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ENTIRE INBOX: Batch 472

You & I

Venn Smyth live gigs
3 May / 7.30pm / Pride's Got Talent Semifinals, Phoenix Art Club: https://phoenixartsclub.com/book/?instanceid=130001
12 May / 7pm / Babel Art House: https://www.outsavvy.com/event/14069/venn-smyth-hermes-gig-live-at-babel-art-house

Can we do this sober? That's the question behind this track. Is there a way to live life and hold love sober? I've got more questions than answers, but they are important ones. Find them wrapped up in this poppy synthy bop, with added saxophone thrown in for good measure!

Sober

It's been 7 years since the first song for the album was written, the first in my life. 3 years since we started recording these songs. It's a long way to go. And complicated. It led me to where I am now. I am convinced that everything happens when it should. Now is the time when I became ready to present the pieces of my soul, made into music, to the whole world. 

5 songs are like 5 fragments from a personal diary: naive and overly romanticizing and dramatizing events. But that's how I am, that's how I feel. In my own world, everything was exactly as described in the songs. 

But these are only fragments. The full diary is an album of 12 songs that make up a complete story, called Worlds Apart, I'm sure it won't take so long to wait this time.

The opening track - Light - embodies a bright beginning in every sense. The first affection, the first song, the first guitar, the first step into a new life. It's still special to me, and in fact, I probably like it most of all these songs in terms of sound. When we started recording it, it turned out to be quite melancholic and unhurried, and as for me, it sounded cool, but I was prompted and also guessing myself, that it would be good to make it kind of more up-tempo, I wanted to find a balance, and I am very pleased with the way we made it.

As part of this EP, Circles is a sharp rewind of events forward. This is no longer "Now I finally see the light", but "You will only make me suffer, whether you want it or not." There was no doubt about how this song should sound: definitely more rock and expressive compared to the others.

New Chapter: "And after all this time and songs, it’s the first one about something real that you and me feel." It’s true that a lot of songs had already been written at the time of writing this one. The first reciprocity. At least for a while. I had thoughts that maybe a lot of repeatings in the song would seem boring to a listener, but I no longer think so about what it turned out, especially thanks to Ruzel's backing vocals, which really enlivened it.

In the process of keeping a diary, one page was torn out. This is You Make Me Feel (Higher), the third song I wrote. At one point, it began to seem not good enough to me, and I excluded it from tracklist of the future album. However, later, while recording this EP, I decided to give it a new life, changing it a little, and the missing link was found, becoming such a bonus track. Someone even liked it the most.

Affection is the track that has already become landmark. The last song on this EP and on the upcoming longplay. At the same time, it was the first one that we began to rehearse, record and play in public. Someone has already had enough of it, but not me, I still consider it one of the best songs I ever wrote. "I made everyone believe in a perfect explanation. Now I don’t know how to feel, cause it seems like it is real, but I have the same affection." Thus, we return to the same place from where we started, but with a new awareness: love, suffering - all for the sake of art.

It was decided to make an acoustic version of the song, different from the version on the future album, as in the case of the previous song - for a change. But not only for that. I really like how this melody is combined with a tambourine. And in general, I'm glad that at least one song became more or less minimalistic, because the rest are too full of sounds, one might say noisy. At least we got what we did, due to the first experience and the tendency of both musicians to complicate everything:) And it's funny that now, with more experience, I’m going to move in the direction of simplification.

Anyway, I'm very happy to finally share the music of my heart with you and hope it will resonate with someone!

Light

Rising Tide

....mkay

sorry for the quality, left my mic at home so recorded through my laptop

Mr Mackey

mr mackey

Slow Boat To China

Glove Compartment is the piano laden project from 'The Candle Thieves' keyboard wizard The Glock aka Anthony Shiels. 

Hailing from the suburbs of Cambridgeshire, Glove Compartment makes pocket symphonies centered around the intricacies of Anthony's piano playing blended with dry wit and brutal lyricism. The band name was born from Anthony's habit of recording home demos and housing them in the glove compartment of his small car for reference. 

The musical sound evokes nostalgia of the great writers of the last generation. Growing up with Billy Joel, Randy Newman, Elton John and Ben Folds Five playing on his walkman has evidently left a musical scar. 

Debut release 'The Art Of Pretending' was released in 2019 which saw Anthony because a success story in China clocking up 3.1 million streams which led to a tour of mainland China last October. 

New album 'Shall We Draw Big Love Hearts' was released April 6th and 'Thing About Love' is a feel good 70s inspired anthem stating loud and proud that the narrater knows or cares anything about the enigma of love that everybody else seems to sing about.

UK tour currently being rescheduled for October landing in London, Manchester, Leicester, Birmingham and Stamford. Dates TBC.

Glove Compartment Album 2

Thing About Love

A new song by Tragicomics, taken from our forthcoming record!

Recorded at Vibe Studios.
Produced by Dean Glover and Tragicomics.

Tru Luv

So Bright / Always Goodbye

So Bright

I’m Not Ready’ is a vulnerable story on dealing with emotions and doubt in love.

Lyrics:

I’m Not Ready

Tell me your dreams, I’ll tell you mine
Tell me the reasons why you cry
Do you believe wishes come true
Do you believe in me and you

I’m not a mind reader
I know you need love to love in return
You give, you give, you give
You never learn
I tried to save what we have

I’m not ready
You’re not ready
Just not ready
Ready for love

Open your eyes I’ll open mine
Too hard to see, love is blind
God only knows how close we are
So close, so far

I’m not a mind reader
I know you need love to love in return
You give, you give, you give
You never learn
I tried to save what we have

I’m not ready
You’re not ready
Just not ready
Ready for love

I’m not ready
You’re not ready
Just not ready
Ready for love

I’m not ready
You’re not ready
Just not ready
Ready for your love

I’m not ready
You’re not ready no
Just not ready
Ready for your love

Do you ever think about me
Do you ever think about me

I'm Not Ready

We're back. 

Stream / Download - smarturl.it/kobi

Kobi

Of the Earth - a piece for Earth Day 2020

Music composed by Luke Moore.
Featuring a reading by Ewa Ladkowska.
Original text written by Meng Haoran, Wang Wei & Gustav Mahler.

Of the Earth was written & recorded on 23rd April 2020 to mark Earth Day.  The piece incorporates text from Mahler's six song symphonic work, Das Lied von Der Erde (The Song of the Earth), specifically the final movement, Der Abschied (The Farewell).  

Whilst the piece is a re-setting of the original text, this is spoken rather than sang.  The music does not borrow from Mahler's original work and is instead its own sparser reflection on the text.  Several of the lines resonate more when placed in the context of the COVID-19 lockdown, during which time this piece was produced.

Text:
"The Universal Edition score of 1912 for Das Lied von der Erde shows Mahler's adapted text as follows. 

Der Bach singt voller Wohllaut durch das Dunkel.
Die Blumen blassen im Dämmerschein.
Die Erde atmet voll von Ruh' und Schlaf.
Alle Sehnsucht will nun träumen,
Die müden Menschen geh'n heimwärts,
Um im Schlaf vergess'nes Glück
Und Jugend neu zu lernen!
Die Vögel hocken still in ihren Zweigen.
Die Welt schläft ein!

Translation into English:
The brook sings out clear through the darkness.
The flowers pale in the twilight.
The earth breathes, in full rest and sleep.
All longing now becomes a dream.
Weary men traipse homeward
to sleep; forgotten happiness
and youth to rediscover.
The birds roost silent in their branches.
The world falls asleep."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Lied_von_der_Erde#Text

Of the Earth

Serious mental health issues aside, we spend most of our lives fighting our mortality. We don’t want to think about it, we don’t want to talk about it and yet it is where we are all heading. 

At 98, my paternal grandmother has reached an age where she has made peace with her own mortality. I think deep down she is even hoping to die. I love her so much and although it saddens me, I think there is something undeniably beautiful in these thoughts of woman who has lived her life, had a family she loves, watched her friends die and is now ready to follow them. She is tired. 

Not many of us will be lucky enough to reach this point: most of us will go before we are ready. 

98 is also a reminder that she is still alive and that there is still pleasure to be found while she is here.

When your bones give in and your hair grows thin
There’s more lines than skin in the mirror
When your mind gives up ‘cause your thoughts get stuck
And your words don’t come quite as easy

So you dwell in dreams of dying
Do you think it feels like falling or flying?
There’s a swell in days of hoping
That there’ll be somebody waiting where you’re going

When your Christmas cards came in thick and fast
As the years go past they get fewer
When your friends have gone, still you stumble on
While the younger ones went before you

So you dwell in dreams of dying
Do you think it feels like falling or flying?
There’s a swell in days of hoping
That there’ll be somebody waiting where you’re going

Step outside, there is pleasure yet
In soft spring air; let it fill your chest
So step outside, for the days still left
And feel the life in the power of your breath

So you dwell in dreams of dying
Do you think it feels like falling or flying?
There’s a swell in days of hoping
That there’ll be somebody waiting where you’re going

So you dwell in dreams of dying
Do you think it feels like falling or flying?
There’s a swell in days of hoping
That there’ll be somebody waiting where you’re going

Ohhh ohhh ohhh ooo x2 

Shooting stars, your anemic voice are you waiting now for an astroid 
A piercing sound trembles from your voice as the helpless crowd in your head rejoice 

Chorus 
Are you ready for Summer, 
In the warmth of life 
Are you ready for Summer 
In the heat full nights 
Are you ready for Summer

Verse 2 
Have you pitched your tent at the edge of life and are you fearful of the breeze you fight

Ohhh ohhh ohhh ooo x2 

Chorus 
Are you ready for Summer, 
In the warmth of life 
Are you ready for Summer 
In the heat full nights 
Are you ready for Summer
Are you ready for Summer 

Bridge 
As the grass begin to grow, harness in your soul these words you cannot say come slipping off your tongue x4 

Chorus 
Are you ready for Summer, 
In the warmth of life 
Are you ready for Summer 
In the heat full nights 
Are you ready for Summer
Are you ready for Summer 

Are you ready for Summer 
For summer 
For Summer 
Summer

Summer

Summer by Jack Devlin

Radio edit of Words off my chest, taken from the debut album Conscious

Conscious

Words off my chest

Stream

Words Off My Chest (Radio Edit)

Universe Arrangements’ serves as a statement of resolution and acceptance. Maintaining composure amidst the chaos, adventuring on despite the unknown, recognising that we may not be in control of everything; and so we might as well dance amongst the mystery, and take in the view while we’re there.

Single released on July the 31st

Universe Arrangements (Single Edit)

Fresh On The Net is a music blog hosted by Tom Robinson and Team Freshnet, offering independent artists an open door and a level playing field for their music. Our inbox is open at http://freshonthenet.co.uk every Monday to Thursday morning - if you share a track with us there it will be heard by every member of our moderation team.

IMPORTANT: 
Only send ONE track, and make sure the dropbox says "OPEN".  Sorry, but tracks sent while the dropbox is closed - or shared drectly with this Soundcloud account - will not get heard.

Unashamedly pop with a strong message, Venn Smyth writes songs that dance around subjects and stories important to him. These include identity, queerness, community and finding your voice. He currently lives in London and alongside writing and performing, teaches and works with young people, including leading LGBTQ+ youth music projects.

He grew up in rural Central Scotland and found himself captivated by music and words from an early age. More interested in making up new tunes than learning the scales, he eventually knuckled down and went on to study Classical Music at Edinburgh Napier University, with saxophone and composition as his focus. However, song writing always stuck, and he found further inspiration in the eclectic worlds of Rufus Wainwright, Prince, Laura Marling and Erasure to name but a few. Having performed in various bands and releasing music under different guises over the years, this new work delivers a culmination of experience, introducing Venn Smyth at his most honest, playful and clear.

Sober

Venn Smyth

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