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John's Blog
Regular Studio Updates
Mar
29
loneliheart???
written by john clare on March 30, 2009
sorry to hear you feel lonely in the blogosphere, there are some of us out there, but this internet thing is a hungry beast, and it eats time for breakfast lunch and tea.
I may well go in for the song contest. The crap on the contest page is depressing so there isn't much opposition yet. On the other hand I have never thought much of the opposition, so maybe that's a bad sign. I've also given up all hope of ever making any money out of this poxy business but if you are a musician you have to make music, that's the way it is.
Funny you emailed me last night, as, for the first time in about four months, I wrote another song. It's about a guy who asks this girl to help him with the things he needs to say to get her to go out with him, which I thought was a nice different take on the usual rotten lovesong. Unfortunately, I am broke at the moment, so cant even afford to get Cephren to come over and help with the recording.
With any luck I can sell my last two flats in the UK, and retire from the landlord business, and be able to smile again. Wont that be nice!
See you sometime.
jc
Songwriting contest
written by Kay Shelley on March 31, 2009
Hi John, Thanks for the info. Yes songwriting competitions are useful to help get one's name known, but also because they sometimes offer useful prizes.
Not that G and I have won any so far, but we have been highly commended, and it's worth adding to one's CV. By the way, we have now both joined the PRS and the MCPS, which is also worthwhile, as the PRS no longer charge a membership fee and simply deduct £10 as a flat fee from the first royalties. Every little helps. 
Ahhhhh....that's brutal.
written by Philip Larsen on March 31, 2009
Wise words John. I think the most important thing is to stay positive; clichéd as it may sound, one has to believe in what you are doing. That's what we did with Sham Rock and what we carry on doing today! That songwriting competition sounds good - wonder whether reversing lorries and my limited array of 'tricks' will do the job?!
x x
...
written by Neil on April 01, 2009
Hi John
Love your positivity, as always. Fight shy of "the business" now, but fond memories og EQ with your patience and attention to detail.
Much love
Neil www.myspace.com/theforgers
this is great
written by Jonas on April 01, 2010
Hi John,
I just thought that it's time that I tell you how much I appreciate your work and your attitude. Being in the band UNPRINTED gave me the opportunity to experience a lot of different studios. If you reach a certain level it's not any more only all about the pro-equipment but about the atmosphere which can make the difference whether you can create a teriffic song or not. I think you just do the right thing and provide creative space, great atmosphere and pro equipment. So please keep it up and record and produce more good music.
By the way, we've got a new video. Just go to www.myspace.com/unprinted
Take care
Jonas/UNPRINTED
Songwriting Competition
Posted by: John
Tagged in: Tell Me Ma , songwriters competition , Songlink Magazine , ShamRock , Music Maker Magazine , BACs
Music Maker magazine are having a songwriters competition which is totally free to enter. For more details go to www.songwriter-showcase.co.uk. My own view on competions like this is that they are just another way of keeping you focussed on your aims as a songwriter - that is to have your 'voice' heard and (hopefully) make some money out of it. Yup, it would be great if Robbie (or the next Robbie!) made an album of your songs, but even if that isn't happening, it is important to keep a positive mind-set. That only can come by your keeping writing and, equally important, getting your songs 'out there'. There is no limit, in these technological times, to the ways you can spread your material; post it on U-Tube, MySpace, check-out competitions and enter - someone's got to win! Look at mags like Songlink - they tell you who's looking for stuff. If you can, network yourself and your material. BACs have regular 'surgeries' where a team of experts from the industry will listen to and evaluate your material. Don't be shy, the worst they can say is they 'don't like it'! When we had the ShamRock single Tell Me Ma out ten years ago, not one major radio station would play it. The music press hated it for its 'cheesiness'. They thought it was a joke. After the barrage of criticism, I started to hate it (just kidding)! But guess what? My initial instincts that if the public heard it we would have a hit were borne out. It eventually sold 130,000 units and on compilations, 3m. I guess what's at the root of this blog is - believe in yourself, persist (repeat persist) and, if you've got a bit of talent, stay the course and never quit, you might just get a result. Remember, someone has got to win this competition!
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written by john clare on March 30, 2009
sorry to hear you feel lonely in the blogosphere, there are some of us out there, but this internet thing is a hungry beast, and it eats time for breakfast lunch and tea.
I may well go in for the song contest. The crap on the contest page is depressing so there isn't much opposition yet. On the other hand I have never thought much of the opposition, so maybe that's a bad sign. I've also given up all hope of ever making any money out of this poxy business but if you are a musician you have to make music, that's the way it is.
Funny you emailed me last night, as, for the first time in about four months, I wrote another song. It's about a guy who asks this girl to help him with the things he needs to say to get her to go out with him, which I thought was a nice different take on the usual rotten lovesong. Unfortunately, I am broke at the moment, so cant even afford to get Cephren to come over and help with the recording.
With any luck I can sell my last two flats in the UK, and retire from the landlord business, and be able to smile again. Wont that be nice!
See you sometime.
jc
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written by Kay Shelley on March 31, 2009
Hi John, Thanks for the info. Yes songwriting competitions are useful to help get one's name known, but also because they sometimes offer useful prizes.
Not that G and I have won any so far, but we have been highly commended, and it's worth adding to one's CV. By the way, we have now both joined the PRS and the MCPS, which is also worthwhile, as the PRS no longer charge a membership fee and simply deduct £10 as a flat fee from the first royalties. Every little helps. report abuse
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written by Philip Larsen on March 31, 2009
Wise words John. I think the most important thing is to stay positive; clichéd as it may sound, one has to believe in what you are doing. That's what we did with Sham Rock and what we carry on doing today! That songwriting competition sounds good - wonder whether reversing lorries and my limited array of 'tricks' will do the job?!
x x
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written by Neil on April 01, 2009
Hi John
Love your positivity, as always. Fight shy of "the business" now, but fond memories og EQ with your patience and attention to detail.
Much love
Neil www.myspace.com/theforgers
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written by Jonas on April 01, 2010
Hi John,
I just thought that it's time that I tell you how much I appreciate your work and your attitude. Being in the band UNPRINTED gave me the opportunity to experience a lot of different studios. If you reach a certain level it's not any more only all about the pro-equipment but about the atmosphere which can make the difference whether you can create a teriffic song or not. I think you just do the right thing and provide creative space, great atmosphere and pro equipment. So please keep it up and record and produce more good music.
By the way, we've got a new video. Just go to www.myspace.com/unprinted
Take care
Jonas/UNPRINTED
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