QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “Music should probably provide answers in terms of lyrical content, and giving people a sense of togetherness and oneness, as opposed to being alone in their thoughts and dilemmas or regrets or happiness or whatever” PEOBO BRYSON
Peobo composed for the late Roberta Flack, whose greatest hits have been pouring out of the radio since her recent death. While no one can dispute the joy of those moments at gigs where the entire audience is singing or rapping along in a consummate, almost religious fervour, all at one with the band and each other, it’s equally important to acknowledge the power of music without lyrics, from classical and jazz to instrumental surf and rave. It can strum your pain and kill you softly, or make you dance like a wild thing in the middle of a field off the M1 at 4am, all sense of place and time lost to the rhythm.
Whether you prefer to pore over the words and think deep, important thoughts, or lose yourself in the notes and beat, it all matters. And some of it happens HERE. On with the news…
HALF TERM VOICE JAM
We don’t really have enough superlatives to say how FANTASTIC our half term Voice Jam with Clive and Yomi was this year. We had a smaller but perfectly formed group from various Hackney and Newham secondary schools and colleges, with several returning from previous years. We had some very strong, intuitive singers, taking to runs and raps like they were born to do it. And it was great fun to play a blast of songs from a VJ two years ago to the same, now older youngsters. False modesty and cries of, “Oh my days! Turn it off!” came from three not so shy gals who have previous here, but all would have to agree that their vocal range and ability has come on so well in the intervening years. Our own Yona, who’s been helping out with the JAM this year, declared, “I’d pay money to see this.” And Voice Jam wouldn’t be Voice Jam if at a certain point in the vocal proceedings, Michele’s specs didn’t steam up and she ‘had something in her eye.’ Special shout out to Hackney all round musical superstar Lyan, and Ellie Brown, mega-talented daughter of our own Nicky Brown. Ellie was in particularly fine vocal fettle at the less formal singsong that followed the recording, singing for about two hours straight. But don’t take our word for it.
Here are their moving and uplifting versions of:
Love’s In Need of Love Today.
Stand by Me
FINAL CALL FOR YOLANDA’S BASS WORKSHOP
Only a few spots left for these bass and rhythm section intensives. Yolanda’s teaching style is as smooth and fluid as her bass playing, exploring all aspects of playing bass, as well as insider industry tips. Day one is a session for electric bass players, which will offer a diagnostic approach to posture and finger positioning; exercises to improve fingerboard and plucking technique; riffing and phrasing; harmony basics; harmonic choices; rhythms and timing, and bassline construction via melodic structures.
The next day will be a shorter session with Instra-mentals Rhythm Section Clinic.: 2:30-5:30, including Nick Linnik, guitarist and producer for Project PH and Jay Kalo on percussion. Part masterclass and part gig, this will offer insight on how to develop ideas for arrangements to form a cohesive rhythm section and to improve musical communication between band members. Yolanda will share her experiences as a session musician, band leader, bassist, record label MD and producer. This session is suitable for bass players, drummers, and guitarists who want to learn more about locking in with the rhythm section. The clinic costs £50. Get in before we’re full: michele@premiseseducation.org (AND On the 21st, you can catch Yolanda’s band Instra-Mentals at the late set at Ronnie Scott’s!)
NEW SALLY POTTER ALBUM RECORDED IN STUDIO
Sally Potter, composer, filmmaker, writer and singer, has been creating her new album, Anatomy in Studio A. What’s it all about, Sally?
“There are always songs in my head wanting to get out! But this album, like PINK BIKINI, has an overarching, though very different, theme. ANATOMY is about our interdependent, loving, fractious, needy, passionate and now, sadly, destructive relationship with the body of the Earth. Each song could be interpreted as a love song to another human or as a plea to the Earth… ‘Will you forgive me for the signs I did not see?’”
You are a long-time friend of The Premises. What keeps you coming back?
“I first came to record here for Lindsay Cooper several decades ago when the Premises was a lot smaller. I liked it then and I like it now for its friendly atmosphere and quiet professionalism. Walking up the stairs to the recording studio is like moving through a wonderful musical collage emanating from the rehearsal rooms. I love hearing musicians working together, refining their sounds. I recorded most of the tracks for PINK BIKINI and ANATOMY at the Premises. Neil Goody was very helpful throughout.”
You have so many different ways of expressing yourself creatively. What different mind space do you have to be in for writing and performing music, scoring for films and writing and directing films?
“What they have in common is making something out of nothing. Writing – whether a film script or a song or instrumental music, is something I do in solitude, and it starts with a feeling of longing to evoke something that will eventually unfold as an experience through time. After the solitude, in which – somehow! magically! - something emerges and gets revised again and again until it is worth sharing, comes the work with others. With music it is with musicians, who bring to life what I have wrestled with at home in Logic and at the piano. This was my first time working with brilliant Marta Salogni as co- producer and as mixer. Collaboration is a key part of both processes. Making something better by doing it together.”
Sally has a gig cat Café Oto on 6th May.
You can get tickets HERE
The first single from the album called COMING HOME is available now. You can listen HERE
The album is released on May 2nd by Bella Union also as a CD and via Bandcamp, Spotify and all the usual suspects.
COMING HOME being recorded at The Premises - video HERE
PREMISES PEOPLE AT THE BRITS!
Huge congratulations to all the acts who’ve rehearsed or recorded here over the last few years. We feel like proud parents! Well done to: Charlie XCX, who scooped five awards including, Artist, Songwriter and Album of the year; Last Dinner Party for Breakthrough Artist; Ezra Collective for British Group; Fontaines DC for International Group, and Stormzy for Hip Hop and Grime Artist.
COMING SOON...
3 days of 88 note pure joy. This always sells out so piano players, get in quick!
WHO’S BEEN IN?
Those who entered these musical portals to strut their stuff last month included: Ejemi, Miraculous Mule, Nicky Yeoh, Business as Usual, Famm, The White Gates Band, English Heretic, Bedlam, Sunrise & Jupiter, Octahawk, Duke St Big Band, Big Fear, Jane Street, Nubya Garcia, Sylvian Murphy, London Voice Academy, Aston Jones, Alfie Whitbread, Tristian Butler, CSX Pistols, Dora Jar, the Live 45s, House of Life, Charlie Bubbles, Folded Wing, Empirical, Anoushka Shankar, Fossils, Life & Death, Psycher, Manny, Cymande, Biig Piig, Bedhead, Berlioz, Asha Parkinson, Timba Britannica, Clive Langer, Sofia and The Antoinettes, Billy Ocean, Huntsmen, Jake Russell, Moonshine Heavies, Gabby Martin, Maribou State, Singing Bowie, Nieve Ella, Ayanna, Theo Croker, Berklee College, Dan Oates, Celeste, Shivanova, Daniel Casimir, Rose Kimbell, Guildhall, Deyyess, Y’AKOTO, Triggerfish, Laura Mvula, Dolores Forever, Mark Kavuma, Elephant Kind, Chris Jungle, Borscht, Ider, Lust Ritual, Sad Night Dynamite, Art Terry, Greta Wenner, Glory Choir, PP Arnold, Timothy Midnight, Called Out Music, Rachel Chinouriri, Laura Marling, Kelly Lee Owens, Cole Quirke, Danny Silverstone, Trinity Laban and many others.
AND FINALLY...
