2 new songs in the bag, and an idea.....
Release a double CD, semi concept album as my debut release....
holy "against all logic" Batman!!!
Well in this new digital era and the fact that I don't have some 'suit' making my decisions for me as I'm doing this all myself, I feel i can pretty much break every rule in the book and do what the hell I like!
Some may find the idea insane, brash, naive, idiotic. i find the idea, bold, brave, challenging, free, ideological, basically fucking awesome.
the beauty is, its my CHOICE whether i do it or not.
The new tracks are called "I'll Be Fine" and "Tonight".
"I'll be fine" is about something I'd forgotten I'd experienced many years ago until it was done to me last week.
Its about that point after a break up when one person suddenly feels immensely 'high' and positive that they are now free of the old relationship, its almost like a coping mechanism or a sub-conscious brain function where you just don't care anymore, "I'm over you", "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine", "I'm happy without you" etc etc. having it done to me last week triggered off my memories of doing it myself back when i was 18/19, It was such a shock to see happening again in front of me after so many years that I immediately put pen to paper, the lyrics again a another diary entry, done in one sitting. The guitar chords came at the same time pretty much from nowhere.
I played it Saturday night at a friends house out of the blue after I'd played a load of covers not really thinking about it. At the end everyone was commenting how great it was but they couldn't put their finger on who it was. I then pointed out that it was me and that I'd wrote it 2 days earlier. I was met with laughter at first, then when they saw i wasn't joking, i was met with stunned silence followed by some really nice compliments, which was really really nice as it was totally off the cuff and unexpected (both the compliments and me playing it).
"Tonight" is about that first encounter, the ones that are unexpected, that come out of the blue and knock you for six with their intensity. Most of us have had them, many of us have had more than one. This is about that encounter, that 'Tonight'.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Sunday, 11 January 2009
This week I have mostly been....
Watching QI, the new Bill Bailey DVD which is just awesome, saw Yes Man over the xmas hols and laughed my tits off! really funny film.
So this week work resumed on the album which I'm penciling in for a summer release. I've started orchestrating the track 'The Solitude of me which you can hear the beta version of HERE.
This track is now experiencing some throbbing synth and some great piano work thanks to my mate Chris Lewis of the welsh covers band DEVIOUS. Its great working with someone who can play what you sing to them!
This track is turning into a fantasticly dark, moody track that is reminding me of something off Marillion's Misplaced Childhood album, not sure what it is but its giving me that kind of vibe.
Recording today really got my juices flowing, cant wait to work more on more on these songs!
The EP is taking a little longer than planned to get onto the digital distribution retailers (itunes, Amazon, eMusic, Napster & Rhapsody). Looks like its not gonna be digital for a few months :(
Another thought provoking post by Andrew dubber HERE
creative snobbery really gets on my tits.
So this week work resumed on the album which I'm penciling in for a summer release. I've started orchestrating the track 'The Solitude of me which you can hear the beta version of HERE.
This track is now experiencing some throbbing synth and some great piano work thanks to my mate Chris Lewis of the welsh covers band DEVIOUS. Its great working with someone who can play what you sing to them!
This track is turning into a fantasticly dark, moody track that is reminding me of something off Marillion's Misplaced Childhood album, not sure what it is but its giving me that kind of vibe.
Recording today really got my juices flowing, cant wait to work more on more on these songs!
The EP is taking a little longer than planned to get onto the digital distribution retailers (itunes, Amazon, eMusic, Napster & Rhapsody). Looks like its not gonna be digital for a few months :(
Another thought provoking post by Andrew dubber HERE
creative snobbery really gets on my tits.
Friday, 2 January 2009
So i'm doing something a bit different and yet something done before.
For an unspecified limited time only I'm giving away my first retail release, my EP entitled "Childhood E.P.".
All I ask is this..
If your a reviewer/blogger, either pro or ametuer, please review it.
If your joe public, please listen to it and let me know what you think by getting in touch with me via my offical website www.leonlive.co.uk
If you like it and find yourself listening to it regularly or find yourself recommending it to your friends, please consider buying it from my website, Its only £3 (plus P&P).
heres the torrent link:
http://www.mininova.org/tor/2108517
If you review it and would like more info on myself, how it was recorded, budget/time constraints etc then please get in touch and i'd be happy to answer any questions you have.
Monday, 22 December 2008
My first retail release goes live
My first retail release "Childhood E.P." is now available from http://www.leonlive.co.uk/store.php
For local Aberdare people you can get it from 'Red House Music' in Aberdare Market.
The beginning of a long journey has begun!
For local Aberdare people you can get it from 'Red House Music' in Aberdare Market.
The beginning of a long journey has begun!
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Summertime Records Press Release
Aberdare Singer/Songwriter Leon Evans (who performs under the artist name 'Leon Live') is releasing his début EP entitled 'Childhood E.P.' on the 22nd December 2008.
Best described as 'Acoustic Rock' the EP combines rock sensibilities with an acoustic based sound scape with beautiful melodies and harmonies and incredibly infectious and hook laden choruses and lyrics.
The EP is available from 22nd December on CD (£3 + P&P) from the official Leon Live website –
www.leonlive.co.uk
The EP will soon be available digitally on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, eMusic and Napster.
It will also be available at all Leon Live performances.
The entire EP was created by Leon in his small flat in the town of Aberdare. Leon wrote, performed, produced, mixed and recorded all the material for the EP (and the upcoming album slated for release in Q2 2009) by himself. He also created the logo's and printed all the artwork for the CD. Chris Summerill of Summertime Records helped achieve a retail release by releasing under his Summertime Records label.
The 'Childhood E.P.' consists of 5 songs taken from the 14 that will appear on the full album next year. Each song(except 'Blinded') is a diary entry in Leon's life from May to October 2008 as he struggled to come to terms with an abusive and neglected childhood and the unfortunate emotional damage that left him with
as an adult.
Each songs lyrics were written in one day as a diary entry about the emotion and feelings he felt on that very day. These words are unedited, they are not revised or changed to 'improve' them as some form of song writing exercise. They are the honest, raw emotional content of one man's journey of self discovery.
Leon currently has work in progress mixes of all 14 songs from the album available on his website as free mp3 downloads so that listeners and fans can get a taste of the songs this talented songwriter is to release next year. It also gives Leon the opportunity to gain valuable feedback on his music from a worldwide audience.
END
Additional Info
Leon Evans is a 34yr old who has been playing guitar and writing his own songs since the age of 16. He joined his first band and started performing live at the age of 17.
Originally from the Fernhill Estate in Mountain Ash, Leon's disjointed and unsettled childhood saw him move 7 times (along with stays with other families at various times) until the age of 16 when he was unsympathetically kicked out by his mother.
He bought his first guitar for £40 from a second hand shop in Aberdare (a pink Honer stratocaster) and learnt to play from magazines and guitar tab books and a few lessons from a local Aberdare guitarist John Jones.
Music was the norm during his childhood and was a bigger part of his home environment than television. Raised on 70's rock such as Journey, Led Zeppelin, Supertramp, Pink Floyd and AC/DC.
He then developed his own musical identity from the age of 11 onwards with his first musical purchase, Iron Maidens Live After Death double cassette.
Along with Maiden came Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and a multitude of classic 80's metal, along with a more classic rock side with bands like Cinderella, Danger Danger, Firehouse, Tesla.
Leon cites his 4 most influential albums as:
Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds
Pink Floyd – The Wall
Journey – Escape
Tesla – Five Man Acoustic Jam.
Tesla's 'Five Man Acoustic Jam' introduced him to the 'unplugged' sound. Many people find it strange and almost contradictory that a man so entrenched in metal and heavy rock can write acoustically with such subtlety and melody.
Best described as 'Acoustic Rock' the EP combines rock sensibilities with an acoustic based sound scape with beautiful melodies and harmonies and incredibly infectious and hook laden choruses and lyrics.
The EP is available from 22nd December on CD (£3 + P&P) from the official Leon Live website –
www.leonlive.co.uk
The EP will soon be available digitally on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, eMusic and Napster.
It will also be available at all Leon Live performances.
The entire EP was created by Leon in his small flat in the town of Aberdare. Leon wrote, performed, produced, mixed and recorded all the material for the EP (and the upcoming album slated for release in Q2 2009) by himself. He also created the logo's and printed all the artwork for the CD. Chris Summerill of Summertime Records helped achieve a retail release by releasing under his Summertime Records label.
The 'Childhood E.P.' consists of 5 songs taken from the 14 that will appear on the full album next year. Each song(except 'Blinded') is a diary entry in Leon's life from May to October 2008 as he struggled to come to terms with an abusive and neglected childhood and the unfortunate emotional damage that left him with
as an adult.
Each songs lyrics were written in one day as a diary entry about the emotion and feelings he felt on that very day. These words are unedited, they are not revised or changed to 'improve' them as some form of song writing exercise. They are the honest, raw emotional content of one man's journey of self discovery.
Leon currently has work in progress mixes of all 14 songs from the album available on his website as free mp3 downloads so that listeners and fans can get a taste of the songs this talented songwriter is to release next year. It also gives Leon the opportunity to gain valuable feedback on his music from a worldwide audience.
END
Additional Info
Leon Evans is a 34yr old who has been playing guitar and writing his own songs since the age of 16. He joined his first band and started performing live at the age of 17.
Originally from the Fernhill Estate in Mountain Ash, Leon's disjointed and unsettled childhood saw him move 7 times (along with stays with other families at various times) until the age of 16 when he was unsympathetically kicked out by his mother.
He bought his first guitar for £40 from a second hand shop in Aberdare (a pink Honer stratocaster) and learnt to play from magazines and guitar tab books and a few lessons from a local Aberdare guitarist John Jones.
Music was the norm during his childhood and was a bigger part of his home environment than television. Raised on 70's rock such as Journey, Led Zeppelin, Supertramp, Pink Floyd and AC/DC.
He then developed his own musical identity from the age of 11 onwards with his first musical purchase, Iron Maidens Live After Death double cassette.
Along with Maiden came Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and a multitude of classic 80's metal, along with a more classic rock side with bands like Cinderella, Danger Danger, Firehouse, Tesla.
Leon cites his 4 most influential albums as:
Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds
Pink Floyd – The Wall
Journey – Escape
Tesla – Five Man Acoustic Jam.
Tesla's 'Five Man Acoustic Jam' introduced him to the 'unplugged' sound. Many people find it strange and almost contradictory that a man so entrenched in metal and heavy rock can write acoustically with such subtlety and melody.
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Childhood E.P. release date set
My debut retail release "Childhood E.P." is confirmed for the 22nd December 2008.
The EP will be available globally, direct from my offical website - www.leonlive.co.uk for £3 +p&p via Paypal.
I am currently also trying to get it available in some local shops in Aberdare for the Aberdare local peeps.
Digital distribution has already been sorted, but I am waiting for the live date (this can take upto 6 weeks depending on the website).
But the EP will be available on the following music stores(prices set by the digital stores):
iTunes
Amazon
Napster
eMusic
Rhapsody
The EP will also be available at all my gigs
The first 50 copies are going to be signed so make sure you grab a copy!
The EP will be available globally, direct from my offical website - www.leonlive.co.uk for £3 +p&p via Paypal.
I am currently also trying to get it available in some local shops in Aberdare for the Aberdare local peeps.
Digital distribution has already been sorted, but I am waiting for the live date (this can take upto 6 weeks depending on the website).
But the EP will be available on the following music stores(prices set by the digital stores):
iTunes
Amazon
Napster
eMusic
Rhapsody
The EP will also be available at all my gigs
The first 50 copies are going to be signed so make sure you grab a copy!
Saturday, 6 December 2008
EP imminent!
Ok so I'm currently hard at work finishing off 5 tracks for my EP called 'Childhood' which I'm gonna get out in time for christmas. The track listing will be as follows:
1. Child of Hell
2. Blinded
3. Your Tears are Mine
4. Memoirs of a Dreamer
5. Home
I recently bought a bass guitar so I can lay down all the bass lines, I've re-recorded 2 songs as they are sounding too slow compared to how i play them live.
Bass lines have been added, guitar solo's and guitar melodies/lead lines have been done, some vocals have been re-done (becasue of tempo changes) some vocal harmonies are going to be added tomorrow or monday. Then its a day of mixing ready for the mix down to stereo .wav files to be handed over to Chris Summerill for mastering.
As a taster/teaser heres the front cover*(click to see full size):
The cover mirrors my lyrical content, my own personal childhood trauma's in what should have been an innocent time. It also symbolises 'the beginning', the beginning of my music career and also the beginning of my journey of change, to let go of my childhood baggage and not let it affect where I'm going anymore.
Anyway, time to crack on with the recording, idle hands and all that.....
*The EP artwork, 'Leon Live' Logo and 'Double L' © Leon Evans 2008, all rights reserved
1. Child of Hell
2. Blinded
3. Your Tears are Mine
4. Memoirs of a Dreamer
5. Home
I recently bought a bass guitar so I can lay down all the bass lines, I've re-recorded 2 songs as they are sounding too slow compared to how i play them live.
Bass lines have been added, guitar solo's and guitar melodies/lead lines have been done, some vocals have been re-done (becasue of tempo changes) some vocal harmonies are going to be added tomorrow or monday. Then its a day of mixing ready for the mix down to stereo .wav files to be handed over to Chris Summerill for mastering.
As a taster/teaser heres the front cover*(click to see full size):
The cover mirrors my lyrical content, my own personal childhood trauma's in what should have been an innocent time. It also symbolises 'the beginning', the beginning of my music career and also the beginning of my journey of change, to let go of my childhood baggage and not let it affect where I'm going anymore.
Anyway, time to crack on with the recording, idle hands and all that.....
*The EP artwork, 'Leon Live' Logo and 'Double L' © Leon Evans 2008, all rights reserved
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