BV Magik

At last I've come around to doing my blog again - I realise that leaving it a month between blogs isn't exactly rivetting stuff...but hey, if you're that desperate for a read then visit Mel's blog. She's always going on about something. (Some people have too much time on their hands - luv you Mel! ;-)

Here is a piccy from 2 days ago - we were back in the studio laying down Backing Vocals: Jon and Paul adding sonic delights til the cows come home. All I got to do was whisper and scream on Hope and now, two days later, I still can't talk properly.

Tonight Paulo and I went along to THQ (Salvation Army speak for Head Office) to hear the ISB play in their rehearsal room. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before but we have asked them if they would be kind enough to play on our album and they have said yes! They are playing on a track entitled 'Take Broken Me' - if it works out well (and it should do because they're very good indeed) then we will have a great track on our hands when the whole lot is added together. We then shared a very tasty Nandos together with some of our friends from the band. All in all jolly good fun.

On the way home, whilst listening to the minidisc recordings we had made we decided to record some train noises...which proved to be amusing. The trains at Ingatestone Station never sounded so good! Hopefully our quest for special effects will make it onto the album!?

Well it's bed time I suppose. Tomorrow is another day and I intend to use it well. 

Final reflections from the first week

The last night of our recording extravaganza (week 1) has arrived (Didn't blog yesterday - ran out of time because of guitarin'). Below you can see a nice little piccy of me playing my acoustic - I think I was playing 'Take Broken Me' at the time.



It's really good to hear the album coming together now. It's been a good week - I've done guitars for 5 tracks and it's sounding pretty good...I think. To be honest there've been moments when my nerves have set in. In our little world we've been looking forward to doing this album for a while now so our expectations are set sky high! I'm sure you can understand it's potentially a long way to fall.

I've had the chance to play some lovely guitars and go through some nice amps too. We've also had some lovely visitors turn up on our doorstep: Matt, Lard, Si, and of course Rufio, Laws and Chellber! It's all been a jolly nice experience really.

Oh well...home time for now.

Doing the Levski Lunge...hey!

I felt it was important to update the blog to show a piccy that I like. Below you can see Levski lunging into his bass part - quite animated I'm sure you will agree. Loving the shadows too.



We're nearly finished the Drums and Bass for the entire album - by this evening I should be tackling the first guitar parts. It's now that I start to worry - it's not generally my playing that holds me back but more finding quality tone to use and keeping the 6 stringed beasts in tune. Those two things can take all the time away if you're not careful - at least I just got the guitars set up which is good news.

Anyway, I'll probably write again before the day is out. Our friend Matt White is visiting us down here today - so we're having a jolly good news up. Oh, and I had Ham, Brie and Cranberry sandwiches today - which was nice, but I'll probably not go there again.

Making a start on Tuesday...

Today I woke up in my little room in our little 'Artistes Flat' and stumbled into our lovely warm shower. Once I was finished (And had got dressed) I met the other Electralads for breakfast in the west wing of the flat. Much fun and merriment was had by all.

We headed down into the studio for a 10 am start - and as you can see below it has been quite an instense affair. Trev, intent on doing a great job, will not be swayed by the camera and focuses completely on Pro Tools. Lev has noticed said camera and, after preening himself gently, has leant back on his chair displaying his manly frame. Jon sits quietly in the back ground (Just like when we're on stage) and reflects on which sandwich he is going to choose for lunch whilst battling the demons which tell him again and again to chomp on a biscuit.



Obviously you can't see what I'm wearing or doing but I can tell you right now - it's awesome. I'm sure we could start a caption competition from some of these piccys...

Anyway, we've got three songs done so far - drum and bass. We're now starting on another track which we hope to get done before lunch...and the sandwich shop is good! I can forgive Jon for day dreaming about that lemon mayo and turkey banquet...

Day 1 in the recording studio

I thought it would be good to put up some an early pic from the sesh - here's one of Jon boy getting his sound early on today (if you look carefully you can see little ol' Levski in the control room). It's all great fun - looks like I'll be posting a few things on here over te next few days.



As for me? I'm just sitting here in the control room while Jon and Paulo keep it real and lay down some solid rock foundation...on today's menu is 'BREAKOUT' - the album opener. J-Money is working up a sweat and has twinged a nerve in his neck. Nice.

Hair today...blog tomorrow

There's a few things I need currently and one of them is a haircut. The other is one is that I really need to go to bed; but I promise only after I have written my blog will I do the later. And the former? Well, much to my mother's dismay, that will have to wait...ahh, the life of a rock and roll uber-star.



Just look at all that hair! I don't think I have ever been so hairy - of course those who know me (and I mean really know me) will understand that I have virtually no hair anywhere else on my body. (Much like a hairless cat, or a tibetan monk). Sorry, really that was just an excuse to use that 'Hello' program - blatant. But I hope you like the piccy anyway!

So, once I've gone to bed and got up it will be time to travel to the recording studio to lay down some phat tunes with my mates Paulo and J-Money - the other two thirds of Electralice. Can't wait to get groovy in the st-st-studio. Very excited...can you tell? Maybe that's why I can't sleep?

Anyways...I really had better go. Carus was a laugh tonight - a very intimately sized group. Maybe I'll tell you about it one day...

God bless us, everyone!

I've got a brand new combine harvester!

Well, not quite but I am very very excited at the moment cos I've got a brand new computer and I'm very pleased with it! Chell keeps calling me a 'pointy head' but i don't mind really cos I am a bit of a geek - and it's flash.

We played a phat gig last night - at a Student Union bar in St Georges Hospital Medical School (Or summit like that - the name was long anyhew). There were two other bands on the bill - the CU band from the college and a band called Note For A Child - who are signed to Ebb&Flow (Another one of the ICC subsidiary brands). Note For A Child are great - haven't heard much like them before in Christian music - some really nice beats and ambience all round. Good job - I bought their albums; always good to show support with the reddies.

Electralyte go into the studio next week. It hasn't quite dawned on me fully just yet but this could be the start of a significant next chapter in my life - really can't wait to get my hands onto my geetar and start strumming some tunes onto tape. I'm really hopin' that this stuff is good and that we're not gonna be disappointed with our performance. I don't think that'll happen though...

We're looking to have strings and brass on the album so I'm kinda looking forward to that - in an intrigued way. Never done 'owt with proper bo strings before!

Now off to kicks Mitson's butt on a game of Day of Defeat! Booyakasha! Bomballareena! Ciao!

Arty strop

Isn't amazing how quickly we loose confidence in ourselves. Especially us arty types. I just read a review of the Electralyte performance at Greenbelt (http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/greenbelt_05/16004/p3/) and that instant feeling went right through me and made me feel unsettled.

Yeah, sure we know that the gig was rubbish - on stage sound appalling, too many miles for too little time but even so this one guy's comments have affected me.

I don't know but I'm fairly sure that it's at these moments that I can hear God reminding me that I'm His - not just as an 'instant pick-me-up' but to remind me not to get on my high horse. For the last few months we Electralyte folks have had people surrounding us with encouragements: which always feels wierd and really awkward to accept... so I want to take this little opportunity to thank those closest to me who support and love me no matter how 'arty' I'm feeling.

William Temple (when he was alive he was Archbishop of Canterbury) suggested a definition of humility as being this: 'Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all.' I pray I can get there one day...

Back in action

I've felt it bubbling for some time now. That feeling that there's something missing in my life; that whale sized hole in my soul that tells me somethings wrong. And then I saw the light. I've realised that it's time to write my blog again! Time to return to the fray. Time to embrace the mind numbing twitterings of a million would-be poets.

I do realise that I haven't written for ages. If you were an avid Matt reader (for all 6 episodes!) then I do apologise - but most probably I'm writing to myself so no worries there then.

The last few months have been absolutely manic. Manic for the band: we've done loads of gigs and events; we've signed a record deal with ICC records; we've nearly sold out of CDs; and we're recording a new album in Oct/Nov. Manic for me: I've moved house (to the beautiful Essex countryside...no...really!); I've started a new job (At London NE DHQ of the Salvation Army); I've had my car written off again and I celebrated my 26th yesterday. Old man Matt!

I'll leave it there and come back with something a bit more in depth one day soon. Have fun!

Tomorrow never comes

Sooo, I'm not very good at keeping the old blog updated then? If there's anything the past few months have taught me then it would be that! Ha! It's now April and I haven't posted since January - I will really try to improve my posting frequency...

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my previous (now ancient) post - lots has happened since then but not much to make me change my mind on that subject (yet).

Today I had a really interesting discussion with some friends about my personality. Those of you who know me will understand this more than those of you who don't. I was trying to suss myself out as a few of my close friends have described me as quite an unusual chap. I really like this description although I couldn't say why!? I hope it is a 'positive unusual' rather than the opposite. With that in mind I reflected on my life as a Christian

I try to live a life as a Christian, but within that I am not prepared to put on a big show for my non-Christian friends pretending I am something I am not. Paul (as in the bible - important guy - lots of new testament - used to be Saul? You got him) speaks about pressing on towards the goal and running the race. It's always this 'pushing forward' imagery - as if he realises that he will never quite be there but will always push as close as he can towards Jesus. His hope is based in constantly aiming to be a better man tomorrow than he is today.

My prayer is that whilst I am always pushing onwards towards worshipping God from a deeper place within me, loving my neighbour more truely and walking closer to Jesus that I will always stay true to who I am currently. That I will continue to show my weaknesses as well as my strengths - that I will continue to communicate my struggles as well as my victories. The last thing I want is for people, Christian or otherwise, to see me acting out an unattainable life, putting on the 'performance of my career' everyday and never quite facing up to who I am once I come off stage.

Lots of tired thoughts there - what do you think?

Music makes the people get together

Just a short one for last thing at night... I'm quite tired out but I feel it is important to blog some thoughts from the past little while:

Firstly, today I came up with a great idea at work. For those of you who don't know I actually work in a prison when I'm not barking and squarking rock at the world. I came up with a really good method of recording our madatory training records using Excel (which is a Microsoft product - dunno if they're good or bad anymore...? There's a question for another day)

Secondly, think I'm gonna buy a laptop. Haven't quite gone into taking the plunge just yet but...should do in the next couple of days

Thirdly, been thinking about worshipping God. I mean, it's a big subject to think about (if you believe in Him or not even) but I'm thinking that music might just be quite important in helping us to commune with Him. Think about it - it seems that most of the Psalms of praise talk about music being an aid to the festivals of praise that the people joined in with. Obviously David wrote most of them and, being a musician, was quite biased...but it's not just the bible...

There was some programme on TV the other day about the 'Congo' - about a tribe that live there and have done for ages. It struck me - as they played away on their instruments - that rhythm and music was a massive part of life for them - and 10,000 other 'tribes' around the globe. It is the same for us - be it in our stuffy concert halls or grubby clubs. God gave us music as an advanced form of communication. One that can be used for good or evil - but certainly we can use it to worship Him. It's a unique art form. Why? Because it is the only art form that doesn't make sense without the added dimension of time. Music lives and moves and allows us to do so too. It is emotive and provocative and inspirational...don't all those words easily fit our common understanding of who God is too? Wierd huh?

I think as a musician and a worship leader I often genuinely feel like an extra on he movie set. Like one of the guys on the deck of the titanic who play as it goes down but are nonetheless just a part of the scenery. The musicians of the church are really important. I believe that some of the problems we're facing are not that the musicians have been elevated to too high a position but that when they are there they start to suffer from vertigo. We need to train musicians and worship leaders who can handle a lot of exposure - both in God's eyes and man's eyes. I believe musicians hold a vital security code to picking up on God's presence in our lives. Don't turn your nose up at it...have a think...

Diss is de place

I was wondering how people think of new stuff to write on here so regularly but I just worked something out...it's better to write the title last and then you don't have to stick to any kind of pattern.

We've had a really busy weekend - had a youth event to do and on the Saturday night we played our first ever gig! We rocked loud and hard - it was great. We were playing in my home town of Diss, Norfolk - which is kind of weird because that's where everything started and now I've just started afresh with the band again. Where would be a better place to launch the whole thing...but Diss place! Ho ho ho - the old ones are the best!

There's no place like home to be re-energised and encouraged to ROCK UP (nice term Mel) into the next part of the unknown. My Mum even came to the afternoon session yesterday - it was great to see her there. Even though we were a bit too loud for her and a bit too rocky I loved having her there.

Any way - might as well sign off. Good to blog - albeit briefly. The EP arrives next week - v exciting

Matt

Work shy

Oops, got up late today and missed work. Nevermind though cos I got to spend lots of time chillin' at home.

I cooked a cottage pie tonight, it tasted really nice (I can post the recipe up here if you want)

Other than those two mundane factoids I have nothing more to say today...

A confusing few days

I'm bewildered to be honest. The last few days have been really hard to take in and process - and for a champion over-analylist such as myself it's become a stressful time.

Electralyte, my band, is basically what I'm about at this point in my life. As such I'm constantly treading a thin line between a having positive, focused passion and a dangerous, all-encompassing addiction with it all! If anyone's got any advice they can lend then it would be greatly appreciated! I'll try and explain the current low down without giving away too many personal things that I shouldn't...

Basically, we've recorded a few songs and we've got some industry interest because of it. That's essentially the story. But this is the first interest we've had and it begs questions about our existence - why indeed do we exist? In fact it's really helpful to write this stuff down - it helps me to clear my head: my friend told me a cool quote, by Francis Bacon, which is ‘Reading maketh a full man, ... and writing an accurate man’. He really knew what he was talking about! I know there's not much to read about Electralyte, but writing my thoughts down helps me loads.

We're a Christian band - so we exist to give back our talents and our worship to God. That's reason one. The second is that we want to tell others about that through our music. Both very good & wholesome Christian band ethics. The problem is a question of positioning... I'm sure this is something that I won't suss in one Blog.

The band is exciting - it's a great thing and I hope the Salvation Army will be proud to call us their own. It's been a rollercoaster ride - both in terms of vision and purpose but also in practical terms - our friendships with each other in the band, finance issues, and questions that arise from living a real life, practical faith.

I'd better sign off there. In conclusion though I'm not saying 'Stop the rollercoaster - I wanna get off' instead that I wish they'd installed sick bags for the ride!

Thanks for reading!

Life is beautiful

I'm guessing it's natural to experience what I'm experiencing right now...what with it being my first Blog and all. I kinda don't feel I should really say that much of content or context, that should be left for the next post. Well, certainly if not that one then fairly soon anyway.

I've finally been inspired by my friends Marty, Phil, & Des (actual real people - though when you put their names in a line like that it looks like a classic comedy trio - which isn't far from the truth really) - I'm resolved to write a Blog. You see it's important. My life is a constant roller coaster ride: one with sleep and coffee breaks, but nonetheless a fairly frantic affair. I figure that if I write my life down here then I'll have a reference point when I want to change my mind. A lifestyle litmus test. And you can enjoy reading all this rubbish.

Here's to a Blogged life