tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9259933967259441822024-02-20T05:43:40.223-08:00charbakesChar Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-29744698685629554592011-05-20T03:24:00.000-07:002011-05-20T03:28:18.834-07:00Friday 20th May 2011Here is the link to soundcloud where i have my recorded rehearsal. It is under the title of Lotte Rehearsal.<br /><br /><a href="http://soundcloud.com/charra">http://soundcloud.com/charra</a>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-71957705810541233492011-05-16T04:27:00.000-07:002011-05-20T03:14:23.007-07:0016th May 2011<div><div>Well it has been just over a month since my last post for which i appologise. This month has been hectic with things to do and complete. My final major project is almost finished and the final gig has been performed. To start with I had a rough idea of the set list i wanted to do. I chose the songs depending on whether they would suit my voice or not. My choice of songs i was planning to perform were; Fields of Gold - Eva Cassidy, Memory - Barbra Streisand, Wild Horses - Susan Boyle, Rolling in the deep - Adele, and Homeward Bound (the classical song not Simon and Garfunkel song). It wasn't until we got into the rehearsal room that Digby mentioned having learnt part of Somewhere over the Rainbow and would we like to try that one since it would suit my voice. I happened to know the song really well and Glyn was happy to work out something that would work well on the guitar in the background behind the melody to support the keyboard. This song then replaced four of the song choices we'd picked out to start with which were memory, wild horses, homeward bound and rolling in the deep. In the end the two song choices we went with were field's of gold and somewhere over the rainbow which worked well. The number of rehearsals i did with the two musicians who helped me (Glyn Read and Richard Digby-Smith) were few but each of us rehearsed in our own time on our own frequently, learning our own parts before putting it all together. The first proper rehearsal we did was on the friday before the gig (Friday 6th May) this went really well and we all worked well together, finding little tunes to wind around the melody of the songs. Each rehearsal we did following the first one gave new ideas and something new to try before settling on a really pretty melody to acoompany the song. This was what we did for the song Somewhere over the rainbow. For Field's of Gold we stuck to Eva Cassidy's rendition with just the addition of the keyboard playing it's own little backing tune to support the vocals and guitar melody. All in all this worked out really very well. I think the reason the practices when we were all together went so well was because we all knew our own parts really well before hand so when it came to putting the songs together we were able to play together and compromise finding new parts to add and know what sounded well together and what didn't. The sound clips of our practices i will place on sound cloud later on in the week when i can get my hands on the recordings at the mill. </div><div>I think in our practices we did a really good job of tightening both the songs to a professional standard and both the songs i have started to record fully so i can upload them onto youtube and i can place them both on a CD with a few others of my choice to use as a demo CD. </div></div>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-83033735170472337402011-04-02T12:56:00.000-07:002011-04-02T13:08:39.842-07:002nd April 2011Well... it's been a week since my last post and things are in slow motion still at the moment work-wise. The scrapbooks are coming along and i'm planning on (hopefully) having the 70s finished by the end of next week tops then getting the 80s and 90s finished come the end of easter and then the naughties finished the week after. It'll be a big push but if i can get them all out of the way as soon as possible, it'll leave me free to focus more on my final major project. For this project, i'm looking to do roughly 5 folk-classical pieces such as fields of gold which was recorded for the naughties cover track a few weeks ago (of which can be found on youtube and soundcloud under Charbakes for youtube and Charrabakes for soundcloud). I still need to figure out the other four tracks i wish to perform and start rehearsing so i will be ready for the final performance on the 11th of May (still a rough date and could change but a focus point nonetheless). Well... now for the action!Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-53430984162145921472011-03-25T04:04:00.000-07:002011-04-02T12:56:48.933-07:00Friday 25th March 2011Well, things are beginning to go really quickly now that the course is reaching it's final projects. Work is getting crazy! My scrapbooks and essays are being a NIGHTMARE. Still on the 70s and although i'm spending as much spare time as i can on completing them, they are taking me ages and i dont feel like i'm getting anywhere with them. I'm hoping that i can pump them out as soon as possible and get them in so i can have far more time to plan my final major project which we've started talking about this week. The plan is that the two bands will be performing their pieces as Title and Registration and Fire for Effect and then Jez will be working with James and some other first years to make her metal music, Christina will be working with Simon, Dan, Toby and Digby to create her overall music style and then I need to do some work into sorting the type of music genre i want to go for, pick some covers and make some originals to do and then work with Digby, Simon and any one else who can help to create my overall performance sound. This then all ties in with the project work that Matt has given us which involves all the marketing for it etc which will be intersting. This weekend will be very busy organising my ideas and putting it all into a plan sheet of what needs doing, when and who i shall need.Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-7023003360237025542011-03-06T16:34:00.000-08:002011-03-06T17:11:02.537-08:00Monday 7th March 2011Well... a lot has been happening since my last post on the 2nd of February. College work has kept me busy what with all the rehearsing of covers for the decades, getting my presentation sorted for my Special Subject Investigation and trying to keep on top of work. The presentation and rehearsing is all up-to-date and coming along very well now, all is going so quickly is almost unbelievable and too fast to catch. Shall have my presentation finished and down tomorrow and out of the way, handed in, so i can move onto the next project which will be good and the decades work is coming along really well. The 70s-80s covers are all down and done other than the original, which to be honest i've only half finished due to so much else happening at once for me to have time to sit down and chuck it out and record. That's half-way there and in the diary to hopefully be complete by the end of this week, if the week goes according to plan for me. The 90s-naughties covers are down now too, they went so quickly and sound the best out of the ones i've been a part of so far. I'm really beginning to get a taste for doing all these covers now, i'm starting to choose songs that are different and ask around for people to help me to cover them so i can add them to my reportiore of songs. At the moment i've just completed Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy (original by Sting), which i've attached a link to my youtube channel where you'll find it and i've just asked Glyn if he will possibly help me to cover Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls (which i was asked if i'd sing for a wedding) so fingers crossed that will all work out. The only downside to things for me at the moment is the scrapbooks and essays. I'm way behind on those and i'm really struggling to catch-up due to the amount of time i'm having left over from all the outside work i'm putting into my music at the moment.<br /><br />Last month on the 20th February i did a concert, playing four songs ('To the Sky' - a folk piece, 'Homeward Bound' - another folk piece, 'Amore' e Morte' - an opera piece, and 'Favourite Things' - a piece from the Sound of Music) I recorded the opera piece and have posted it on youtube (a link of which i have attached) This I am hoping will add to my overall mark at the end of the course being submitted as a solo perfromance.<br /><br />Also, I went to a Gilbert and Sullivan opera in Plymouth on Saturday the 5th of this month and saw the Pirates of Penzance it was a really enjoyable, light opera and in parts quite amusing. I remember thinking to myself that i'd really love to be one of the many people up there on that stage performing and having fun with the obvious joy that was not only on my face while watching them and loving every minute of it, but was on their face throughout the whole performance. I spoke to the people in charge there afterwards and gave them my details and they said that I was just what they were looking for (due to the connection they have with my singing tutor and due to my age) they promised to get in touch. So hopefully will be quite busy over the coming few months.<br /><br />I think now i've pretty much updated you on everything that's taken place and up and coming so shall have to wait and see what happens next...<br /><br />The link i promised to give you is: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/charbakes">www.youtube.com/charbakes</a> (this will give you both of my covers so you have a taste of what i've been up to over the past month. Enjoy!Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-11521530361196880722011-02-02T01:18:00.000-08:002011-02-02T06:54:48.356-08:00New Year! Therefore CATCH UP!!!!<span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Well...been back at college a few weeks now. Not much has been happening over the course of this half of term. We've been working on the decades work on fridays still, which is going slow. We're still on the 70s/80s. We started to record the songs two weeks ago, but we haven't done enough practice on them so, giving up. we tried again last week. We've now got Jump and Ashes to Ashes down, now all that's left is to get the original tracks down too before we can move on to the final decade which is the nineties to the present.<br /><br />Other work being done is the scrapbooks to go with the decades work, that's coming along quite slowly. It's due in in a couple of weeks so need to step it up a notch if i'm going to get it in on time. Matt's work... has finally been handed in, the essay completed with all the references etc, we're now working on our powerpoints to present what we've found out to the rest of the group. Can't say i'm really looking forward to that part. I don't like talking to a group at the best of times, but once that's over, the assignment will be complete, ready to move on to the next one.<br /><br />In Simon's lesson on Wednesdays we've also been doing some remixing of a track by Marvin Gaye - Through the Grapevine. As i found out shortly after starting, remixing is actually pretty difficult, especially when the song goes in and out of time throughout. The cop soundtrack was slightly easier though (the task we did before starting to remix), still haven't finished that task yet, but it's nearly there - one more lesson should see that one completed and another "few" lessons should hopefully see the remixing task finished. Not sure how it'll turn out since i can't say i'm very good at it but will give it my best shot.<br /><br />The last thing i think i should mention is the Old Dance School folk people who came into the college to do a workshop with us all and then perform. I personally didn't go because i couldn't get transport for the day, but those that did go said it was a waste of time and the only good part of it was the performance. I can understand that it would be good to have as something we participated in to broaden our knowledge and experience for university, but other than that the rest of the points made were complete nonsense. It was not a vital part of the course and had no relevance to what we're doing assignment-wise. We never knew that it was coming up because we were never told until two weeks before and by that time, most of us already had plans for the day. The only place it was mentioned evidently was in the booklet/leaflet calender thing that Caroline gave out to us, which i don't think anyone's read. However, the thing that made everyone angry was the part where she added an ultimatum. We had to attend and pay not only for our travel on a day off, but also pay £4.50 for a ticket to something we're not interested in and didn't want to go to, and if we didn't go then we'd have to write a 5000 word essay on folk music. This then changed slightly to a 1000 word essay but not being funny, how is that ultimatum fair? you pay or you do more unnecessary work on top of all the work we're expected to do to pass the course. I think pretty much all of us are slightly behind in that as it is in some way we can't afford to spend the time writing unnecessary essays.<br /><br /><br />We're going to bring up a load of problems etc in the rep meeting on friday, but another one is how pointless tuesdays are. Other than matt's lesson we dont do anything really. Practice time is a shambles because there aren't enough of certain musicians to go round so there's always those of us who are left ambling around and (not being funny, but) those who get into groups don't really do much in the way of practice. The rest of the day, matt's lesson isn't particularly needed because it's basically turn up, get signed in and then get on with the work that was set in previous lessons. Independent learning is pretty much the exact same thing - you just sit and get on with work set. There is nothing during the day on tuesday that i can't do at home. It's a waste of my time and money coming into college all day from 8:30am - 5:15pm to do what i do much better sitting at home doing. I don't see the logic in it somehow.<br />Now i think that's all for now. You are officially updated on the past few weeks and i've had my rant for now.<br /></span></span>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-52189071030529711812010-12-16T09:00:00.000-08:002010-12-16T09:08:44.574-08:00Thursday 16th December 2010Hey Guys, sorry for the lack of update the last week has been a really busy week completing work and rehearsing hard for the yule fest performance which ran really smoothly and sounded really good. It was successful and i think all the audience enjoyed it which is a bonus since all the past gigs etc we've put on have had something wrong with them and run with difficulty and end up being a disaster. Work is coming along slowly and needs handing in tomorrow.Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-14264968167864961732010-11-30T06:51:00.000-08:002010-11-30T07:19:52.402-08:0030th November 2010Hello fellow bloggers,<br /><br />This week has been slightly more productive than previous weeks. So far, Glyn, Myself and Jez have got the new song (under the temporary name of "This One") under way and ready to start getting it down on logic and start messing about with it, building up the layers. The christmas gig will be interesting. Christina's had to back out of it so vocal-wise it's a lot to learn but on some of the tracks such as; Peggy Sue, King Creole, our Original creation, I'm A Believer and These Boots Are Made For Walking. I'm quite glad actually to have the chance to be more than just a backing singer, but am slightly worried about the choice of songs due to my vocal abilities. Shall be interesting to see what can be acheived from it.<br />On a different note, I have a concert coming up in February, which i'm hoping can be marked as part of the course as well as my own reasons out of college. Would be really good if i can be marked for solo performace as well as group performance with the bands within the college. It would also be a good chance for me to be marked on a type of music i'm more comfortable with and show my abilities rather than just the type of music i have to do at college. I'm still happy to do the stuff at college, but to use outside performances as extra will make things better for my overall mark - hopefully.<br />This past Friday was really unproductive. Most people were down in the studio recording the 60s tracks again because they were so bad the previous friday before. This threw practice out of the window. We're just beginning to start on the 70s and 80s style tracks now which i'm slightly excited about. The tracks i'm looking to do are; Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' and Carly Simon's 'You're so Vain' these are songs that work well with my vocals and are great songs to do and have up your sleeve. Once we manage to get everybody together to practice all should work well... i hope.Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-50876684510121564372010-11-09T10:47:00.000-08:002010-11-15T04:50:17.373-08:00Tuesday 9th November 2010Hi Guys!<div><br /></div><div>Last week a group of us (Glyn, Saara, Jez, Mike and myself) started working on a new song called this one. Hopefully will be able to use it for compositional work amongst other work we've done. Personally I'm finding the written work gets in the way of everything and takes all my time when i'd prefer to do more practical work and more theory, but it's slowly getting done. The 60s tracks that we're doing - i'm a bit confused with atm. I was off ill on friday the 5th and Tim was off last friday so we couldn't practice the two covers songs and christina came up with a composition in the style of the 60s, which sounds really good. My main worry and concern is that i'm only needed on one song i don't know what i'm doing for the other two and we're playing live next friday. Not sure when we're going to get time to go through it all and decide before next week. </div>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-68165716254841616832010-10-28T10:02:00.000-07:002010-10-28T10:34:22.885-07:00songs for the future of this year!So far this year, i have started writing a track which uses a solo vocalist (mezzo soprano - based around my own voice), a choir (sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses) and orchestra consisting of flutes, clarinets, soprano sax, trumpets, bass trumpets, trombones, horns, violins, violoncellos, triangles, tambourines and a drum kit. I am hoping to get this song recorded at the latest at the beginning of next year along with any other songs i write in the meantime. I also plan to perform the Lander live with FranetiC and the LanderQuin in a club somewhere asap so we can publicize all of us and our work. Not sure yet how it's all going to work but i've been assigned the task for the three of us and so plan to get it sorted as soon as possible with a good set list - using whatever songs we can come up with together. Needs more sorting yet but hopefully can work it out before the year is up. That's my update for now on plans for this year.Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-29845426471157984692010-10-28T09:51:00.000-07:002010-10-28T10:01:38.271-07:00songs i have been involved in writing!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">These are the songs i have been involved in writing so far from last year!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://soundcloud.com/charra"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://soundcloud.com/charra</span></a></div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The songs include;</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Coming Home </span>- written by a group of us at the mill (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">myself, Glyn Read, Alex Fisher, Lawrence <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> Landers-Cooke, Rob Munro, Simon Gregg and a team of others throwing in ideas as we <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> went along. The song is performed by the band Sub Zero with myself, Glyn Read, Richard <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> Digby-Smith and Sophie Williamson on the backing vocals.)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">The Lander ft. LanderQuin </span>- </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Written by FranetiC and the LanderQuin, I only helped with the engineering<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> and the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">backing vocals on the track.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">Broken Child </span>- Written, produced and engineered by myself with the help of Christopher Raymont on the <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> backing vocals and as assistant engineer.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-36222679608587816772010-10-27T13:20:00.000-07:002010-10-27T13:23:31.450-07:00Wednesday 27th October 2010Finally, here's hoping it works!!!<div><br /></div><div>I have tried and tried and tried for ages to get this up, it's the first track i've properly created ever so any constructive criticisms would be great! thanks </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://soundcloud.com/charra/broken-child">Broken Child</a> by CharBakes </div>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-48792632123362374082010-10-27T10:20:00.001-07:002010-10-27T10:20:18.221-07:00wednesday 27th October 2010Well, 50s out of the way, over and done with, with no going back and changing it, we move on to the 60s. Last week's live lounge recordings for the college radio, Newton Abbot radio and Coombeshead College radio was a total shambles. Listening back to - at least my - vocals made me cringe. I thought i sounded awful. However, this time for the 60s I aim to make a much better job of it. Hopefully by then the Tech guys will have learnt what they are doing and can make a much better job of doing their jobs too, making our lives (the performers) easier with the ability to succeed in sight.<br />All the performer groups have chosen their cover songs to perform. My group have chosen to perform the covers; Wild Thing (poss) by The Troggs, <a href="http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwRrXjWgkaY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwRrXjWgkaY</a><br />These boots are made for walking by Nancy Sinatra; <a href="http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRkovnss7sg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRkovnss7sg</a><br />and I'm a believer by The Monkees; <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d00Yb_xlcNc"></a><a href="http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfuBREMXxts">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfuBREMXxts</a><br />We've done really well in the practice we had this afternoon, we've managed to work out the whole of "i'm a believer" and "these boots are made for walking" on all the basic instruments (bass, guitar, vocals and drums) there's just a few other instruments needed adding to the "these boots are made for walking" such as a keyboard with the saxophone on (or some other jazy instrument) and some sort of percussion on both "i'm a believer" and "these boots are made for walking".<br />Tim's already working on an original 60s song for us to perform so when we return after half term we only really need to practice all of them over the corse of the three weeks remaining and then perform them live. Hopefully make a better job of it all this time..... :)Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-81736355743742703542010-10-27T10:11:00.000-07:002010-10-27T10:16:13.853-07:00Wednesday 27th October 2010As a follow on from the 50s style - these are the songs my group performed on the radio;<div><a href="http://soundcloud.com/siggy-1/i-need-you">I need you</a> - our original song</div><div><a href="http://soundcloud.com/siggy-1/king-creole">King Creole</a> - this was one of our covers </div><div><br /></div>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-78335805229220981952010-10-08T06:56:00.000-07:002010-10-08T07:23:39.987-07:00Friday 8th October 2010 - 50s Style Music......Well..... first blog entry since returning to college. We've been looking at the 1950s style of music for the past few weeks. We have learnt 2 covers and created one original piece. The group I was a part of learnt Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly and King Creole by Elvis. <div>We only have one recording of our practices, which was today's practice because the Live room we practiced in doesn't have a recording device. However, this afternoon we performed our practiced songs live on the radio. The link will go through the college radio, Newton Abbot radio and Coombeshead College (not sure the spelling's correct, sorry). The recording of the tracks was not particularly good i'm sorry to say. </div><div>I think one of the problems was that the Tech guys hadn't set up properly, they were fiddling with the headphones and faders etc during the recordings, which was off-putting and made it a pain for us recording and also the producer wasn't talking to anyone - nobody knew what they were doing or anything. I don't think i'm the only one to find this really annoying, another thing i've noticed is that they don't talk to anyone in the studio so we have no idea what's going on most of the time. </div><div>However, rant over, other than technical difficulties, listening back to the tracks, there are some good parts that make the music sound along the right tracks. There are the parts that sound musically terrible at times but altogether, considering the problems we were working with, it all sounded not too bad. </div><div>Hopefully the next period we look at - the 60s - will be a much better live room experience for all.....</div>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-84555171871433544842010-07-01T15:55:00.000-07:002010-07-01T15:58:44.626-07:001st July 2010Well, tomorrow is the last day of this years course. Eek still have a lot of work needed to finish for tomorrow to hand in so I can pass the course. Shall have to work really hard tomorrow so i get it all done. The race is on this is going to be interesting -_- oh well once tomorrow's work is done and handed in, I only then have to focus on the next year of the course in September great :DChar Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-75579624103142315822010-06-18T15:18:00.000-07:002010-06-18T15:27:42.976-07:00Friday 18th June 2010well, been a few days since the last post. It's the second to last week of this year of college (for me at least) all work practically finished. Will have some more set by Simon on Monday to complete/start over the summer holiday and i now have some inspiration for the next half of the course next year. Had a huge chat with Simon today about everything and a moan about how the year has been seriously disappointing for some of us. Hopefully next year all will be sorted properly and i will achieve the goals i aim for. I'm actually really positive that as long as i push hard enough, i can get the work experience i need, and i can sort out everything i need to. i think next year i will sort out what i need and not rely much on the college at all, every time i've relied upon the college to provide certain things and to do certain tasks, things never get completed. Next year has to change :) positive thoughts flying.... all achievable.... now for success :DChar Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-75599200189996483092010-06-07T04:30:00.000-07:002010-06-14T02:48:16.612-07:00Monday 13th June 2010so far, since my last post there has been very little to do other than assignments. the showcase didn't go ahead in the end and we are now on the final stretch of assignments for the remainder of the college year. In the form of gigs, there have been a few still at the blue cargo and now the little coffee shop down the road - the coffee republic. These are mainly taken by the bands because they have the most material, for the rest of us are focussing on getting the assignments in on time etc. I have almost completed my single now - containing 3 tracks. This, along with the midi keyboard assignment, are the last assignments needed completed before the end of the course. These need to be completed by the end of this week and then we just go back over all our work and aim to boost the marks up to distinction on those attaining merits and passes.Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-52975205715286486112010-04-26T01:03:00.000-07:002010-04-26T01:18:48.448-07:00Monday 26th April 2010Well, been back at college for a week now, though in my case one day due to illness. We were supposed to have done a presentation on what we plan on doing for our showcase in May, though that kind of went to pot so to speak. Not too sure whether there's going be a showcase anymore, due to the fact that hardly anybody has started writing their plans out. To be honest, nobody really understood what we had to write about, what needed adding and what all the diagrams etc were about, however, it's seriously disappointing that we may not be able to perform, though i can't see us lot doing any better than we usually do. (no offence to anyone, but so far we really haven't been any good). <div>This aside, we have a new assignment set, which is to produce a single. This is really going to be a challenge for me, so far i only have roughly 4-5 songs and that's pushing it. I really need now to create more songs. </div><div>For one of my songs so far - Broken Child - i've decided that the backing vocals don't sound right at all, so i'm having to go back a step to recreate a male backing vocal that will be up-to standard for the song so fingers crossed. I have a lot to complete in the next few weeks. </div><div>As for Matt's assignments well...... that'll have to wait till tomorrow when i find out just how many assignments i have to do. : /</div>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-57083067479944373592010-03-29T03:02:00.000-07:002010-03-29T04:19:33.041-07:00Monday 29th March 2010<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Well.... two days of college left before easter holidays.... I've now managed to finish writing the backing to my song "Broken Child", with the help of Pete. It was fine until putting it all together - it was all out of time, so have had to cut out the vocals completely and put all the backing instruments into a set time and tempo and make it all fit together and sound good rather than the scrambled mess it was before. Having completed this, i am now looking at what i can add to it, what needs changing, followed by focussing on recording my lyrics.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">In terms of the showcase, i have a few ideas as to what i can propose, yet am not too sure whether i can pull it off in time. I have a few songs that i can perform, such as: Coming Home (I may/may not be singing lead vocals, that's to be decided today), can possibly do City Falls (that needs to be sorted between all involved in that song, and needs sorting out to make sure that the harmonies work well with everything else - this was one of the problems we had at the christmas gig, the harmonies clashed with the keyboard) I have this song that I'm looking to finish, "Broken Child", which at the moment is looking promising - only am not entirely sure how that's going to work being performed live. Am looking to write more lyric this easter which i can then write backing tracks to straight after easter when we return. Am not entirely sure if these will be pulled off in time so have my fingers crossed. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Am also hoping that once finished off today - or at least fully recorded - whether it's a draft or the entirely finished product - i'm looking to post it on my blog and hopefully get some feedback on it good or bad. This may take a while though, i still have to work out how to upload music on my blog....</span></div>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-47384720983187968072010-03-22T02:00:00.000-07:002010-03-22T02:15:01.614-07:00Monday 22nd March 2010Back again blog with more updates.....<div><br /><div>Since we've come off timetable i actually feel i've achieved more than when we were on timetable. This week past where we've had time to catch up with any out-standing work has been a real help to me. I managed to come up-to-date with all my work by friday, leaving me with not really much to do. Friday was a real challenge to start with, trying to think up what i could do for my final developed starting point. Both Larry and I had the same problem of only having two starting points to develop at the moment and needing another one. Unfortunately, Coming Home, although is being developed, will take until after easter before it really gets anywhere and Glyn, Rob and Alex have other things to do at the moment. This meant me and larry had to put our heads together and decide what our best option was. We decided to book out rehersal room A and record one of our own creations. Mine being Broken Child and Larry's being Copycat. It took roughly three attempts but both are now uploaded onto the computers and ready to use. This is really helpful because i have so many ideas for the song that i can start to put in place this week and slowely watch it all come together. </div><div>By the end of this week, I want to have written some more lyrics that i can then record and work with also. So fingers crossed :) Am in a real creative mood at the moment - just hope it lasts..... </div></div>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-1446904080536365122010-03-18T08:19:00.000-07:002010-03-18T08:50:58.638-07:00Three development ideasok so i've put one set of lyrics up on here. these are the final two... Coming home - which although me and larry wrote all the lyrics between us - larry and i together wrote the chorus and i wrote both verses - now i know this comment will piss a few people off - such as sub zero - but it's truth therefore i'm using it as one of my developed ideas :) any one with any objections can take them elsewhere.<div><br /></div><div>ok so coming home lyrics....</div><div><br /></div><div>ch/ 'Mama' i'm coming home,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>'Mama' i'm coming home,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I've been away for so long,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But 'Mama' i'm coming home.</div><div><br /></div><div>v1/ The things i do, the things i see,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Having fun with my family,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Running along the beach in the sun,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I don't remember having so much fun.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>(chorus.. with harmony added)</div><div><br /></div><div>v2/ The places i've been, the people i've seen,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I've been lucky to have followed my dream,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But now i'm back, and that's for sure,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The world will give me so much more.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>(chorus with harmonies)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Middle Eight Instrumental (2 cycles)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>(chorus with harmonies)</div><div><br /></div><div>v3/ The things i do, the things i see,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> Having fun with my family,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> Running along the beach in the sun,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> I don't remember having so much fun.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>(chorus x2)</div><div><br /></div><div>And i'm in the process of writing another set of lyrics at the moment so will publish these on my blog as soon as i have finished writing them :)</div><div><br /></div>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-19420061400321739402010-03-18T07:53:00.000-07:002010-03-18T08:19:12.214-07:00LYRICS!!!!!<blockquote></blockquote>ok.... i mentioned that i'd written lyrics to a song i am in the process of writing on logic..... well.... these are the lyics :) It's called Broken Child<div><br /></div><div>Broken Child</div><div><br /></div><div>v1/ Down in the park,</div><div> In the lonely hours.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Not a child in sight,<br /><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Just a single growing flower.</div><div><br /></div><div>v2/ And yet in the dark,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A child will weep.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The same little girl,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Who's planting flowers in her sleep.</div><div><br /></div><div>chorus/ And yet here she stands,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>On a cold, dark, lonely night</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Alone and broken,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Not the will left to fight.</div><div><br /></div><div>v3/<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> The wind in the trees,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> Will whistle a tune to her.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> The same little tune,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> That would send her to sleep.</div><div><br /></div><div>v4/ The day that he came,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Her life turned around.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>She was beaten and kicked,</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>'til she couldn't hold out no more.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>(chorus....)</div><div>last line/ Not the will left to fight.....</div><div><br /></div><div>It's only minimal - i haven't done anything much - just standard verse/chorus which is the same tune throughout and still needs work. but there's the basic lyrics :D </div><div><blockquote></blockquote>This i'm also hoping can be used as one of my three developed ideas.... so any feedback will be apreciated :) </div><div><br /></div></div>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-23469620299728365492010-03-18T07:34:00.000-07:002010-03-18T08:18:21.162-07:00I'm feeling pretty positive at the moment :) i was beginning to give up hope of being able to finish writing a few of my own songs and putting them altogether, making them look like at least like the beginning of songs in progress rather than just thoughts all mish-mashed onto a few pieces of paper. <div>After handing simon a tape and hoping he could make the sound at least tolerable and be able to transfer it onto a cd for me.... my plans had to be re-shaped due to just how horrendous the outcome of the sound was from the tape. Although the music on the tape was my cover versions of a few songs, and none of my own work, it still made me feel slightly lost on the best way to next go about recording songs due to the problem of not being able to get the necessary people into the college to record in the studio. </div><div>However, major turn around in mood. I still haven't quite worked out how i'll manage to record the lyrics into logic yet and put them with my backing track... hopefully it works well and fits together (fingers crossed).... yet i have managed to at least write a bars - mainly scrambled atm - but they should hopefully fit with the lyrics i've written for it. I think the next week will be dedicated to finding a way of recording the lyrics into logic and making everything fit, since simon's away and i'm practically up to date with all work... yay!!! </div><div>Am still trying to find a way of recording cover songs onto a cd as well as though and can't seem to find any solution to that problem. The problem being i can't get the necessary people into the mill at any time to record, and i can't use anyone at the mill as substitutes becasue none can read written music other than myself and i can't perform all parts. If anyone has any solutions i'd be grateful :) </div><div><br /></div>Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-925993396725944182.post-38446087800258597102010-03-05T06:39:00.000-08:002010-03-18T07:34:13.063-07:00Thursday 18th March 2010ok... so... five weeks since my last post. A lot has happened within that time. I'm not sure what's happening for the April gig, that seems to have gone slightly out the window there are very few practices going on for that and it hasn't been mentioned in a little while so am not too sure what the verdict is. Looking back to the first gig in February, it didn't actually go too badly. I was only needed for one song - the first one which was the cover of supermassive black hole by muse. Out of all the times that this song has been sung by the few of us at the mill, this has to have been one of the bad versions we've done. I personally didn't like the fact that i could only hear my vocals over larry's, and even then i couldn't hear much at all. though that's my opinion. For most of the rest of the envening i spent listening to the other songs the band's performed. Altogether my opinion of the gig... well it wasn't the best everybody did. I spoke to a few people afterwards and pretty much everybody said the same thing... you couldn't hear the vocals over all the other instruments which to be honest just backed up my thoughts during the evening.Char Bakeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322463124221230995noreply@blogger.com0