Merry Xmas!

I just wanted to use this blog to thank everyone who has been there for me this year and unwittingly appeared in various blogs. You'll know if the dedication is for you!

1) My Oldest Friend; What a year eh? Thank you for your support over those horrible few weeks. Here's to 2011 being better! I can't believe we've known each other for 20 years now! Still not happy about vampires sparkling. Love you!

2) My Firey Red Head; Thank you for staying with me for that night all those months ago. I wish we could see more of each other but I know you're always there and I hope you know the same. I miss you. Keep geeking huni!

3) My New Hubby!; You have been a great friend from the moment we met. I think we bonded over our hatred for most things! You are always honest and that's just what I need in certain circumstances! I may love you, but Ryan Reynolds is mine!

4) The Happy Couple; I was so happy to see you two get married this year. You make me still believe in love. Thank you for all your advice, even though I don't listen until it's too late!

5) My Shoulder To Cry On; What a year we have both had! Thank you for all your advice, shame you can't take your own! Keep believing huni. You know I'm always here to return the favour.

6) My Happy Coincidence; Couldn't think how else to describe it! Thank you for a great few months and the friendship that we now have. I'm glad we met and thanks for the memories ;)

7) My Family; I know we're stuck with each other, but I couldn't think of any better people to be stuck with. You mean everything to me and you have done so much for me.

8) Hev; You may be a little brat, but I love you. I'm always here for you. Thank you for everything this year, really made me realise just how much you have grown up, even if you seem to live on a different planet sometimes!

9) Angel; Its been so long, it's hard to believe. You are always in my life, in my heart and in my thoughts.

10) My Best Friend; Where to start? We lost touch so many years ago, which is one of the things I have always regretted. Although we have both been through heartache this year, the good thing to come out of it is that we are back together and stronger than ever. I am always here for you, just as I know you are for me. You mean the world to me and this time, I aint letting go! We come as a pair. Love you

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!

Bridget Jones, meet Katie Pinner

Bridget Jones wants to be a journalist. Katie Pinner wants to be a journalist. Bridget Jones is single. Katie Pinner is single. Bridget Jones somehow manages to make the worst out of a situation. Katie Pinner, well, you get the point.

It is true that every woman can relate to the sad singleton, but it’s rather unfortunate when you can relate on so many levels!

Reading through this blog one can’t help but notice the ramblings of a single woman. And here comes more!

Last Woman Standing.

You’re the one at the party without the plus one. This is the part of life that every woman hates. Realising that you are truly single. Others are getting married or in relationships or in the dreaded dating game. You are somewhere in the wilderness that is between single and dating. And yet your ex is in a full blown relationship. Which was a bit too soon for your liking.
Ah, the simple life, it seems such a long time ago I cannot remember it!

Another example is being alone when you are ill. Much to my joy I had this realisation recently. When you awake in the middle of the night feeling violently sick, with your head resting gently over the toilet bowl, it comes over you like a tidal wave. Up until this point you have gone along quite happily. You have your friends and family and various suitors, and yet you are alone staring into the abyss that is the lav. There is no one there to hold your hair back or tell you “everything will be ok”.
Even though this is one very low point in ones life, it comes with a great feeling of achievement. I have managed to get through my first sickness alone. This proves that you are ok on your own. The happy realisation that you don’t need a partner, but want one. Sadly you have had to crawl across the bathroom floor to achieve nirvana.

No one tells you about these things as you are growing up. No one warns you about the pitfalls of life, or should that be love. Sure, you get the usual, look both ways when crossing the road, don’t talk to strangers blah blah. But when did Mummy tell you that the opposite sex are a completely different species? Why were we allowed to believe in the fairytales? At what point did Cinderella get warned about men? She didn’t. She met Prince Charming and lived happily ever after. The part about the kissing many frogs was sadly excluded from the story. When did Mum sit Sleeping Beauty down and say “dear, men are bastards” and when did Dad sit Robin Hood down and say “son, women are bitches”?

Keep updated with my blog and there will no doubt be a similar story in a few days time. “Once bitten twice as shy”, maybe? More like, “3 times bitten, never learns!”.

Mr and Mrs Perfect?

After some non-extensive research I have found that, shock horror, the sexes disagree. Seems there is a Mrs Perfect, just not a Mr.
After leaving a question on Facebook I got various replies. I asked friends if Mr Perfect would get boring. The overwhelming answer from women: yes. From men, that is different. It was more extensive. Men are more willing to overlook certain flaws in a potential partner than women.
Women see a man as work in progress, what they can do with him. One poor sod, who shall remain nameless, unknowingly volunteered himself as the male guinea pig. His opinion on it was that he is usually so besotted he doesn’t notice any flaws in Mrs Perfect. This was a sweet thing to hear from the ‘dominant’ sex.
Do we just believe all the fairy tales and expect Prince Charming to be Mr Perfect as well? Tall, dark, handsome, witty, intelligent etc etc. Does he exist? If he does, would he slay dragons for your hand in marriage? Or would Mr Not-so-perfect risk his life for your love? Why do we have a list of requirements when looking for potential partners? Why can’t we just be happy with being happy?
Surely that’s all that matters?
Or, maybe feminism is to blame. Over the years women have been empowered and told that they don’t have to settle for anything less than perfect. It’s what we owe ourselves as strong, independent women. And look where it has got us: high divorce rates, and more single women than you can shake a stick at.
Comedian John Bishop made a point on his recent appearance on Michael McIntyres Comedy Roadshow. With the invention of Ann Summers, how is any man ever going to live up to our over-inflated expectations? How can any man compete with a vibrating, gyrating, pulsing rabbit?
So, men, in order to be Mr Perfect, basically, you have to be everything she wants, which is impossible because she’d get bored. Also, have the ability to do things that are physically impossible to entertain her after dark.
Men of the world, you have my sympathy.


Many Thanks to Jamie xxx

Miss, Ms or Mrs?

How can such small words become such a loaded question? Freelance journalist Kelly Rose Bradford did an article a few months ago which got me thinking.

The first definition of Miss in the Oxford dictionary is the verb. Fail to hit, reach or come into contact with. Pass by without touching, chance not to hit. Fail to notice. Fail to attend. Fail to see. Avoid, escape. All of the above are definitions of the word Miss. Most of which involve failure. How interesting.

Miss (noun):
Definition one: a title prefixed to the name of an unmarried woman or girl, or to that of a married woman retaining her maiden name for professional purposes.
Definition two: used in the title of the winner in a beauty contest.
Definition three: used as a polite form of address to a young woman or to a waitress or female shop assistant.
Definition four: a girl or young woman, especially one regarded as silly or headstrong.

Mrs (noun): the title used before a surname or full name to address or refer to a married woman without a higher or honorific or professional title. Origin: abbreviation of Mistress.

Ms (noun): a title used before the surname or full name of any woman regardless of her marital status (a neutral alternative to Miss or Mrs)

Most women are unaware that Ms is a neutral option and feel that which ever option they choose will define them. Mrs obviously means you are married. Miss means you are single, and judging by the definitions above, a silly failure. Ms means ambiguous. Why is it so important for a woman’s marital status to be confirmed? Men have one option, Mr. There is the other of Master whilst they are children, but once they hit adulthood they automatically become Mr. Why don’t women get to change when they hit adulthood? Do we not become adults until we get married?
One can’t help but let the feminist inside loose on such subjects.
When you next fill out a form asking you to tick a box, think about what that little box says about you.
Happy being a happy go lucky Miss, good for you, you tick that box.
Happy being a married Mrs, good for you, you tick that box.
Happy being an ambiguous Ms, good for you, you tick that box.
How can one small box define a woman? According to the dictionary, which box defines you?

Mr (noun):
Definition one: a title used before a surname or full name to address or refer to a man without a higher or honorific or professional title.
Definition two: used before the name of an office to address a man who holds it.
Definition three: used before a surname to address or refer to a male surgeon.
Definition four: used in the armed forces to address a senior warrant officer, officer cadet or junior naval officer.

Never Been Single

I have recently found myself single after being in a relationship since I was merely 17. Being an inexperienced singleton at 23 is a rather peculiar realisation.
The questions that most girls ask Cosmo at 18/19 appear at the forefront of your mind. Am I a normal girl? What’s dating? How do I know I do things right? Do I kiss properly?

Seeing myself as a somewhat mature person, these were questions that I never thought I would ask. Luckily, the answer to most of them is ‘yes’. Men are quite happy, if not appreciative (this came from a man), if a woman is naked. Men are quite easily pleased and are happy of any attention that’s heading their way, from a smile to getting down and dirty!

The best advice I can give to any (older than the usual) new singleton is to enjoy your friends. This is the time when you find out who your real friends are. Luckily at 23 you already have a select group of friends that you have whittled down. Accepting their help does not admit defeat. Helping can be anything from a text message to a full blown bitch fest, depending on your needs.

Don’t be afraid to ask those questions. For example, one horrid question: what do men expect of a lady’s topiary? And guess what, they don’t really care. They may have a preference, but again, as long as you’re naked its fine!

At the time of the split, my friends were all doing the same thing: being dumped. Two had been single for about a month or so, then it was my turn, then another dropped and another. There must have been something in the water during Spring/Summer 2010. The hot topic was not the latest collection from Topshop, but that 23 seemed to be the age at which everyone is single.

Of course, we all had the same questions. Why did it end? Will I ever find someone? Where can I get a rabbit? The answers are: because he was a crap boyfriend (even though it was an easy break up and you were going to end it anyway), you will find someone, and Ann Summers is your best friend!

The annoying part of a break up is all the clichés that you will inevitably hear. They are all true, no matter how much they make you want to scream. It is for the best, you can do better, you will be fine. They are clichés for a reason, they’re true.

Just as I am about to publish this, another has been dumped. But, to buck the trend, it’s a boy! So it’s not a plague on women this season, but on all 20-somethings. This disease is not gender specific. There is no cure. But it may not be recurring.

Picture: Exhibition of Jean-Michel Folon.Forte Belvedere, Firenze (hope I have cited this correctly)

It's all D.I.Y!

Local acoustic artist, Jonny Hands, talks to us about his latest album Thoughts for Company, released November 2009, and the Brum Music Scene. Jonny is a musician from Birmingham, who produces, plays, records (and everything else) all by himself. On his album you will hear a full band and vocals, when you see him perform, it will just be him and his guitar. Where’s the rest of the band? You’re looking at it! Jonny plays all the instruments himself to record his Thoughts for Company album and edits it all together. This one man band talks to Katie Pinner.

Katie. What have you been up to recently?

Jonny. Just recently I’ve released my first full length album, Thoughts for Company it’s called, released that in December so it’s been out a few months, just been concentrating on that, trying to play live as much as possible, do as many as I can.

K. Is it hard to get live gigs?

J. It’s quite easy to find gigs, it’s just the bigger gigs that are harder to come by. There’s always plenty of little gigs in pubs and stuff you can do. It’s getting into the live circuit that’s the hard part but then once you’re in, once you’ve got your name known a bit the gigs come easier.

K. Is it hard to get your name known?

J. Yeah. (laughs) The way I’ve done it, I’ve just played as often as possible and in as many different places as possible, trying to get everyone to know who you are and what you’re doing

K. Are there certain places you know that you can play and get the right audience and some that you would never play?

J. There’s been a few where I’ve played and I’ve thought ‘I’m never doing that again’, like some gigs where you’re playing to four people in a corner, and you learn from the experience of doing gigs like that, but I just love playing so if it is to a few people I’m still happy to play my music for them.

K. What has been your experience of the Birmingham music scene?

J. When I used to be in the band to now being solo it’s a completely different scene.

K. Really?

J. Yeah, I’ve discovered this whole new little acoustic underground scene that I didn’t even know about before, but yeah, it’s good, the acoustic scene seems to be thriving at the moment, I think, and I think it’s only going to get bigger. There doesn’t seem to be as many gigs for bands around in Birmingham, so it’s good for me! You get got know everyone who’s playing around on the acoustic circuit, you end up playing with the same people. There’s a few promoters in Birmingham that are really good for acoustic music, once you’re in with them, you get to know everyone. There are a few big promoters of acoustic music that do quite a few venues around the Midlands. I found that Stourbridge is actually a really good place for acoustic music at the moment a lot goes on there. That’s because one of the main acoustic promoters is based there, it’s a good place to go, people seem to get my music over there. The city centre (Birmingham) is more mainstream, there’s not as many places to play, for me anyway, in Birmingham centre. Digbeth’s always good for venues and gigs, I’ve played there quite a few times, it tends to be the Black Country that’s a good place for me at the moment.

K. That’s strange, because Birmingham is known for bands, that’s where they originated from.

K. How would you describe your music?

J. It’s always a tough question that is! I like to call it alternative folk rock

K. I like that!

J. That’s what I tend to go with.

K. Do you listen to the same sort of music that you do or is it more varied or completely different?

J. I do try to listen to as much variety as I can, but obviously I do listen to a lot of acoustic music, that’s where I get inspiration from. But I do like to listen to all sorts, I think the more you listen to, the more it helps your music grow.

K. That’s why you’re alternative folk rock?

J. Yeah! (laughs)

K. What’s been your worst experience on stage? Was it the four people?!

J. (Pauses). It is the gigs where there’s not many people there or you’ve got terrible sound, but I enjoy every gig, even if it is like that, I treat it as an experience, you know, you can learn from it, I try to make the best of every situation!

K. So it’s not about ‘making it’?

J. I just do it because I love doing it. When I sell a few CDs at a gig or something, it’s a bonus for me.

K. How have you publicised yourself? How do you get people to allow you to perform?

J. Usually it’s over the internet, sending out loads of emails to loads of people, if they don’t reply, sending another one! Just trying to get people to listen to your music is always the hardest part because obviously promoters get sent so many emails, you’ve just got to try and give them something different, get their attention, then usually once you’ve played for someone, and if they like you, and you like them, then you can carry on, they’ll offer you more gigs in the future.

K. Do they prefer to hear you live rather than from a CD?

J. Yeah, I’d say that, most people like to listen to your music on the internet first, and if they like it they’ll invite you to play, then you got to try and impress them.

K. Is it scary knowing they’re there?

J. Yes! They’re usually the ones organising the gig.

K. How do you come up with music and lyrics?

J. I always tend to write the music first, lyrics second, I don’t know why, it’s just the way I work. The way I find it, one day I can sit down with a guitar and write absolutely nothing and I’ll get really frustrated, but then when I say I’m going to sit down and write a song, it just doesn’t happen, but then one day I can pick up my guitar and write five songs, works in strange ways like that.

K. How do you come up with a tune, how do you get the notes in the right order?

J. You come up with a chord sequence first, I’ll be playing around with some chords and I’ll get something going, and once I’ve got the main part of the song I usually put it away for a bit so I don’t over do it and then go back to it, add bits to it.

K. Do you get that eureka moment? You’ll be out somewhere and you’ll think ‘got something’?

J. I do get that, yeah, usually I’ll come up with something then have to quickly record it on my phone or anything I’ve got so I don’t forget it. There’s been a lot of songs I’ve wrote and I’ll go back and think ‘can’t remember that’ and lost it so I try to record as much as possible, then listen back through it all, throw out any bits I don’t like.

K. Ever written anything for anyone special?

J. I always try and write lyrics from personal experiences because then I think the songs more real and I can sing it with more emotion. I try and write things I’ve been through, things that are personal to me, because then I feel that if it’s personal to me then hopefully the audience will get it as well, relate to it. If you sing with emotion, the audience can relate to it.

K. How do you sing with emotion?

J. If I write a song about something personal, every time I sing that song it’s going to take me back to that place.

K. Do you ever get bored of a song?

J. I wouldn’t say I get bored. When you play live it usually ends up different every time, because you’re in a different place, a different audience, I wouldn’t ever get bored of my songs. I don’t listen to my own CD, because I like to keep the songs fresh for when I play them live, try not to get too used to the recording, which is often different to the live versions.

K. Where do you record? How do you find places to record?

J. I record myself, in my own little studio, in my bedroom. My album is totally self produced, self released, it’s all D.I.Y.

K. How do you find out how to do all that?

J. A lot of trial and error! (laughs). I’ve never self released anything properly before so it’s a lot of research, a lot of speaking to people that have done it. It’s quite a long process, I could have released it through a small label or something but then they take a cut of the money, tell you what to do. I do it myself so I get to do what I want which is nice.

K. Did you enjoy doing it all yourself?

J. Yeah I did, it was a lot of work, trying to figure out how to do things, but I think it was a lot more satisfying because when I got the final product and I could hold the album in my hand it was like ‘I’ve done all that myself’. I didn’t just record the music and then send it off, I did it right from the beginning to the very end, I like doing it that way, some people just like to concentrate on the music and then leave it to someone else but I like to be involved in every part of it.

K. How did you get it on itunes?

J. I put it through a company called cdbaby, they put it on loads of different music stores, and they take a small percentage of your sales.
itunes sell my album for £8, cdbaby for £3, yet I get the same amount from both, shows how much itunes makes!

K. How is it different being a soloist as to in a band?

J. The main difference is not having people around you, it’s scary on your own at first, it’s a bit daunting, because you’re used to having the band around you, drums to cover up mistakes, (laughs), then all of a sudden you’re on stage on your own, everyone looking at you, but it’s good. I find there’s a bit more freedom on my own because when I’m writing songs its just me and there isn’t anyone else’s input, which is good and bad I suppose because sometimes you get stuck on something writing a song and if you’re in a band you can throw ideas around. When you’re on your own you’ve got to try and figure it out by yourself. But when I get offered gigs, I haven’t got to check with the rest of the band, there’s a lot less stuff to take to gigs, it’s completely different.


K. Do you ever think of getting back into a band?

J. I think I would if the right opportunity came along, I’m happy doing this at the moment.

K. Would you like to have people in your band, so to speak?

J. I have thought about it, having a backing band. On my album I’ve got a lot of other instruments on there, then when it’s live it’s just me and my guitar. I think it would be nice, maybe in the future, to get more musicians in.

K. Is your aim to make it big?

J. It would be nice to “make it”, whatever make it means, I do it because I like playing live, I love writing, and I love recording, its what I love to do, and if people like it and buy my album, that makes it worth while. It’s nice to know people are enjoying what I’m doing. Hopefully because I’m enjoying doing it people will see that. Making it for me would be to keep doing it, keep getting the gigs, keep making more music, selling a few CDs, to me that’s what it’s all about.

K. Would you ever consider one of the TV talent shows?

J. I’d never consider it, I’ve got nothing against it, things like that, if that’s what people really want to do, the only thing that I don’t like about them is people are doing it for the fame rather than for the music. That’s what people want these days, their 15 minutes of fame, but I never do because it’s not about the music, its about the image of fame and that’s not what I’m in it for.

K. Have you ever sent anything in to any big record labels?

J. No. Don’t know if that’s the road I want to take at the moment. I’ve self released this album and it’s doing quite well at the moment, and I’m happy with how it’s going so I haven’t really got the need for the backing of a big label. I think if I did there’d be a lot of things they’d want to change and I like to do things a certain way, they might not like that, at the moment I’m happy with the freedom of doing it on my own.

K. Are there any artists that inspire you?

J. Big inspiration on me is a guy called Damien Rice. I love his simplicity and the honesty in his songs, that’s something that really inspires me. When you watch him live, he can sing the same song over and over and every time it’s got the same emotion and passion. It doesn’t matter who’s performing the music, if they’ve got genuine passion for what they’re doing, no matter what genre, I think that’s really inspiring.

Album: 'Thoughts for Company' available now on itunes and cdbaby.

http://www.jonnyhandsmusic.tk/

myspace: jonnyhandsacoustic

Cdbaby.com/jonnyhands

Facebook: jonnyhandsmusic
Youtube: jonnyhandsmusic

Photos curtesy of Jonny Hands

Interview with Paul Reid: Session Guitarist from Birmingham

This is an interview I did for university. Paul Reid kindly agreed to give me an interview. It has been published on http://www.brummusicmonth.co.uk/wp/ . I wanted to publish it on my own blog too!

Katie: What’s the most recent thing you’ve been doing?

Paul: Been on tour with Bev, Beverley Knight,

K: What’s it like on tour?

P: Fantastic, always good with Bev, I’ve actually been working with Bev for 10 years so I’ve kinda seen her development over that time. To me she’s the best artist out there. Last 2 months I’ve been touring, promoting the new album. Touring’s always good because you’re playing in front of an audience and you’re getting an immediate response to the music. Especially when you’re playing with an artist like Bev it’s always a joy because you’re giving a performance to fans that come to our shows expecting something great and they’re never disappointed.

K: How did you get to be in Beverley’s band?

P: I don’t know! Sometimes I think back and I do ask myself that question, how did I get here? I do believe I’m really fortunate. I’m one of those musicians, I know I can play, but I don’t actually think I’m that great. It’s really weird, sometimes you get compliments from people and you don’t quite know how to take it. I do put a lot of pressure on myself to be good at what I do. I started as a local musician, just doing local gigs around town, soul bands and pop bands, and someone recognised me one day and said, this was another guitarist who was already playing with Beverley, he couldn’t do a tour and asked me if I’d step in and cover him for a couple of shows so I said yeah so I did a couple of shows and her management really liked me and asked me to be on the tour coming up, I wasn’t sure because I was covering for a friend, but if its fine with him then it’s fine with me. They asked him and he said it was fine then he called me and said ‘so you stole my gig!’ been there ever since really.

K: Do you listen to the same type of music you perform?

P: Not really, I listen to quite a wide range. I’m what they call a session musician so I have to be everything to everyone. Whoever calls me to do a job, it could be a rock band, and I have to be able to play from rock to jazz, from r’n’b to soul. Which is not always easy. That’s why I listen to different types of stuff, from rock, jazz, country.

K: Have you ever been star struck?

P: Not really. I do with footballers! Footballers are star stuck by us and we’re star struck by them! I’ve met a lot of famous people, most of the time I don’t know who they are! We did support Prince. This was amazing because Prince is well known that when he goes on tour he’ll do his show, he’ll do an after show, which is like another gig, these are really crazy, it’s just like a jam session which can go on for hours. We did the first show and he was there in the dark watching us, came on stage and shook everyone’s hand, we were stood there with our mouths open. He asked us if we would play at his after show party, we were like ‘yeah!’ Bev’s a massive Prince fan and she’s in tears because she can’t believe that he’s asked her to play at his concert and then he wants to have a jam session. So we had this jam session that took like four hours, ‘til 4 in the morning! Amazing. That was the only time I’ve ever been star struck. Prince is just an amazing musician

K: What has been your experience of the Birmingham music scene? Has it changed much over the years?

P: It has changed over the years. In Birmingham there is so much talent, it’s unbelievable, even in my industry in London there are a lot of midlands based musicians who play for the top artists. In pop bands and stuff there’s usually one or two midlands based musicians playing for them. We have got talent here. The only problem I’ve found with Birmingham is that there’s not many live venues anymore. There’s only the Jam House, that’s the only place I can think of that kinda tailors for live music. Is a shame because there’s some real good talent but there’s just nowhere to play anymore. We used to have Ronny Scott’s on Broad Street, I think it’s a strip club now, and that was a brilliant place.

K: What’s been your worst experience on stage?

P: Worst experience on stage was a festival, in front of thousands of people and I had to do a solo, I was coming up to the front of the stage and I step on my lead and it comes out of my guitar, and there’s nothing I can do!

K: Do you have any music qualifications or did you do music at school?

P: No. I taught myself to play guitar, I grew up playing in church actually, and that was it, to be honest I don’t know how I got by! I’ve done a few things in the London Symphony Orchestra and they shove music sheets in front of me, but as long as I know the key it is I can basically work it out but I’ve kinda blagged my way through. I’m not saying it’s a disadvantage but sometimes it is. But learning to read music I would definitely recommend because I do look after bands, I’m a music director too, so I always make sure I’ve got a keyboard player that understands music who can write things out for me.


K: Have you ever seen a ‘diva’ moment?

P: Yeah, they’re quite funny! Especially artists, pop artists. One pop band I did a tour with them. They were big at the time, winning awards, getting number ones. We go in for a week and work out the songs and we call the artist to come in, so they came in, it’s mainly the girls, so they came in with all the gossip magazines, like heat etc. and they were sitting there reading these magazines when they were supposed to be working things out for their tour, they were reading about themselves. I got really frustrated the one day and asked them ‘why are you here?’ ‘You’ve got a tour in 2 weeks and you don’t know the songs and your singing out of tune, you’re not focused. Put the magazines down, stand up and sing these songs’ and they were really taken aback and threw a strop. Once those lights go down, it’s all on them! True to form, the first night, went out on stage, and some forgot their lines, they were looking back. Their egos do take over sometimes.

K: Do you have any advice for upcoming musicians?

P: Just work at your art, try and be the best you can be. Learn a vast array of different styles, don’t pigeon hole yourself into one thing, you never know what kind of situation you’re going to be in. I did a jazz gig in London and jazz isn’t my strongest and once I saw the venue I knew I was in trouble because it was a proper jazz bar and the people were jazz fans and you can’t fool these people. I got through the gig but it taught me a lesson, I need to go behind closed doors and brush up on it.
Don’t limit yourself. Concentrate on being a musician first, everything else will come along. You can’t define a successful musician by him being on TV. There’s music everywhere, even adverts, someone’s got to do the music for them, people like that are very successful. They’re always in their studio or house but they’re still successful.

Because of the internet I can do sessions with people in America or France, people send me things and I can record my part and send it back to them. It’s a very small world now.

I honestly think Birmingham has the best musicians. When you get around the London music scene, they don’t respect anyone from outside London. But we’re just going to take over! When I first started doing sessions in London, it’s very cliquey, anybody outside those circles don’t get a look in. Back in the day it was like the mafia! You’d have other guitarists come in and stand there watching you, waiting for you to make a mistake. I just made a good impression and it’s got me where I am, I don’t have an agent or anything.

K: What’s next?

P: I’ve been doing some work with Alesha Dixon recently and I’ve got more with Bev, festival season, new album with Bev, that’s it really!

Liz Earle & Avon: A Natural Partnership?

Naturally active skin care brand, Liz Earle, has announced a partnership with global beauty giant Avon. Although both companies are calling it a partnership, other reports suggest an all cash buyout.

Liz Earle is a little known British beauty brand, renowned for natural products for face, body and soon to be, hair. Their ethos is to be naturally active and they are against animal testing. Avon, on the other hand, are not as animal friendly. Their own brand products are not tested on animals, but some of the brands they stock are not as squeaky clean. Most of Avon's products are not natural, but they have recently been pushing their own natural range, and this new partnership will establish them as one of the leading companies for natural products.

Liz Earle has announced that nothing within the company will change, from it's management to it's roots in the Isle of White.

For those of us who like our niche beauty products, it will be a sad day when Liz Earle is sold door to door and is no longer Britain's best kept beauty secret.

Liz Earle deserves the global success that a partnership with Avon will surely give them, and as long as their ethos and products stay the same, I am sure that this will be one of the greatest partnerships in the beauty industry.

Good luck to everyone at Liz Earle!

Retro fashion just a click away!

truffleshuffle.co.uk is the best place online to get retro 80's and 90's, and even earlier, inspired fashion and accessories. Both men and women are catered for. From Count Duckula to Barbie, from Grease to The A-Team. Started in 2004 and advertised on Facebook, the brand has gone from strength to strength. Ever wondered where people get those t-shirts that you just can't find anywhere? They are probably here! Expect loads of comments when you own something from Truffle Shuffle.

Se7en

Screened in 1996 this Oscar nominated film-noir was a ground breaking crime thriller, relying on excellent acting and a gripping storyline rather than the blood and guts of usual thriller movies.
Brad Pitt (David Mills) and Morgan Freeman (William Somerset) lead an all star cast alongside Gwyneth Paltrow (Tracey Mills) and Kevin Spacey (John Doe).
The film is slow paced without being overdrawn, allowing for essential character development and scene setting. Director David Fincher sets the scene in an ominous, dark, anonymous city with Somerset in his dark apartment, getting ready for his last seven days in the police force until retirement. The attention to detail is crucial for understanding Somerset and how his personality determines how he solves crimes. Somerset is introduced in a very structured way, in complete contrast with the introduction of Mills, who we see waking up in a bright half empty apartment seeming dazed. These two opposing characters somehow compliment each other and make for an interesting on screen relationship. Freeman brings his cool, calm and collected attitude whilst Pitt brings the fight and energy, making them an unlikely coupling. Paltrow plays the ever suffering policeman’s partner with a certain sense of grace and brings some light into a dark film. Spacey plays the psychotic serial killer, whose identity seems somewhat irrelevant, as the murders take on a life of their own, often leaving the image of the corpse imprinted on the audiences mind as the bodies are not centre stage so the image of the corpse is left entirely upto the imagination of the audience, with some matter-of-fact description from Somerset and Mills.
Even though Somerset is suspicious of Mills and his reasons for wanting his soon to be old job, he grows to respect him and takes him under his wing, guiding him using all he has learnt though his career.
Soon into the film the killing spree starts, with some gruesome yet believable murders. All which are based on the seven deadly sins, with one victim being forced to choose between suicide or living with disfigurement. Yet the film does not rely on these horrific scenes to make it a success.
The theme of the seven deadly sins has been used many times in different media but Se7en has a way of dealing with these uncomfortable themes without preaching to it’s audience. Making it enjoyable entertainment rather than forced moral dictation.
Each sinner has a suitable consequence which makes the crimes more of a challenge for the detectives and more thrilling for the audience. Also with it being Somerset’s last seven days it seems a suitable ending to what appears to have been an amazing career, and also a good head start for Mills to get to grips with the dark city he has come into.
Given the films theme, it should be quite predictable, but happily it is not as there are lots of plot twists to keep the audience gripped without being confused.
Se7en is a chilling crime thriller that has an ending to die for, not following the usual Hollywood finish. It is an intelligent, intense film that is still as relevant today as it was when it first appeared on the big screen. This film will leave you unnerved yet thrilled and is deservedly guaranteed to be talked about for many years to come.

New Years Resolution? Hah!

(A Very Late) Hello to 2010. My new years resolution was to spend less money, well, I am so bored because uni doesn't start until 8th February, and when I get bored, I shop. Ah well, life's too short. Also, it's my student loan, so why not, I will never get free money again!
QVC is mainly to blame, very naughty TV channel, they have so many goodies. Total QVC addict! It's not an older lady's channel, the make up is amazing and the jewellery is fab, give it a try girls!