Music

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

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….

15037274_10155044639105715_6255953807832621300_n

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

Music for Empty Spaces

Happy November folks 🙂

A couple of months ago I was invited by Roger Hill from ‘The Popular Music Show’ at Radio Merseyside to contribute a song to the Empty Spaces project. I love a good excuse to write a song and flex those muscles so was very happy to serve up my creative offering.

The project was to write music to invoke / express spaces in Liverpool that are run down and not in use, or in use but how do they feel when they are empty…

For me, I immediately thought of the Atrium in LIPA, a place where I spent much time as a student, a place that many many others have also experience. It has such a potent atmosphere that I couldn’t resist. My song is called ‘Always feel like home’. The show was aired last night.

Jo Bywater – Always Feel Like Home – Music for Empty Spaces Project

A whole host of musicians were involved in this project and you can here their offering here…

Music for Empty Spaces

Jo x

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

Bluebird at the Bluecoat and other creative catch-ups!

Hello!

The last few months for me has been very creative/collaboratively swayed and I’ve had a lot of fun in the process…

Here is a bitesize update of some selective things I’ve been involved in and more will follow!

The most recent venture for me is happening this Saturday at Bluecoat Liverpool. I entered a songwriting competition a few months ago that was being run by Monkey Mind Productions in Nashville. After putting forward 3 of my songs I was picked as a finalist for a masterclass and songwriting feedback session taking place at Bluecoat under the banner ‘Bluebird at the Bluecoat’. We are given the opportunity to perform a song for the visiting Nashville songwriters/industry professionals and Bob Harris. I’m very excited (and a teeny bit nervous….:) but good nerves for sure). More to come on this……!

Check out the details here.. http://monkeymindproductions.net/the-bluebird-at-the-bluecoat/

BIG CLOUD: Earlier this month I went to visit Big Cloud Productions to be interviewed and perform songs for their excellent podcast. The man in charge is Steve Stroud. We had a great time., he asked some really interesting questions and we chatted guitar and music geek for at least a couple of hours and over about 4 cups of coffee 🙂 We also discovered we were playing music in New England at the same time a few years ago! I managed to squeeze in 7 songs. Here is the vid for this, enjoy:

ROOTS & FUSION: In the below link you can hear my latest session with Roots & Fusion. Always a pleasure to work with Rick and Aaron. Great session from June this year! (2015)

Roots & Fusion no.330, 17/6/15, from Todd Rundgren to Michael Brook via Jo Bywater in session by Roots & Fusion on Mixcloud

BREAK THE MAN: July saw the finished album that I had the pleasure of playing guitar, harmonica and backing vocals on, as well as designing the cover. This was ‘Break the Man by Kwalaparla’. A Western theme featuring gallows and heartbreak. Here’s a fab and deserved review by FATEA Mag.

http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/2015/KwalaParla.html

Coming up next week is my time to visit Bay TV in Liverpool and play some songs in their studio! More updates and links on that when it’s done and out.

I’ll be back with more updates as they come in and to fill in the blanks from the last couple of months 🙂

Bye for now.

Jo x

Riches to Rags FREE download..

Hey All!

I’m very excited about this whole experience of writing and winning the Judges Award for Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge (Nov 14) and so have decided that the new recording will be available as a free download to anyone who would like to enjoy it for a limited time.

As part of my prize I had the pleasure of recording Riches to Rags with Judge Jon Lawton at Crosstown Studios Liverpool. We had a chilled and enjoyable session and thus this recording was born.

Big thanks to Liverpool Acoustic and the 3 Judges (Kaya (Balance Vocal), Jon Lawton (Crosstown Studios) & Robert Vincent).

Big smiles from me!

You can download the song from Bandcamp (free or if you want to pay anything that’s up to your discretion) or Soundcloud.

I also played the fab Liverpool Acoustic live on Friday (27th Feb.) as part of an epic line-up (Cousin Jac & Roxanne De Bastion) and the lovely Graham Holland (1 half of Liverpool Acoustic) took this vid of me performing the song …

Enjoy

Krossborder Kompilation vol 2

Exciting times… Last year I was asked to contribute a song to vol 2 of Krossborder Rekords ‘The Best British Blues’ release. I had just finished writing my slide song ‘Silence Changed’ and so here was the perfect song for the situation. I had a great time recording the song with Russell Cottier (who also mastered my EP Chasing Tales) and love how it came out.

The CD is set for release on 23rd Feb and is available to buy from the Blues Matters shop here. It will also be available to buy from me at gigs.

The CD also contains music from other top Blues artisis/bands – Split Whiskers / The Mighty Boss Cats & Jed Thomas Band to name but a few….

Blue Blood

Well Helloooo February!

A few months back I was invited into the cover of Blues Matters for their Blue Blood section. The magazine came out in December and here I am telling tales of my musical journey, my inspiration and songwriting. Blues Matters does a lot for the British Blues scene and for people like myself who don’t quite fit into a traditional category.

blue blood 2014

I also had the pleasure of playing the Blues Matters stage at Jaks this year at Skegness Butlins for the 2015 Great British Rock & Blues Festival. Good times and a great gig to start the year on 🙂 Great opportunity to write some new songs! My set list is growing by the week these days….

The next gig for this year for me is 27th Feb at Liverpool Acoustic 6th Birthday.

See you there!

Christmas Come Home., come have a listen :)

Hey all,

A festive update…

Here is Christmas Come Home for your ears 🙂

When I was asked to contribute a song to Searching for Dandelions for this year I admittedly struggled with what angle to approach from., Ultimately I wanted to have fun writing it but the one thing that reins over the festive period is how much of a love/hate relationship people have with it, I love this time of year but often we forget where the root of Christmas comes from, there’s also a lot of sadness for people around this time of year. In ‘Christmas Come Home’ Christmas is a loud/garish/lush of a friend, who eventually I remember why we became friends in the first place.

Here are the lyrics…

Christmas Come Home

Christmas you come on so strong

Like whisky for breakfast on a work day

Shaking up a winter storm

I see you let yourself in

With your bells and your elves and your reindeer and your relentless seasonal cheer

Well you’re here now come in, make yourself at home

Christmas when we were young

You could’ve stayed here all year

But now I’m not so

You’re a little bit overkill

With your red suits and your chocolate boots and you plastic trees and your festive cheese

You bring a lot of baggage are you staying long?

Christmas you’re an old, old friend

And I’m a sucker for your lavish charm

But you’re somewhat an acquired taste

On repeat like a frozen alarm

With your trumpets and drums, your crackers and ‘Noels’

Raising Merry Hell, raising merry hell, raising merry hell

Christmas there’s just no room (x 3)

Every year you come too soon

Sometimes I forget

When we met

So long ago in the winter oh

Deep in that December

When the seasons change I remember

So long ago in the winter oh

You kept me warm in the cold

You gave me light in the dark oh

You kept me warm in the cold

You gave me light in the dark oh

Keep me warm in the cold

Give me light in the dark oh

Keep me warm in the cold

Give me light to behold

Come home, come home Christmas

Light the fire, Warm your bones

(x 3)

Come home, come home Christmas

Light the fire, light the fire, light the fire

Come home

I hope you enjoy it x

Christmas Come Home – 19th Dec – preorder now!

All is revealed! Bells and Glockenspiels…naturally…

The release date for my new Christmas song ‘Christmas Come Home’ is 19th Dec. It will be available as digital download from Amazon/iTunes/Spotify/CDBaby.

Pre-order now

It was mixed and mastered by Russell Cottier. The song is featured with some other great original artists on the festive compilation by Searching For Dandelions – A Searching for Dandelions Christmas vol. 3.

: Artwork by Jo Bywater

: Artwork by BETA CVN

Enjoy! 🙂

Jo x