This week has passed in a bit of a blur… 

I have just recovered from a cold, which rendered me temporarily unable to sing, so I have been concentrating on instrumental tracks.  I cut one of these together earlier in the week.  It is called ‘Ocean’.  When I heard it thru for the first time, I thought: ‘no-one else in the world could have written that‘.  It is totally truthful, totally unusual and completely mine.  For better or worse, you will have heard nothing like it.

Now I am all the way better, I am jonesing to lay down some vocals on these tracks; which is really the most fun you can have with your clothes on…

That said, I have on occasion recorded naked. 😉

When I sing I don’t like to use headphones.  I feel they create a barrier between me and the music.  I like to live inside the little worlds I have created for myself.  So I set everything up beforehand; the space, the studio, and my little cage of microphones.  Then I sit and centre myself.  When I am ready, I play the pieces thru my studio speakers and capture whatever voice naturally happens.  It is a very simple setup.

A local filmmaker came over to the studio to interview me.  I had no idea how it was going to go.

It turned out to be an absolute joy.  I didn’t for one minute feel like I was being filmed or interviewed.  It was more like: a really good and deep long form conversation.  The footage is going to be cut together with some of my music, and will be posted here, sometime…

I definitely have more of an idea than most of what this album will sound like, but do not disbelieve me when I tell you that: I still don’t know for certain.  And that’s a good thing. 😉

Part of what keeps the process alive for me is: constantly remaining open to the music and following wherever it wants to go.  As soon as I try and direct it, the process becomes inert and lifeless.  What this means is: even in these last 3 weeks, a lot can change.

All that said, when this music is released, it wont belong to me anymore.  I really feel that.  It will belong to whoever is listening to it.  It will belong to whoever has love for it in the moment.

It will belong to you.

[19 Days Till Release] 😉

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My name is James Radcliffe and I am a 100% audience supported independent artist.  If you like what I do (and can afford it) then please consider buying some of my music.  Each purchase really makes a big difference to me and 10% of every sale goes to a charity which: houses, feeds, clothes, and educates orphaned children in Nepal.

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