Newcastle Gig
It’s me! (Pic taken by Geoff Kosmonaut.)
On July 12th, I played at The Head of Steam, Newcastle. It was great.
The gig was organised by Stephen This Almighty Pop and I was lucky enough to be playing with his band Kosmonaut and also with The Honda Express (featuring members of Strawberry Story).
Although Stephen thought the turnout was too low, that never matters to me. Having done both, I’d rather play to a small audience who are really into it than a hefty swell of disinterested hipsters.
The audience was perfect for me: I could look at them, try to connect with them. My songs are all intensely personal, all autobiographical so every gig is something of a confessional. Somehow, being able to see the eyes of the person you’re singing to makes it less contrived, more real.
A lovely girl came up after the gig, she’d come along because of ‘Your Woman,’ of course, but she’d danced and swayed through the rest of the set too. She said I’d made her year, bless her! That’s the kind of comment every egomaniac songwriter loves to hear. 
After the gig, I was on such a high that I was mentally fit enough to go and play the Cosy Den Festival after all. You see, these things snowball…
So, a very belated thanks to Stephen and everyone I met that night. You’re brill.
A Busy Time
I’ve been very busy lately which is good for my life, bad for regular website updates.
To round it up:
Sunday July 12th - first British gig in years for my mate Stephen Almighty Pop. Ace!
Saturday 18th July - I DJed at How Does It Feel in London. Double ace!
Friday 24th to Sunday 26th July - Indietracks! Triple ace!
Tuesday 28th July to Tuesday 4th August - I was in Sweden to play the Cosy Den 5 Year Festival. Infinity ace!
I’ll write more about each of those events shortly, when I have enough thinking time to sort everything out in my head. I feel like the last four weeks, I’ve done more than in the previous six months. I’ve played two fantastic gigs, met loads of lovely new people and heard some wonderful secrets.
It’s been intense and I feel utterly drained today. I’m wondering… what now? Inevitably, there’s something of a sense of post-come about everything now. Although I know that will fade, I partly don’t want it to dissipate as it spurs me on to keep trying to be more adventurous. Innit.
So, for any regular readers, sorry for the paucity of posts. But you’ll be getting shitloads soon.
Cosy Den Festival
I’m very happy to say that I’m playing the Cosy Den festival in Stockholm:
I’ve played at Cosy Den four times since 2005 and every gig has been brilliant!
If you can make it to the Saturday, when I’m playing, please do come and say hello!
love and kisses,
Jyoti
White Town Live!
Sunday 12th July,
Head Of Steam,
Newcastle,
8pm - Entry £4
Although I’ve been gigging in Finland and Sweden the last few years, I haven’t played in Britain for aaages.
So, I’m hugely pleased to be playing this gig organised by This Almighty Pop!
Stephen from TAP! you may know from his earlier band, Bulldozer Crash (who I played bass for at one gig). And his new band Kosmonaut will also be playing.
Also playing are The Honda Express, ex-Strawberry Story popsters.
It’s going to be one indietastic night!
Come along, dance, sing, get happy!
And, if you’re on Facebook, here’s the event:
Am I Me?
You know, identity is always suspect. Years ago, someone even pretended to be me to get free drinks in pubs, pretty bizarre behaviour for someone straight-edge like me.
So, just so you know, here I am:
Twitter
Last.FM
YouTube
Vimeo
Say hello!
Earth Hour 2009 Video
I made a little video last night during Earth Hour. I was going to do it in candlelight but I thought these fellers might be more fun! The music is a new instrumental that’ll be on my next album. Hope you like it!
Sound On Sound Cover Feature What I Wrote
I’m very chuffed that I wrote the cover feature for this month’s issue of Sound On Sound, the best recording magazine in the world.
My article is about how I went from being scared of modular synthesizers to finally buying my own. You can check out an excerpt by clicking here.
My modular is the most fun bit of kit that I own. I wish I’d bought one years ago!
The Jeunes
The Jeunes were a great band:
The Jeunes were a band from Seattle, Washington, influenced primarily by British new wave and post punk. Comparisons ranged from the Cure, Stone Roses, Velvet Underground and Joy Division to Jesus & Mary Chain, Sonic Youth and Opal.
They formed in 2002; disbanded in 2005. Their only release was a four song EP, although they left behind unfinished and unreleased recordings of many more songs.
I just got this email from James Jeune:
Hi Jyoti,
Hope you’re doing well!
I just wanted to let you know we finally got around to releasing your 2004 remix of “Never Be The Same” - on a new LP by the Jeunes called Strangers In The Night.
Ironically the LP is mostly 2008 remixes of recordings the Jeunes made in 2004/5. In keeping with the history of the band, we decided to make it available as a free download. You can download it in 256k MP3 form (with cover art) in a single zip file here. The password to open the file is “june” (without the quotes).
Folks can also download from iTunes, emusic, Amazon and a limited edition CD is available from CD Baby.
Our website is here.
Feel free to give out the free download link on your blog or anywhere else - otherwise feel free to just download a copy for yourself if you’re interested!
cheers,
James (& the Jeunes)
Well, better late than never!
And it’s FREEEEE!
Merry Crimbo 2008!
Ho ho ho!
As a special festive treat, for one week only you can download the mp3 version of my 2006 ‘A New Surprise EP’ totally free! I’ve even written a little background blurb that I’ve included as a text file.
The EP was originally released as 7″ vinyl by Heavenly Pop Hits, a Swedish indie label.
The songs on the EP are:
A1 A New Surprise
A2 Melissa Joan Hart
B1 Make A Right At Jordfallsmotet (cover version of the classic Agent Simple song)
B2 Theme For A Post-Watershed Cop Show Set In Wellingborough
The zip file of the EP is around 12 megabytes so beware if you’re not on broadband!
Click here to download the EP! Sorry, it’s gone now!
Thanks to all of you for supporting my music, I hope you all have a great Christmas / Saturnalia / whatever and a happy and healthy 2009!
love and kisses,
Jyoti
Me And The 808
Rhodri Marsden has written an excellent article about the TR-808, probably the best drum machine EVER! And I’m very honoured that I was one of the people he interviewed for it. Warning: very high geek factor!
Here you go:
Rhythm king: The return of the Roland 808 drum machine
love and kisses,
Jyoti
PS - I’ll be doing a little festive pressie soon… keep your eyes peeled!
