Post Sawmills Blues

Well we've been back a week and it all seems like a wonderful dream. After having got all the parts down as best we could (following a mad midnight dash on vocals as time was running out) we've locked Tom in the editing suite and told him no bread, water or sleep until the tracks have been mixed. Sometimes you just have to be firm with these sound engineers (not really Tom, I'm sorry, please don't put the piano so far down in the mix you can't hear it...).

So now we're waiting with bated breath whilst getting on with rehearsing the next few potential tracks for recording - all brand new and sounding sweeeeet (though I do say so myself).

Can't wait to get back to that little oasis of rock'n'roll
Stay tuned
Grace x

Thanky-Thanky..... Sleep?

Vocals are sounding great but we called it a night at 3:00 as we had a few droopy control room eyes. Coming to the end of our first session, no-one wants to leave but its been the most amazing time, everyone's pulled out the stops to make it work, especially Tom who has been the rock of the session such care and commitment no-one here will forget it. Great I-tunes off session too.. England 2, Germany 2 me thinks, we drew level with the K&D remix?

Any-ways.. when I've had more sleep and time to reflect I'll write something that doesn't sound like i'm on pill pipes.

Matt x

Multi talented

It must just be said how frinkin good Sammy and Andy's cooking has been, (as well as their playing), just about to start the second round of my vocals really excited about how the early takes are sounding, we tried a couple of different condensers, and think we've found the right one. Vegetarian lasagne is on the menu tonight then it's back to the mic for me...

matt x

Eye's

What an amazing past few days. Everyones been working so hard and the atmosphere is magical. After initially demoing the tracks live, we chose the strongest four and have completed Dam's drum parts. We're deep into studio time land, days are merging and there's a sharp focus. Grace is working on her piano parts and is nailing it!! So amazing to hear the tracks coming together from how I first imagined them with guitar and voice.

Think we're about 13 hours into the session,cant wait start singing!!

Matt xx

Exploding lungs, sweaty pits and the twiglet thief!

Hopper here!

Day 4, THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
Last night it was my turn to add to these ever increasingly beautiful tracks. In front of me are four amazing amps and a interesting collection of guitars. It was getting to 11:00 till we finished dinner and by the time we were working on 'The Fire' a long day had caught up with me. Saying that there was still room for plenty of G&T's.
So our final day has arrived and by ten i was down in studio. Finishing 'The Fire' was a great feeling but the the feeling i am feeling now is quite wet and cold. Yes you guessed it (i hope) we are on the boat going to get Matt from his travels back to Totnes to get Anne back for a lecture. Dressed as a modern day gangster Matt gets on the boat with wine a goodies. No goodies yet just more guitar but now its getting serious, Life Belt is next. I will just let you hear how it all sounds when the time comes. ( Bloody great thats how).....
With the fall of the sun comes the rise of the man that is Matthew Board. Warm water in one hand and a hot dog in the other (not really but it was good hot dog!) he steps up to the mic. All goes well apart from his lungs nearly exploding at one point but its time for a break and to get work a bit of backing vocal. Sammie's cooking up curry lucky us, toilet beware.

Peace and love
x
Hopper

Banging On

Day 2. Picking apart the parts and whacking out some drums and bass. I'm unusually relaxed for a studio session and the tracks are going down fast. I love the dubby sound of the bass and Betsy ( my fender jazz) is performing well. Days are long and the tracks are short and bouncy. Big up the mills!

Pont blah-bee-blah? Must be French.

Had the most amazing couple of days - already told the guys I'm bound to cry when we leave (although someone said something about Christmas Eve so I think we're in for the long haul). Can't believe I started my Sawmills experience with a midnight dash from Birmingham to Cornwall - a snoring Andy Hopper in the back and an even snoringer Sammy in the front, co-pilot my arse.
Well it's 23:41 and here we go again. I'm full of chilli (thanks Andy) and ready to roll.
Ahh this is the life

Grace
x

Dam Ahoy!

Wow! What a way to spend the last three days....Just music, music and even more QUALITY music!!!
After trekking down from the Woo of Worcester, the scenery, the views and the reality of preparing for a recording session down here at the Sawmills studio just goes BANG!
And straight into action with recording the whole band live to get of an idea of what to focus on. Then comes the drum takes of the chosen tracks from early morning to EARLY morning! But what an amazing opportunity, and when the tracks start being put together, there is nothing better. What an amazing group of musicians and friends to be working with, AMEN to that!
All that's left to say is, ZIVELA NASA MUZIKA I NEKA NAM BOG DA ZDRAVLJE I PUNO SRECE DA USPEMO...
Ziveli
Damjen Racic

Bit of music and a pot of chilli!

Andy here,

Well its been a long old day and there's more to come. Matthew just asked to write a few bits down but i dont know if he realises how bad my gramma is. We have spent this morning finishing up drums and bass. Meanwhile, Grace and I sit bitting our nails anticipating the moment we get to give our contribution to these brill tracks. I have very recently been band from the control room as i smell of chilli, not a great thing to be smelling of when your in a confined room with 6 other people. This is not important however because we are working with the best of sound engineers and having fun with a great group of people (tear jerker). My beer is getting warm so i better go.

Watch this space
Hopper
X

Rock On Tommy!

So here we are. Deepest darkest cornwal. Lost in Lostwitheil.
l after playing the Hare and Hounds in Birmingham( see NotNOwBernard Blog), only to arrive at 3am and treck the last half mile by moonlight down a train track. A truly magical start to the session. With a mixture of fatigue and excitement we hit the hay with anticipation for what tommorrow brings.