Looking at 2016 with a Wizard’s wise words..

I’m not normally a New Years resolution making chap.. Although I do like to try to remember what actually happened as 2015 flew by..

For one reason or another, over the year I’ve been watching the world much more closely than I have previously. Especially in the last few months, I’ve found myself starting to sink into a pit of despair whilst helplessly witnessing the happenings in Paris, the US, and especially in the Middle East. I’ve tried to look deeper than ever before into the details of the who, what, when and perceived reasons as to how the heck these tragedies happen.

The more crap I find happens in this world, the smaller this world feels to me. It’s pretty bleak to honest. The more attention I pay, the harder it is, but also the closer it all feels to home. And perhaps that’s a good thing. Because the more aware I am of people’s sufferings, the more I feel part of it and the more I treat them as a neighbour. No matter how far they are away.

But I can see it’s obvious no matter what the will of our world leaders, fear is spreading here in the West. Fear and uncertainty is a divider. And it’s easy to use things like our own national identity, skin colour, religion to justify that division. Separating ourselves from the problem in that we should just get on with our own lives and let the cares of others sort themselves out. I know most of us don’t mean anything in a Scrooge like ‘let them die to decrease the surplus population’ thing but I’m sure we’ve all asked ourselves the question: ‘what can we possibly do to change anything?’

Right now in the north of Britain, there’s a whole load of record level flooding. 1000’s of homes and businesses are ruined. One man from Yorkshire who’s been really badly affected and had every excuse to be bitter and self occupied said this:

“All you morons vomiting your xenophobia on here about how money should only be spent ‘on our own’ need to look at yourselves closely in the mirror. I request you ask yourselves a very important question… am I a decent and honourable human being? Because home isn’t just the UK, home is everywhere on this planet.”

I do feel like if everyone remembered that we are all brothers and sisters on this earth, it’d be a lot easier to make decisions about people’s lives, over and above financial interest and well being.

In terms of myself and Speak, Brother in 2015.. Well, I could say that we’ve played 50 odd shows and launched two singles and videos (one for the Rugby World Cup of course).. In many respects, a good year.

But I have to ask myself the question: Does it matter?

A little critical I guess. But this year if I keep this kind of perspective then perhaps instead of just being a person in the music business, I’d be in the people business, making music. Maybe then I’ll find myself more often in a position to somehow make it matter.

Anyways, this is starting to sound like a Gandalf monologue with The Shire music warmly whistling over it.. ha! But I’m not going to apologise for that. Instead, I’ll leave you with a Wizard’s wise words:

“Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” — J.R.R. Tolkien

What do you think?

James

January 3, 2016 1 Comment

Sunny Saturdays and a blind lady

I love Saturdays.. They always seem to be sunny, no matter the weather. Everyone needs one day off a week that is different from the rest. A day that allows you to chill out. It’s good for the soul. I get to write songs, blog, plan music videos and stay in my slippers most of the day. What’s your day off like?

So, today I’ve been finishing off a song I’ve been working on, which I’m kinda buzzing about because it was based on a weird and wonderful moment the guys and I witnessed a years ago..

A gig – May 2013. We were still waiting to play. The show was a competition to play a festival. Thankfully not based on how many people you can bring, but the music itself. Naturally, it was difficult to fully appreciate the music when you feel like you’re against each other in a fight for the right to play the festival. But the other acts were great and I was feeling tired and a little discouraged and all I could think about was how to ‘impress’ the judges.

It was safe to say I was just focusing on myself, until I caught sight of a lady who obviously blind. But the first thing I noticed about her was the fact that she seemed really happy. Well, not just happy, but joyful. She seemed the only person in the room that was truly enjoying being alive. Yet she was blind. She saw nothing.

But it was beautiful.

Why? I had no idea at first. I wanted to pity her. She’s never seen a sunset, or new born baby! Yet.. I wanted what she had. A joy that didn’t faulter when she was judged or treated differently.. A joy that can only come from a sense of unconditional love and the unwavering expectation that everything will be ok.

Being blind, she misses out on all the magazines, newspapers and blogs filled with the media’s idea on what a woman needs to look like to be accepted in society. We really are fed some rubbish from the media.. She misses out on the expectations put on her to try to be something.

She didn’t need to try to be anything.. She was just her. It was like she knew that more then anyone in the room. She was herself, and that made her beautiful.

Why would you settle for anything less?!

I started asking myself again – Who am I? Why am I here? And for what purpose? Questions it seemed she’d know the answers to, but sometimes admittedly scared to ask myself.

What would you say?

March 7, 2015 Add Comment

In the studio for round #2

Hello! Last November saw the release of our Debut EP and since then, we’ve felt we have a lot more to sing about. So we went into the studio earlier this month and recorded a new one!

We’re currently adding the bells and whistles to it and hope to have it in your ears this Spring!

Here’s a snippet of what happened in the studio.. The guitar riff at the start was one of my takes for one of the songs.

Speak soon,

J x

February 28, 2015 Add Comment

EP Preview – Track #4 Two Bands Of Gold

Well we’re almost at the end of our short series of previews of songs on the EP which means the EP release is just around the corner! Next Monday (November 3rd) in fact.

Two Bands of Gold rounds off the EP in the complete opposite way it started. Dry Bones is big and anthemic, but this.. I guess is a bit more face to face.

I’m not going to talk too much about the story as I’d like to let the song do that but it’s quite close to my heart as it’s about my grandparents, so I’ll share a little.

Things are things always changing in our lives. And I wrote this song in the middle of a transitional point, from one season to another. My Grandad had not long passed away and my Nan was adapting to living alone. I can’t imagine how hard it’d be for her. To live on your own after sharing a life with someone for most of your life.. On the flipside to that, I was also planning on proposing to my girlfriend.

I suppose the odd mix of feelings led me to think a little more on the meaning of marriage and how great, but also how hard, it can be. So this is a story about them and a celebration of love. Not a soppy love that looks like proper love, but really only wants to get something from the other person.. But a love that overlooks faults, with no conditions and just wants to give and give. You know, the proper stuff. The real Mckoy.. One year married now, and it’s a learning curve for sure with plenty of up’s and down’s already, but this song is a good reminder for me.

But anyways.. here’s a clip of what’s to come on Monday:

October 31, 2014 1 Comment

Summer lovin’

So far the summer season has been great for us. We’ve continued to have great support for Dry Bones with a featured slots on Brite Revolution’s homepage and live sessions in a bookshop and Premier Radio in London. We’ve also had more radio play on BBC Cov & Warwickshire with the lovely Marian McNamee.

Dry Bones – Big Comfy Session

Summer Part 2

We’ve also gigged quite a lot the past two months and we finally have a chance for a quick breather before Part 2 gets under way. We are spreading out a little to Scotland, Wales and the East Anglia in the next few weeks so have a look if we’re near you. Below are the dates, but more are to be added to keep a look out! Would be great to see you!

What’s next??

At the end of the Summer, we plan to release our EP featuring Dry Bones and 3 more songs online. It’s currently only been available at shows but we want to make it available to everyone.

We also have a few other special things lined up too which we’ll be keeping you up to date with in due time 🙂

Speak soon,

James

August 5, 2014 Add Comment