It’s all change in the band for Roger again and he has joined another band to play drums in - and he’s looking forward to the Summer.
Xv Frames debut EP
When young band Xv Frames came to the studio they didn’t know why they were called Fifteen Frames (well that’s how you say it apparently!) so maybe if you read this post you should go ask them directly!
I always ask what I think are pertinent questions of any new band using the studio to record, but have never in 25 years of owning the barn come across a band who don’t know why they are called what they are! Good start - but it got us talking.
Being young they had a small budget but big aspirations and tons of enthusiasm. With only 2 days booked to record 6 songs it was all quite feasible and they certainly had practiced well, showcasing the songs to me before we began the set up procedure. After 2 days of organised chaos we had 6 songs in the can - 3 full band songs and 3 acoustic tracks with various singers and arrangements. A well organised and productive group.
The songs are now available on iTunes and all those other streamy places:
More Than You Would Do - EP - Xv Frames
A very happy band comprising 5 main chaps (Sam, Ollie, Sean, Aiden & George) plus female backing vocalist Grace, with great songwriting skills and a good amount of punch - check them out on Instagram too:
@XvFrames_
Vocalists from West End
A couple of weeks ago I was asked to help a wonderful local singing school (Sophisticate West End) in a large project involving over 20 of their students. The 2 main tutors also wanted to make a demo song for their students to showcase their own singing talents with a simple video. They chose a song from the musical Mean Girls titled Apex Predator which I hadn’t heard of at the time, but have since watched the film (it’s really good - definitely worth a watch) and here is their video.
The tutors (Sophie Ayers and Djalenga Scott) only needed to sing the song about twice each and delivered this amazing song with ease.
Visit the West End Camp Video Page
Doing something like this is a great way to get your message out there and I regularly make simple videos like this for artists using the studio. An in-studio shoot only takes a few minutes to set up with all our specialist lights. Green Screen filming also available or outside on-location style videos are great fun to make - whatever you want really. For more information on the studio please contact BB Studio.
Debut music video from local band COE
Check out this video release from local Coventry Collective COE.
The band comprise 5 chaps with varying tastes in music including freestyle rap, indie, classical, jazz and rock.
Human Race (KooKoo) is a reflection on modern life and the current fast-paced speed we seem to have to live. We are a very mixed up society.
Happy Christmas
Christmas time is here again - awesome. Big thanks to all the folks who chose to get their recordings and video projects produced with me at BB Studio. It’s really appreciated and I’ve enjoyed making them all come alive.
Many people ask why the business is called Born in a Barn - the truth is that it’s really got nothing to do with any little babies or mangers. When I set the studio up in 2004 it was cold - real cold - and I figured the phrase ‘were you born in a barn?’ was very appropriate but underpinning this was the notion that many musical artists’ careers would be born in a barn using my studio set up - and they really have.
However this year, my own bands and music has been born too.
High Command was an adventure in going back to live drumming with a band and we recorded a superb 4 track EP, played 3 gigs and made a tongue-in-cheek video. Now the band is on Winter Break (not my term!) cos Greg the guitarist is in Thailand avoiding the chill in resplendent self-indulgence!!
Cup of English (aka COE) is a new venture which started as a studio production group, for 4 individuals with similar tastes and interests. This has grown now to a 5 member band and we intend to start live rehearsals in January. The band make trance/hypnotic indie-based music (loosely) with a good few twists as you might expect from something I get involved with. To date we have 6 tracks on the Lemon Soul EP, which is growing fast into an album. This is an underground group and it’s been a wonderful refreshing project to immerse myself in. Can’t wait to get it out there - but you gotta wait!!
I myself had a great year outside of the studio with the highlight being running my 1st marathon, in Dublin. I trained for this in 8 countries and ran just a little over 1000km, plus raised over €1,200.00 charity cash for the ISPCC or ChildLine Ireland.
Enjoy yourselves this Christmas to the max, but take a bit of time to reflect on the year you have had and other people you know who may be less fortunate.
The music industry goes crazy this time of year with all the gigs and shows. Be careful enjoying yourselves.
Who knows what is coming next year with Brexit?
One thing’s for sure - there will be plenty of stuff to write songs about!!
But lastly ….. here are some big baubles!
