt play better but, for me personally I know I let the fact that we were playing to a crowd and with a band much different than we're used to get to me a bit. But you live and learn and all that stuff.
Practice-wise we've been over most of the songs lyrically, although they're done, we've just been practicing through them and ironing out any problems (guitar parts clashing, vocals etc). We also began writing another new song (is it 'We also began or We have also begun? I don't know), anyway I think we're on the begining of song number 13 but its slowly dawning on us that we have about 10 or 11 weeks till January and we might not get to write as many songs as we wanted to. It's a been a hard time being creative but having to be quick about it with a deadline looming, it definatly takes us a while to write a tune with three main songwriters pushing and pulling in certain directions and its been so much more difficult this time around because our expectations of ourselves, each other and what the new album is going to be has been so much higher. Also by the time our second album is released it will have been two and a half years since we released 'What We Are Today' so even though we had our own expectation musically, and even though we didn't need to set a deadline, we wanted to also bear in mind other commerical expectations too, no matter how small they might be. Maybe if we'd carried on putting it back, everyone that knows us would probably get bored of waiting. You know that Axel Rose is up shit creek without a paddle at the moment because of that very fact, haha. Maybe we've thought about it all too much but I think we care too much not to think about it all the time.
Thats all for now, its stupid o clock and I need to go to bed. Im going to say thanks to Andrew (for leaving the comments) and also Joe and Al for being the only people I know that are actually reading this, and all other possible voyeristic readers of this blog. x
Friday 21 September 2007
Compose
Hello
We're sort of half way though our tour now, its been a good time although I've been putting up with a bit of a knee injury but nothing too bad. We've also had problems with our equipment too which also puts a bit of a downer on things. I've had to borrow guitar amps on two occasions now so a big thanks to Tripdash and Drive Like I Do for helping me out. While we're also on the subject on thanking people we'd also like to thank Josie for putting us up in Newcastle and Charlie for being a legend and looking after us in Scotland.
It's been an interesting tour purely because of the fact that we're playing off our own backs and not supporting anyone else, which we havent really done so much before. We've had some great gigs and some gigs where i think we expected maybe a few more people to turn up because we've played those places a few times before. No matter how many people have been there though, its been really nice to know that the majority of people who have seen us on this tour have been there to see us, and so a big thanks to everyone who took the time to come and see us play.
As you'd expect, there hasnt been much progress musically on the Album from the last time I posted although Jim is writing lyrics and coming up with ideas for the songs that are unfinished all the time. We'll be meeting up with Pete (Miles, Producer) in the next few days to talk about how we want everything to sound and where we're going to record. I take it you've heard the new demo we put on our myspace page, if not, go and listen to it now, haha. Out of all the songs we've written, Without Warning is probably one of the simplest and most accessible. The way the album is shaping, parts of it are probably going to be as aggressive as the last one but theres going to be a coherence and a certain amount of control that was maybe missing on the last one but that we've been keen to explore. I guess it would be a massive cliche to say its been a "natural progression", that the heavy bits sound heavier and the chilled out bits sound more chilled out, so im not going to say that. All I'll say is that to me if feels like we're writing with more intelligence than we were two years ago. Its up to you to decide what it sounds like when it eventually comes out.
We're sort of half way though our tour now, its been a good time although I've been putting up with a bit of a knee injury but nothing too bad. We've also had problems with our equipment too which also puts a bit of a downer on things. I've had to borrow guitar amps on two occasions now so a big thanks to Tripdash and Drive Like I Do for helping me out. While we're also on the subject on thanking people we'd also like to thank Josie for putting us up in Newcastle and Charlie for being a legend and looking after us in Scotland.
It's been an interesting tour purely because of the fact that we're playing off our own backs and not supporting anyone else, which we havent really done so much before. We've had some great gigs and some gigs where i think we expected maybe a few more people to turn up because we've played those places a few times before. No matter how many people have been there though, its been really nice to know that the majority of people who have seen us on this tour have been there to see us, and so a big thanks to everyone who took the time to come and see us play.
As you'd expect, there hasnt been much progress musically on the Album from the last time I posted although Jim is writing lyrics and coming up with ideas for the songs that are unfinished all the time. We'll be meeting up with Pete (Miles, Producer) in the next few days to talk about how we want everything to sound and where we're going to record. I take it you've heard the new demo we put on our myspace page, if not, go and listen to it now, haha. Out of all the songs we've written, Without Warning is probably one of the simplest and most accessible. The way the album is shaping, parts of it are probably going to be as aggressive as the last one but theres going to be a coherence and a certain amount of control that was maybe missing on the last one but that we've been keen to explore. I guess it would be a massive cliche to say its been a "natural progression", that the heavy bits sound heavier and the chilled out bits sound more chilled out, so im not going to say that. All I'll say is that to me if feels like we're writing with more intelligence than we were two years ago. Its up to you to decide what it sounds like when it eventually comes out.
Tuesday 11 September 2007
Tour Dates
Hey everyone,
We're heading out on tour this month around the UK and then in Europe in November. Here are the dates so please check them out! Thanks. Love Failsafe
SEPTEMBER UK TOUR
12 RHYL - Bar Blu
13 DUNDEE - Fats Sams
15 ARBROATH - Viewfield Hotel
16 ABERDEEN - Kef
17 GLASGOW - Bar Bloc
18 NEWCASTLE - Krash
19 MANCHESTER - The Phoenix *PBR! Launch Party*
21 KEIGHLEY - Vanilla Lounge
23 PRESTON - THE MARKET (FREE SHOW)
25 BRIGHTON - Free Butt
26 SOUTHAMPTON - Unit 22
27 EXETER - Cavern
28 LONDON - THE UNDERWORLD
NOVEMBER - GERMANY, AUSTRIA and NETHERLANDS TOUR:
16 Phoenix - Moormerland
17 Musikbox - Minden
19 TBC TBC
20 Schlachthaus - Dornbirn
21 Torwart - Weissenburg
22 Irreal - Aulendorf
23 B-Hof - Wuerzburg
24 Kuckucksnest - Berchtesgaden
27 Sonic Ballroom - Koln
29 MS Stubnitz (show on a ship) - Amsterdam
30 B58 - Braunschweig
1 Groene Engel - OSS
2 De Bliksem - Den Helder
We're heading out on tour this month around the UK and then in Europe in November. Here are the dates so please check them out! Thanks. Love Failsafe
SEPTEMBER UK TOUR
12 RHYL - Bar Blu
13 DUNDEE - Fats Sams
15 ARBROATH - Viewfield Hotel
16 ABERDEEN - Kef
17 GLASGOW - Bar Bloc
18 NEWCASTLE - Krash
19 MANCHESTER - The Phoenix *PBR! Launch Party*
21 KEIGHLEY - Vanilla Lounge
23 PRESTON - THE MARKET (FREE SHOW)
25 BRIGHTON - Free Butt
26 SOUTHAMPTON - Unit 22
27 EXETER - Cavern
28 LONDON - THE UNDERWORLD
NOVEMBER - GERMANY, AUSTRIA and NETHERLANDS TOUR:
16 Phoenix - Moormerland
17 Musikbox - Minden
19 TBC TBC
20 Schlachthaus - Dornbirn
21 Torwart - Weissenburg
22 Irreal - Aulendorf
23 B-Hof - Wuerzburg
24 Kuckucksnest - Berchtesgaden
27 Sonic Ballroom - Koln
29 MS Stubnitz (show on a ship) - Amsterdam
30 B58 - Braunschweig
1 Groene Engel - OSS
2 De Bliksem - Den Helder
Monday 20 August 2007
Suspended Animation
Ok
So a little bit has happened since I last posted but not too much really. We jammed some ideas a few weeks ago and wrote some more music so we now have another song minus the vocals nearly finished. However we've relaxed a little bit for a few reasons. One is that Jim got offered the chance to act in a production which was part of the Edinburgh Fringe and so he's been there this past week. Also Rob started his stint driving Sonic Boom Six around for a few gigs including their slots at Reading and Leeds Festival this weekend. Next week ill also be away in Cyprus for a week.
So to fill the time we started recording some demos last week with Matt, getting some of the music recorded. Matt started buying microphones and getting interested in Recording and Production maybe 12-18 months ago. Since then he's bought a mac running Logic (a music program) and some other pre-amps/interfaces/shiny things with buttons that i cant remember the names of after that. So now we have the option of recording what we've done and listening back to it ourselves which is really handy. For us writing the music, and hearing it played back without us having to play our instruments, noticing what parts sound nicer together than others, for Jim and Matt to work with at home and think of melodies and lyrics and also for sending to Pete (Miles, Producer) when the vocals are finished and recorded so he has an idea of what our songs are going to sound like before we record the Album proper and also gives him ideas on how best to record us......
....Speaking of which, Me, Rob, Andy and Matt went to Sandhill Studios (http://www.shstudios.co.uk) in Liverpool the other day to see Sonic Boom Six and Pete putting the finishing touches to their new Album 'Arcade Perfect'. It's sounding really really good, and for being stuck in an underground studio for 2 weeks suprisingly there were actually no signs of cabin fever, i think if there were, then its been taken over by excitement from it all coming together and their record being so close to being finished. We did some group shouts on one of the songs and after looking round we are now seriously considering the studio as the place we'll record our album too.
So a little bit has happened since I last posted but not too much really. We jammed some ideas a few weeks ago and wrote some more music so we now have another song minus the vocals nearly finished. However we've relaxed a little bit for a few reasons. One is that Jim got offered the chance to act in a production which was part of the Edinburgh Fringe and so he's been there this past week. Also Rob started his stint driving Sonic Boom Six around for a few gigs including their slots at Reading and Leeds Festival this weekend. Next week ill also be away in Cyprus for a week.
So to fill the time we started recording some demos last week with Matt, getting some of the music recorded. Matt started buying microphones and getting interested in Recording and Production maybe 12-18 months ago. Since then he's bought a mac running Logic (a music program) and some other pre-amps/interfaces/shiny things with buttons that i cant remember the names of after that. So now we have the option of recording what we've done and listening back to it ourselves which is really handy. For us writing the music, and hearing it played back without us having to play our instruments, noticing what parts sound nicer together than others, for Jim and Matt to work with at home and think of melodies and lyrics and also for sending to Pete (Miles, Producer) when the vocals are finished and recorded so he has an idea of what our songs are going to sound like before we record the Album proper and also gives him ideas on how best to record us......
....Speaking of which, Me, Rob, Andy and Matt went to Sandhill Studios (http://www.shstudios.co.uk) in Liverpool the other day to see Sonic Boom Six and Pete putting the finishing touches to their new Album 'Arcade Perfect'. It's sounding really really good, and for being stuck in an underground studio for 2 weeks suprisingly there were actually no signs of cabin fever, i think if there were, then its been taken over by excitement from it all coming together and their record being so close to being finished. We did some group shouts on one of the songs and after looking round we are now seriously considering the studio as the place we'll record our album too.
Tuesday 31 July 2007
Writing our second album - The story so far
Hi Everyone
As most of you know, we've been quite busy writing trying to write songs for a new album, however its only recently that we've been able to feel like a band writing for a new album. We moved into a permanent practice space in Preston about 3 weeks ago which you can see from the pictures and we have begun practicing 3 times a week. Hopefully you've got an idea of our surroundings as we write. Before that we were doing the odd practice here and there in Bolton and before that we practiced in an old community building between Leyland and Croston. That lasted until we were told to leave for being too loud (according to the elderly residents nearby, they wouldn't have minded but its not even good music).
It was at that community building that we wrote Help Yourself (the demo on our myspace page) in a record 2 months, haha. Although it was in between touring our first album, it still felt like a hell of a long time to write one song. The next few songs managed to come together a lot easier than that one, but we had still only started writing new songs a fair few months after we started touring 'What We Are Today'. That meant that it was really hard to get back into the writing process and explains why Help Yourself took 2 months to write.
Fast Forward to this point in time and we now have 10 songs in various stages of completion, about 5 are completely finished with all music and vocals written, 3 are finished musically with some vocals written, and 2 are only finished musically with no vocals. Our plan is to write maybe 5 or 6 more songs and pick the best 11 or 12 to go on the album. Things like album artwork and a name for the album have been discussed, but at the moment we've been concentrating on writing the songs so much that we haven't really knuckled down to sorting any of those ideas out, however they will be revealed in due course.
That's all for now
Si x
As most of you know, we've been quite busy writing trying to write songs for a new album, however its only recently that we've been able to feel like a band writing for a new album. We moved into a permanent practice space in Preston about 3 weeks ago which you can see from the pictures and we have begun practicing 3 times a week. Hopefully you've got an idea of our surroundings as we write. Before that we were doing the odd practice here and there in Bolton and before that we practiced in an old community building between Leyland and Croston. That lasted until we were told to leave for being too loud (according to the elderly residents nearby, they wouldn't have minded but its not even good music).
It was at that community building that we wrote Help Yourself (the demo on our myspace page) in a record 2 months, haha. Although it was in between touring our first album, it still felt like a hell of a long time to write one song. The next few songs managed to come together a lot easier than that one, but we had still only started writing new songs a fair few months after we started touring 'What We Are Today'. That meant that it was really hard to get back into the writing process and explains why Help Yourself took 2 months to write.
Fast Forward to this point in time and we now have 10 songs in various stages of completion, about 5 are completely finished with all music and vocals written, 3 are finished musically with some vocals written, and 2 are only finished musically with no vocals. Our plan is to write maybe 5 or 6 more songs and pick the best 11 or 12 to go on the album. Things like album artwork and a name for the album have been discussed, but at the moment we've been concentrating on writing the songs so much that we haven't really knuckled down to sorting any of those ideas out, however they will be revealed in due course.
That's all for now
Si x
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