Collaborations

Sharks – Fresh on the Net

Great news this week to learn that Sharks, the song I co-wrote with Luke Moore/Operation Lightfoot is currently getting lots of good feedback on the Fresh on the Net – Listening Post (Batch 322).

‘Show Me Down’ Video & Collaboration

A fantastic song written by my good friend David Masson.

Show Me Down. From his album The Dark Corner. (both available to buy on Bandcamp)

I loved this song as soon as I heard it and couldn’t wait to put my vocals on there. It’s the first time I’ve done a duet, and I loved what Masso had done with it. It’s punchy and pithy and lulling. I love the sparseness and then the build. It’s dark and weaving and a bit eerie. I find it exposing and comforting.

A few weeks ago we shot a video to go with the song. A video that was, and is lots of fun and filled with oddness. Testament to the vision and creative skill of Mr Masson who conceived of the whole thing and came back with this….

and it’s also the first time I’ve been asked to choke up yakky stuff for art.

Have a watch and a listen, share and enjoy!

Collaborations! ‘Drink Me’ video session wt Grethe Borsum

oooh …..this song gives me the chills every time I hear it!

Me and the fabulous Grethe Borsum (Get Her Band) sat down a couple of years ago with some beers and whisky, my resonator and a means to record. The intention? to do some songwriting…

Approaching collaborations you never really know how it will go until it does. The best I bring to it is to focus everything I’ve learned as a musician and songwriter and try to stay focussed on getting something to come away with, as well as having an experience that nurtures the creative process….it needs to flow 🙂 Admittedly, I was a teensy bit nervous, mostly because I’m used to writing on my own and it feels so vulnerable doing that with someone else.

It turned out that we had a lot to talk about…as the evening passed we crafted and played, had a chat and beer break, repeated this countless times. The result of which is this beautiful, lullaby of a song I get lost in every time I hear. Drink Me.

Proud. Happy. A genuine marinated shared creative experience.

When Grethe made a trip back to Liverpool last month we got together and recorded this video in Jacaranda, I’m so happy it’s here to share. Thanks to Grethe for her amazing video skills as well as the experience of writing this song together! Also, shout out to Luke Moore who jumped in and did some videoing for us too.

Enjoy x

Luke, Me, Grethe

Special Guest Harmonica! – Cold Coffee Blues.

Updates!

So, 2, 3, or even possibly 4 years ago I made a quip on Facebook regarding having the cold coffee blues…

… once upon a time I would drink my way through a Cafetiere of coffee whilst working/songwriting and drink it dry as it was going cold….now? no, no, I like it hot!

Hence my proclamation.

This was commented on at the time by an old friend of mine from my time on the Popular Music BTEC at Thornes Park College..Mr Ryan Mitchell – Smith, that it would indeed be a great song title. I agreed. I said I’d write it and he said he would play harmonica on it.

Being the kind of person that if I say I’ll do something, I tend to mean it. 10 years may go past but I will carry it and one day, it will be done. And here we are.

Cold Coffee Blues is now a song. When I sat down with my guitar to write one day, that song just fell out, (as easy as knocking over my coffee has been plenty of times). It’s fun, it’s thoughtful, it’s easy and cathartic and made me smile and when I smile playing one of my own songs, its all good! Once I’d finished it I was hoping Ryan would still be up for being a part of this. Lucky for me he was still into it.

Full circle. I’m totally honoured. Ryan has nailed this song. We have some cheeky Blues Harp. His playing is awesome and has really captured the vibe and it’s been on repeat in my headphones for the last couple of weeks. It’s really exciting for me to work with people on my music, and when it fits, it’s magic. Like excited being a kid magic. Things I wouldn’t and couldn’t have done myself. It’s much more fun involving others!

Please go and check out Ryans music, he writes his own songs and plays harmonica for a range of people. Here’s an ace vid from one of his own songs, go check out Youtube for more..

Cold Coffee Blues will be on my next album. I’m recording and working with guest musicians to make it an album I’m happy, excited and proud to share. So far it’s all working to plan 🙂 I’ll be continuing with updates as things happen each step of the way and when I have bits of music to share it will be here first!

Thanks for reading, listening and sharing and don’t forget……..DON’T LET YOUR COFFEE GET COLD.

Jo x

Studio, guest musicians and co-writes..

Hello,

There are things bubbling under the surface at the moment that make me happy to be creative.

The main thing I’d like to talk about today is my studio session with Cello on 2 tracks for my currently-being-record album…

Last month I headed down to Crosstown Studios in Liverpool to work with Jon Lawton again. Love working with Jon, so chilled and interesting, great coffee and an ideal ear to bounce ideas off! This time it was with the company of Luke Moore. I’ve worked with Luke on a couple of occasions on Operation Lightfoot projects and he has many hats but in this situation it was as Cellist, Cellist to contribute and weave some dark, beautiful string tones to 2 of my songs. The songs most fitting for this – Riches to Rags and Say Everything Do Nothing. It’s exciting for me to hear an instrument I don’t play adding sprinklings to my songs. Strings have such a powerful sound and I came away from the studio very happy. So, amidst conversations about zombies, Crystal Maze, Obstacle Races and coffee we put melodies and rhythms down to enhance, enhance, enhance. I had lots of fun being objective about my music and I’m now able to stand back from these songs and enjoy the craft. Being in the studio has to be one of my favourite ways to spend time, especially building my own songs. Onwards!

NEXT UP NEWS!……. I have another fantastic guest musician to announce on another song in the coming week for the album…. I’m going to sit on the details of this a tad longer but this song is on repeat on my phone at the moment and makes me smile 🙂 There will be details of this to come.

On a slightly different note…I did my first ever 10k Obstacle race last month called Wolf Run. Loved it! So much fun, so much mud. More more more. This is my preferred way to defrag and get a body stretch and some fresh air, for this I’m grateful.

Stay creative

JO x

Making of ‘Sharks’ video & upcoming performance 25th November, Liverpool.

Earlier this week I headed out to meet with Luke Moore (my collaborator for Sharks with Operation Lightfoot) and Jazamin Sinclair (multi – artist and in this case, videographer and photographer..) to get filming our video for said song. We wrote the song a while ago now and after piecing bits together are a step closer to releasing it! For this I am excited, I love this song. After brainstorming ideas a couple of months ago and then Luke fine-tuning them, we’re off…………

The morning looked like this… a coffee, chat, catch up and superfood salad… plans and directions decided, satiated and ready to go film….

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photo by Luke Moore

photo by Jazamin Sinclair

Pic by Jazamin Sinclair

We ventured various places over the course of the day. The trees, the beach, face down in the sand, avoiding statues, dogs and boats. We squelched down dingy railway alleys and bin alleys in the dark, ran through doors and ended up in the cellar. We had a giggle, drank lots of coffee and after 10 hours had enough footage to allow ourselves sleep. I had an amazing experience working with these two folks. It was easy and fun, and we got stuff done. I’m excited to see the finished edit and to premier at View Two Gallery, Liverpool on 25th November 2016… cant wait to share.

And this is what I looked like at the end of the day…..

photo by Jazamin Sinclair

Creeping from the darkest corners of the cellar I present to you ‘Sharks…Operation Lightfoot featuring Jo Bywater’….the Teaser/Trailer/Taster of what’s to come your way this November….

Here are a few words from Mr Operation Lightfoot himself, Luke Moore..

“It’s been great to work with Jo again after finishing the track earlier in the year. In the video pre-production meeting we talked about a few things that we wanted to try out and put together the framework of how this might look and the footage that we got is even better than I’d expected.

We’re aiming to have the video ready to accompany us at the next Operation Lightfoot performance on Friday 25th November at the View Two Gallery in Liverpool.

The song and video, like the other Operation Lightfoot material, is a great example of how collaboration and working outside the usual comfort zone can be both a creatively enlightening experience as well as produce really strong results.

Jo has been a really strong co-writer, flawless performer and working with her from behind the camera was an absolute joy and I think we were both pleasantly surprised by what we achieved. I’d like to say a big thank you to Jazamin Sinclair, too, who has really done a great job so far and I’m very keen to work with as soon as possible”.

See you there!

Jo x

studio / album mixing pt. 1 / videos

The last few weeks have been inspiring…

Album recording/mixing pt. 1

There’s a lovely list of 12 songs all ready to make up my next album. I’ve been patient this time round and have opted for letting this music marinate, sitting with it, making tweaks. I now have 8 songs pretty much recorded with some sprinklings from other artists to add to the mix and so a couple of weeks ago I paid a visit to Jon Lawton at the new premises of Crosstown Studios in Liverpool for his expert ears and studio skills….

with Jon at Crosstown Studios, Liverpool

The feedback was great, the coffee was flowing and I came away feeling very excited and like I can move on to my next chapter… watch this space, this thing has wings!

Operation Lightfoot………….

Last year I recorded a song with Operation Lightfoot called Sharks, I love this song, it’s moody and dark and comforting. Lots of strings. Perfect. We wrote the song together and I’ve been excited for when we release it. This is now getting closer and we are currently story-boarding a video to go with it. This will hopefully be out by the end of the year 🙂

Keep an eye on my website / social media for updates!

Until then

Jo x

Recording! new songs – new album

Hello!

I have now started recording my second album. I’ve spent the last year in my creative cave, gathering enough songs that I can be excited and proud of to put together worthy of an album. 12 songs in total, yes! I made it.

Admittedly I got a teeny bit waylayed as I spent time on some amazing collaborations with other artists (Bowker, Tiki Black, Operation Lightfoot) and also had the pleasure of playing guitar on the Kwalaparla album Break the man. I have also acquired a small collection of commissioned pieces for BBC Radio Merseyside Pure Musical Sensations show (Anyone Who Had a Heart (yes, a Cilla cover…), Always Feel Like Home & Faith on Hope st.).

Admittedly…………..I also got a bit more waylayed as I entered into a personal mission to get fit (Crossfit / Running / Hiking / Mountain biking) and eat clean, get some decent sleep, early mornings and drink less..(much less)…so, rock n roll….I know, but I feel amazing….. and…it feels GOOD!

But now….I’m ready. In motion.

So I have a little quick video to share with you that I’ve just recorded at home as a taster of what’s to come. The album is pretty much a mixture of acoustic guitar and slide guitar songs. Some solo, some with guests 🙂 I’m excited.

But for now….

Enjoy x

Liverpool Acoustic Festival – 19/03/16

Hey all,..

Lots of squirreling little plans going on here that I’m excited about for 2016.

Creative, collaborative, proactive..

The most immediate is my involvement in Liverpool Acoustic Festival. This is a weekend packed full of acoustic artists held in Unity Theatre and Philharmonic Music Rooms. I’m made up to be on a line – up with lots other fantastic artists including Marcus Bonfanti and Dave O’Grady. The festival runs all weekend but my performance is on Sat 19^th March in The Music Room – Philharmonic, I’ll be on at 7.15pm and will be road testing some new tunes.. Get your tickets.

I’m also very honoured to be invited as part of a panel discussion with Liverpool Acoustic at Unity Theatre at 5pm – 6pm on the subject ‘Female Is Not A Genre’..This, I believe has sprung from a very well written piece by songwriter Roxanne De Bastion last year. I’m in good company for this sitting alongside Roxanne De Bastion, Kaya Herstadt Carney and Eleanor Nelly.

I hope to see some of you there!

Other news on the collaborative front is my co-written track ‘Sharks’ with Operation Lightfoot (Luke Moore)… the track is now recorded and finished and sent for mastering. I’m excited, really excited about this track from beginning to end. It was great to be asked, to work with Luke and Jon (Crosstown Studios), to perform with other Lightfooters and now just to hear the finished product puts a big smile on my face. I loved working with strings on this one! I will be making some noise when it’s release time….

I’ll also be making some noise soon…. All will be revealed in due course!

Until then, stay creative and with your heart

Operation Lightfoot: studio times & Bay TV

2 fab things to sing about today!

Amazing studio time was had last Friday with Luke Moore and Jon Lawton at Crosstown Studios Liverpool. We began the recording of our song ‘Sharks’ for the Operation Lightfoot project. For this we decided I would be kept away from the guitar, so, guitar skills are by Luke, my vocals and harmonica are currently in place in this dark little number. The thing that has MOST excited me about this is the strings. THE STRINGS. I can’t wait to share this with everyone once it’s finished!

AND

Last month I went along to visit Bay TV Liverpool and recorded a live session of 3 songs (Riches to Rags / Graze / Chopping Wood) in their TV studio. Really chilled experience and I’m really happy with the final outcome. The session was aired over the weekend and below is the vid for you to peruse at your leisure. You’ll find me on Episode 46 The first half is Daniel Saleh and at 11m34s you’ll find me ready to go… Enjoy! x