video

‘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!

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

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

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

Stay busy create keep warm!

This month has been creative and busy. Keep moving keep warm 🙂

A few weeks ago I mentioned I had been asked to provide vocals for the fab band Bowker. These guys have written a concept album called Sail to the Deep and needed someone to be their ‘Valentina’. I was really honoured to be asked, it was also a pretty big challenge but very exciting! I have never just provided vocals before and for this one it was also vocals with no words…so…listen I did…over and over to the amazing atmospheric chunky guitar/bass/drum track they sent me. After I felt I’d suitably absorbed the music I started to get a feel for the character and it was a lot of fun singing my heart out for this.

Bowker album sleeve

The launch was a few weeks ago at Lomax, Liverpool and I went along to perform. Cracking night. Here are a couple of pics.

me as ‘Valentina’

The song was included on the Roots and Fusion radio show last week so for a listen head over to the mixcloud 🙂

The album is released in November.

Another guest appearance for me came in the form of Tiki Black. Tiki is a fantastic songwriter and though we have crossed paths at gigs and she has also been very supportive of my music, we had not yet worked together. Tiki asked me a couple of months ago if I would play some guitar on her track ‘Free Like Smoke’. It’s a beautiful song and when I had a closer listen I could really hear some vocal harmonies in there too. So, I jumped in and had a play. Luckily for me that was appreciated…. The track sounds great and I will update when and where this will be available once I know. This was also featured on Roots & Fusion and can be heard here.

SUMMER STUFF– Over the summer I had lots of fun playing at various festivals. One of which was on my doorstep at the Sefton Park Food & Drink Festival. I had the opportunity to combine my two favourite things of coffee and music and played at the Liverpool Live TV/Quills Coffee stage. LLTV were ace enough to wield their video skills and recorded my song Woollen Hearts…

and finally…..

This weekend I discovered that my song Sun shines under water (from Chasing Tales EP) was included on Tom Robinson’s MIXTAPE (BBC6 Music Introducing.. Fresh on the Net): I have been lucky enough over the last year to have 2 other songs (Chopping Wood & This Garden) from the EP also featured on the show. It’s a top resource for independent musicians and I’m very proud.

That’s it for now! You’ll find me walking around in the Autumn air finding inspiration for new songs.

Red Sofa Sessions

A few weeks ago I went to be filmed performing my song Chopping Wood for Liverpool Live TVs ‘Red Sofa Sessions’. These guys are great to work with and it was the easiest 5 minutes of filming I’ve ever done 🙂

This is the result…

Be sure to head over and see who else they have filmed, always quality!

Jo x

Chopping Wood video / Tom Robinson / Folkstock Xmas & Blues Matters

Hello All!

Swishing into December are we, doing whatever each of us likes to do or not do! 🙂 Me personally I like to leisurely drink coffee and stay in where its warm..

Busy times musically!

First up. Last month we filmed a vid over two days to compliment my crowd favourite Chopping Wood. This song has been making people happy. So I contacted the fab Mr Andrew Ab and he sent the finished product to me this week and I couldn’t wait to share it.. I suggest sitting yourself down with a brew and taking 4 mins..(until the end of the song of course) and soaking up this little visual delight. I’m really happy with it and so seem those who have thus far seen it..and who can say more than that.

Secondly. Last month Chopping Wood was picked by the one and only BBC 6 Musics Tom Robinson for his Fresh on the Net blog. I then was emailed an excellent message to say the same song had been selected for Tom’s BBC Introducing Mixtape show. Happy? Well..just a little bit 🙂 Here’s the show that went out with my song on it!

http://freshonthenet.co.uk/2013/12/mixtape20131202/

The Fresh on the Net site is also an amazing resource for musicians looking for tips on how to optimise their opportunities..

Third. Last weekend I headed down to Hertford Corn Exchange to perform as part of the Folkstock Christmas show. I did the festival in the Summer and I can’t recommend it enough for the future. I was treated extremely well and the acts were all top quality. Last sunday was a full day of free music. Check out these guys if you can and keep an eye on the festival for the future!

Pic from the day by Helen Meissner..who also took some vid footage and made an awesome compilation here…. as well as being the boss of Folkstock!

definitely not least… one day last week whilst browsing the internet I came across this little gem..

If you cast your eyes to the bottom you will see what made me happy 🙂

Blues Matters is a great mag featuring all things blues and somethings that push the boarder of traditional blues. I like this ethos a lot being that my music is not especially traditional to any genre. These guys have reviewed my EP and it is in the current issue with favourable words. Once I have my copy I shall be posting a picture of the review.

Until next time enjoy this time of year however you need to! Many good vibes from me and if you’re looking for gift inspiration I would recommend my EP Chasing Tales…. naturally!

Jo x

Chopping Wood vid / Reviews / 6Music & Gigs

The last days of November and teetering on the beginning of my fave month of the year! Chasing Tales EP has been out for 2 whole months now and I’ve had some cracking feedback so far! Have a look at the reviews here, I’m so happy to say the least. Much of it has been along the lines of- ‘great EP!, when’s the album coming out!’.., inspiring to say the least and to those who have asked that I’m already writing…

My immediate plans are to get out and about and do a good run of gigging this new material. I have been doing my musician admin duties to the fullest since the release and I have a gig list here and I’m adding to it all the time. If I’m not coming near you and you have ideas of venues please give me a shout and I’ll see what I can do!

Last weekend we got some people together and made a video for my song Chopping Wood. I teamed up with the excellent Andrew Ab who is clocking up quite a portfolio of videos by some fantastic artists. We made a campfire and ate burned marshmellows and it was great fun, even having a pink face from being so hot! The vid will be out before Xmas.

Chopping Wood has also being picked by Tom Robinson for play on his Mixtape show on BBC 6Music over the next week or two. It was whittled down and included in Fresh Faves Batch 85 and had a little climb from there.

I’ve had great news of things to come which I will divulge in good time.

Until December is in full swing enjoy the warm up to the end of the year and the beginning of the new. Soak up the Autumn. Head over to pick up / download your copy of Chasing Tales at Bandcamp/Amazon/iTunes/CDBaby and if you are looking for a great prezzy for someone I highly recommend it.

Speak soon

Festive videos and Happy New Year

Last post of the year for me just before I run off to do my Christmas shopping and prepare for indulgences!

I’ve had a great year. Many trips out from Bob’s Folk Show in Jan, Songs from the Shed in June, Roots and Fusion session in Sept and the London Folk and Roots Festival in October.

The year has drawn to a close with me enjoying writing and recording some new songs and a nod to festive spirit in my first ever Christmas song: Little Christmas (Chasing Fairy Lights). The song birthed when I was asked to be a part of a Christmas album of independent artists by Andy Jones who plays in a fab duo called Just By Chance. Andy’s record label Searching For Dandelions released the album in December and it is available to download and is called A Searching for Dandelions Christmas 2.

To add a further sprinkling of festive to my tune myself and the very special Blythe Cooper drew up and created a stop motion animation video of cuteness to warm the cockles on those cold winter days. The video and song have had some great support of which I massively appreciate 🙂

cover artwork to the festive tune by Jo Bywater

I hope you all have a fab festive time and best of luck for the new year. I shall see you in 2013 with a renewed and ever more enhanced creative spirit.

Until then 🙂

Jo x

Songs from the Shed session now online

I had a fab time when I headed to Clevedon to meet Jon Earl and record my 3 songs in the shed. There has been some amazing talent in the shed before me and it was an honour to be involved. The videos are now online! www.songsfromtheshed.com

I recorded Wave, Scratch the Surface and Disclaimer….all now on the vid page, all now online. Enjoy 🙂

Jo x