Tanita Tikaram Blog

Sophie Ward / Actress, writer

2012-01-26T09:25:00.000Z

This week's TT Test is taken by the lovely Sophie Ward. In her long career as an actress she has appeared in many films including 'Young Sherlock Holmes' & 'Jane Ayre'. Her most recent role has been as Lady Helen Hoxley in the BBC drama series 'Land Girls'. She was also a top model & has recently completed her first novel. Clearly she is multi-talented & has some fascinating answers ! What is your wake up song at the moment ? If I want to really wake up, probably after midnight, then 'Mr Brightside' by The Killers. The lyrics are pretty dark, but all the best songs are dark. Which work of art or single event has most influenced you in your chosen profession ? I didn't go to school much but I did read and I was obsessed with Victorian novels like 'Jane Eyre'. It was all about stories, and I did all I could to be part of the world of my books. I wrote plays and directed them and made everyone act in them. If you could travel back in time, which period would you most like to visit and why ? I would not want to spend much time in the past, especially as a woman. But there are occasions I would like to be part of; lunch at the Algonquin with Dorothy Parker, a summer at Charleston House, a night at the Rue de Fleurus. That is probably cheating but if I have time travel at my fingertips then I would want to be quite specific. Get me into Apollo 11 on July 20th 1969. I love eating out & discovering new restaurants, can you please recommend one to me ? Food and restaurants are only as good as the occasion to me; who you are with, what you are doing. For that reason, I love Roganos [link] in Glasgow. It has the feel of the 1930s and a small menu with a good wine list. But most importantly it is near the theatre in which I was happiest, the Glasgow Citizens, and all my memories are of eating with friends after the show and being miserable or delirious depending on the night but always glad to be there. What is the best advice you have ever been given relating to your professional / creative life ? I went to a kid's drama group in the 1970s run by an extraordinary woman, Anna Scher. We worked in a community hall on an estate off the Essex Road and the classes were big, about 70 of us. It could have been chaos but Anna commanded a great authority. She focused on improvisation which was amazing for me because I was living in my imagination all the time anyway. Her tenets were based on Professionalism and she was right. BONUS QUESTION I understand that you have nearly completed your first novel 'The Schoolhouse' can you tell us a little bit about it ? How does writing fiction compare to acting ? Thanks for asking about my book! It's about an experimental school in the 1970s and what happens when the experiment goes wrong. I'm interested in who we are as children, is that a fixed place or can we change? How you behave in one important moment at ten years old, is that the definition of you? As for acting and writing the best of it is about what you make up, a lot of acting is believing that you are standing in a palace or a cave, not a room in the back of Elstree studios. What would happen when you first go into the cave? What do you feel when you see the monster for the first time? How would you react? Writing is like that only you express it in words not actions. Hopefully, you can make the actions be as eloquent as words and the words be as visceral as actions.

Etta James

2012-01-21T10:45:00.004Z

Etta James has passed away - I loved her voice & her spirit. I'm posting the classic clip of Etta singing 'I'd rather Go Blind' with Dr. John - there won't be a dry eye in the house, love tt

The Ladykillers / Crazy for you

2012-01-18T17:35:00.003Z

If you want to have a real fun, old fashioned evening at the theatre I can recommend two shows that I've recently seen in the West End. 'Crazy for You' [link] has great Gershwin songs, the silliest plot and fabulous tap dancing. That sums up a perfect evening to me - and I loved this show. 'The Ladykillers' [link] has beenadapted for the stage by Graham Linehan (whose writing credits include Father Ted, Black Books and the It Crowd ) and easily fulfils his desire to create something 'messier, something more like a Marx Brothers production' which is relaxed with the source material & finds another way of telling screenwriter BillRose's original story. The set is amazing & Marcia Warren as Mrs Wilberforce is perfect. If you enjoyed the recent stage production of 'The 39 Steps' you will also thoroughly enjoy the 'Ladykillers'! Love tt

Peggy lee, Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Franklin / Duke Ellington Medley

2012-01-12T14:57:00.001Z

This performance is the best wake up song I could think of to start the new year !! Peggy lee, Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin & Roberta Flack together singing Duke Ellington - it is the stuff of dreams and I'm always humbled when I watch this clip. I know the picture quality is not great but the music is magical. I hope you enjoy, love tt

Happy New Year !!

2012-01-02T10:06:00.000Z

Wishing everyone a fulfilling and peaceful new year. Let's hope it is a vintage one! love tt

Photo (c) Sylvie Bardet

Happy Christmas / "The King & I " !!!!

2011-12-28T21:53:00.001Z

Very sorry for my belated greetings, I'd just like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas !! I spent Christmas in the beautiful city of Edinburgh which was unusually mild for this time of year. I even saw a few hardy people in tee-shirts ! I was there to see my brother Ramon appearing as the king in the 'King & I' at the Festival Theatre [link]. I had forgotten what a stunning musical the 'King & I' is, it has some great songs, a strong plot & a slightly batty sequence in the middle which in it's own way rivals the completely batty Halloween sequence in the film 'Meet Me in St Louis'. I was very proud of Ramon - he makes a great king & I think his co-star Josefina Gabrielle is a great Anna. It's refreshing to see a musical that isn't a parody of a musical. A lot of modern musicals, as much as I enjoy them, end up being an in-joke on the conventions of a musical or are structured around already popular songs. So even though this is a classic musical it felt new. If you have the chance (and I promise, this recommendation is not for reasons of nepotism !!) it is well worth catching, love tt

Cesaria Evora

2011-12-18T11:39:00.000Z

I was sad to hear that the wonderful singer Cesria Evora has passed away. I once saw her in an airport lounge & was too shy to approach her and tell her how much her music meant to me. 'Miss Perfumado' is one of my favourite albums and seeing her live one of the highlights of my concert going experiences. She will be greatly missed, love tt

Blue Gardenia

2011-12-10T09:29:00.001Z

The song I sang in the recent scene I shot in the French film 'Goodbye Morocco' is 'Blue Gardenia'. You may be familiar with the lovely Dinah Washington and Nat king Cole versions. I felt very nervous about this - as I sang the song live in the nightclub scene & also it isn't the kind of song I am used to singing. However, I guess it's good to try new things ! And I was thrilled to be on set with my friend actress Lubna Azabal who plays the film's main character - and to watch her working. I'll let you know when the film is released - but in the meantime please enjoy the awesome Nat king Cole ! love tt

Andrew Roachford / Singer-Songwriter

2011-11-28T19:58:00.007Z

This weeks TT Test is taken by the wonderful Andrew Roachford [link]. His band Roachford formed in 1987 was the biggest selling UK act on Columbia records for ten years including the hits 'Cuddly Toy' and 'Family Man', as a writer he has been approached to write for everyone from Michael Jackson to Chaka Khan, and recently he has also co-written and sung lead vocals on the new Mike & the Mechanics album. His new solo album 'Addictive' has just been released & you can catch him live mid-Decmber at the Jazz Cafe in London [link] !! What is your wake up song at the moment ? I really love Adele's song "Rolling in the deep" it's actually quite refreshing to hear something new with some blues influence that still sounds contemporary at the same time. Which work of art or single event has most influenced you in your chosen profession ? My family are all quite musical, so I grew up with my uncle and my dad practicing in the living room which was great, but the first time i was old enough to hear my Uncle(Bill Roachford) playing his saxophone at a gig I was completely blown away and I knew from them there was no other profession for me but music. If you could travel back in time, which period would you most like to visit and why ? I think there was something special happening in music in the early seventies and so much of my big influences were at their best (in my opinion) at that time. I would have loved to have seen Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix and Sly & the Family Stone live at that time :) I love eating out and discovering new restaurants, can you please recommend one to me ? My mother lives in Barbados and i go there as often as possible, one of the best restaurants there has to be 'The Cliff' [link] It is on the west coast of the island and of course it is situated on a cliff by the sea. It's the second best food on the island after my mums cooking!! What is the best advice you ever been given relating to your professional/creative life ? The best advice i think i have ever been given as far as my professional and creative life would be... "Don't be afraid of making mistakes". Tell me about your new album. Personally, every time I make a new album I have to feel the sound or the songwriting is evolving - even if, unfortunately, it turns out not to be true ! Do you feel that you are still discovering & revealing new sides to yourself on 'Addictive' ? I think a lot of people think that once an artist has done a couple of albums then that's as good as it's ever gonna get. I love all the albums I've done in the past, however I think that making albums are a learning process and as you grow as an adult your music grows with you. When I'm in the studio now I think the main challenge is to not put myself in a limiting musical box, which can easily happen when your first album does really well and people think that it is what defines you as an artist. But now im on tour and I'm playing some songs from my new album, they work well and bring a new energy to the shows.

The Bandana Splits / Sometimes

2011-11-17T10:19:00.002Z

This week's wake up song is the very chirpy 'Sometimes' from the American trio 'The Bandana Spits'. It's the perfect feel good track for this late Autumn weather we are enjoying. I have a terrible confession though, close harmonies do slightly scare me, I'm not sure if this is because I don't know how to sing them or because at one point in a song with close harmonies I feel as if I have overheard some music spill from the basement ballroom in 'The Shining'... I guess this is my own musical neurosis & please just enjoy this totally wonderful tune without my aural baggage & besides the harmonies aren't that close!! love tt

A Round Heeled Woman

2011-11-14T22:31:00.003Z

Saw 'A Round Heeled Woman' at the Riverside Studios [link] this weekend. It's based on the true of Jane Juska who placed an ad in the New York Review of books which read ' BEFORE I TURN 67 - next March - I would like to have a lot of sex with a man I like. If you want to talk first, Trollope works for me.' This is a very brave thing to do especially when you consider that she had not been touched for 30 years. She received 63 replies, from men aged between 32 and 84. She doesn't meet all 63 men ! However, the play does depict some of her more interesting encounters. Sharon Gless stars in the play... if anyone knows me they will know how exciting it was for me to see her performing in a theatre as I am a huge 'Cagney & Lacey' fan !! She is terrific in the play & it is well worth catching. And can you believe this ?!! Tyne Daly will be appearing in London early next year playing Maria Callas in 'Master Class' [link] !!! I've already bought my tickets :) love tt

A Little History of the World - E.H.Gombrich

2011-11-12T21:05:00.004Z

My most amiable companion for the recent gigs has been the 1935 classic 'A Little History of the World' by Austrian born art historian and writer Ernst Hans Gombrich. It's a book that was aimed at young readers - & in Gombrich's kindly, avuncular tone events from long ago seem much closer & connected to us. This humanity & warm-heartedness is touching & it leaves me dreaming of a world where people express their ideas before their egos. Perfect for any one who wants a satisfying read but may only have time to read in snatches - as every one of the forty chapters is self-contained - and of course for any one who loves great story telling! Strongly recommended, love tt

A quick note...

2011-11-10T09:23:00.002Z

Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed the recent gigs in Lodz & Basel. It was a lot of fun to play Lodz with the different duo of double bass & clarinet/sax & flute - and Basel was slightly nerve-wracking. I hadn't realised that the performance space was going to be so big ! Thank you again for all those who came to the shows, hope to see you again soon ! Also, thanks to Agata Borowiec for taking this lovely photo which with her kind permission I have posted here ! love tt

Etienne Daho / Dani - Comme un boomerang

2011-10-14T20:55:00.002+01:00

My wake up song this week is Serge Gainsbourg's 'Comme Un Boomerang' in this classic version from Etienne Daho & Dani. It's the song I always return to when I feel a bit Rock 'n Roll in a Euro way... the guitar solo prompts me to get up & dance in a slightly Euro way too, moody & not entirely committed to the dance at all ! Hope you enjoy : ) love tt

Union Chapel !

2011-10-11T13:16:00.005+01:00

Here are more photos from the Union Chapel ! Love tt

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Photos (c) Sylvie Bardet

A BIG THANK YOU !!

2011-10-08T18:45:00.002+01:00

So sorry I have neglected my blog !! I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who came to my recent gigs. Me, Mark & Luke were so touched by the attentiveness, appreciation & openness of the audiences. It was a real thrill to be playing live again & I look forward to more concerts. Here are some lovely shots that photographer Sylvie Bardet took before the show at the Union Chapel. I'm very giggly because I am chatting to friends, usually I'm quite solitary before a show. I'm never sure what is the best preparation before going on stage, to be chatty & social or to be quiet & mediative. Although, with such fine musicians as Mark & Luke my only real worry is my performance - trust me when you are in a band this is not always the case ! I will post more photos soon from the concert. love tt

Getting ready...

Hands...

Hair...

Ready !

Photos (c) Sylvie Bardet

The Skin I Live In

2011-09-09T09:22:00.000+01:00

I'm spending a lot of time in my music room at the moment in preparation for my upcoming gigs [link]. However, I did slip out to see Almodovar's new movie 'The Skin I live In'. The friend who I saw it with was perplexed throughout (I'm perplexed that this is the first Almodavar movie she's ever seen-can you imagine not having seen 'All About My mother' or 'Volver' ?!). I was happier, mesmerised by Antonio Banderas' quiet elegance & beauty - even if he plays a very bad man. I suppose most people's enjoyment will rest on how surprised they are by the film's twist. However, maybe this is not the best film to begin an Almodovar education, the crazy plot lines & melodrama which amused me just irritated my friend. I'm very excited about Almodovar's next project, it will be a film about the great Italian singer Mina ! [link] lotsoflove tt

Deolinda-Sem Nocao

2011-08-29T21:10:00.002+01:00

I thought it would be nice to have a Portuguese song for this week's wake up song a country I have recently visited. I've chosen the excellent quartet Deolinda. I love the concept behind Deolinda it isn't just the band's name but also a fictional character, as their Wikipedia entry states: "Deolinda is both a band and a fictional 40-year-old spinster who observes her neighbourhood from her window. This 'character' is merrily unmarried, in love and out of love, born in Lisbon, and she inhabits a ground floor apartment somewhere in the suburbs of the capital, Lisbon. She writes her own songs by peeking through the curtains of her window, drawing inspiration from the old gramophone records that once belonged to her grandmother and by the bizarre and strange life of her neighbours." Their song 'Sem Nocao' is delightful, I hope you enjoy ! lotsoflove tt

Avo Session, Basel Switzerland

2011-08-26T18:46:00.002+01:00

I am pleased to announce another live date on my Acoustic Sessions tour. It will take place on 8th November, Basel, Switzerland and is part of the Avo Session Festival. Tickets can be purchased through these links : [link1] and [link2]. I hope to see you there !!!! lots of love tt

Loulé Portugal

2011-08-26T17:12:00.003+01:00

Sorry, I have been a bit neglectful of my blog I have been busy learning my songs for the live shows. Recently I took a few days break in Portugal. One evening I discovered a very cute small town called Loulé, which must have been in Summer celebration because in one of the charming squares they had set up a sound system. There was a young woman singing & playing an accordion to a rhythm track & some very sprightly older people dancing & drinking lots of coffee. I would have danced myself except I didn't know the dance steps ! I'm not sure of the town's history but the old part of the town with it's narrow streets & tiled walls is magical. I spotted this very polite graffiti on one of the walls, I have this strange attraction to cats even though I don't have a cat... maybe it's because my mother is from Kuching ('Kuching' means cat in Malay )! Lots of love, tt

Dean Chalkley/Photographer

2011-08-13T19:15:00.008+01:00

This week’s TT Test is taken by Essex-born photographer Dean Chalkey whose vibrant work ranging from famous musicians to youth subculture will no doubt be familiar to you. Dean’s website is full of great photos & short films from his exciting career so please check it out [link] !! He also finds time to host two great club nights a week .His answers are fascinating & contain some addresses in London that make me feel like I’m in a Julian Maclaren-Ross novel ! What is your wake up song at the moment ? ... the one that springs up like a motivational soundtrack when walking to the tube in the mornings is 'Turning My Heartbeat Up' by The M.V.P.S. It is a record that is just so up lifting… and dynamic... it really is magic! Which work of art or single event has most influenced you in your chosen profession? I went to a lecture by Richard Avedon at the National Theatre in May 1995, it was such an incredible moment. Avedon was energized bouncing around the stage not your usual 72 year old man, his nervous energy charging the room. Here before a packed auditorium this legend of Photography gave a wonderful insight to his work, life and influences… it was the whole collection of these things that made the most impression on me… How he was immersed in it all... It was HIM. I have always loved Avedon's work and still do to this day. He is transcendent with work that crossed the boundaries of social document and fashion. Although at times he chose to flatter often his camera would be incisive and cut straight to the soul of the people he photographed, avoiding the 'mask' or publicly projected facade of his famous subjects. If you could travel back in time, which period would you most like to visit and why? I live very much in the ‘now’, however I think it would have been great to roam the streets of Soho in the late 1950's and early 1960's this was the time when the Modernist or as it was later abbreviated Mod culture was growing up, to go to the Flamingo club's all-nighters or the archetypal Mod hang out the Scene Club would have been great. I think this was a period that was very expansive in all art forms though; it really seems like the moment when the gearshifts of culture went into overdrive... I love eating out and discovering new restaurants, can you please recommend one to me? I like coming across places that offer something interesting even if it is more the atmosphere etc. So my top recommendation to you is this great little place I've found… it ‘s called The Soho Secret Tearoom [link] upstairs above the Coach and Horses pub on the south side of Greek street. The Coach and Horses has a great history... the famous play 'Jeffrey Bernard is feeling unwell' was based around this bar, originally staring Peter O’Toole. (About a month ago I was standing in the bar and Peter O’Toole actually came down the stairs from the Tearoom he had been interviewed there for an editorial. Wow it was as if royalty was in the place...). The now sadly deceased Norman Bilon was one of Soho’s big characters and would often shout at people that stepped out of line in his drinking establishment publican (reputed to be the rudest Landlord in London).. He had a fierce reputation… It’s also where Private Eye magazine have their weekly meeting editorial meeting... Anyway the Tearooms are upstairs .. Call the Pub in advance to reserve a table or ask the barman / lady if its possible to go up and dine. Assuming its ok you are invited through the bar counter and led upstairs the creaky narrow stairs then you enter the Tearooms. Lovely tablecloths and bone china, the record player in the corner has sounds from the 40s or sometimes it is quiet..It feels like a portal to another time and place, far removed from the Pub environment actually. A very particular atmosphere… The floor is wood creaky and slopping but perfect. They have a great selection of teas including my favourite the very pungent 'White Monkey’, from 3pm til 6 pm it is the Tearoom and then it is a Restaurant in the evening... There is no real change to be honest apart from the food on offer, less tea and cakes and heartier but honestly Meal selections. Its a great place and one of the windows looks out towards Ketners big blue neon sign, if its dark outside and you are sitting in the tearoom it is really like being in a film set of say. ‘Absolute Beginners’. What is the best advice you ever been given relating to your professional/ creative life? ... photographer Brian griffin told me to try to do at least one great piece of work every year, of course every thing I do I endeavour to make great, but what he meant was make one body of work stand out as your signature...I think this is a good bit of advice.... I really enjoyed your new short film 'Young Souls [link] the music, dancing & look of the film is wonderful. I know that as young man you identified yourself as a Mod & the aesthetics & music of that culture have shaped you so it's not so surprising that you made this film. So I was really intrigued to see another of your films ' Serge ' which is about a body builder! What inspired that & is there any connection between the two films? I'm glad you liked the film, it spins around the world of Northern Soul a culture of rare soul that has a very danceable beat. The scene has been in the public consciousness for many years and yet remained to a large extent an enigma to most outside of the scene. There is a connection between the two films, quite simply the passion and the dedication that individuals exercise in order to follow their hearts. The 'Serge' film is accompanied by a haunting piece of music, 'odi et amo' by Johann Johannsson, based on an ancient poem by Catullus. The Poem is recited in the piece ..in essence it proclaims... I love I hate why do I do you ask… It’s tearing me apart... I think this says so much about our inner drive passion and need to create in whichever way we chose... whether in the gym sculpting our bodies or on the dance floor. However, we choose in order to follow our passion it takes heart.

Cate le Bon - Sad Sad Feet

2011-08-05T18:30:00.003+01:00

This week's wake up song is the gorgeous 'Sad Sad Feet' from Welsh singer songwriter Cate le Bon [link]. A song so under my skin that it's lines ' Well, I like what I like & I like what I know ' jump out at me in all kinds of situations. Like in a cake shop for instance or reading a good book or any number of random events that are better punctuated by that line than any I can think of. This recording's yearning quality is also most addictive. Hope you enjoy ! love Tanita

The Acoustic Sessions Tour

2011-07-31T13:33:00.004+01:00

I am very pleased to announce more dates from my forthcoming 'The Acoustic Sessions Tour' in Amsterdam at Amstelkerk on 23rd September and Milan at La Salumeria Della Musica on 24th September, in addition to the previously announced London date on 4th October. Tickets are available from : Milan: [link] / Amsterdam: [link] / London: [link] or from my facebook page : [link] lotsoflove tt

Irma Thomas & Soul Rebels Brass band

2011-07-27T22:32:00.002+01:00

Saw a wonderful gig at the Barbican on Sunday. First on were the truly infectious grooves of the New Orleans brass combo 'Soul rebels Brass Band' [link], I've never heard a funky tuba before !! It was impossible not to move to their playing & by the end of their set the whole room was on their feet. Then the legendary singer Irma Thomas, a contemporary of Aretha Franklin & Etta James she is known as the Queen of New Orleans Soul. It was so exciting, she has no set list ! She invites the audience to shout out requests from a career that spans over 50 years & if she can't remember the words she looks them up in a huge tome of all her songs & if the band don't know the requested songs she sings them a cappella ! And what a voice, even though she is 70, it's still thrilling and in fine health. In fact, it actually sounds richer live than than on some of her recordings. I mean this in the best sense, because her band is a little raggedy & not over polished & because I'm not that familiar with her material watching her performance that night was like stumbling upon a great bar, where you discover the most soulful singer with a raucous band & feel more alive for it, lotsoflove tt

Amy Winehouse

2011-07-27T22:28:00.002+01:00

Amy Winehouse's death rounded off a grim weekend for news. She was one artist who everyone, whatever their age or taste, agreed was very special and I believe she was as great as her musical heroes. This is the original demo of the classic 'Love is a losing Game' and a fitting tribute to her extraordinary abilities as a writer and singer. Lotsoflove tt

Munich

2011-07-17T15:08:00.005+01:00

I've just returned from a short trip to Munich. I went to the opera & saw a production of Mozart's 'Don Giovanni'. The modern staging, consisting of stacked metal warehouse containers & modern dress, including Donna Elvira in a pink office suit & hiking boots left me scratching my head but the music was wonderful. I closed my eyes or looked up at the theatre's chandelier & let the orchestra and voices transport me. I also cycled through the city's parks, explored the great outdoor market 'Viktualienmarkt' and ate the most honest and hearty food I've tasted in a long time. How can a simple potato salad be so heavenly ?! I found Munich to be a truly convivial city & it is well worth a visit, love tt

Album Teaser # 2

2011-07-06T08:36:00.002+01:00

The new album teaser # 2 is on line on the new home page http://www.tanita-tikaram.com/ !! love tt

Bonnie Guitar- Candy Apple Red

2011-07-04T14:24:00.003+01:00

This week's wake up song 'Candy Apple Red' is from an artist I've recently discovered with the coolest name Bonnie Guitar (born Bonnie Buckingham she also played session guitar hence the name change) & an amazing voice. She's a contemporary of Patsy Cline and her music has a similar early pop-country cross over sound but because it is less familiar to me than Cline's it takes me to this strange twilight place & a not unpleasant sense of yearning & loss. I wonder if it's the diction & clarity in her voice against the mellow background that helps to create this feeling? Bonnie Guitar is well into her into her 80s now and still going strong, follow the link to hear a great 2007 music session [link] lotsoflove tt

Potiche

2011-06-24T08:43:00.000+01:00

I saw the French film 'Potiche' ( Trophy Wife ) last night. It was silly & charming & idealistic & features a deliciously cheesy soundtrack. My favourite moment was the last scene, when for some unknown reason Catherine Deneuve bursts into song. 'C'est beau la Vie' ! love tt

Joan Miró

2011-06-11T10:45:00.002+01:00

Yesterday evening I went with some friends to the Tate Modern exhibition [link] of the Spanish Surrealist painter Joan Miro. We were all very moved by this retrospective. I was particularly affected by one room in which there were six larger single colour paintings. I had a very strong feeling of positivity & a great energy for life. In fact this is probably the most optimistic I've ever felt leaving a gallery ! This exhibition runs until September hope you can catch it, love tt

Album Teaser !!

2011-06-07T09:46:00.002+01:00

The new album teaser is on line on the new home page http://www.tanita-tikaram.com/ !! love tt

Mary Gauthier / Singer-Songwriter

2011-05-31T14:59:00.006+01:00

This week's TT Test is taken by the great American singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier [link]. Her songs have been covered by many artists including Tim McGraw & Candi Staton & her albums have all been highly praised culminating in the masterpiece 'The Foundling' which tells her own story of being abandoned as a child,the struggle for her own identity & birth mother & ultimately the triumph of love. What is your wake up song at the moment ? 'Lorraine', by my dear friend Lori McKenna. Which work of art or single event has most influenced you in your chosen profession? I got sober from drugs and alcohol in 1999, and songwriting followed. I would never have become a songwriter without recovery from from my addictions. If you could travel back in time, which period would you most like to visit and why ? I'd go back 40-50 years in Nashville, to the time when the songs coming out of this town were great, and I'd hang out with the my songwriting hero's when they were in their prime... Harlan Howard, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Marijohn Wilkin, johnny Cash, Tom T Hall et al. I'd find my way into their scenes, and they'd make me a better writer just from being around them. I love eating out & discovering new restaurants,can you please recommend one to me ? Margot's Cafe [link], in Nashville,TN. My favorite restaurant of all time, The chef is the owner, and she is in the kitchen every night cooking fresh local ingredients with passion and love. No one can cook fish like Margot, and she changes the menu every day to reflect what's fresh in the market. I am a huge fan. What is the best advice you ever been given relating to your professional /creative life ? Unless they are giving you a big check, don't sign anything. BONUS QUESTION: I am intrigued that you also teach songwriting - what sort of guidance are students looking for ? And what is it that you try to bring out of them? I teach songwriters to look for their own voice, and look inside themselves for the truth of what they are trying to say. I can teach the craft (song structure, chord progressions, rhyming patterns) but I can't teach the art, the art being the subjects which the writer is called to write about. I try to teach the students to listen to the voices in their heads and hearts, and reveal what's being said in there. I try to teach them to allow themselves to be vulnerable, and expose their hearts. I try to teach them that songwriting is more about re-writing than anything. and most of all, I try to teach them to connect with themselves and their listeners. I let them know that if they are not connecting, it's not the listeners fault. Basically, I give them a ladder, show them the rungs... and it's up to them to do the climbing.

Psapp - Sad Song

2011-05-25T23:38:00.002+01:00

This week's wake up song is Psapp's 'Sad Song '. The song sounds so crunchy it always makes me smile & even if the refrain is 'I don't want to live no more' it's not sad at all ! Listen out for the great line 'Peter, just called to say, he saw a slug eating a chip...' That has to be some kind of genius :) The video I'm posting is a fan video, I don't think a band video is available for this song, anyways, hope you enjoy, lotsoflove tt

A Monster Calls

2011-05-21T12:13:00.002+01:00

Just finished reading 'A Monster Calls'. The book's own history is worth telling. Siobhan Dowd was a children's writer who died in 2007 from cancer. At the time of her death she had left some details of the story, the characters, a detailed premise and a beginning but sadly did not have the time to write it. Her publishers commissioned author Patrick Ness to complete the book & Jim Kay to illustrate it. The young boy's struggle to accept a terrible loss is a universal one & the illustrations are so powerful that it's worth buying the book for them alone. It already feels like a classic to me, love tt

Marie Knight & Mary Gauthier

2011-05-18T09:47:00.005+01:00

I have developed a bad habit of not setting time aside to really listen to albums in their entirety. I tend to hear a new song I like & add it to an ever expanding playlist of favourites & if I do listen to any albums they are probably familiar & trustworthy & at least 20 years old! However, I recently discovered two great records - if not exactly new releases Marie Kinght's 'Let Us Get Together' [link] was released in 2007 and Mary Gauthier's 'The Foundling' in 2010- they are new to me & just as thrilling as any of my older beloved record collection The recommendation from Madeleine Peyroux 'This record has gotten into my soul,spirit... & I cannot stop... music that infects one with joy...' on the cover of Marie Knight's 'Let Us Get Together' made me curious. I'm not religious & it's a gospel record but Knight's voice, at over 80 years old, still so powerful & authoritative & perfectly partnered with multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell moved me deeply. Sadly, Knight passed away in 2009 but along with her earlier recordings including her work with Sister Rosetta Tharpe from the 40s leaves us with a great musical legacy. The other record, Mary Gauthier's 'The Foundling' [link] is astounding. I can only urge you to find the time to discover it's rare & haunting beauty.You can hear acoustic versions of the songs from 'The Foundling' on this channel [link]. Hope you enjoy, lotsoflove tanita

Alberta Hunter/ Darktown Strutters' Ball

2011-05-18T05:19:00.001+01:00

This week's wake up song is performed by the legendary Alberta Hunter. The beautiful 'Darktown Strutters' Ball' was written in 1917 by Shelton Brooks & inspired by a ball at the 1915 Pacific-Panama Exposition in San Francisco. It is one of the earliest traditional jazz songs to become a standard. Alberta Hunter's version recorded when she was actually in her 80s (how is it possible to be so vocally fit at that age ?!) makes you want put on your most glamorous clothes & dance the night away ! Hope you enjoy :) love tt

Jammy Dodgers !!

2011-05-09T17:24:00.003+01:00

London is so beautiful & sunny at the moment, I am spending a lot of time outside, discovering new places especially the markets which come into their own at this time of year. One of the most charming I visited during a quieter week day is Brixton Village Market with it's beautiful covered Arcade & very good coffee ! Broadway Market [link] is also worth visiting, I found a stall with the best home made Jammy Dodgers I've ever tasted !! love tt

Photo (c) Sylvie Bardet

Sarah Waters / Writer

2011-04-30T14:33:00.010+01:00

This week's TT Test is taken by Sarah Waters [link] one of Britain's best loved novelists. Her first novel 'Tipping the Velvet' marked the arrival of a writer who has the rare gift of creating popular & critically acclaimed fiction - much of her work has been adapted for television & film and 'Fingersmith', 'The Night watch' and 'The Little Stranger' have all been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for fiction. With so many accolades her modesty is refreshing. Her answers are great too :) What is your wake up song at the moment ? The last CD I bought was The Resistance, by Muse, and the track I keep playing from it is Uprising.I listen to music mainly when I'm walking through London, and Uprising is a great track to go striding across the city to; it's got revolutionary lyrics, a thumping beat, and makes you feel like Rosa Luxemburg. I do love Muse. Their music is camp and epic at the same time - quite an achievement. I'm longing to go to a Muse concert, but I'm too embarrassed: it would be me and ten thousand teenage boys. Which work of art or single event has most influenced you in your chosen profession ? There are a few authors whose work really inspired me to start writing - most notably Angela Carter, Philippa Gregory and Jeannette Winterson. In very different ways their books have taken on history, tradition, the canon; they've teased new stories out of the past, or invented new, fantasy histories if they didn't like the ones already on offer - I suppose that's what I've tried to do, too. But the single biggest influence on me probably came from a novel called Street Lavender, by Chris Hunt. It's the adventures of a rent boy in late Victorian London - a shamelessly rompy, sexy, romantic story, but a really intelligent one, too. It was published by Gay Men's Press in the mid 1990s: I read it and thought, 'Wow! This is brilliant!' Tipping the Velvet was really my attempt to do something similar, for lesbians. If you could travel back in time, which period would you most like to visit and why? I've written so much about the Victorians that I guess I'd have to choose the nineteenth century. I'd love just to be able to eavesdrop on a few ordinary conversations, on the street and in people's homes. As a researcher, ordinary domestic and emotional life is the hardest thing to get hold of, because it tends not to find its way into the history books. But it's what fascinates me most about the past: the mundane details of people's lives; how they thought about their bodies; what they dreamt about; what satisfied and disappointed and frustrated them. I love eating out and discovering new restaurants, can you please recommend one to me ? To be honest, I'm not at a big restaurant goer. I find food and eating and all that a bit tiresome. My ideal restaurant is one that's cheap and quick, but with a bit of personality - somewhere like the India Club [link], on the second floor of the Strand Continental Hotel, London. It's a wonderfully quirky place where the food's all right, service is sometimes huffy, but you can slope off afterwards to a cinema, a theatre or the South Bank. What is the best advice you ever been given relating to your professional/ creative life ? When I was struggling with an early draft of Tipping the Velvet, my friend Sally, to console me, said, 'But Sarah, you were never going to get it right first time. It would be a miracle if you got it right first time!' I've always remembered that - and I think of it, particularly, when my writing feels stuck, or the words on the screen before me look more than usually awful. Yes, it would be a miracle if you sat down at your desk and wrote, straight off, a perfectly finished novel. But by plugging patiently away at it, by being ready to edit and re-draft, you can make it better. BONUS QUESTION : Is there any truth to the rumour that 'Tipping The Velvet' is being adapted into a stage musical? Can you tell us any more details about this ?! There is indeed some truth to it... But I'm afraid I can't say any more right now, because the project is still in its very earliest days. It's a great idea, though, isn't it? Tipping is such a theatrical book. I'd love to see it bounce into life on the stage.

Congratulations !!

2011-04-29T17:02:00.005+01:00

London is super loved up today !! This morning there was not a sound in the park or on the roads, everyone was watching the wedding. It's a good excuse to post this Shirley brown classic ' Long As You Love Me'. Lotsoflove !! tt

17 Hippies - Frau von Ungefahr

2011-04-24T12:39:00.004+01:00

This week's wake up song is from the German band 17 Hippies (actually, there are only 13 of them !). I've recently discovered this band & it's hard to choose one song because their music is so diverse & vibrant , however, I've settled upon 'Frau Von Ungefahr'. 2.27 minutes into this live performance there's a lovely moment that only really makes sense in front of a live audience & you can feel the audience's excitement as the band builds the crescendo. Hope you enjoy ! lots of love, tt

17 HIPPIES Frau von Ungefähr par schlowarzel

George Shaw

2011-04-20T22:26:00.004+01:00

I caught the exhibition 'Last Days of the Comet' at the Hayward Gallery last week. This is number 7 of the British Art Show Series, which also visits other UK cities over the next few months [link]. I was really touched by three paintings by the artist George Shaw featuring the Coventry council estate he grew up on. The Art show's website mentions that Shaw started these paintings 'as a kind of mourning' for the person that he used to be, and are 'as much about what has been forgotten, lost, swept away, as about what is remembered'. Maybe, that's why I had such a surprising feeling of nostalgia when I saw them. It's a different town,but they reminded me of the housing estate of the first house my parents owned in Basingstoke. I never expected to walk into a gallery & have that memory rendered so powerfully ! Until the 15th of May there is also a solo exhibition of his work at the Baltic Centre in Gateshead [link] love tt

In a forest, Dark & Deep / Clybourne Park

2011-04-13T16:16:00.003+01:00

I saw the Neil Labute play 'In a Forest, dark and deep' last night, basically because a friend of mine has a crush on the actor Mathew Fox who was starring in it (as did most of the young audience!). Perhaps, this is not the best reason to go to theatre - the general critical reaction that the play is neither dark nor penetrating is fair, and I was disappointed by how psychologically lazy the writing was i.e dodgy stereo-types that were difficult to believe in. The weaknesses of this production reminded me of how great the current London production of another contemporary American play Bruce Norris 'Clybourne Park' is. It's possible to make an audience uncomfortable (not exasperated), deal with incendiary topics but still be engaging & entertaining. 'Clybourne Park' does this brilliantly. It runs until early May, love tt

Jolie Holland - Mexico City

2011-04-10T09:09:00.002+01:00

This week's wake up song is the gorgeous 'Mexico City' by Jolie Holland. I'm embarrassed to admit, although I was transfixed by this song from the beginning, it wasn't until I googled the lyrics that I actually understood them. And they are beautiful. I guess this is the perfect road song & for all it's melancholy as soon as I hear the opening guitar strums I have a strong desire to be on the move & travelling. Hope you enjoy it too ! lots of love tt

Incendies

2011-04-07T09:22:00.007+01:00

Saw a great movie last week 'Incendies' an adaptation of the acclaimed play by Wajdi Mouawad, and directed by French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve. 'Incendies' is really a modern day Greek tragedy with as many unexpected twists & shocking family secrets. It is profound and compelling I find myself haunted by this film. Lubna Azabal's performance (TT Test link) deservedly won the Best Actress Award in the recent Canadian Jutra & Genie Film Awards. Strongly recommended, lots of love tt

Joanna Briscoe / Writer

2011-03-23T07:35:00.005Z

This week's TT Test is taken by the writer Joanna Briscoe [link] whose novels have received great critical acclaim for their psychological insight & Joanna's skill in creating suspense. Most important of all they are impossible to put down ! Her first, 'Mothers & Other Lovers' controversially won the Betty Trask award, and a third novel 'Sleep With Me' was adapted for television by Andrew Davies. Her new novel 'You' will be published by Bloomsbury later this year. She is also a regular contributor to 'The Guardian', 'Independent' & 'The Observer'. What is your wake up song at the moment? It's a surprising choice... 'Gush Forth My Tears' a 16th Century song recorded in the early 1990s by a band called Miranda Sex Garden. I only listened to it because the pianist & violinist who also teaches my daughter piano used to sing with them. Though I find the band gimmicky (the teacher isn't!), the song sticks in my mind & I return to it. Which work of art or single event has most influenced you in your chosen profession? I have to say 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' by Thomas Hardy. I read it at 16, & not only did it make sense of the wild countryside in which I lived, but it affected me profoundly. I had never loved a novel so much, so passionately. I couldn't put it down & was haunted by it from first reading, & the combination of amazing plot, lyricism,romanticism & tragedy filled me with an admiration that only becomes deeper with time,it left me reeling. From the age of 15, I'd committed to being a writer, and here was a work of art that I could dip into whenever I wanted to. I think it also made me want to write about the countryside in which I lived. If you could travel back in time, which period would you most like to visit and why ? Here's the Tess influence again. It would have to be the Victorian era, as that novel started me widely reading within the period. It's accessible enough for us to understand, or think we understand -just a matter of a century and a half or so- yet intensely different. I've just re-read 'The French Lieutenant's Woman', which so cleverly analyses the differences between the 19th & 20th Centuries. As a teenager, I always fancied being a Victorian milk maid, of course, and putting my Laura Ashley frocks to good use. Now I can see that the reality would be pretty ghastly, but I'd still like to dip into it & take a Tess tour for the day in a suitably lush Dorset valley with some docile cows to help me. I love eating out and discovering new restaurants, can you please recommend one to me? Jin Kichi in Heath Street, Hampstead, an unprepossessing looking place but the food is just amazing. Also, I love the Vietnamese restaurants on Kingsland Road, Hackney especially Viet Hoa [link] & Loong Key Cafe. In Ireland I love the Ballymaloe Restaurant [link] restaurant in County Cork. What is the best advice you ever been given relating to your professional/creative life ? Basically, all the times other writers have agreed that the only way is to get on with it. No faffing around, no waiting for inspiration, no making neurosis for inactivity! It took me a long time to discover this for myself, & most professional writers are in agreement. The inspiration follows... I was told by one editor to put in more plot. This was years ago. She was right. BONUS QUESTION : Last year I read 'Mothers & other Lovers' which I found quite shocking (and a great read) not for the central love story but the toe-curling behaviour of Eleanor's liberal middle class family & their friends. I never told you because I was sort of shy about it but I really did squeal with recognition & embarrassment (this is not a reflection btw of my family they are not really English & it's my conceit that having a foreign background sets me apart from this kind of behaviour!!). Do you have an allergy to bourgeoisie hippies or is the book more compassionate to the idea that as people get older they don't necessarily get wiser & we all just continue to flounder in our insecurities & weaknesses ? Eek! I'm a bit embarrassed that you read this, as it's very much a first novel, but pleased as well. Other people have reacted as you have - I think I have to make myself unembarrassed when writing, to get to some sort of truth. But I sometimes squirm at my own writing later. I did indeed have an allergy to the hippies, and still do, to be honest. I agree that we all continue to flounder to an extent - that's universal - but there's a particular sort of culture and aesthetic that drives me mad, I'm afraid! It's because I grew up with it - I went to school in Totnes, Devon: hippie/New Age epicentre - and we were surrounded by slow-talking beardies reciting mantras, and I became very urban, careerist and impatient in spirit as a teenager, in direct reaction. On the rare occasions I hear a slow Mockney-mixed-with-West-Country accent to this day, I come out in hives. It's just a childish attitude that's based in inevitable rebellion against everything I was surrounded by. Hey, cheers, man. I really really hope you have no issues around that...

Mama Rosin - Le Two step du Motorcycle

2011-03-19T21:44:00.002Z

If this week's wake up song doesn't wake up you up there is no hope for you ! Mama Rosin are a Cajun band from Switzerland (which sounds a bit wrong but is so right !), & their music is truly infectious. I hope this track 'Le Two Step du Motorcycle' has you dancing ! Love tt

The Last Tuesday Society

2011-03-17T09:58:00.004Z

On Sunday I visited the most peculiar shop in London (ok, maybe I exaggerate and that honour should go to 'Blustons' in Kentish Town High Street, a shop whose ladies' fashion and displays don't seem to have changed since the 1930s, not for some retro cool. I think it's actually been open since the 1930s & the stock hasn't moved on but that is it's charm). 'Vicktor Wynd's Little Shop of Horrors' [link] part of 'The last Tuesday Society' [link], is quite terrifying. You feel like you have stepped into another time where things are more gory and very dusty. If you are squeamish like me, you should definitely visit because I think squeamish people secretly get a big kick out of being scared! The Last Tuesday Society also has an intriguing lecture series and me & friend still faithful to the resolution of trying out things we've never done before attended a story telling event there hosted by Giles Abbott [link]. It was lovely because you so quickly revert to childhood and get lost in the stories, a real find, lots of love tt

Howl

2011-03-09T13:28:00.002Z

If you have a free afternoon to catch a new movie I recommend 'Howl'. It tells the story of the events which shaped Allen Ginsberg's seminal poem 'Howl' and the obscenity trial that followed it's publication. As someone who had always found 'Howl' impenetrable, the film completely drew me into the poem & also made me more open to the way that people were trying to live, think & feel differently during this period of American history. Some critics are iffy about the animation, I'm not sure if they object to the quality of the animation or the idea of accompanying a poem with animation. It worked for me as it contributed to the overall hypnotic quality of the film and because I didn't have strong ideas about or a strong attachment to the poem. James Franco is perfectly cast. love tt

New photos !

2011-03-01T16:43:00.007Z

There are a few new photos at the 'Recent Photos' section [link]. Hope you enjoy! love tt

Photo (c) Sylvie Bardet

Brandt Brauer Frick - Bop

2011-02-25T09:16:00.003Z

My wake up song this week is from the German trio of Brandt Brauer Frick and the track 'Bop'. I have a real weakness for this kind of repetitive rhythm (and this kind of video which makes the instruments look almost edible !!). hope you enjoy, love tt

Sophie Sarin / Hotel Djenne Djenno

2011-02-16T18:00:00.004Z

Recently I mentioned a blog that I enjoyed during the holiday season written by a Swedish woman Sophie Sarin [link]. The stories of her running a hotel in the not entirely hospitable historical city of Djenne in Mali (the hotel is made of mud like many of the buildings in Djenne and is quite vulnerable to the extremes of weather) and also adapting to a different culture & way of life make this a really interesting read. I'm very happy that Sophie has found the time to answer this week’s TT Test and I think if you ever find yourself in Djenne Hotel Djenne Djenno is an essential stopover !! Lots of love tt. What is your wake up song at the moment ? The music I listen to is Kar-Kar (Boubakar Traore) Very simple, very moving. The very essence of Mali itself; this dry, vast, gentle land, which I love in spite of it all. A good point of departure is the album ‘Sa Golo’. Which work of art or single event has most influenced you in your chosen profession? Perhaps Bach’s Brandenburg concertos, the first piece of classical music I knew and loved. I used to play it with my next door neighbour Britta when we played chess as twelve year olds, a brief moment of seriousness before we discovered boys and rock n’ roll - nothing wrong with that either of course… If you could travel back in time, which period would you most like to visit and why ? A frivolous part of me would have liked to have lived at the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette before the revolution (and then managed to escape) Such beautiful clothes! And such fun - all those masked balls! Otherwise I am quite happy to be here and now. I love eating out and discovering new restaurants, can you please recommend one to me? My favourite restaurant is ‘Rules’ in London [link]. It claims to be the oldest restaurant in London and is romantic and beautiful with great service and great traditional British food such as grouse etc. that is fabulous if well prepared and enjoyed with a good claret. What is the best advice you ever been given relating to your professional / creative life? Don’t worry what people think of you. BONUS QUESTION: What is the most challenging and most satisfying thing about running the Hotel Djenne Djenno? Most challenging thing here in Djenne: Definitely to be patient and understanding to my staff and the people around me, although I lose my temper most of the time. Most satisfying thing in my life here: the limitless scope of things. Wherever I turn there are new things to discover or to set in motion, whether investigating the Djenne manuscripts or managing to grow dill in the garden and trying out other crops. Life is never ever dull.

Covers !

2011-02-11T11:20:00.005Z

I met up with Mark my guitarist recently, and we decided to look at covers. Apart from being enjoyable just to sing other people's songs it is a good discipline to sing something you have not written, hopefully you learn a new way of thinking about a melody or a phrase or constructing a song. It is interesting to me, how difficult it is to actually make a song your own and I am in awe of singers who, not being writers, do that habitually. I'm also surprised at which songs end up suiting your voice or temperament. With my voice, maybe one would think I would suit quite dark,rather serious songs but actually my temperament draws me towards very melodic,poppy songs and because of this I probably sound more convincing in them. And singing standards ( or trying to ! ) demands a technical prowess which I don't really possess... anyway, I'm really enjoying the learning process... and maybe one day I'll be able to conquer one of those Cole Porter classics :) lots of love tt

Claudia Colonna / Marilou Chabert / Anna Mimouni

2011-02-09T17:37:00.004Z

A friend recently sent me this video directed by two very talented artists : Marilou Chabert [link] and Anna Mimouni [link]. It's a French singer Claudia Colonna who I'm not familiar with, and I'm not really sure what the song is called but the song & video are irresistibly silly and funny, hope you enjoy ! love tt

The Royal Institution

2011-02-09T12:02:00.004Z

I'm in the mood to explore London & visit places that are new for me. So on Tuesday evening I went with a few friends to a talk at the Royal Institution [link] whose impressive building houses a museum & charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. When I was a child I was strangely fixated - given that I have no aptitude for the sciences at all - with a Ladybird book about the scientist Michael Faraday most famous for his work with electricity and magnetism. He was a member of the Royal Institution & I was thrilled to find, on the lower ground floor, Faraday's magnetic laboratory as it was in the 1850s. The talk was also interesting. It was given by Philip Ball the science writer [link] and based on his new book 'Unnatural'. The Heretical Idea of 'Making People' [link] and just made me want to read this and a hundred other books! At the end of the talk, when the audience were invited to ask questions, a couple of my friends did have great ones but were too shy to ask ! However, we did spill out in to a mild February evening continuing our own lively debate. There is a whole season of talks at The Royal Institution and if you are in London I think it's well worth a visit ! Love tt

John Barry

2011-01-31T12:24:00.003Z

Very sad to hear that John Barry has passed away, his music is truly awe-inspiring. It's near impossible to choose one song to post by Barry, he wrote so many great songs, but as I've been listening a lot to Matt Monroe recently I will choose one that also features his beautiful voice, 'From Russia with Love'. Hope you enjoy, lots of love tt

Mariem Hassan - Haiyu

2011-01-16T09:59:00.005Z

I'm mostly an arm chair traveller and during the holiday period I spent most of my time in Mali, hooked on a blog by a Swedish woman, Sophie keita, [link]. It documents her experience of living in Djenne, & opening & running a hotel there [link]. I don't think this is an easy decision, the hotel is made of mud like most of the building in this historic town and needs constant attention. There is also a different culture to adapt to and some personal challenges she has to face... maybe you should just read the blog ! Despite the difficulties, my overwhelming impression is of someone living in a romantic & free spirited way... and when I'm feeling romantic & free spirited I plan trips to exotic places and now Djenne is on my list somewhere between Bhutan & the Galapagos Islands! All this to say that my wake up song this week is an artist mentioned on her blog, Mariem Hassan. A new discovery for me, she is a singer from Western Sahara. I've chosen the song 'Haiyu', I think it is a protest song that calls for the separation of Sahara from Morocco and the establishment of an independent country... and it's a wonderful & funky piece of music, I hope you enjoy it as much as me, lotsoflove tanita

Podcast 15

2011-01-06T10:38:00.002Z

Podcast 15 has been added !! If you haven't already just sign up to the mailing list to gain access to the Attic to listen to the podcast. Hope you enjoy, lot's of love, tt

Happy New Year !

2011-01-04T18:33:00.007Z

Happy New Year everyone ! I hope this is a vintage year with lots of great music, friendship and good fortune. I hope to record some new podcasts soon, as well as introducing you to some new songs ( the album is nearly finished I promise !!! ) Lots of love tt

Photo (c) Sylvie Bardet

Vince Guaraldi Trio - "Skating ("A Charlie Brown Christmas")"

2010-12-24T21:58:00.004Z

My wake up song this week is 'Skating' from a Charlie Brown Christmas. Vince Guaraldi provided some of the coolest music ever for a children's show ( my other favourite children's show with great music is 'Bod' ) and it's very difficult to choose just one track. However, 'Skating' is suitably joyous ! I'd also like to wish you all a Happy Christmas ! Eat, Drink & Be Merry !! Lots of Love tanita

H.G. Wells, Tracie Bennett & End of the Rainbow

2010-12-23T20:06:00.003Z

I've begun reading H.G.Wells so I was curious to see a production of 'The Invisible Man' at the Menier Chocolate factory [link]. It was enjoyable, and I loved the re-creation of an evening of good old-fashioned Victorian entertainment but the pace could have been faster. Also saw 'End of the Rainbow' at another charming small theatre the Trafalgar Studios [link]. Tracie Bennett gives a truly thrilling performance as Judy Garland during the the final months of her life shared with her last husband Micky Deans. I marvel at the energy of such a performance and the audience gave Tracie Bennett and the rest of the cast a deserved standing ovation. This production also gives me a good excuse to post a video of Judy Garland and Peggy Lee singing together. I don't want to be overly nostalgic but I think it's rare to find singers today who can sing so effortlessly. I hope you enjoy Love tt

Captain Beefheart

2010-12-18T18:51:00.000Z

Captain Beefheart has sadly passed away. He is considered a great musical revolutionary & critics often cite his most avant-garde work as influencing notable musicians like Tom Waits & Johnny Rotten but when I was in LA recently the Captain Beefheart song I was most drawn to was the more conventional ' Observatory Crest' - it's a song that makes sense when you are driving around with aimless contentment in the late afternoon sun... and it has one of those awesome bass lines that's busy but so laid back that it's perfect ! Love tanita

Mina - Amor Mio

2010-12-05T14:02:00.004Z

This week's wake up song 'Amor Mio' is performed by the legendary Italian singer Mina & written by the legendary Italian songwriting partnership of Battisti and Mogol. I've never properly understood the song - in my wobbly Italian Mina seems to be saying 'My Love, Who has loved you in this world ? only me. Me, on the other hand, have always been loved too much...but together, we can make it, you can reach me...' and emotionally I've always thought Mina was singing 'My Love, I'm enough !' but without the slightly strange suggestion of a Romantic popularity contest. Either way, I'm sure it's madness to pit my imagined scenario against my dodgy Italian translation. Simply this song contains everything I love best in Italian music, passion & wonderful melody. I hope you enjoy, lots of love tt

Langhorne Slim / Singer-Songwriter

2010-12-02T15:19:00.008Z

This week's TT Test is taken by American singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim [link] who I enthusiastically blogged about last December [link]. Langhorne's last album 'Be Set Free' remains one of my favourites from recent years, I'm thrilled to hear that he is working on some new songs & also that he has found the time to answer the TT Test ! What is your wake up song at the moment ? I recently got a copy of 'Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall'. Even the way he thanks the audience at the end of a song gives me the chills. The song 'Hope she'll be Happier with him' blows me away. Which work of art or single event has most influenced you in your chosen profession ? My mother and Grandparents took my brother and I to see a Broadway play when we were very young. I don't even remember which one but I remember how magical New York felt coming just a couple of hours from our small hometown in Pennsylvania. And I remember sitting in my seat and feeling so moved. I knew then that there was a world beyond what I knew, the world that I didn't relate to and that I was going to be alright. That was a pretty heavy feeling. If you could travel back in time, which period would you most like to visit and why ? 1957-Redhead. I love eating out and discovering new restaurants, can you please recommend one to me ? The Bye and Bye in Portland Oregon. It's down the street from where I live and is awesome! [link] What is the best advice you ever been given relating to your professional / creative life ? Go back to the cabin. BONUS QUESTION 'Langhorne Slim' is a stage name, can you explain a little about how you chose this name & what it refers to ? Langhorne is the name of the town that i'm from. I used it before I had a band and it stuck. I have always been a fan of nick names from my grandfather's stories of when they were young. All of their friends had cool names like Whistle or Lefty. All names are made up so you might as well grab one you like. When people talk about your music they often reference blues & gospel & American roots music in general , I also hear a bit of Cat Stevens from the classic early 70s period , would I be way off in thinking that? Not at all, I love that man. Harold and Maude forever !

Les Tee-Shirts sont arrivés !! Das T-Shirts sind Eingetroffen !! Le magliette sono arrivati !! Las camisetas han Ilegado !!

2010-11-20T10:01:00.012Z

The new TT tee-shirts have arrived, Hurrah !! They have been designed by Sylvie Bardet who also designed this blog and my website and they are based on four of my song titles : 'Out on The Town', 'Sun Face', 'Happy Taxi ' & 'Leaving the Party'. They are really cool, 100% organic, Fairtrade & funky... what's not to love ?!! Please check them out here :) Lots of Love tttt

Tami Lynn - I'm Gonna Run Away From You

2010-11-15T08:17:00.003Z

My wake up song this week is Tami Lynn's 'I'm Gonna Run Away from You'. This Northern Soul classic was recorded in the mid 60s but did not become a hit until it was re-issued in England in the early 70s. I love the bass line, it's groovy and also quite formal. I still hear an echo of an earlier kind of dance band in it. The lyrics are wonderful, Tami Lynn's voice mighty, and recently when I heard it again after many years I had to put it on repeat as I was so knocked out by it ! Love tt

Katerina Athanasopoulou - Engine Angelic

2010-11-11T13:33:00.006Z

My friend katerina Athanasopoulou is a very talented animator [link] this is her new short 'Engine Angelic' [watch here]. I'm really impressed by it but also a bit disturbed ! To find out more about the different processes that were used to construct the film just follow this link [link]. Hope you enjoy ! love tt

Shun-kin / The kids are alright

2010-11-08T15:42:00.004Z

Spent a nice evening in the Barbican centre [link] last night (this has to be my favourite arts centre !), quickly browsed the 'Future Beauty: 30 years of Japanese Fashion' exhibition. At this kind of event the crowd is actually more interesting than the exhibition. I think they all secretly want to be spotted by photographer Scot Schuman and posted on 'The Sartorialist' ! And saw another wonderful production from the theatre company Complicitie [link]. 'Shun-kin' is the second production I've seen by them and even though the play may deal with adult themes I always feel as engrossed as a child by the magical way they tell stories. Earlier in the week I saw ' The Kids are Alright' which I loved. A few friends were less enthusiastic, maybe it comes down to whether you think characters in films should be exemplary representatives of a particular group or rather flawed like most of us... anyways, lots of great stuff to see & think about ! love tt

Grant Lee Phillips / Singer-Songwriter

2010-11-01T08:55:00.012Z

This week's TT Test is taken by Grant Lee Phillips whose musicianship as writer,vocalist and multi-instrumentalist is inspiring. He first came to notice with the band 'Grant Lee Buffalo' and has continued to make great music as a solo artist, with highly acclaimed records, writing music for independent movies as well as appearing regularly on the TV show 'Gilmore Girls' as the town troubadour. I'm delighted that he has found time to answer the TT Test! What is your wake up song at the moment ? I’ve been waking up with The Left Banke’s “Walk Away Renee” in my head for the last few weeks. I’ve always loved the song but I have no idea why it’s enjoying a comeback in my mind. It’s so melancholic, perfect for the rainy weather. Which work of art or single event has most influenced you in your chosen profession ? It’s hard to place the blame on one culprit but I have to imagine it was the Beatle’s film “Help” and that particular song that lured me in, made me want to be a musician and began my love of heavy overcoats. If you could travel back in time, which period would you most like to visit and why ? I’ve always been drawn to that period between 1860’s - 1890’s. It was the golden age of sideburns, Laudanum and revolution. It was a bit like the sixties, but in sepia. I love eating out and discovering new restaurants, can you please recommend one to me ? Breakfast, right behind dessert, is the most important meal of the day. The Pacific Dining Car [link] in downtown Los Angeles has one of the best. It’s a step back in time, ordering Eggs Hussarde in a 1920s railway car. An endless flow of black coffee makes for one of those easy mornings that last all day. What is the best advice you ever been given relating to your professional/creative life ? Aside from being tipped off about the Eggs Hussard ? I’ve been the beneficiary of great council many times. Among the many artists, writers, musicians and professionals in my life, the words of my wife have meant the most however. She sees far down the road, when I can hardly find the wheel. BONUS QUESTIONS : You have such a unique & wonderful singing style, is there a singer that particularly influenced you as you were discovering your voice ? My grandmother was an incredible singer. She had a voice like Mahalia Jackson. She sang in a little country church but she also loved the blues. I’ve heard she sang in clubs when she was young. She was never really a performer in the time I knew her but she poured herself into her voice. She greatly encouraged me to play the guitar and sing and that made a huge impact on me. I also have a slightly silly question or maybe just an observation, I don't know if you are aware of the Canadian writer & actress Anne Marie MacDonald but you have a very striking resemblance to her ! I just googled Anne Marie MacDonald. I can see the resemblance and I’m flattered. I hope she is.

Photo Kenneth Scott

Babel - Nortec Collective

2010-10-26T09:31:00.003+01:00

Today is one of my favourite London weather days - chilly but gorgeously sunny, everything & everyone radiant & alive ! So logically, this week's wake up song is from Mexico. I wonder how much of our listening is shaped by the weather ? Some people see music in colours but because of my English education I see music as a meteorological report ! The groove of Nortec Collective's track from 'Babel', is joyous, it just tumbles & makes me dance around my apartment in the morning, hope it does the same for you ! Love tt

Metropolis, Brigitte Helm

2010-10-23T09:42:00.007+01:00

I caught a screening of the recently restored and reconstructed version of Metropolis this week [link]. It's the first time I've seen this 1927 classic and I was mesmerised. I know the movie bankrupted a film studio but it was probably worth it to create such an amazing work of art !! When Brigitte Helm who played the dual role of Maria and the Maschinenmensch ( machine human ) is in her first incarnation as Maria, I was thinking 'ok, this is a good performance but it's your standard vision of the innocent & virginal young woman that you find in most silent films' but when she becomes the diabolical and very worldly Machine Human I was petrified ! She's able to express every sin just by raising an eyebrow - and she was only 17 when she played the role !! Brigitte Helm was clearly a strong character in real life as well, in 1935 angered by the Nazi control of the German film industry she retired to married life in Switzerland and never granted even one interview about her film career. Of course, that just makes her more fascinating ! Love tt

Video Journal - The Mellotron & the Chamberlin (HD)

2010-10-21T18:50:00.002+01:00

This a video journal I recorded when I was in L.A. It's about two of the vintage instruments that belong to my producer Paul Bryan which I find very interesting and will be heard on my new record. Hope you enjoy, love tt.

Museum of Everything

2010-10-17T20:13:00.002+01:00

Yesterday, I discovered the Museum of Everything [link]. Perhaps, I have been sleeping under a rock because it's near my neighbourhood & I should have noticed such a wonderful thing much sooner ! Artist Peter Bake has curated the collection, you will find Walter Potter's Museum of Curiosity, rather sinister dolls, Punch & Judys', miniature fairgrounds among other delights & the buzz of being in a genuinely exciting space. They also serve tea for free ! What stronger recommendation could you want :) love tt

Jamais Seule - Loane

2010-10-06T08:07:00.003+01:00

This week's wake up song is 'Jamais Seule' by French singer-songwriter Loane. It's so jolly & bouncy it's the perfect way to start the day ! I hope you enjoy, lots of love tt

Catch Up !

2010-10-03T10:15:00.006+01:00

When you finish making an album, there's the euphoric bit ' Wow, I've just made a record ! ' and in the weeks that follow there's the bit where you feel slightly lost. I'm experiencing that bit right now. So, I've been catching up on some theatre, I saw 'Deathtrap' [link] with a great cast led by Simon Russell Beale, miraculously I did not know the story & was the perfect audience member, jumping out of my seat with every twist in the plot. I also saw 'A disappearing Number' which had a brief revival in the West End. This was the second time I've seen it - why am I so fascinated by a show which has so much mathematics (by far my worst subject at school) ?! Well, it is poetic and ends up being as much about love & loss as mathematics and there is the comforting thought of all the infinities :) Saw the film 'Winter's Bone' [link] great performances, you will either be a little frustrated by the vagueness of the plot or find that the most compelling thing about it. I'm also listening to a lot of music in a wonderfully intense way, the process of making a record makes you hyper aware of every nuance of other records not just your own. I was listening to the radio & discovered the American librettist & lyricist Dorothy Fields [link]. One track after the other, 'I can't Give you Anything but Love, baby', 'The Way You look Tonight' and 'If they could See Me now' came on & I was just floored. The lyrics are extraordinary. I've started Field's biography and I'm sure I will discover more of her great music. Anyway, please enjoy Judy Garland's live version of 'I Can't Give You Anything but Love', it's heartbreaking & glorious, lotsoflove tt

Jay Bellerose / Drummer

2010-09-25T13:58:00.007+01:00

This week's TT Test is taken by the awesome Jay Bellerose, a drummer who you may have heard playing with Alison Kraus & Robert Plant, B.B.King, Beck and Ray LaMontagne amongst others. His sound is very special as he collects & uses vintage drums & percussion whose inconsistency may be off putting to some drummers but for Jay add a certain drama to the sound. Having had the privilege of working with Jay on the new record I was so blown away by how he builds a groove, layers & brings structure to the track... I was sometimes surprised by his choices but ultimately always persuaded by them. The only problem is now that I've played with Jay every time I hear a song I think, 'I wonder how Jay would approach this ?!' What is your wake up song at the moment? My favorite music at the moment is the sound of my dog Buster snoring away. It gives me great comfort right now. My espresso machine starting up is a close second followed by Hank Mobley's soul station record. Which work of art or single event has most influenced you in your chosen profession? My most influential moment was when my brother Nelson saw me at age five lose my mind over a set of drums. He put me on the path and has guided me since. If you could travel back in time, which period would you most like to visit & why? I would go back to the 20's, 30's & 40's. I'm really in love with the music and over all style from that period. I love eating out & discovering restaurants can you please recommend one to me? Casa mono in NYC is a current favourite of mine [link] What is the best advice you have ever been given relating to your professional/creative life? The best advice for me so far came from T Bone Burnett. "Own it". BONUS QUESTION You are in Ray LaMontagne's band The Pariah Dogs who feature on his new album, how does it feel to be in a band as oppose to a session musician? Being in a band isn't so different other than a bit more acknowledgement.

All Because of You - Karen Carpenter

2010-09-16T17:59:00.003+01:00

This week's wake up song is from Karen Carpenter's solo record that was recorded in New York in 1979 & produced by Phil Ramone. I just love this song & performance & can't understand why it is not more widely known. It's not really a wake up song, it's actually the perfect song for a delicious bout of late night melancholy, and easily stands up next to the great Carpenters' ballads. Tantalisingly, when she was making this record the legendary songwriter Rod Temperton played her very early versions of 'Off the Wall' and 'Rock With You' but Carpenter turned them down on the grounds that they were too funky. Of course, the rest is history and they ended up being recorded by Michael Jackson but it would have been fascinating to have heard her take on those songs, love tt.

Sequencing

2010-09-15T08:02:00.005+01:00

Last week I spent a lot of time trying to decide upon the sequence for the new record. It was quite difficult, it's one of those records where once you change the position of one track you have to go right back to the beginning and listen to the new sequence and it is very stubborn about what will & won't work so that process seemed to go on forever. Usually, I just listen to the tail end and intros of songs & the sequence is logical & easy... I think on this new record there are a lot of big personalities vying for space so it has not been so straightforward ! And also I usually I have a sort of story sequence in my head but this record... I think this one just wants to do it's own thing ;) love tt

Photo (c) Sylvie Bardet

Mark Creswell / Song-writer, musician

2010-09-06T09:45:00.025+01:00

This weeks TT Test is taken by one of my favourite musicians, guitarist Mark Creswell. I first met Mark when I was 18 and was the opening act for the band he was in Brendan Crocker & the Five O'Clock Shadows. I was immediately entranced by his joyous, spirited playing and recently when I began writing a new set songs and was searching for a way to bring more groove & movement into my songs I immediately thought of Mark as a co-writer. You'll have to wait till next year to see how the songs have turned out but I for one am extremely happy with the results !! His answers are very interesting and strangely - if I could travel back in time it would probably also be to 18th Century Germany so I could eavesdrop on Bach improvising, I hope that's a good omen that we are suitable musical partners ! Lots of love tt. What is your wake up song at the moment ? An all time favourite and regular player on my juke box MP3 is the wonderfully eccentric 'Persian Lovers' by Holger Czukaybut [link]. If I need something to really bounce me into the day it would have to be 'Do I Love You ?' by Frank Wilson [link] for it's joy & best bass line to boot. Which work of art or single event has most in your chosen profession ? The invention & development of the electric guitar in the 20th Century. What's not to like ? They sound great, look fantastic... and you can use a wah-wah pedal with them too ! If you could travel back in time, which period would you most like to visit & why ? I would go back to 1720 and be beamed into Bach's life at the time when he was director of music for Prince Leopold in Germany. I would of course speak fluent German and have been inoculated for all possible diseases! I'd take with me a good stereo compact recorder and record him whilst he was improvising & composing the cello suites or violin sonatas & see how he worked & how he played & how he sounded on the instruments of his own time. See just how 'well-tempered' he was :) I'd also take back with me Bach's Complete works in printed manuscript & leave them with him, including the ones that he hadn't thought of yet, just to help him out a bit & make life in those times a little easier... upon my return to the now see what ripple effect & repercussions my little visit had upon the history of music & in particular Rock 'n Roll ! It's a sort of chicken & egg thing like in this favourite 'Bowie's in Space' sketch by Flight of the Conchords [link]. I love eating out & discovering newrestaurants can you please recommend one to me ? I don't get to eat out much except when I'm with you & that's always rather tasty. I prefer simple food so I'd recommend 'Corner Cafe ' in Leeds [link] a small, friendly family run restaurant which just hits the spot. What is the best advice you have ever been given relating to your professional/ creative life ? Seeing as my chosen career is music, the best advice to which I've never heeded is 'Get a Job !' BONUS QUESTION How was the experience of recording the new songs that we have written together & are you happy with the way they have turned out ? Recording these new songs was a really great experience for me, we somehow fell on our feet through a series of odd events & coincidences that landed us both in LA, recording with a set of amazing musicians & brought together by the awesome Paul Bryan's production. Playing with these guys really opened up the songs beyond all my expectations & left me with the resounding affirmation that music is at it's best when it involves the interaction of souls & minds together i.e musicians ! These recordings have so much life & vibrancy that I hear something new on every listening giving them a magical, timeless quality that I love.

Photo (c) Sylvie Bardet

Brendon Chase Theme Tune - Paul Lewis

2010-08-28T13:44:00.003+01:00

Do any of you remember the early 1980s television adaptation of the classic children's novel 'Brendon Chase' ? It was on British Force's TV when I was growing up in Germany, most of the kids in my class were obsessed with this show, a few of us even created a game in honour of it re-enacting the thrilling fugitive life of the boys during our rather dull lunch hour - alas I have never met any one in my adult life who has actually seen it ! Recently, I looked up the show again, just to ensure that it really did exist and re-discovered Paul Lewis' wonderful theme tune: after thirty years it still fills me with excitement & a strong desire to run off & live under a tree in the forest ! I hope you enjoy, lots of love tt

Video Journal # 6 (HD)

2010-08-19T15:38:00.001+01:00

Abbey Lincoln

2010-08-19T11:01:00.001+01:00

I was saddened to hear the jazz singer Abbey Lincoln has passed away. Recently, before I began recording the new album I was emailing with my producer, Paul Bryan, about favourite music and he sent me this recommendation : 'Jazz of the day : Here's some awesome and soulful 5/4 for you. Blues and elegance to boot... Abbey lays it down and the boys fall in line. ' Of course, I lost a couple of days trying to count in 5/4 but what a wonderful way to introduce such a powerful artist !

Ryan Freeland's wake up song

2010-08-10T02:33:00.010+01:00

This week the wake up song is chosen by Ryan Freeland who is the wonderful engineer [link] on my new record. It is the song 'Be nice to Me' by Todd Rundgren which is a completely new to me so I'll be discovering it at the same time as you ! lots of love tt.

Video Journal # 5

2010-08-06T20:41:00.000+01:00

Video Journal # 4

2010-08-02T19:20:00.000+01:00

Sacramento

2010-07-29T17:35:00.006+01:00

Sorry, I'm moving around a bit and will post a new video journal over the weekend. Can I just recommend, if you happen to pass through Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum [link]. It houses a collection of 20 lovingly restored locomotives and railroad cars and a second floor dedicated to model railways. One of the happiest mornings I've passed in a museum it fulfilled my every romantic notion of steam travel and a slower pace of life (although the museum also documents the difficult journey to build the railroads). Sacramento itself is a charming city, much more to my taste than Las Vegas !! Love ttPhoto (c) Sylvie Bardet

Bagdad Cafe

2010-07-27T06:06:00.009+01:00

I have a few days off before we begin to mix (yes, I know, this has been the fastest recording I've ever done!) and so I have been exploring California. My highlight so far has been a visit to the real Bagdad Cafe. Located in a sleepy some place somewhere on route 66, with a cast of characters as eccentric as the classic film, it didn't disappoint, love tt

Grant Lee Philips

2010-07-23T19:59:00.007+01:00

Grant Lee Philips [link] was in the studio this week to record some vocals on my new album, we were all so impressed by his creativity and how well our voices work together. Here is a track from his lovely album ‘Little Moon’, I’m sure you will enjoy it ! Lots of love tt

Video Journal # 3

2010-07-22T23:51:00.001+01:00

Berry - Mademoiselle

2010-07-17T03:43:00.003+01:00

My wake up song this week is by the French artist Berry, the song Mademoiselle is the title track of her debut album. Sometimes i'm just amazed at how someone can get it so right as in this instance, hope you enjoy, lotsoflove tt

Recording in L.A.

2010-07-15T16:56:00.015+01:00

Paul Bryan is turning out to be a wonderful producer and the calmest man I've ever worked with ! Ryan Freeland the engineer is great too, the sound we are hearing in the studio is close to the sound of the record which is a surprisingly rare way of working. And a nice surprise, Joe Henry, the singer-songwriter and producer dropped by the studio and was gracious enough to join in on some backing vocals which sounded lovely... very happy, love tt Photo (c) Sylvie Bardet

Video Journal # 2

2010-07-15T16:47:00.004+01:00

Video Journal # 1

2010-07-12T21:21:00.001+01:00

Another twist

2010-07-08T00:20:00.005+01:00

Just been told about this re-mix on line, worth checking out [link], love tt Photo (c) Sylvie Bardet

Just arrived...

2010-07-07T23:36:00.013+01:00

Just arrived, drinking a lot of coffee and mooching around. I don't begin recording till next week, and inevitably, my throat has gone a bit barmy... I've decided not to talk for two days to the relief of all the people around me :) I'm a little shocked at how much of a Londoner I am, Los Angeles is a sprawling city and I am completely disorientated by it's endlessness. The people are so friendly though !! And the food is unbelievable !! love, tt Photo (c) Sylvie Bardet

Video Journal Test (in HD)

2010-07-03T14:55:00.007+01:00

Recording in L.A.

2010-07-03T10:54:00.004+01:00

At the moment I am a little distracted... last night, I even managed to go to the wrong theatre & was rather bemused by a stage set that looked like a minimalist dungeon when I had booked tickets for a comedy. Anyway, why I am so distracted ?? It's because next week I am going to Los Angeles to record my new album !! Hurrah ! I will be starting a video journal and posting regular updates on this site so stay tuned & thank you for listening ! Lots of love tt

Janelle Monae : Tightrope ft. Big Boi

2010-06-28T08:44:00.003+01:00

My wake up song this week is Janelle Monae's 'Tightope'. A great song, the best kind of retro & an amazing video. I want to be able to dance like this please !!! Love, tt

Syl Johnson

2010-06-17T21:47:00.001+01:00

Paul Bryan in this week's TT Test mentioned an artist new to me Syl Johnson a label mate of Al Green. He also described the chorus on Johnson's track ' Watch What you do to me ' as having the 'grooviest drumbeat of all time '... well,with a recommendation like that I have to post it ! I wonder if you agree : ) love tt

Paul Bryan / Producer, Arranger, Musician

2010-06-15T17:35:00.009+01:00

This week's TT test is taken by the very wonderful Paul Bryan [link]. As a producer and musician he has worked with many great artists including Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Allen Toussaint and Aimee Mann. Actually, he is producing my new album, which should be very interesting!! I'm thrilled with his answers and he mentions some music that is new to me which is always exciting. What is your wake up song at the moment? I don't listen to a huge volume of music; I tend to get obsessed with one or two records and spin them over and over again for months. If they can qualify as my wake-up songs then I suppose Joao Gilberto's late 70's LP 'Amaroso' would be a good example. I love the consistent mood and the way the hot and cool elements work together perfectly. Joao's intimate delivery contrasts perfectly with Klaus Olgerman's icy string arrangements. I think Zingaro is my fave track. It's beautiful how the melody is so static but still trips along on top of the flowing chord motion, doubling back on itself- also the way the flutes hand off to the strings in the middle instrumental. I can play this record over and over. Great for remaining mellow in the face of LA traffic adversity.Syl Johnston's LP 'Total Explosion' on Hi records would have to be another. Super funky and bluesy. Syl is always moaning about how hard it is to have a wife AND a girlfriend. The poor guy... life is tough out there. Amazing record. Overlooked as Al Green's label mate. Grooviest drumbeat of all time on the chorus of 'Bout To Make Me Leave Home'. Which work of art or single event has most influenced you in your chosen profession? I've always been impressed by Arif Mardin's production work, specifically on 'Dusty In Memphis'. He was such a class act, capable of both hosting the party and getting under the hood to tinker when necessary. I feel that last bit is important. If the musicians on the floor don't respect you then you're dead in the water. His horn and string arranging capabilities just floored me too; I thought one HAD to be able to orchestrate to do the job of producer when I was younger. I didn't realize it was a kind of weird black art. I am glad I didn't know that or I probably wouldn't have bothered. It's too hard. If you could travel back in time,which period would you most like to visit and why? I watched the documentary 'Style Wars' recently. It shows New York City during the birth of hip hop and graffiti art. 1970's New York riveted me yet scared me pants-less when I was a kid. There is something really beautiful and vital about that filthy, bankrupt punk era. Great new art and music coming out and that dirty style, the kind you see in Taxi Driver and The Taking Of Pelham 123. Maybe growing up in the suburbs made me fetishize 1970's bohemia a little bit, but I would love to go back to that time and live in Manhattan as an adult for a few years and watch it all happen. Preferably from the sell-out vantage point of a beautiful apartment and a lot of money in the bank... can that be part of the deal ? I love eating out & discovering new restaurants, can you please recommend one to me? 'Capo' [link] in Santa Monica, California. But my sentimental pick is the Thai Cafe, 925 Manhattan Ave, in Greenpoint,Brooklyn. They fed me almost every night from 1999 to 2006. BONUS QUESTIONS: What prompted you to make the transition from musician to producer & has it been an easy one? Mostly I got tired of following dumb advice from producers or being on sessions where I felt that musicians or projects were being mismanaged. I thought, 'I should be doing this!' I feel like the greatest sin in the studio is to miss an opportunity to get a good performance. Musicians and singers have their own energy/ language out there in the room and it is a delicate thing and should be protected. They want to know that it's safe for them to do their thing and that you aren't going to drive them into the ground chasing nonsense. Once you establish that and create a supportive environment, defenses drop and it's off to the races. People always want to do their best when they feel appreciated. Nearly all of the records you have produced have been based on capturing a live performance from the nucleus of a band as oppose to constructing a track by multi-layering with individual session musicians. Has this been an aesthetic choice or an accidental one ? It's a choice. Though I do like a balance of the two. While layering a track serves a great purpose, it's still a left-brain activity. Trying to synch a bunch of people up to reach a creative height together is so much more satisfying. Granted, it takes a little faith and the ability to let go and trust the moment. But I feel that if I knew what was going to happen then what would be the point? People responding to each other makes the best kind of musical fingerprint. I feel like that's where real excitement comes from.

Moving to Mars

2010-06-12T12:49:00.010+01:00

Refugee Action [link] kindly invited me to the launch of their film festival, that is taking, place online from the 10th-24th June on Brightwide [link]. The programme is exciting; I’m looking forward to two films in particular ‘No One Knows About Persian Cats’ which tells the story of young artists trying to express themselves in the contemporary rock scene in Iran and ‘Moving to Mars: A Million Miles from Burma’ documentary [link] which follows two families of Burmese refugees moving to England from a refugee camp in Thailand. Brightwide, itself, is such a great idea. The site screens inspiring, intelligent and entertaining social & political cinema from around the world and also provides the viewer with the information to become more involved if they have been especially moved by an issue. I hope you will find the time to check out the festival, Brightwide and Refugee Action! lots of love tt