Mark Creswell

I’m currently finishing off the new material with Mark Creswell. I’ve known Mark since I was 18 so it was about time that we actually wrote together ! We share so many influences: soul, country, reggae but what I appreciate most about him is his openness to all kinds of music. For example last night we had a retro moment and listened to a few tracks from Madonna’s album ‘Music’. Both of us awestruck by Mirwais the producer's ability to organize sound (I’m afraid I can’t think of a better way to describe what he does). But Mark will also happily sit through a DVD of Daniel Barenboim giving a Beethoven Master class. What more can you ask from a musical collaborator ! Love, tt

Photo (c) Sylvie Bardet

Piano Mania

Last week my two pianos were regulated and generally spruced up by a wonderful piano technician called Ben Edwards. And although the biggest influence on my piano playing remains Les Dawson : .I can still appreciate that after all Ben’s hard work if someone proper played the pianos they would sound amazing ! Ben also has another talent under his stage name Ben Fairlight he is a professional story teller : [link]. That seems like two truly cool jobs. In my fantasy job life I think I would like to be a piano technician/story teller ! Love, tt

Happy New Year !

Hello. Happy New Year to everyone ! I wish you all a peaceful year full of adventure and lots of new discoveries... and, of course Love, love, love tt.

Wolfgang Tillmans

Tuesday evening was rather exciting. I had my photo taken by Wolfgang Tillmans. I love his work but what is an even more pleasant discovery is that he is such an affable and warm man. I also have the impression that he is as passionate about photography as the day he began. Talking of affable, lovely people I met the young Australian singer - songwriter Lisa Mitchell recently. I can’t praise her enough. There is something intense and light about her which probably doesn’t make sense until you hear her music. Check out ‘Neopolitan Dreams’: [link]. Lot's of love, tt.

Finished a song last week...

... that had been rather troublesome. It has such a lovely beginning that I didn't quite know how to reach the end. When it was finally finished I said to Mark my co-writer "Mmmm. This is a song that is really about adult emotions ". I always feel so absurdly satisfied when I've done one of them!

Gerald Kersh and Bill Withers

Hello, I'm in the middle of a riveting read. It's called 'Night and the City' by Gerald Kersh. Never heard of him till about three minutes ago! And the only reason I discovered him was because I was listening to a radio play and the American accent of the actress puzzled me. So I googled her to see if it was genuine. It was. I'm afraid I don't remember her name but I am thankful to her as she mentions on her website that her favourite writer in the world is Gerald Kersh. Gerald Kersh ?!! How can someone's favourite writer be someone I've never heard of ? Anyway, if you like the idea of a twitchy protagonist crisscrossing a shady 1930s London you are in for a treat with 'Night and the City'... I'm a bit over-excited. A friend has just sent me a link to a new documentary about Bill withers : stillbillthemovie.com. I think Bill Withers is amazing and I can't wait for this film to be released. Take care , lots of love tt.

Welcome to my new blog. Sorry it's taken so long to begin !

I hope everyone has had a long and enjoyable summer. My summer was fine except for my one valiant attempt to go green by taking a holiday on the English coast (I live in London). It lasted exactly two days. Rain and the uncomfortable feeling that I hadn't really gone away defeated me. So above I have posted a photo from my more successful 2007 holiday. I'm not advertising 'Northface' or Patagonia clothing it's just that I'm in Iceland and all photos in such a landscape look like adventure clothing adverts. Iceland, incidentally, is very beautiful. If you have the chance to visit, drive around the road that circles the whole of Iceland and you will see many magical sights... maybe even a troll ! They have amazing coffee and obviously no child labour laws. I once checked into a hotel in Iceland and noticed that the first floor cleaning duties were being handled by one plucky 14-year old and a fresh-faced band of 10 year olds . And one of those 10 year olds was on roller skates... Musically, the writing is going well. I will add more about that in my next blog (hurrah !). My wake up song at the moment is 'L'Appuntamento' sung by Ornella Vanoni. It's a song with a real warm-hearted melancholy, that Italians do so well. I'm very jealous of Latin songs. They seem to be able to express this sentiment in which the lovers are really in a theatre of love - tortured by their roles and conventions. And probably enjoying it. In English this sort of sentiment in a song can sound a bit silly or forced. There are, however , a few exceptions to this. In the 60s, a golden period for big singers and big songs, there were a few Italian or French songs being translated into English covered with great conviction by notable singers like Shirley Bassey, Elvis Presley and, of course Dusty Springfield. Those singers, they had or still have in the case of Shirley Bassey everything , drama AND intimacy... ps : how odd as I'm finishing off my blog I hear the brass section from Shirley Bassey's 'Big Spender' blaring out of a passing car ! Lotsof love tt

Photo (c) Sylvie Bardet