“I’ll never make it. It will never happen because they’re never going to hear me ‘cause they’re screaming all the time.”Elvis Presley
Your newsletter correspondent knows the feeling. People do scream when she sings, but perhaps not for quite the same reasons as those who screamed and fainted for The King. There’s a reason those of us behind the scenes in the music business, are behind the scenes.
MERCURY PRIZE WINNERS Say what you like about The Premises (and we hope you will say that you like us very much) but rather a lot of the nominees have graced us with their presence, dear. Every year, we’re always excited to see at least half of our clients in the shortlist and this year was no exception: Self Esteem, Sam Fender, Joy Crookes, Yard Act, Kojey Radical and of course, the glorious Wet Leg. But we did let out a particularly big yelp of delight when our gal Little Simz scooped the big prize, and she was a model of grace, gratitude and humbleness. Check out her distinct and smooth flow, not to mention innovative hair architecture, on the brilliant ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’. Huge congrats to all!
OCTOBER VOICE JAMS We had a lively, lovely bunch of young singers in to work with vocal coach extraordinaire Clive Brown over the half term. Some were from Hackney schools, one from the Brit School and one determined youngster travelling all the way in from Essex. It was pleasure and a privilege to watch the singers go from shy and reticent and singing quite low in the first few hours, to hitting their stride with three-part harmonies, rapping and all sorts of playful nuances by the end of the first day. They worked on Lean on Me, and Stand Up. Clive brings out the showbiz confidence, clarity, diction and good manners (these things count) in everyone. The transformation within the group over the week, was palpable, and the energy in the recording session, pure magic. Watch this space for news of future Voice Jams in coming half terms.
WHO’S BEEN IN? A mega line-up last month, including (deep breath)… Alexander Joseph, Biig Piig, Cian Downing, Beck Hill, Boy Bleach, Maya Delilah, Beth Orton, Loyle Carner, House Gospel Choir, Dan D’Lion, Steve Weston, Omar Puente, Nicky Rubin, Anoushka Shankar (below), Trigger Fish, Robert Mitchell, The Weilthings, Brass Funkeys, Kyla La Grange, Liberty Church, Trinity Laban, Syleena Johnsson, Paddy Murphy, Metamorphics, Miriam Jackson, Midtown Funk, Murkage Dave, Glory Boy, Oxlade, Nicky Rubin, Duke St Big Band, Donna Thompson, The Squires, Malika, Tellison, Eliane Correa, Mark Almond, Tenacity, Jealous Nostril, Celeste, Rachel Chinouriri, Glory Choir, Nick Woodmansey, Nadine Khouri, Eliza Doolittle, Rio Hellyer, Black Country New Road, Ashton Jones, Joshua Jaswon, Ewan Mainwood, Tomorrow’s Warriors, Jay Wilcox, Bby Ivy, Zara McFarlane, Dylan, Clive Brown, Moonshine Heavies, Attawalpa, Adrian Sykes, Adam Rowley, Future Sounds, Carina Tamer, Elliot Doyle, Creative Artists Network, Led Bib, Aura, Izzy Bizu, Prep, Iraina, The Mekons, Black Midi, Asha Parkinson, Lava La Rue, Lucy McWilliams, Jaz Karis, Joe Stilgoe and Girls of The Internet.
RECORDING STUDIO A The Beeb has been putting quite a bit of comedy our way recently, the latest being a late-night radio 4 programme written by comedian Kat Sadler, whose show Kat Sadler’s Screen Time goes out on the 17th and 24th of November on Radio 4 at 11pm. The clue as to what the show is about is in the title, which speaks volumes for how young people today live their lives through social media and their phones in particular. Kat finds a girlfriend on her phone, a seemingly perfect relationship, but the course of social media love does not run smoothly. Sounds like a hoot, and a very topical one at that.
PREMISES RADIO – TRACKS OF THE MONTH
PREMISES PEOPLE It’s a truth universally acknowledged that those who rehearse/teach/record at The Premises who are not already superstars, will have superstardom thrust upon them, at least to our ears and often to the wider world. Our Piano Week regular tutor, the mega-talented Robert Mitchell has a double LP out with his band True Think, an innovative project entitled: Hold The Light- The New Resistance. To find out more: https://robertmitchell.bandcamp.com/ Long time jazz, funk and soul maestros Cymande are having their debut album re-released by Partisan in rather fabulous Orange Crush vinyl. Plus, they are the stars of the award winning documentary “Getting It Back”. More Cymande info here: http://cymandeofficial.com Celebrating 40 years of making wild, wonderful, fusion music taking in too many global traditions to mention, the mighty Grand Union Orchestra will be playing Shoreditch Town Hall on 3rd and 4th December at Shoreditch Town Hall, just a hop, skip and jump from The Premises. For more info: www.grandunion.org.uk Young jazz wizard composer and multi instrumentalist Roella Oloro is over from her final year studies at Berklee for the London Jazz Festival this month, with dates at The Living Room, Pizza Express, Ronnie Scott’s (already SOLD OUT) and The Royal Albert Hall. For more details: https://www.instagram.com/roellaoloromusic/?hl=en
AND FINALLY… We are currently VERY heavily booked. So please.. if your rehearsal dates are important, get them in the book well in advance. CALL 0207 729 7593. We’re always here, from early to late, 7 days a week. We hate having to turn any of our regulars away.
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