The Big Bans Blog!

Motivation

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:45:00 GMT

The past month has been a true test of my motivation. Being emerged in environments that totally stress me out seriously sucks away at my motivation and energy, and unfortunately that's where I have been recently. Thankfully though, I can now say I have my own space again and am feeling very light and refreshed. As a result I am feeling the spores of motivation creep back under my skin, and I am so ready to take it all, all this life stuff, back on.

The album took a massive hit during the last month. I have not been close to it at all and now it has lay dormant for a while I am reopening the dusty box and picking it all back up - THANK YOU GAWD! It's a bit like a mate I haven't seen in a while and deerie me do we need to catch up!

Now I am an east Londoner, and it is better than I could have imagined. There are parks EVERYWHERE, green spaces, streets lined with trees, quiet. It is all so quiet, especially at night time. There is not a sound and it is beautiful. No flat mates, no parties just me and my loved one and the sound of our fingers typing away as we work in tandem on or laptops. It is delicious. Space is at such a premium here in London and once you have it - wow - how did I ever cope before? Living in a shop? Living in a tiny flat with 6 other people?! HOW? Fuck only knows.

So I am here now. As my Dad always said "Wherever you are, that's where you'll be". Not in a serious way obviously, my Dad, serious? Not for a bloody moment! But it does make sense, I mean that is where you will be, where you are… you know!

Motivation truly comes from within, it has to be nurtured and fed, kept in the right environment so it can grow and blossom. Sometime it wilts, sometimes it dies but with the right people around you, the right circumstances, and that strong belief in yourself, it can always be revived ad renewed! So here is to the arrival of a much needed revival in motivation! BREATHE IT IN! AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!

Rock on bitches. Rock on! x

Make shift office times.

Thu, 30 May 2013 01:30:12 GMT

Sitting in my make shift office on Stokey High Street. Sipping tea and I have just devoured a muffin. Ah!

It's time for me to move again. And again, everything has been put on hold. No so much a case of stress, more a case of no internet connection at the 'flatshare'. BUT I GOTS MY OWN WEE HOOSE NOW! Yip, you heard, moving into my own little nest, no sharing with mentals - just me and my man. It will be uber ginger and musical.

In te mean time I am in and out of cafes getting some internet connection. It's weird having no access, I see all the time that I WASTE online and now I can use it a little more productively! Which is nice :)

So the album is recommencing this week and I am also playing a little show at The Boogaloo in Highgate this Sunday 7pm! Check out the AMAZING artwork...!

So I will say SEE YA from my cafe desk and hopefully catch you at a gig soon!!!! R x

Aw, you guys...!

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:25:00 GMT

Thanks for all the comments on last night's blog via twitter and FB. It's lovely to know that people are reading and CARE!!

All is well in camp Rosie, I was tired and a bit down, probably made a LOT worse because I was tired. I have spent this evening relaxing with my lovely fella, watching the IT Crowd (one of my favs!) and eating beautiful food. I am planning my week ahead which is consiting of workouts, gigging, teaching, meditating, flat hunting and other musicy stuff - but no album! I am taking a week off, I can't wait to feel that inevitable pang to get back on the record after the break. It will be well worth it!!

What are you doing this week? I am really intrigued into people's routines, when and why they do the stuff they do. I am reading a book at the moment called "The power of habit" and it's really highlighting the good and bad habits I have, and helping me change them all to work for me. It's amazing how we form these habits without realising. Eating, working, loving. Apparently around 40% of our daily activity is habit. Amazing.

So, onwards and upwards...stay with me through my ginger mood swings and foul language and I promise to reward you with music and the best banter I can possiblally muster (caution: may contain seriously stinkin' banter).

Thanks guys and gals! Love R x

P.S. I never posted the amazing Anna MacDonald playing clarsach in the studio- just you WAIT until you hear it, beautiful!! Here ya go lovers...

My weird last few weeks.

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:38:29 GMT

I used to live in a shop. It was a lovely little vintage furniture shop - I think about it now with really fond memories. It meant something to me living there, it was my own space. I had SPACE. I don't live in the shop anymore, I live in a flat share around the corner and down the road a bit from it. I thought it was going to excellent, but it's not. I moved out the shop to my flatshare on the 7th May and will be moving out my flatshare to my own flat on the 15th June.

Im finding people really difficult these days. So I'm in my bed, dog tired, in total silence (something I have been missing) but its not really silence is it? I can hear cars going by, some folk talking on the corner, a really annoying fan from a shop at the back rattling away. So, as far as living in the biggest city in the UK goes, I'm sitting in silence.

My life feels weird to me just now. I feel like I'm kinda on the outside looking in, that my experiences and emotions (mainly frustration, anger and disappointment) of living where I am just now are all so intense that I can't quite process them, so I'm sort of floating above it all. Maybe I'm just too tired.

I'm taking a week off the album, I'm forgetting about it or trying to for a whole week. I'm on reserve battery right now so sleep is the only cure.

goodnight x

The legends. Thanks pals!

Sat, 11 May 2013 02:22:06 GMT

AHHHHHHHHH!

Last night we entereted the studio with Mike Nisbet and Erin Todd. For those of you that know me you will know these two are HUGE parts of my life. Mike is my better, taller, but equally ginger other half and Erin Todd is one of my best friends, and the most genuine person I have ever known! Having both around has been such a joy the last two days! We went into the studio with Duncan Menzies - again if you know me you will also know how insanly talented this guy is. Like some sort of hairy scottish bag pipe weilding ninja. And all four of us just played some of my music - it was such a beautiful and exciting experience!!

I took a wee step back last night and realised how far I have come to get to this point. All the ups and downs, everything has led me here and I am really loving it all!

So thanks you Mike, Erin and Duncan. And thanks to all the other amaing people that will be coming on board for this record!

R xxxxx

Batcave Demos are coming DOWN!

Tue, 07 May 2013 22:03:32 GMT

Hola!

Since my last post I have calmed down, got my shit together and back on it! I feel focused and energised. I have been working out everyday and the benefits are really starting to show. Feeling healthy and fit really wakes you up, makes your feel ALIVE! Pilates every single day, mixed with some interval training, I am loving it!!

So, I have my mind focused back on my work, my album, my music. I have moved house and haven't set up my keyboard yet - that is happening today!! I am very excited!! I miss her, my keyboard that is. SHe has been in her case for the past few days and I am CRAVING to play. Sometimes you have to remove yourself from a situation, or take some things away to truly appreciate them.

So the Batcave demos. I worked hard on finishing those tunes for this album, and now the album is happening the demos will be coming down. If you would still like to download them you can for the next few days and then they will be gone.

The wonderful Erin Todd (please do check out this amazing artist www.erintoddmusic.com) is travelling down to London tomorrow. We are playing a little chilled show at Spiritual Bar in Camden then hitting the studio on Thursday for the album. Erin's vocals are super smooth. I love that about them, the tones she produces are just gorgeous! SO I am excited to hear what her sounds are like over mine!

I am off now to try and make a room full of packed bags work for me. COME ON!!!!

Yald. Rx

Note to self: calm the fuck down.

Sat, 04 May 2013 06:52:41 GMT

I have been offline. Replying badly to emails, ignoring twitter and Facebook and generally being a bit shitty with the daily mash of corresponance needed to keep on top of things. In real life, I have been flat hunting and recording the album as well as trying to figure out what the hell I am actually trying to put out to the world in the form of some sort of art. I get myself into a right pickle, going at a million things at a hundred different angles and trying to do them all NOW. NOW NOW NOW!

My man, bless his huge size 11 cotton socks, has been so bloody relaxed and puts up with me but recently I got an earful. I deserved it. It has sorted me out and made me look at things differetly. Why the fuck am I rushing the fun, important things all the other crappy bullshit. I am busy with the album so why am I trying to keeo busy with other things? i think I am still in denial of how bloody amazing it is to be able to play music and have folk listen and like it. Seriously.

Anyways, I am back on it like a my little clio's bonnet. Updates and conversations RESUME! Off out for a pint now. Yaldi and goodnight x

P.S. Note to self: calm the fuck down.

Bish Bash Bosh

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:42:55 GMT

All the drums have been boshed, it's time to move on to the NEXT PHASE... mwahahahahaha!!

Not really. We are recording bass next. BOOM!

Some piccys for your viewing pleash.

Bring on THE DRUMS!

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 01:39:39 GMT

The first week of recording is DONE! Phew! I was excited before, but I'm finding it hard to even sleep now!

I now have all 7 drum tracks down. Siemy Di is the fabulous drummer on the album, I love his playing, groove, enthusiasm. And his chops have really changed how I'm approaching some of the tracks, a fresh new perspective of groovieness. I am also enjoying listening to other musician's, opinions on the songs. A perspective that comes from actually playing them.

All the excitement has me now lying in bed with a sniffle watching Rainman. Rock and roll baby! Uh Oh.

See you back in the studio!

Album. S'happnin'. This SUNDAY.

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:07:02 GMT

I have been in the studio rehearsing for the FIRST SESSION of my album. It has been one of the most fun and intense weeks I have had for a long time and this record has been consuming my brain ever since the word go back in March. I have the artwork underway (oh man, wait til you see it!!) and will start the long and immensly fin process of getting the music down this weekend. It's been so long since I last recorded so i have been super organised, I have a whole schedule written out all ready to chuck out the window!! Cos that's how life goes.

Anyway, I will be posting wee updates as always, it's been quiet online from me recently but that's because of all the mentalness happening away the computer!

RIght, better dash! Hit me up

@RosieBans // facebook.com/rosiebansmusic

Progress!

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:03:29 GMT

Hello!

I went to watch another gig last night, it was so bloody ace! I saw a super cool trio called Oo La Lume - accapella three part harmony goodness. Totally blew me away. Other artists on the bill were Cosmo House, Rod Braga, Danny Sherwood and Slow Wolf... I knew most of the folk on the bill which made it even better to sit and watch! PALS!

So I have poached a good few of them for my record which is gonna be FABULOUS! I am so excited to unleash this beast on y'all. The musos playing on it are just so fucking amazing and I feel so lucky to even know them!!!!

Recording starts next month, I will be uploading little updates and snippets as I go! THEN ITS TOUR TIME MOFO!

I will come to your town/house/village/island if you want me to. Just holla!! And let me sleep on your couch please!!!!!

Much love! R xxxxx

The importance of being nice...(it's also WEEK TWO of my albums shizz!)

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:45:00 GMT

Oh I am in SCOTCHLAND right now. I love being home, I sometimes complain that London is too sunny, Londoners look at me like I am some kind of cave dwelling creature that has never seen the light of day. But Scotland has this sort of cloudy, greyish wash all over it that I just love! I love the drizzle (fo'shizzle), when it's raining but IT'S REALLY SHIT RAIN...mmm.... not a fan of sun, in case you haven't noticed with my transparent complextion. Anyway, being home means family and old friends. If that fills you with warmth and joy I envy you. It fills me with fear. All families are a little mental, my family is a lot mental. My old friends are gorgeous, beautful, wonderful people who I respect and love with all my heart but I find it a little hard to connect with some them sometimes because they are from, and still live in 'then', which is absolutely fine but I live in my 'now' - which is a world apart.

But this time I have had a lot of welcome distraction from the chaos around me. I met a bunch of new artists, went and WATCHED some gigs (omfg) which is an amazing thing to do! I rarely go see, I usually go play. Really good music, such talent you feel yourself just staring taking it all in. I loved it all! I am a social creature. Those of you that know me know I TALK and I talk quite openly about mostly everything. I am probably someone that talks too much, YES I DEFINATELY AM that someone. I suppose it's just being nice. Being nice to each other doesn't need to mean over politeness that is, as Amanda Palmer would say, 'So polite it's offensive' (from the song Leeds United - GO LISTEN). But cracking a joke to a stranger that involves calling them a dickhead, being a little nasty is just not funny, or nice. Maybe if you are hardened pals you will 'get it' but not with a total stranger. You need to make an effort, no? Well I do. I need to make the effort because I want to love you and I want you to love me too. I would be MORTIFIED if I hurt someones feelings and could have avoided it, just for a wee joke. And how amazing is learning about someone? Hearing about their experiences and their opinions. It is beautiful.

I am travelling back to London today, getting the brain back in gear. I have pitched my artwork idea whilst being up north, I need to send a couple of photos along and then it will become a reality! I am so excited to see the end result and will send a wee special sneak preview email to the mailing list members... it's gonna be rad! Studios are booked and I have been gathering musicians, I feel like I am stealing them away one by one for my secret plans. As usual all updated are readily availble on Twitter and Facebook, as is very questionalble chat so get connected and get involved!

And one last thing. My good pal Erin Todd (go check her out, amazing singer songwriter!) gave me a 'saw this and thought of you' pressie whilst I was up! I think it is very fitting indeed!

Until next time....

Month one, week one, day one, hour one, BLOG ONE!

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 02:17:06 GMT

This is it. My debut album starts TODAY. My timeline for the album begins TODAY. It's in process, studio is being booked up and I'll be contacting all the musos I know who might be up for lending their talents onto record.

I AM SO EXCITED! OH MY GOD!

DAY OOOOOONE!

I want to share the whole journey, the whole process with you guys. This month will see the artwork coming alive! By the end of March I will have taken a huge step, no going back...IT'S HAPPENING!

Okay so, anyone that wants to be part of this shebang will get the chance. I will be crowd funding the fuck outta it with lots of cool shit to give you in return! BOOM!

This is beginning of quite a long process, I won't have the finished product until around mid-September so stick with me. Follow the progress, comment and be part of it! LET ME SLEEP ON YOUR COUCH DURING THE TOUR! Let's make food and drink together and sing happy, slightly feminist, songs and be strong together!

YALDIIII!!!!!

I am on a little high just now so give me a moment to calm down.... *breathe*

LOVE LOVE LOVE
R xxxxxxxxx

Video session from Spiritual Art Bar in Camden! (Thanks Rafa!)

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:24:54 GMT

Massive amazing love bubbles to The Spiritual Bar in Camden for having me on a chilly Monday afternoon to bash out their piano and spray my music all about the place.
Proper legends.

New shows!

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 03:52:50 GMT

Hello everyone! I have been so busy PLANNING. Gotta love a good list, and a good timeline.

Anyhows I have a couple of gigs coming up that I would REALLY LOVE to see your faces at!

SUNDAY 3rd @ All Star Lanes, Holborn

THEN in Glasgow, on the 5th @ The Roxy 171...

I am super excited about these gigs! If you are popping along let me know, let's grab a beer!!!

Fans from far away lands!

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 01:50:00 GMT

SO I done some EGO SURFING (Palmerism) yesterday where I googled my own name. Oh my. I limited it to Twitter, so I actually didn't google anything. I searched for myself on Twitter and I found THIS! :

I was like...WAIT A MINUTE!!! I don't know Finding Albet...I had heard of them but they certainly don't know me. Who knew, I have a Canadian fan. So TOTES OBVS I went and followed @Emmaphillipz (not in a creepy way).

CHECK IT OUT:

How fucking cool is that?!?!? So the next time someone asks "What's the point in Twitter?" or has to question what benefits it can bring say TO CONNECT WITH FANS. To have conversations with people who like your music. To enjoy listening to their opinion and in the process find out a little about yourself through their eyes. For an artist it's such an amazing and useful tool. As mentioned I am in talks about a POSSIBLE Canadian tour in 2014 and now if it all does happen I actually have a fan that will come along. FROM THE OTHERSIDE OF THE WORLD. That's fucking cool.

Thanks to everyone that does connect with me over in the twitterverse. It's a bloody good conversation! Find me at @RosieBans and join in! xxxxxx

There is no more serious business than show business. (Calm the fuck down)

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 04:10:00 GMT

So this kinda carries on from my last blog post.

A recurring thing that's been happening to me this year. Playing a gig, getting up on stage and really pounding it out. A few times I have almost cried, cos am a bit of an emotional wreck most of the time. That's me normal. ANYWAY. The chat from some folk off stage is fucking shite. I mean seariously. I have spent more time trying to justify why I am doing this to total strangers than I have talking about any sort of music. So I found myself playing a gig last night with a wifey just SPEWING out industry 'stuff' to me. People I should check out because they are amazing, people who just got signed cos they are amazing, artists on the same bill as me that I should be excited about because they are amazing. All wrapped up in a big dollop of self indulgent 'im in the industry but genuinely care about YOU' chat. Hmmmmm...

It is excruciatingly boring to be on the recieving end of chat like that. My inner voice is going mental at me for putting my ear drums through this traumatising ordeal.

So I have devised a plan. Everyone come to my house ever Saturday night, I will give you two hours of music in exchange for you to PARTY THE NIGHT AWAY! The more I do the more of you will hear about my musical parties and we will rock the fuck out until dawn. None of us will ever become rich, or famous, or will ever find it acceptable to wear shades in doors, and we will laugh at all those other twats taking it all so fucking seriously.

Not everone is impressed with 'who you know' or record deals. We are artists, let's talk about some art?

Okay I think I am done. Comments below as usual if you'd like to pipe in!

Rx

Polished and preened Vs honest and raw...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 22:45:00 GMT

What are you? What would you rather be?

When I am not performing (which is usually during the hours of 1pm and 6pm i.e. when I wake up until I go to a gig) I usually dress in trackie bottoms, trainers, a baggy jumper, my current fav being dubbed 'the granny jumper', hair up in a bun and absolutely no make up on. That is it. Honest and raw. Every freckle, vein and pore exposed. I am comfy that way. I think I am saying THIS IS ME, IF YOU LIKE ME IT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN ME AND DECIDED FOR YOURSELF. I try to be as honest as possible in my life, especially to MYSELF. Anyway, then I need to tart this shit up a bit to play a gig, no one wants to look at a muso-bum-tramp! So I do my hair (wash my hair) and shovel the make up on. A process I thoroughly enjoy doing to be honest! I sometimes do it just when I am bored. I am a werido. So, I am going for a version of myself that is a little more asthetically pleasing, I am making an effort. Last night I played a gig and there was a mix of folk on the bill. I was really impressed by the musicianship and talent on that stage. There was the raw straight up in your face talent mixed with a huge dose of really held back, practised, polished and prefect-ified (new word!) performances.

When it comes to my music though I feel that I am still sitting at that keyboard in my joggies. I've ripped a bit, just a bit, of my heart out and thew it into the audience to inspect. If I don't function like this I really can't do it at all. If I don't be totally true to myself, which involves a factor of not caring what people are thinking about the music, then I'd perform like a blown up doll, always checking myself, questioning my movements. EVERY SONG means the world to me, some a little more than others but like having children, you still gotta love the wee fuckers as much as the cute ones.

I ain't on no express train to the top, no fast track to success course. I must be real. I must be real.

Thanks for reading! You make it feel real! x

A question to some music bloggers...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:10:00 GMT

This goes out to the music bloggers that blog about the bad with as much EXCITEMENT as they do the good. That feel the need to tell everyone WHO, WHAT and WHY they don't like someone (and I mean someONE, not an artist, not an act but a PERSON) using real bitchy bullying language.

Why do you feel the need to absolutely DESTROY someone? If you don't like their music where does the energy come from for you to spout really NASTY, INSENSITIVE words??? There is a more tasteful way to say 'I don't like this music, have a listen and decide for yourself' surley!?!

Just my thoughts right now as I am getting ready for a gig tonight which I am so not in the mood for...

Must suck it up!

You can watch me tonight at www.justin.tv/thebedfordlive . Have opinions, have hundreds of them, it's your goddamn right!!! If you want to tell me about it I will totally listen, however if you write down really rude things about me on the internet and call it a 'review' - with not one mention of actual music - then fair do's to you. You are obviously a complete fucking moron.

Maybe I am too offensive. Maybe I am not polite enough to make your eyes water and you throw up on the spot. Because that's what we all want, polite little ladies with guitars doing happy clappy pish your pants fucking shite.

I am done.

R x

Just to say hello

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 06:30:00 GMT

Hey ho peepo, There has been much going on down in the batcave. I have barely had time to stop and just take a quick breath, so I took the weekend off. SHOCK HORROR! Cousins came visiting LDN town so I went out and done the whole touristy 'and this is big ben, did you know that the name is actualy the bell not....blah blah' I loved it. January seen me play many a gig solo, as well as get ON IT with the batcave recordings. I also upgraded my computer (FINALLY!!) so have a shiny new machine to finish the demos on. How fucking epic. Upping the level of solo gigs I am doing means less 'work' type gigs which suits me down to the ground, if my cash flow situation can stay stable then we are winning at this - life/paying for rent/not being a full blown alcholholic - shit. Which is always a good thing. Coming up... I AM PLAYING THE FOLLOWING GIGS IN LONDON. Come along and I will shower you with angry lyrics, some accidental notes and a free E.P. They are going until they are gone. Feb 6th @ The Bedford Feb 11th @ The Old Queens Head Feb 15th @ Spiritual Bar, Camden Feb 21st @ The White Lion They are all on my gigs page so you can keep updated. This is full on, mental music making and I am super chiffed to have woken up to 2013 with what feels like the engine of a racecar powering away in my chest. It's amazing. Enjoying each and every day, every wink of sleep and ever breath of icy January London air. Sweetness!!! A few of my maties are on it too this year (as they have always been!) and I am well excited to hear what they have been working on. Erin Todd has a new E.P. coming out very soon. I have heard it and it's amazingly Erin. It's so her! I love it! Absolutely faultless vocals. Roisin Tuohy is launching her E.P. at the Wee Red Bar in Edinbugh on March 7th. I haven't listened too much as I am saving myself for what is sure to be a cracker of a gig. Louise Dodds will releasing an album this year. Oh my god I can't wait, she is someone that get shit loads done and doesn't need to shout about it. And is also a bird loving, jazz humming ledge. All you need to know. It's all going on. Catch ye'z on the flip side amigos. X