Radiophonic type Editingness, Documentary and a Jazz Festival with FUZZROP (oh and I’m 21 now… weird)
It’s becoming a habit to start off every blog with ‘what a few weeks it’s been’ - so from now on, please assume it’s been a great week :P hehe
Firstly I would like to thank Claire Carter (BBC Radio Gloucestershire), Jess Bracey (Stroud FM), Joe Lemer (Total Star FM) and Paul Moss (BBC Introducing Gloucestershire) for such wonderful interviews these past weeks - not to mention Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald for welcoming me with a great cuppa and Chris Fowler for putting me on the BBC Glos radio playlist (I can’t explain the wonderful kick I get when one of my songs comes on the radio and I’m not expecting it, thank you so much). And last, but by no means least, Mr Tom Robinson for being such a marvellously awesome dude and loving ‘White Cavalry’ so much that he played it on his BBC 6 show which is now a podcast!
Mixtape 300412 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/trintro (only available until 30/5/12)
Speaking of Radio… let us continue with this edition of George’s ramblings:
It became clear that it was high-time I had some ‘radio edits’ of a few songs - gone are the days of Bohemian Rhapsody and Bat Out Of Hell. I always like to just write a song - trying not to let the thought of how long it is to cloud the process, you can tell that if you look at the timings for each of the songs on the album.
So, Matt Butler (my producer) and I went back into Yellow Shark Studios to have a crack at it. It’s probably one of the hardest things to do, edit a song when you have played it one way soooo many times and heard it that way over and over, to then start cutting bits out and moving sections around almost feels like you’re violating the song in some way haha. But, after the initial shock we just stuck with the thought of getting the 7 tracks we were okay to change, down to 3.30 minutes or less :)
Surprisingly, once we had done three the next four started to go really fast - although when I’m writing songs I don’t have this in mind, the sections I write are very sectioney and can be edited quite well.
In fact, once we had finalised them I haven’t listened to the radio edits since we’d okayed and mastered them - think I’m afraid I won’t like them haha! Which is only natural I guess, as I’m so used to hearing them sound the other way I don’t want to get to used to the radio edits - it could have rather confusing consequences on stage otherwise ;P Matt did a brilliant job and it was nice to be behind the console with him again - bring on album no. 2 that’s what I say hahaha
I think we now have all the footage for the documentary, it’s just a case of me getting on with the editing, which I am very excited about doing! Can’t wait to get stuck in - I have so many ideas - planning on also using lots of old gig footage and even more behind the scenes stuff of the album recording. Trouble is, I can’t decide whether to do it as each song individually or one big long piece… so many possibilities… hmmmm… still deciding, but I’ll get cracking very soon :)
Probably the most fantastic thing about recording an album is the actual recording, but definitely the second best thing is holding that recording in your hand… Especially when you have spent so long on the artwork, design and booklet :)
When the CDs arrived, I’m not going to lie, it was emotional.
There is something about seeing it in the flesh, having a tangible substance - this is it. My debut album. In my hands.
Aaaaaarrrrrgghhhhhh!! *runs around room flailing arms and skipping with glee*
It is so pretty and I am so very proud of it :D
You can order yourself a copy here - http://www.georgemontague.com/haveyoumetgeorge.html
We have also decided on something in Monty HQ, it was high time we settled on what to call my genre… after some thought, it became apparent we needed to invent a word that summed up my music - FUZZROP. Funk Jazz Rock Pop.
So, henceforth that is what my music shall be known as! Yippee!!
Cheltenham Jazz Festival was awesome.
It was hugely inspiring to see Gregory Porter with his band and Jamie Cullum having a few guest spots.
As well as the inspirational performance from bass guitar god Marcus Miller and his superb band.
And to meet him and shake his hand is a life’s accomplishment I can tick off my bucket list haha
Not to mention the fantastic band with Imelda May (and a half - hats off to her for such a spellbinding performance and when she was 6 months pregnant too!!).
Sensational.
As was the gorgeous Paloma Faith, what a treat to see her perform her brand new album for the first time (she is such a sublimely talented songwriter), together with a full jazz orchestra led by the awesome Guy Barker.
And to meet and talk to her afterwards was a true honour, what a wonderfully enchanting lady :)
Another amazing night in the Big Top (the giant circus tent main venue for Cheltenham Jazz Festival this year)!
I could not wait to get behind the keys again with Tom (Hooper) on the drums and Steve (Amadeo) on bass and as luck would have it on the final day of the Festival I was performing at the Jazz Festival too, with them.
What a great gig that was - though we were battling heavy rain outside the marquee (and Paloma sound-checking at the time) it went down a storm (please forgive the pun).
Tom and Steve did a brilliant job, as always - really love playing with them, it’s so much fun, especially as Tom is really letting rip with his fills now, as is Steve. We are knitting even tighter as a team with every new gig :)
Felt so amazing - and then to come off stage and be doing interviews immediately before going next door to the Rise Record Tent to see my CD on the shelves AND then to be asked to sign everyone’s ‘Have You Met George’ CDs… wow!
Words can’t even begin to describe. I loved it. This is definitely what I want to do!
I’m also really grateful to Claire, Rhiannon and Chris Fowler for coming along to the gig - felt great to have three people from BBC Glos there and loving every minute of it too! So cool!! Thank you to everyone else who came along (braved the storm) it means a lot to me, to look out and see so many faces out in the crowd enjoying the music :D
In other news, Wychwood is now confirmed - thank you again to everyone for kindly voting - I will be playing between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday June 10th on the BBC Introducing Stage thanks to Paul Moss and Tom Robinson :D
Please make sure you mention my name when booking tickets (as it should benefit you), if you are planning on coming along - http://www.wychwoodfestival.com/bbc-introducing-bands-announced/
Please do get tickets for my Brewery Blues Funk Special if you haven’t already (it’s selling out rather quick), it’s going to be a magnificent evening and I really can’t wait! - http://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/calendar-of-events/may/sp08-12-brewery-blues-special-fri-25-may-george-montague-2-p-1832.html
Right… well, that’s it for now, I’ll probably catch you after the Brewery Blues gig or see you there if you’re coming :)
TTFN folks
G x
PS as a footnote I turned 21… a most strange feeling - can’t believe quite what I have achieved in 20 years… thank you to everyone who has helped me get here and been there as a friend :)
Also, I got a Fender Rhodes eighty-eight… all the way from across the pond (Oregon, America) - she’s so pretty…
Her name is Rory :D
Finally, I went to see The Avengers (Avengers Assemble - as it is known to us Brits)… What an Awesome film!?!!
Oh yeah, and I went dressed as Hawkeye… ;)
Hi, I’m George, have you met me yet
It’s here… the day has finally arrived. I am releasing my debut album ‘have you met George’ worldwide! Aaaaarrrghh!! *runs around dancing, squealing, jumping and clicking heels with glee* Finally I can share with you this treasure I have held for so long. I hope you like it and enjoy :D
Available today for instant download on iTunes, Amazon and all other popular music download sites - http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/have-you-met-george/id516175300
You can also pre-order your copy of the Collector’s Edition CD which includes a 16 page booklet with lyrics, photographs and stories from the album; how I wrote each song and got to record this album with a brief commentary on each track. The Collector’s Edition CD is a blast from the past, cast in black with a vinyl finish and classic LP sticker for a real nostalgic feel :)
These are arriving on May 1st and will be posted out for free (worldwide) and will cost the same as the download! I realise this all sounds a bit like hard sell, and I apologise… I am just so excited and proud, not only of the recordings but what I am able to share them with. It is beautiful :)
I did a couple of radio spots on Saturday at BBC Radio Gloucestershire with Claire Carter, followed by Stroud FM with Jess Bracey. Both were huge fun and made me feel instantly at home. Thank you both for having me and especially for playing tracks from the album.
I was alsoat Total Star Radio in Cheltenham this morning talking about the album release - and have more appearances, interviews and press shoots coming up - please spread the word about the album to all your friends, thank you :D
In other news, we have now shot some great footage for the documentary - want to make sure I’ve got everything we need before I start editing. Also got a load of ideas and plans for some new music videos ;) hehehe
Hope you enjoyed my ‘White Cavalry’ video, it was so much fun to film and edit! I even had a comment from Tom Robinson on BBC Radio 6 saying he thought it was “daft, charming & original” :D what a humbling statement :) thank you so much sir - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrf37qpSlaY
Really excited about playing the Cheltenham Jazz Festival Fringe Stage, Monday 7th May at 5.45pm, hope to see you there - it is going to be jazz-funktastic :P Especially as we will have the actual CDs for sale there too for the first time at a gig!
If you do want to see the Brewery Blues Special show in Cirencester, please book tickets asap - it is selling out fast!! Hehee! - http://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/calendar-of-events/may/sp08-12-brewery-blues-special-fri-25-may-george-montague-2-p-1832.html
There is also another big local musical event I will be playing in early June… can you guess what it is…? I have you to thank for getting the gig… ;) I’ll give you a clue - who did Hansel and Gretel find in the house made of sweets, and where was it… now put those words together… what did you come up with…? :P whoop whoop!!
That’s pretty much it - if you do follow me on twitter, I apologise for my enthusiastic Instagram usage :P
Thank you for reading, listening, watching, liking, following, subscribing and supporting me and my music - you are wonderful fans, the bestest notsobigfans EVER!!
It is down to you that I hit 2 million unique views on YouTube this week… these numbers are so massive and humbling - my heartfelt appreciation and love to you all. It is a joy to make music and videos for such marvellous appreciates. Thanks guys :D
All my love and grins
G xx
Source: SoundCloud / George Montague
Waves Crashing with Wooden Horses
Where to begin…
Well, I guess I should tell you what has been happening - as you may have seen, my first downloadable single, ‘Hold On’ has been received wonderfully well and, encouraged by that, we have now released ‘Blood Ties’ as a second single - http://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/george-montague/id428972860
This has gone down even better - and brought some truly lovely and humbling comments on the behind-the-scene footage music video I did for that song a while ago - which means I have now hit over 1.75 million views on YouTube!! WOOOHOOOOO!!!
So, in keeping with this theme of making-videos-for-my-songs-from-the-album, I sat on my thinking spot and thought. And I thought a lot. It is amazing how many ridiculous ideas one can come up with on a late afternoon in sunny March… After I had honed down these grand ideas and simplified some of the more extravagant ones, I told Gerry (Lane) my thoughts. As usual I wanted to keep things simple and began to get the props together… yes my friends, I decided it was about time we had some props :D hehehe
There was much searching for particular things like a bucket… sandbox, hobbyhorse, plastic trumpet… anyone guessing the song yet?
The plan was to do ‘White Cavalry’, and just make yet another fun video for all you wonderful people out there who enjoy my music and to say thank you - as well as bring awareness to the album release.
Shooting the video was hilarious fun! I have never felt quite so much like a giant child in all my life. We picked a nice spot under a tree, got some sand in a wheel barrow and started. It was very enjoyable to film, especially the (bigger) bucket of water being thrown over my head for one of the last shots - a welcome cool down on such a boiling hot day!
The magic would then be in the editing… it took a while to decide what to put where in the video as I had such a wealth of takes to choose from. It was all about the careful placing - if you want to know exactly how I did it I might tell you if you ask nicely… ;)
White Cavalry - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrf37qpSlaY
As well as all this, we finished the copy for the 16 page booklet (full of lyrics, photos and stories from the album) that will be part of the ‘collector’s edition’ of the album CD - available to pre-order on my website now, and then at all my gigs after April 23rd (St. George’s Day) when ‘have you met George’ will be available to download worldwide!
I am so excited that my album is coming out before my birthday… someone asked me the other day, “Which are you more excited about? Turning 21, or the Album?” I was like, “Well, duh!? What do you think?” hahaha I can’t wait to share this album with you guys!! And the ‘collector’s edition’ looks good enough to eat :P - http://www.georgemontague.com/montaguealbum.html
If all this wasn’t enough, I have also written two brand new songs, ‘Unexplainable Glee’, and ‘Rhythm’ both of which are on the piano and I am loving playing - really want to crack on with album number two already!!! HAHA!
There is now a George Montague Twitter HQ which will have more up to date gig update’s and other info about me and my music :) - http://www.twitter.com/haveumetG
Also, played an impromptu gig in Cirencester on Saturday, where I debuted a few of my new songs; ‘Lovestruck Fool’, ‘Paper Planes’ (guitar) and ‘F.I.N.E.’ - which I think I played better than some of my oldies :P
Got a load of gigs with the band coming up, one of which is this Friday (April 13th) at The Frog and Fiddle in Cheltenham, supporting Benin City (who incidentally rock all kinds of funk - can’t wait) - it is going to be awesome!!
As well as playing the Fringe stage at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival on (Bank Holiday Monday) May 7th - around 5ish - which should be the first time you can buy my album CD at a gig!
And on Friday May 25th I am headlining a Brewery Blues Special at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester, which will be a celebration of my debut album release gig/party - so grab yourself a ticket now before it sells out! The event that is, not necessarily my CD ;) - http://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/calendar-of-events/may/sp08-12-brewery-blues-special-fri-25-may-george-montague-p-1833.html
So, that’s kind of it for now… more soon!
Thank you once again for all your support and for reading my ramblings :)
Grins all round :D
G xx
Hold On (making of the music video)
What an awesome few weeks it has been!
In a moment of inspiration I decided I should have a play with the idea of filming me singing a song from the album,’Hold On’, at half-speed and then, in the editing process, double the half-speed footage so I would singing in time but it would look like I was singing at double-speed - the exact opposite of what I did for the ‘Mind’ film.
The experiment worked like a charm. I immediately did another take and then shot a few more takes the same way, but with me playing piano from various different angles.
As the footage of me singing went so well I wanted that one single take to play throughout the whole video - the idea being that as YouTube is now such a big part of my music with the videos - and having often been asked to just sing a song to camera - I thought it would be a nice way of making a bit more of the song than that, and make the editing a big part of it :)
I didn’t use any lighting - just the gorgeous sun shining through the window which illuminated the shots beautifully.
As the footage when sped up looked very stop-motion (which I was very pleased with), I decided when shrinking certain takes (to fit more than one bit of footage in the viewer) I’d put them in a frame of sorts, which made it look nicer anyway :)
The only other thing I wanted to add was some footage of a snare drum, one hitting the skin and another a cross-stick - I was lucky the sun was still out and managed to catch some prism-made rainbows on the drum skin too!
Cutting it together was great fun and, unlike ‘Mind’ where I had worked solidly on it for three days, I decided to take my time. As a result, after watching the video back in various stages of editing, I decided that, ‘Hold On’ had to be the first single from my forthcoming album, Have You Met George :D
Hold On: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRK1rHLKgG0
So I cracked on, created some artwork (with the help of Gerry Lane) and got it all ready… It was the most amazing feeling to be releasing a Single - especially having it played on Claire Carter’s BBC Radio Gloucestershire Breakfast Show… I was doing the “Snoopy happy dance”!!
Hold On (on iTunes): http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/hold-on-single/id509801213
I also began writing another new song - this one being titled ‘Lovestruck Fool’ - the story of Cinderella from the point of view of Prince Charming… I feel a theme coming along with these last few songs hahaha
There is also a sixty-second ‘vote’ video I made asking please for your votes on Facebook - having been shortlisted to play the BBC Introducing Stage at Wychwood Festival!!
Vote Video: https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150864569627977
Please vote for me to play Wychwood if you haven’t yet, thank you: https://www.facebook.com/wychwoodfestival?sk=app_334660176568097
All in all a fantastic week, much happening here and lots I can’t mention just yet, but much I can and do :)
Since releasing the single it has been an incredibly inspiring experience. The overwhelming reception of the video to ‘Hold On’ has been extremely humbling… and to reach over quarter of a million views in less than 48 hours is simply mind blowing! Thank you everyone for your kind and generous support. I really appreciate all your wonderfulness :)
Much love, all you lovely readers :D
G xx
Mind I think I it’s a Music Video and what’s that about a Master Album and 2 New Songs
So, last week I returned to Rockfield Studios to continue filming interview footage for the album documentary I’ve been working on with Gerry Lane. I won’t go into the fact of how over-the-moon I was that I would get to play ‘Mrs B’ (Rockfield’s beautiful Bösendorfer piano) twice in one week!! We unpacked the car, set up with two cameras and rolled Mrs B out into the main recording room.
I had prepared the 11 tracks on the album in both half and double speed format so that I could record me playing the songs on Mrs B. and then slow the film down or speed it up when I edited it (either giving the effect of me playing twice as fast, but still in time, or twice as slow, but also keeping in time). After a chat with the lovely Lisa and Kingsley, (Kingsley owns Rockfield and Lisa is his daughter) we cracked on with some footage of ‘Mind‘, at twice the speed.
The day quickly and rather unexpectedly turned into a music video shoot! - as Gerry and I got more and more into the shots, really relishing the experience - a story was beginning to develop. So we began to work backwards getting in all the playing/singing shots first, before deciding to find a rug or cover so as I could enter the main room and tear it off the piano revealing this gorgeous grand. Then we just kept going and, still in reverse order, went out through the Control Room… and then out through the Quadrangle Studio front gate. It was fast becoming apparent that our enthusiasm was turning this into a short film.
Little did we know it but it was suddenly 5 o’clock - we had spontaneously shot an entire music video and hadn’t stopped for lunch or even a cup of tea! So we ventured into Rockfield (town) and the Pizza Express there, which used to be an old Morgan Garage in the 1920 and 30‘s. On the wall was a giant mirror embossed with the lyrics from Bohemian Rhapsody! - Freddie Mercury had recorded at Rockfield on the very piano I’d been playing all day (and on my album) - very cool :P
Returning to the Studio we took a few more interview shots and then called it a day. We’d kept things really simple, only using natural light and what was available inside, taking advantage of the mizzly rainy day and just what was already there at Rockfield.
The next couple of days I spent glued to the computer editing away… it was a true joy, and after deciding to convert the shots into black and white (like a 50‘s TV show) ‘Mind’ looked stunning.
Gerry came over for the first screening and was blown away. A while ago I had composed an instrumental piece called ‘Waiting Game’ with a very subtle piano part that really just holds suspense, so I included it at the beginning of the video to give it even more of a feel of a film.
I could not be happier with how it has turned out… and can’t believe we completed the whole film in three days!! And so begins Monty Lane Productions - we are planning on doing a number of other music videos as well as the documentary.
‘Mind’ - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-pbhSbkPMY
In other news, the album has now been officially named, Have You Met George, and fully Mastered… hearing these songs, my songs, just sing out of the speakers, loud, proud and very powerful - it is amazing. I am so happy - all that needs finishing now is the artwork which I am really enjoying preparing, and then we go to print! I can’t believe it, my album is finally going to be out there for people to have their own copy and have me in their homes and on their mp3 players… it is very surreal. But very AWESOME too!!
Written two new songs in two days now as well, which is a great feeling, I’m very happy with them, an upbeat guitar/piano number, ‘Frog’, and a piano ballad, ‘F.I.N.E.’ - can’t wait to play them with the guys, they’ll be good additions to the sets for the upcoming gigs!
In the past few days YouTube has again jumped to some amazing stats… rather overwhelmed by the multitude of wonderful comments on my latest videos - ‘Mind’, especially, which has now hit 230,000 views! I can’t even begin to describe my appreciation for all this kind attention, ‘Blood Ties’ has sky rocketed to 380,000, and ‘The Smoke’ jumped to 175,000 too!! It truly is the most marvellous affirmation of what I do… thank you all. You are awesome :)
I will be playing a headline gig at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester on 25th May - this will be the first time I’ve played this great venue with Tom and Steve (drum and bass). Very excited about it! As well as a spot at Nibley Festival in Gloucestershire (again with the guys) which I am also very enthused about, especially as the whole festival sold out in 36 hours and it promises to be one fantastic day!! :D
I also wish to thank Paul Moss at BBC Radio Gloucestershire for kindly nominating me for the Facebook Vote to play the BBC Introducing Stage at Wychwood Festival in Cheltenham this year. Please, if you haven’t already :) I’d be really grateful if you would vote here - https://www.facebook.com/wychwoodfestival?sk=app_334660176568097
All in all although I know I do it at the end of each blog, I would still like to sincerely thank everyone who supports and enjoys what I do… I really do appreciate your kind and generous encouragement. Thank you.
Laterzzz!! :P
G xx
Rocking the Field with Knibbsey Pointing West
Well, it was awesome!
I had so much fun with Steve Knibbs, aka Knibbsey, and Mark (his BBC cameraman) at Rockfield Studios last Friday. Not to mention my first TV appearance, and finally signing off on the album with Matt Butler. I’m letting you in on this because I like to think of my blogs as me being open with anyone who reads them about what is going on. The highlight was again being able to play Mrs B (my nickname for Rockfield’s Bösendorfer grand). Oh, how I have missed her gorgeous sounds and tough keys tearing my fingers apart :P
But, before I start drooling again at the thought of that tremendous piano I shall tell you about the day!
We arrived early to find Mr Tom Hooper behind the drums, just having a practice - he had stayed over after the day before as he’d been recording some drums with Matt for an artist called Jan Schmitt. He told me Matt had left earlier to go back home and grab all his kit for us to listen back to the album that day. It was so nice to have Tom there and I was itching to just start laying down album number 2 there and then! Haha
Not long after that Knibbsey and Mark from BBC News Points West programme arrived and we went over the plan for the day. As they wanted to get a short piece out for the lunchtime slot at 1.30pm (bearing in mind we were in Monmouth, the BBC studio was in Bristol and it was already 9.30am). We did a short interview (I say short, I spoke for about 15 minutes, haha) with me at the piano, as a trailer for the longer piece to be broadcast later that day at 6.30pm.
We also wanted an ‘as live’ piece for the 1.30pm slot - ‘as live’ means filming it as if it was going out live - I’m sure most of you gathered that, but for those who didn’t there it is. So, we rehearsed it a few times as I was going to play the piano and Knibbsey would interrupt me, which meant that for me I wanted to get the timing right so I would finish just as he turned to talk to me. It took a few takes, but the last take worked like a charm. I knew I wanted to play/sing the end of ‘The Smoke’ and sit on the keys for the last bit (as seen in the video for ‘The Smoke’ on YouTube), but when I sat on the keys, just the sheer volume of Mrs B exploded so I desperately tried to muffle the strings, which added great comedic effect.
On the whole it was perfect, and then we got some shots of Gerry Lane - the man responsible for funding the Album - as well as some shots of me singing along to ‘Blood Ties’ with Matt at the control desk. It was so much fun to do and, due to the slow internet connection being a rural location, the ‘as live’ piece only got to the BBC about 20 minutes before air time! Not to mention Knibbsey told us later that the longer 6.30pm spot had also cut it very close - they’d only finished editing that piece about 5 minutes before it went on air!!
A link to the BBC Points West piece - http://bbc.in/yBf0u2
The rest of the day was great fun too
