Riches to Rags

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

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

Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge WIN!

Good News!! My song Riches to Rags won the judges award for Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting challenge 😀

On Friday I went along to perform my entry for the finals. It was a great night of music both from 2 of the judges (Robert Vincent & Kaya) and also the other 9 finalists.

There’s a big smile on my face and I’m also very overwhelmed by the amount of congratulations from people. I genuinely entered the challenge for a bit of a different songwriting venture but to come out winner is very nice…

This is the painting I chose from View Two Gallery to write about… I was really drawn into this picture and had the whole song concept very quickly.,

The song…

The lyrics…

Riches to Rags

Do you know I used to be a Queen?

I followed you here

Enticed and entranced by your need

But I know I’m never going to be your Queen

Though dress in golden seams

I’m left alone with my dreams

And I gave my colours for you

Gave my colours for you…

Honey, how I ache to be your queen

Oh invisible me

Now we’re strangers its clear that I

Served a purpose it seems

Left to dote in the breeze

Carry all that I’ve seen

And It’s alright

I know how you feel

I can’t keep you here

You’re not meant for me

And we used to dance and you’d hold me so firmly

I’d fly like a bird

And you’d touch me so softly I’d slip through your arms

Like the breath that you drew

When you kissed me

Unhooked me from all that I knew

Now all I know is you

Now all I know is you…

Darling I could never never be your queen

The world worn weary

This Goddess has dignity

And darling I rage like the sea

You took all that I had

From riches to rags

Not sure I exist

Chameleons and twists

Laments of lives gone by

I float between two skies

I’ve been chasing ghosts

Since you caressed my throat

Spinning mirrors and smoke

I tenderly choke

And we used to dance and you’d spin me so firmly I’d fly like a bird

And you’d touch me so softly I’d slip through your arms

Like the breath that you drew

When you kissed me

Unhooked me from all that I knew

Such a beauty, you told me I shone like a charm

These red lips you could kiss

That remind you of sunsets so bold

So unspoiled, I unfold, you took me from all that I knew

You unhooked me from all that I knew

Yeah you took me from all that I knew

And all that I wanted was you

Now all that I’m haunting is you

The prizes for winning are a vocal lesson with the amazing Balance Vocal, a studio recording of my song with Crosstown Studios and I am also invited to perform at Liverpool Acoustics Birthday event on 27th Feb 2015. 🙂

Once the song is recorded I will put it on here..

Thanks for the support everyone

Jo Bywater