Ashleigh Southam

Poems of the day

2012-01-10T00:17:00.000-08:00

Thought I would share a couple of poems that I've just read today. First one by John Boyle O Reilly, beautiful little poem and nice to read something with a positive spin (I sometimes get bogged down in too much darker material

"What is the real good?"
I ask in a musing mood.

"Order," said the law court;
"Knowledge," said the school;
"Truth," said the wise man;
"Pleasure," said the fool;
"Love," said the maiden;
"Beauty," said the page;
"Freedom," said the dreamer;
"Home," said the sage;
"Fame," said the soldier;
"Equity," said the seer.
Spake my heart fully sad:
"The answer is not here."

Then within my bosom,
Softly this I heard:
"Each heart holds the secret:
'Kindness' is the word."

Next one is by William Butler Yeats. I like this one for it's sentiment; trying to be intellectual, it's so so easy to be distracted by a hot chick!

HOW can I, that girl standing there,
My attention fix
On Roman or on Russian
Or on Spanish politics?
Yet here's a travelled man that knows
What he talks about,
And there's a politician
That has read and thought,
And maybe what they say is true
Of war and war's alarms,
But O that I were young again
And held her in my arms!

Prelude #1

2011-03-29T23:56:00.000-07:00

So at the gig the other night I had a friend of mine record some of the tracks. Mostly because I hadn't had a chance to listen to the newly composed prelude.

Just wanted to share it. This piece will be part of a larger work:

http://ashleighsoutham.bandcamp.com/track/prelude-1

Hope you enjoy

Ash

Recording and Indie label part #1 Composing & Arranging

2010-12-11T21:28:00.001-08:00

So, I just had this idea.

I'm going to post the warts and all experience of recording my latest album. There are a lot of myths and questions about recording an album and the music industry in general. I'd like to shed some light about my experience of it to the people I know and any others that stumble on my blog. I'm going to write about my experience as a truely independant artist (no label, not even a small one, I'm my own label). Where possible I want to include every detail, particularly, the costs and time that it takes to make a cheap indie label in these modern times.

My album is called "Pilgrim". It is currently in the Manufacturering stage, so this post, and some others, will be retro active!

COMPOSING:

This is a fairly constant thing for me. I'm always composing. All it really takes for me is time. Some quiet time spent on my instrument and things start to come out. Then, a sort stream of consciousness approach to lyrics and melody. Then, more time. After the intial spark, there's a lot of effort that goes into organising the sections and also finishing melodies and finding lyrics. Every song is different. One song on the album took me about 2 hours, start to finish and it was done. That's pretty rare though. The songs on this album date back to about 2008 when I first moved to Melbourne and I had lots of spare time after making muesli and reading at the library.

ARRANGING:

My idea was to use a variety of talented people I knew and some I didn't. I also wanted to include a orchestral instruments. I also didn't want a typical band album and I wanted to arrange the songs in such as way, as the instruments played an integral role rather than a supportive one.

I love writing for strings. So I knew I wanted a string quartet. I also saw it possible to write for a brass/wind quartet as well. So the line up for a lot of the songs is; String quartet, Brass/wind Quartet, Drums, Bass, Guitar/Keys.

Arranging 10 songs for that many instruments and getting it just right (perfectionist) took me a good part of about 8 months, which was longer than I originally thought. There were also last minute changes happening on the morning of some of the recording days. But I really did love every second of working on the scores.

So to recap. Composing of the original songs, happened from 2008 right up until the moment where I was changing lyrics in the vocal booth in Nov 2010. So give or take, 2 years. Arranging the material into just the right perfect symbiotic harmonious glory between all instruments, about 8 months. Cost, well....composing is just time really so no costs there. Arranging, cracked version of Sibelius was free, or about $200....no prises for guessing which one I went with.

Tune in next time for "Decision Time!"

Albums I'm listening to while re-reading my my 1st draft of novel (should take about 12 hours)

2010-06-29T02:39:00.000-07:00

Jonny Cash - American IV The man comes around
Joan as Policewoman - Real Life
The Mars Volta - Deloused in the comatorium
Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head
Ryan Adams - Gold
The Grand Central Band
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
The Doors - Morrison Hotel & LA Woman
Muse - Origins of symmetry
John Lennon - Wonsaponatime
Rufus Wainright - Want two

Now the coffees ready.....back to it!!

Anne Carson

2010-04-13T03:44:00.000-07:00

So I've recently been reading Anne Carson's book of poetry and prose 'Plain Water' and I think she's amazing......so I wanted to post a poem of hers

"On Youth at Night"

the youth at night would have himself drawn
around the scream. It lay in the middle of the
city gazing back at him with its heat and
rose pool of flesh. Terrific lava shone
on his soul. He would ride and stare

I definately reccommend her....with some practice I hope to be as original...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Carson

New Year, New projects!

2010-01-23T19:47:00.000-08:00

So its a new year....whoa!

Trying to organise the recording and composing of my 2nd album...actually make that 'composing' first, then 'recording'. Dates are set loosely for the 25th of June. This time I wanna do things slightly different.

The 1st album was done to a click track, and then we tracked everything to that - basically what that means is the drummer plays first, on his own, with the tempo being played in his ear. He has to remember the song and the changes. Then the bass comes along and plugs in and he plays along to the drums that have been recorded. Then the guitars go on, then paino, then the triangle etc. Finally the vocals go on at the end.

This time round I want to do 'Live' tracking which means that we all play at once, together in a room. So the drums and bass and guitars and pianos all play the song in one big room. There are lots of arguments for and against these types of recordings. For me personally, I want to try it. I also have an opinion that there is a certain 'vibe' that you feel when you're all playing together. It's a hard thing to quantify, but it really is a feeling. If everyone is playing well, all at the same time, there is an energy you feel. I'm hoping that this will be the case, and my very talented friend and engineer/producer will capture this vibe.

It's also possible I've bitten off more than I can chew, becasue I'm wanting to record with the string quartet in there as well. In a few songs I'm also hoping for a brass/wind section. So that's a lot of musicians and instruments and mics all at once. But my theory is that with all these peeps all playing and hopefully feeling the music, the vibe dial will be on at least "11".

Fingers crossed, until they have to move over keys or strings.......

Invictus

2009-11-28T17:54:00.000-08:00

what a great poem.....its by William Enerst Henley....just wanted to share it

INVICTUS

Out of the night that covers me
Black as the pit from pole to pole
I thank whatever gods may be
for my unconquerable soul

In the fell clutch of circumtances
I have not winced nor cried out loud
Under the bludgenings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid

It matters not how strait the gate
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul.

tunes i'm diggin on

2009-08-22T16:21:00.001-07:00

Just though I would put up a quick post with some links to the type of tunes I'm listening to and being inspired by.

First off, I've been getting right into Soul music lately. Started out with Sam Cooke but I'm finding loads of great artists. There are some great ones on 'Hi records' and 'Stax records' as well. (Keep an eye out for the middle 'Miracle' he fluffs his dance steps, perhaps he should come to Ministry)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCwkZrj2VT4&feature=related

Next up is the silk road ensemble. Originally the main guy arranged songs for Yo Yo Ma I think. But they have this great instrumentation and arrangement. Really digging this stuff. Relishing the middle eastern influence in both instrumentation and melodies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBWT79QUV94

Segway, to Nusrat, who I found out about through Jeff Buckley. On his 'Live at Sine' album he raves about him so I thought I'd check him out. Jeff had a point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbAPx5vQKy0

finally, I had this melody stuck in my head this morning, no idea where or how...so I used the power and glory of youtube and the interweb and tracked it down. Although listening to it, I'd like to see a different type of production on it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrZkaj37kA0

I actually thought it might of been a Gomez song, who I think are also pretty cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzUhjhRxGp4

Ok, so this could go on for a long time. So I'll stop now I think. Hope you've enjoyed listening/watching. Go the web and youtube.

Chur
ash

I got interviewed....

2009-05-25T03:39:00.000-07:00

So a friend of mine, a very talented bass player, is studying music in Sydney. She recently had an assignment where she had to interview a music industry person and I was very flattered that she thought of me. I thought I'd post a copy of the interview.

Interview Questions – Ashleigh Southam

1.) How did you become involved in music?

My first memories of music are being fascinated by my fathers LP collection. The people on the covers and the song titles and then what was inside. I was drawn to these things and the act of sitting and listening to the records.

2.) Your instruments are piano, guitar and vocals – how long have you been working at each?

Piano I have been working on for 18 years, Guitar, about 12 and Vocals are relatively young still, about 5 years.

3.) Who are your greatest influences – and why?

I love Nina Simone, for her aguish. I love Bob Dylan for his originality. I love Leonard Cohen for his poetry. Bach for his melodies, Bill Evans for his harmonies and anyone else who performs with their soul.

4.) Are there any other artists (i.e. non-musicians), people, places or anything else that influences and inspires your work?

I love Charles Bukowski’s poetry. Jean Micheal Basquiat’s Paintings are amazing. John Irvings stories, he marries tragedy and comedy so closely it’s brilliant. My Family influences me. My partner is amazing. I am inspired by people close to me and also people who I’ve only ever read about. I love stillness and silence, you can learn a lot about yourself when it’s quiet.

5.) You’ve been in Melbourne for well over a year now – what prompted the move there?

My girlfriend got into the musical Guys and Dolls and as part of her contract we were given accommodation in the middle of town. Seemed like sweet deal, rent free in the middle of Melbourne. Had a lot of time to write without worrying about rent!

6.) How have you found the music scene in Melbourne to be in comparison to Sydney and Christchurch?

There is definitely more going on here. It’s very competitive. There is also a great appreciation for original live music. Sydney has a really great live music scene with lots of good bands but I do feel more of camaraderie between musicians here. Christchurch has a wonderful pool of talented musos and I have many musician friends there. I believe you can make your music in any city, good music is good music regardless of region.

7.) You worked with a variety of musicians on the album. Was this intentional or just circumstantial given you have lived in several different locations over the last few years?

It was more circumstantial I think. The album came about rather by accident. There were several recordings we had made in Christchurch which were originally intended to be an EP release. They were great recordings but they sat on my hard drive for some time. Then there was some rehearsing that went on with different musicians in Sydney playing some of the songs off the original recording and some extras. So I decided to record those as well. Then I sort of thought, well, I have this collection of really great recordings, why don’t I put it together on an album. I re-recorded all the vocals in my friends studio in Christchurch to give it some consistency, then had it mixed and mastered here in Melbourne. I’m very proud of the outcome. It’s a great achievement.

8.) How do you approach the songwriting process? i.e. how do you come up with ideas?

Idea’s come from everywhere. I carry note books with me always to jot down lyrical ideas or phrases and thoughts. There are always musical ideas that come out of practicing and spending time on my instruments. Usually sounds that my ears want to hear, some chord progression or melody, and I work on it until my ears are satisfied. Then put it together. Some songs come out completely formed and others sit around for months or even years before they find a home.

9.) What was it like working with such a variety of people on your first album?

It’s always a great pleasure working with other talented musicians. I’m constantly amazed at how every musician will bring their own personality into songs. Every person I’ve worked with comes to their instrument in their own unique way. I’m flattered when people are willing to work hard on material that I’ve composed.

10.) When did you sign to Amphead Music? How have you found the experience to be given they have quite a few contacts with labels, retailers and distribute a wide variety of material?

I signed with Amphead in about August of last year. The deal I have with them is just a distribution deal. So their contacts and things, although are great, won’t really help me unless I’m out there hustling and gigging myself. When you do something like make an album and try to get it out there and available, you quickly learn about the actual music industry. So many musicians I think are naïve about the actual business side. It’s a tough industry and it eats up a lot of good musicians and bands. You have to be realistic about it. We’re all sold on the stories of our favourite bands success and their signings to this or that label. But, ultimately, it’s an industry and revolves around profits, like any other industry. So it’s important to enjoy the music you make and that you feel passionate about it.

11.) How do you feel about the industry in its current state? i.e. the live music scene, digital downloads and the changing nature of the music industry?

I definitely think the industry is in a massive state of flux. It won’t ever go back to the way it was 10years ago, the way record companies probably want it to, or the way they’re trying to protect right now. The bottom line is, people can get recorded music for free now, how can you ask someone to pay for something when they know they can get it free? Change isn’t always bad. Personally I think bands will have to tour more and revenues will be made up that way. Which I think is a good thing. It’s one thing to sound good on a recording, it’s something else to sound good live. Live is where it’s at. There are alternative ways to make money, but the traditional way of selling albums is on its way out.

12.) Best gig? What and where?

I once played as a session keyboardist for the Beach Boys tour in New Zealand, we did a gig to about 5,000 people.
Another memorable one was at the Artichoke café. I think I played for about 2 and half hours straight. I was completely involved in what I was doing I didn’t notice time passing. It’s nice the way its set up there where I could do that.

13.) Worst gig? What and where?

I’ve had several gigs where I’ve played to the bar staff. But even during those I find a way to get something out of the music. I usually end up improvising a lot more or trying things I wouldn’t normally.

14.) What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Well, that’s hard to say having a relatively quiet career so far, but I would say the people I get to meet and play music with. Sharing the tunes.

15.) You recently made a comment about ‘9 days of shooting straight up 17 hr days.’ What’s that about – have you been working on films lately?

That was for an independent film I was acting in filmed in New Zealand. It’s called “Pawn Shop” and it features a lot of Christchurch musicians including songs from myself. I have a good friend who’s a director and writer who lives in Christchurch. His idea was to shoot a small film with a simple plot and include some of the talented musicians he and I both know. It’s a great little film and should be out by the end of the year. But we had very little time to do everything so they were long days. Interesting things happen to your brain when you’re sleep deprived.

16.) You have again teamed up with some new musicians. Is this a permanent line up?

Originally the idea was to keep it sort free for them to come and go if they wanted. But recently we discussed things and they seem to be in it for long haul. We’re making some really interesting exciting sounds at the moment and I’m really happy with how it’s coming along.

17.) What are the plans for your current band? Will there be a follow up album anytime soon?

At the moment we’ve just the to the point where the songs are rehearsed up and we’re now about to start gigging around Melbourne. Ultimately it would be good if we could get management on board. Then they can do what they do best, and we can do what we do best. We have to prove ourselves first though. We’re definitely looking at recording an EP in the not too distance future. I’m also recording some quartet scores I’ve composed in a few weeks. There is nothing like hearing bowed instruments playing together on something you’ve composed. It’s an amazing sound and experience

"The Fish" has been edited

2009-05-13T00:04:00.000-07:00

With the help of my cousin, I have edited the FISH poem slightly in an effort to have it make more impact. Trying to be less clever is the main goal, less adjectives, or least meaningful ones, rather than just trying to be overly descriptive.

Anyway, here's the latest.

The Fish

The fish draws a line in the sand an says “Enough!”
the Crow says back,
“I do not sing, so you do not paint”.
The moon hums “I am wounded, that is all”.
The Bee nods.
“See” says the Crow
Absorbed, the Fish keeps drawing.
Words inch out of the Spider: “You have the Ocean, we the have the Tress.
There is an order
of dust and bones and pain and stars.
Do not continue your shoreline expressions”
The Ant hears the static of the Fish drawing in the sand.
The Wolf says
“If you stay, I promise the wilderness will fall on you,
including my dear strong claws”
The Fish freely continues
The Adder admires alone and thinks paragraphs of praise
but stays silent.
The Mouse says “We have allowed this tourism, now go back!”
The Bear
exhales “This will end badly”
The Fish begins to run out of air but keeps drawing in the sand
The Beetle: “Look! He's running out of life!”
The Dolphin radars a plea to return.
“He's finished the drawing!”
“I don't understand, why is he smiling?”
The Fish lay down.
“So it goes”,
“Silly dead Fish”,
“Good, I am restored”,
“Tragedy for a guardian”,
“Very close little fish”,
“Strange?”,
“I warned, I spoke”,
I take in the portrait, the flower in my palm smiles.

Fish Poem

2009-04-17T21:01:00.000-07:00

After days of apathy towards our rather untidy apartment (Em being away and all) today I decided to clean up. Unfortunately, I was distracted by the idea of a brave fish, so I took a break from the leaning tower of dishes that loomed and I wrote this. Any comments about it would be appreciated. Cheers all for stopping by.

The Fish

The fish comes out
and draws a line in the sand an says “Enough!”
the Crow barks back,
“I do not sing, so you do not paint”.
The moon hums “I am wounded, that is all”.
The Bee nods.
“See” says the Crow
Gleefully absorbed, the Fish keeps painting.
Words inch out of the Spider: “You have the Ocean, we the have the Tress.
There is an order
of dust and bones and pain and stars.
Do not continue your shoreline expressions”
Ms. Ant hears the static of the Fish drawing in the sand.
Yellowed eyes the Wolf leers
“If you stay, I promise the wilderness will fall on you,
including my dear strong claws”
Gossiping Swans tango and rustle of consequences
“Thissss isssn't your ssssssand” hisses tanned and lazy Lizard
The Fish freely continues
The lonely Adder admires and thinks paragraphs of praise
but stays silent.
Stately and gaunt the Mouse retorts: “We have allowed this tourism, now go back!”
Cigarette ash falls from the melancholy Bear
he exhales “This will end badly”
The Fish begins to run out of air but keeps drawing in the sand
The Beetle: “Look! He's running out of life!”
The Dolphin noiselessly radars a plee to the fish to return.
The Fish smiles. Then with his final breath he finishes his picture in the sand and flops down next to it.
“So it goes”, “Silly Fish”, “Good, I am restored”, “Tragedy for a guardian”, “Very close little fish”, “Strange?”, “I warned, I spoke”,“I don't understand why”
As I take in the fishes portrait in the sand, the flower in my palm smiles.

My poetic instincts

2009-04-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

So, I was at work the other day. One of the various jobs I have anyway. It's menial type of work, just putting together CD's and folding them and packing them. It's not so bad, but I'm glad I only work sporadically.

Anyway, while I was there working at my desk, this poem just came out of me from no-where. Completely formed in my head so I went and got my notebook out of my bag, quickly wrote this poem out, put my notebook back in my bag, and carried on with my packing.

Very weird. I thought I would share it anyway.

Factory line

As if the world was

never hard

and the bugs never

knew it all

I sit in my low

easy comfortable chair

in my easy ignorant suit

and gorge on my

narcissistic thoughts

as pools of wasted

minutes collect at

my feet

I am a true

lizard of regret

Me in one corner and me in the other

2008-11-22T22:45:00.000-08:00

Wrestling with these muscle thoughts

their sinews pull

tight till my feet and calves

are vulnerable as a babies balance

they hold me still

as if waiting for traffic

my eyelids like damp wood

not floating with the tide

I see the digestion of possibles

I am unsteady

exhausted by a predetermined pitch

I know where every song goes

but it's only a faint impression

as much as

a spider nestled in my hair

So I

talk with a tongue on the table

over cutlery and bowls

its decided

between us

love and its mystery

is like a dark water

around rocks

there are only things to lay bare

I am a fraction

like dipping a cup into the sea

change

2008-11-14T19:03:00.000-08:00

So, everyone talks about change. I had this thought today about change. We seem to always be re-acting to it, I mean "we" as in the general public. It seems change happens or is upon us before we realise or know exactly how to react.

A common reaction seems to be, stick with the status quo, keep using the same systems or at least use the same systems as templates and put some of our new ideas on top of them.

In my head I have the example of Aussie prime minister K.Rudd, talking about putting a bunch of dollars into the Aussie car industry. Worried mainly about jobs and un-employment. Could we perhaps find work for those people in fields such as re-newable energy industry?

Just a thought.

Change is gonna come.

late at night on my olivetti. Like JK said, the first words are usually the best

2008-10-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

This power plague is no mystery to us now. We should have enjoyed the sun throwing itself through banks and branches and been happy with beauty. Arm yourself, because the young will be the first to go. We'll have to hunt for scraps left over from corner card games and desperation row. It's about time I learned to work.

Sit back in your sea strong chair. Watch the easy end of time pushers and window watches and the inbetweeners. Only young have courage, the really young, they can rally their feet and mouths to co-operate to release their clouds and let their nimble fingers express everything that words leave out, of which there is a lot.

What is left for us to decide, is how we treat our bodies in this battle for mornings and hearts VS the mortgages on our souls and summers. I let go the string on my balloon a long time ago and regret nothing except with it I lost the ability to pour colour back into other lovers.

My only wonder is whether we can pull ourselves from this 50/50 world of balances, drains, elevators and edges and relate back that these eyes and memories were made the same as yours were. Optimism jumps where pessimism creaks. Villains will draw us in where heroes let us keep our ragged capes.
We need the change in winds to refresh our nostrils and remind us our memory has veins and rivers and footpaths along those rivers and bridges and lakes. I will meet you there on the shore of 9 autumns ago and we will smile and dance in our minds and let thoughts come out in smiles. We will shade ourselves from the belts that hold up insincerity or masks painted with ignorance and un-openess.

A new recipe for silence and its shadow will swell in the ears and give simple pleasures to anyone able to sit alone long enough to hear it.
And I will grow lazy and fat and young. And I will have a beard that I will scratch while I am casting Spells.