1. Coming from Britain, where the industry as far as alternative music’s concerned, is a lot more competitive than here, how do you find Romania in terms of your own opportunities to get seen, “discovered” as it were? Do you think you’ll have to work for it less than you would’ve in Britain?
All genres of music are highly competitive in Britain and Alternative is no different. The music climate has changed there purely because artists are frustrated with the way the industry operates. Artists are therefore doing a lot more for themselves and taking control of their own destiny rather than waiting for a record deal that might never happen! I think the same is true for artists here in Romania. But of course there are problems with this - the difficulties primarily are having to deal with self promotion, self funding, finding the gigs, making contacts etc. It can become quite wearisome and actually absorb a lot of time and effort that could be better spent actually creating and making music! I share the same challenges as Romanian artists have in this regard.
I haven’t the luxury of working less here for my opportunities. Making music and selling it is never easy. I came to Romania not knowing anyone in my profession, so I had to find my own path. There is a curiosity about my music, who I am and where I come from. But I don’t assume any preferential treatment or easier way in, just because I’m English.
2. Do you consider this relocation experience a success, and would you do it again, pick up and move, if you had to?
Relocating is pretty stressful at the best of times. I knew more or less what to expect in coming here due to having a long connection with Romania, but still, living in a different country no matter how prepared you think you are, always brings surprises!
For the most part the move has been a success. I’ve made some brilliant friends here and from a professional & personal view point I’ve had a fruitful time so far and expect lot’s more exciting things to come.
Would I pick up and move again? Hmmm, I’m settled here, so I have no plans to uproot again, not for the foreseeable future anyway!
3. Tell us about your daughters! Are they old enough to be proud of their mother’s career? What do you most love/ find most challenging about being a mum... and in a new country, with a different educational system and so forth?
My eldest is thirteen and my youngest is eleven.
Although they are half Romanian, my daughters were born and brought up in England, so they are very English in their character. I can see so much of my husband and myself in them but they are both equally individual. They’re artistic; creative and intelligent kids and have me laughing out loud with their sense of humour. We’re a close family. We love each other’s company – we make a good team the four of us.
It’s something I haven’t really asked them, but I think they’re proud of what I do. My daughters except their mums got a different job than most. I was singing whilst pregnant and was working within days of having my babies. I selected my work more carefully of course when they were very small, but basically what I do is so normal to them.
I chose to give birth to my second daughter at home. The pregnancy and labour were healthy & I really wanted to have a natural birth, so that’s what I did. Motherhood is important to me and my kids take priority. A happy mum makes a happy child, so although I felt it important to be at home for the children as much as possible – I felt strongly about this - I also felt it necessary to continue to sing and write. Doing this certainly had its difficulties and frustrations, especially when I was writing songs and rehearsing. It’s hard to find inspiration and head space when you have a baby and toddler crying and demanding your attention, but for our family it was the right decision and I have no regrets.
Both girls have adapted very well to being in Romania and enjoy being near family and being more connected to their father’s culture. They do miss England and get homesick sometimes but they get on with it and usually it doesn’t last long. They’re being educated through the British school curriculum as they will eventually return to England to study at University.
4. I have to, absolutely HAVE to, ask you this, since I have a feeling my readers won’t believe their eyes when I post a photo of you along with this interview – how do you do it, what’s your secret to looking like a 20 year-old?
Gosh, I’m very flattered. Erm... I’ve aged well I suppose, like a fine wine?! I can’t quite believe that I’ll be celebrating my 40th birthday in a couple of month’s time. Time certainly flies when you’re having fun.
I’m enjoying my life much more than I did when I was in my twenties and actually feel better in myself. Maybe I’m confidant more, happier to be in my own skin, less self conscious and generally able to just go with the flow easier with life.
I was happy for my teens and twenties to pass to be honest. I woke up on my 30th birthday and felt relieved and very ready for a new era of my life – I embraced it. Now I’m approaching another pivotal era in my life and I’m quite excited about what the next ten years might hold. God willing.
5. Did you have any knowledge about the whole ‘faulty childcare for orphans’ debacle, the dim view Baroness Emma Nicholson took of Romania’s handling of international adoptions etc. – when you decided to come help the orphans in Vaslui? And if you had heard about this, did it play any role in your decision?
Frankly speaking, at the time I wasn’t terribly interested in what was said, who said it, how things came to be or who was to blame. Seeing the children’s plight through media compelled me. So I decided to find a way to come here with a determination to do what I could, even if it turned out to be miniscule in the grand scheme of things. It was probably very naive of me and not terribly well thought out, but often good things come out of spontaneous reactions to situations.
Furthering the protection of vulnerable children worldwide is of paramount importance. What measures are taken to ensure this, often become quite complex in the process. Focus should always be in firm position and done with sensitivities to the wider issues.
6. If you were to characterize yourself and your music in just one word (or phrase), what would you choose to sum it all up? What drives both you and your music to constantly evolve, progress? In other words, what’s your “muse”?
Attitude - on stage, definitely that’s the word. Sometimes off stage too!
I am my music and music is me. When I sing, I become the song. It’s something that I don’t really think too much about because it just ‘is’ and always has been. Singing and performing are integral parts of my being - for me to be whole and fulfilled I have to feed this part of my need.
7. I was reading your MySpace profile and one of the things that caught my eye was your definition of heroes – you say that they’re those “who can survive life and still smile.” How is it that you’ve come to such a deep, and ultimately dark, understanding of life?
Most people have a story to tell and most people have encountered tragedy of some kind in their lives. I don’t think I’ve met anyone who hasn’t been untainted by life. To see life as beautiful and smile through the bad times as well as the good is heroism and I respect and admire such people – ordinary people; neighbours, friends, teachers, hospital workers, train drivers, rocket scientists...
Superman is a hero, but he’s fiction! AND he wears his underpants outside his leotard... need I say more ;)
8. Seeing that I’ve only ever heard you sing live on stage twice, and both times you were sharing the limelight with the Romanian band byron, I was wondering how you guys found each other, musically in tune as you are; also, where do you see this collaboration going – a joint album perhaps?
A good friend of mine is a fan of byron and asked me to go to a concert with her last spring. I’d never heard of byron, but thought I’d go for a night out. Well, I was blown away, so much so that I sat down that very same evening and wrote a gig review about the show. I’d managed to speak with Dan Byron after the gig and get his number with the intention of arranging an interview, which we did about a week later.
We hit it off immediately and after the interview we chatted for ages about music, our view points and experiences and actually realised that we had many things in common. We stayed in touch and later in the year I got a call to ask if I’d be interested in doing some guest vocals on their new album ‘A Kind Of Alchemy’ – hell yeah! Then byron asked if I’d like to appear at their album launch party, to which I again replied, hell yeah!
All members of the band are great musicians and they complement each other seamlessly. The lyrics and musical content are intelligently put. They have originality, can write songs of epic proportions and at the same time be radio friendly, which is so rare in this day and age, especially in alternative rock.
I have quite a deep range to my voice, so when Dan and I sing together there’s an unusual edge, but yet we fit.
There’s been talk of us working on songs together in the future. It’s a strong possibility.
9. What type of British music do you listen to, and who would you have play some gigs here in Romania, if you could call anyone from back home? And, btw, could you actually do that? :P
I like to try and keep up with what’s going on in the UK charts – listening online is an essential part of my daily routine. But actually I prefer all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff, indie, alternative, electro, sometimes punk, post punk.
I’m enjoying some single releases from ‘Chew Lips’, ‘Vampire Weekend’, ‘Mumford & Sons’, ‘Delphic’, Biffi Clyro.... there’s so many.
One of my fave bands at the moment is ‘Does It Offend You, Yeah?’ They’ve gone from strength to strength recently. A good friend of mine, a producer I worked with in England has worked with them (one band member is his son) and I’ve mentioned whether they’d be interested in coming over to Romania. Anything’s possible I suppose, if the timings right.
10. I’ve been wondering, about the which came first – was it the Elbow song that inspired you to name your album “Red” or was it after naming it that you thought a cover of Elbow’s “Red” would work – as we could all see it did, when you sang it with Byron at Fabrica?
Elbows song never came into my thinking when I wrote the title track to my album RED. In a way the lyrics I wrote to Red are nonsensical, but I liked the imagery of being ‘painted in red’ or ‘showered in red’ – it’s kind of sensual, rebellious and slightly dark. Both Steve Askew (co-writer) and I thought a one word title to the album would be more catchy and memorable and that’s how ‘Red’ came to be!
When I told Dan Byron about the concept behind my new show ‘Acoustic Red’, he mentioned Elbow’s Red track as a kind of joke, but then we thought we’d try it out and hey presto it turned out to be a fabulous choice for both our voices.
Showing posts with label Byron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Byron. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
CharityGift.ro Concert. Confirmed artists & info
CharityGift.ro sarbatoreste un an de la primul click printr-un concert caritabil
Bucuresti, 10 Noiembrie 2009 — Proiectul de voluntariat CharityGift.ro, primul magazin online in care toate produsele contin o donatie, sarbatoreste primul an de la lansare printr-un concert caritabil. Marti, 17 noiembrie, ora 20.00 in Club Fabrica din Bucuresti se vor aduna toti prietenii si sustinatorii CharityGift.ro pentru un eveniment aniversar caritabil unde vor concerta byron, Alexandrina, Spitalul de Urgenta, Hi-Q si Lu Cozma&Sorin Romanescu.
Concertul marcheaza un an de la infiintarea CharityGift.ro - proiect de marca in ceea ce priveste responsabilizarea individului fata de problemele societatii intr-un mod accesibil si inovativ. Gama larga de produse disponibile pe CharityGift.ro, peste 1500, are un singur scop, ajutarea ONG-urilor partenere pentru a oferi celor aflati in dificultate ajutorul de care au nevoie. Mecanismul prin care functioneaza este unul foarte simlplu si la indemana oricui. Furnizorul produselor alege un ONG catre care doneaza un procent din valoarea acestuia, la vanzare. Merita mentionat faptul ca produsele au aceleasi preturi ca si in magazinele furnizorului.
Trupele care vor concerta, voluntarii CharityGift.ro si prietenii proiectului vor sarbatori offline, iar contravaloarea tuturor biletelor de intrare va fi donata catre un ONG. Acest ONG poate fi ales de catre toti utilizatorii CharityGift.ro pe prima pagina a site-ului, http://www.charitygift.ro/, printr-un sondaj ce va fi afisat in perioada 10-24 noiembrie. Beneficiarii ONG-ului cu cele mai multe voturi stranse vor primi pe 25 noiembrie primul lor cadou de Craciun.
“Primul an de CharityGift ne-a adus doar satisfactii. Nu atat faptul ca ajutam persoane aflate in dificultate si care merita ajutorul nostru, dar mai ales faptul ca implinim un an de munca voluntara si parteneriate cu oameni la fel de dispusi ca noi sa ajute. Sentimentul muncii in echipa cu oameni binevoitori si lupta pentru o cauza sociala este mereu o sursa de energie care ne obliga sa ne facem datoria zi de zi cu placere” a declarat Nicoleta Talpes, initiator proiect CharityGift.ro.
Despre trupe :
byron
Participant activ in viata proiectului de voluntariat CharityGift.ro, trupa byron s-a conturat la sfarsitul anului 2006. Desi a fost conceputa initial ca un proiect solo, Dan Byron, vocalistul si fondatorul formatiei, a conferit o amploare benefica acestui proiect, recrutandu-i pe 6fingers (clape, voce, chitara acustica), Vlady Sateanu (bas), Costin Oprea (chitara electrica), Cristi Matesan (tobe).
Noul album marca byron, “A Kind Of Alchemy”, este distribuit prin intermediul A&A in reteaua librariilor Carturesti din toata tara si pe www.charitygift.ro, magazinul online in cadrul caruia toate produsele contin o donatie. Trupa byron foloseste celebrele chitare Tanglewood, care le-au fost puse la dispozitie de catre producatori din anul 2008. Aceiasi producatori sustin si formatia Coldplay. Trupa byron doneaza 5% din valoarea CD-urilor vandute prin intermediul platformei CharityGift.ro Asociatiei Culturale ACCES, unul dintre beneficiarii cauzei “arta-cultura”.
Spitalul de urgenta
Trupa Spitalul de urgenta s-a alaturat recent proiectului de voluntariat 100% CharityGift.ro, donand 5% din orice album “F.P.S”, vandut prin charitygift.ro, catre Fundatia pentru SMURD.
Spitalul de urgenta s-a nascut in 2000, tatal ei fiind Dan Helciug, caruia ii apartin conceptul, muzica si textul. Orchestratia originala este asigurata de Victor Panfilov, mentor spiritual, aceasta fiind imbogatita de catre chitaristul Emil Chican. Dan Helciug isi pastreaza umorul si pofta de viata buna si in noul album, “F.P.S.”, in care abordeaza teme evitate in general de trupele mainstream, cantand drespre viata de student, politica si fotbal. Prin ultimul album, Spitalul de urgenta isi dovedeste implicarea adanca in temele de interes ale generatiei actuale.
Alexandrina
Alexandrina Hristov, pe numele ei intreg, este o artista originara din Republica Moldova, a carei activitate se leaga de muzica, pictura si poezie, dar pe care romanii o stiu drept fata care “merge pe jos”, datorita numelui uneia dintre piesele ei. Alexandrina canta in romana, franceza si rusa, iar stilul ei muzical este greu de definit, aflat la confluenta curentelor pop acustic, rock contemporan, alternative, jazz si soul.
Poate aparea pe scena, inarmata cu un pian si cu vocea sa, sau cu o trupa de instrumentisti. Efectul este acelasi: mereu impresioneaza. Primul album al Alexandrinei se numeste "Om de lut" si a fost lansat pe 9 aprilie 2009, reprezentand o colectie de piese vechi si noi . Albumul il puteti gasi si pe CharityGift.ro:
http://www.charitygift.ro/2918/0/0/8/Alexandrina%20-%20Om%20de%20Lut.html, unde include o donatie de 30% catre SMURD.
Hi-Q
Trupa Hi-Q este un grup pop romanesc, ce a luat fiinta in 1996 la Brasov. Grupul, format din Anya Buxai, Mihai Sturzu si Florin Grozea, a incercat mereu sa se reinventeze, sa aduca un produs fresh, diferit de muzica difuzata in Romania. Recent, trupa Hi-Q a lansat cel de-al XX-lea single oficial.
Lu Cozma&Sorin Romanescu
Lu Cozma este o cantareata de origine britanica, ce s-a mutat, in urma cu 2 ani, in Bucuresti, unde a continuat sa incante publicul si sa impresioneze artistii locali.
Recent, Lu a fost invitata sa cante pe noul album al trupei byron, ‘A Kind Of Alchemy’.
Lu Cozma va canta la concertul aniversar CharityGift.ro alaturi de Sorin Romanescu, o colaborare ce o va ajuta pe Lu sa dea o nota acustica albumul sau “Red” – promovat acum drept “Acoustic Red”.
Concertul este organizat de CharityGift.ro, este sustinut de Radio Zu, impreuna cu Image Factory, byron Management, club Fabrica, metropotam.ro, eOk.ro, bestmusic.ro, iconcert.ro, muzicabuna.ro, maximum rock, port.ro, adoptaunong.ro, Lume Buna, Kudika, Amelie, Tabu, mayra si Fab.
Despre CharityGift.ro
Este un proiect de voluntariat 100%, dedicat responsabilizarii individuale si sociale, care functioneaza ca un magazin online, o platforma pentru expunerea de produse din partea furnizorilor care astfel se angajeaza sa directioneze, partial sau in totalitate, contravaloarea acelor produse unor cauze sociale pe care aleg sa le sustina. Astfel, CharityGift.ro este menit sa ofere ajutorul financiar atat de necesar cauzelor umanitare si in acelasi timp sa acorde tuturor oamenilor posibilitatea de a-si exprima bunatatea mereu, nu doar in situatii extreme sau in preajma Sarbatorilor.
Proiectul este sustinut pro bono de Andreea Marin-Banica, cunoscuta pentru implicarea sa extrem de activa in campaniile umanitare din ultimii 15 ani, de Rogalski Grigoriu Public Relations - pentru servicii de consultanta PR - si de Balms&Asociatii - care ofera servicii de consultanta juridica - Graffino si Hanson Online Brand Communication, care ofera servicii de webdesign si X3 Studios prin Proiect 1000, care ofera servicii de design pentru materialele de promovare. Recent, proiectul CharityGift.ro a fost adoptat de trupele Sarmalele Reci, Spitalul de Urgenta si Byron.
Tea Vasilescu Coordonator Proiect tel.: 0726 184 858
email: tea.vasilescu@charitygift.ro http://www.charitygift.ro/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1282658515&ref=profile Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/charitygift_ro
Bucuresti, 10 Noiembrie 2009 — Proiectul de voluntariat CharityGift.ro, primul magazin online in care toate produsele contin o donatie, sarbatoreste primul an de la lansare printr-un concert caritabil. Marti, 17 noiembrie, ora 20.00 in Club Fabrica din Bucuresti se vor aduna toti prietenii si sustinatorii CharityGift.ro pentru un eveniment aniversar caritabil unde vor concerta byron, Alexandrina, Spitalul de Urgenta, Hi-Q si Lu Cozma&Sorin Romanescu.
Concertul marcheaza un an de la infiintarea CharityGift.ro - proiect de marca in ceea ce priveste responsabilizarea individului fata de problemele societatii intr-un mod accesibil si inovativ. Gama larga de produse disponibile pe CharityGift.ro, peste 1500, are un singur scop, ajutarea ONG-urilor partenere pentru a oferi celor aflati in dificultate ajutorul de care au nevoie. Mecanismul prin care functioneaza este unul foarte simlplu si la indemana oricui. Furnizorul produselor alege un ONG catre care doneaza un procent din valoarea acestuia, la vanzare. Merita mentionat faptul ca produsele au aceleasi preturi ca si in magazinele furnizorului.
Trupele care vor concerta, voluntarii CharityGift.ro si prietenii proiectului vor sarbatori offline, iar contravaloarea tuturor biletelor de intrare va fi donata catre un ONG. Acest ONG poate fi ales de catre toti utilizatorii CharityGift.ro pe prima pagina a site-ului, http://www.charitygift.ro/, printr-un sondaj ce va fi afisat in perioada 10-24 noiembrie. Beneficiarii ONG-ului cu cele mai multe voturi stranse vor primi pe 25 noiembrie primul lor cadou de Craciun.
“Primul an de CharityGift ne-a adus doar satisfactii. Nu atat faptul ca ajutam persoane aflate in dificultate si care merita ajutorul nostru, dar mai ales faptul ca implinim un an de munca voluntara si parteneriate cu oameni la fel de dispusi ca noi sa ajute. Sentimentul muncii in echipa cu oameni binevoitori si lupta pentru o cauza sociala este mereu o sursa de energie care ne obliga sa ne facem datoria zi de zi cu placere” a declarat Nicoleta Talpes, initiator proiect CharityGift.ro.
Despre trupe :
byron
Participant activ in viata proiectului de voluntariat CharityGift.ro, trupa byron s-a conturat la sfarsitul anului 2006. Desi a fost conceputa initial ca un proiect solo, Dan Byron, vocalistul si fondatorul formatiei, a conferit o amploare benefica acestui proiect, recrutandu-i pe 6fingers (clape, voce, chitara acustica), Vlady Sateanu (bas), Costin Oprea (chitara electrica), Cristi Matesan (tobe).
Noul album marca byron, “A Kind Of Alchemy”, este distribuit prin intermediul A&A in reteaua librariilor Carturesti din toata tara si pe www.charitygift.ro, magazinul online in cadrul caruia toate produsele contin o donatie. Trupa byron foloseste celebrele chitare Tanglewood, care le-au fost puse la dispozitie de catre producatori din anul 2008. Aceiasi producatori sustin si formatia Coldplay. Trupa byron doneaza 5% din valoarea CD-urilor vandute prin intermediul platformei CharityGift.ro Asociatiei Culturale ACCES, unul dintre beneficiarii cauzei “arta-cultura”.
Spitalul de urgenta
Trupa Spitalul de urgenta s-a alaturat recent proiectului de voluntariat 100% CharityGift.ro, donand 5% din orice album “F.P.S”, vandut prin charitygift.ro, catre Fundatia pentru SMURD.
Spitalul de urgenta s-a nascut in 2000, tatal ei fiind Dan Helciug, caruia ii apartin conceptul, muzica si textul. Orchestratia originala este asigurata de Victor Panfilov, mentor spiritual, aceasta fiind imbogatita de catre chitaristul Emil Chican. Dan Helciug isi pastreaza umorul si pofta de viata buna si in noul album, “F.P.S.”, in care abordeaza teme evitate in general de trupele mainstream, cantand drespre viata de student, politica si fotbal. Prin ultimul album, Spitalul de urgenta isi dovedeste implicarea adanca in temele de interes ale generatiei actuale.
Alexandrina
Alexandrina Hristov, pe numele ei intreg, este o artista originara din Republica Moldova, a carei activitate se leaga de muzica, pictura si poezie, dar pe care romanii o stiu drept fata care “merge pe jos”, datorita numelui uneia dintre piesele ei. Alexandrina canta in romana, franceza si rusa, iar stilul ei muzical este greu de definit, aflat la confluenta curentelor pop acustic, rock contemporan, alternative, jazz si soul.
Poate aparea pe scena, inarmata cu un pian si cu vocea sa, sau cu o trupa de instrumentisti. Efectul este acelasi: mereu impresioneaza. Primul album al Alexandrinei se numeste "Om de lut" si a fost lansat pe 9 aprilie 2009, reprezentand o colectie de piese vechi si noi . Albumul il puteti gasi si pe CharityGift.ro:
http://www.charitygift.ro/2918/0/0/8/Alexandrina%20-%20Om%20de%20Lut.html, unde include o donatie de 30% catre SMURD.
Hi-Q
Trupa Hi-Q este un grup pop romanesc, ce a luat fiinta in 1996 la Brasov. Grupul, format din Anya Buxai, Mihai Sturzu si Florin Grozea, a incercat mereu sa se reinventeze, sa aduca un produs fresh, diferit de muzica difuzata in Romania. Recent, trupa Hi-Q a lansat cel de-al XX-lea single oficial.
Lu Cozma&Sorin Romanescu
Lu Cozma este o cantareata de origine britanica, ce s-a mutat, in urma cu 2 ani, in Bucuresti, unde a continuat sa incante publicul si sa impresioneze artistii locali.
Recent, Lu a fost invitata sa cante pe noul album al trupei byron, ‘A Kind Of Alchemy’.
Lu Cozma va canta la concertul aniversar CharityGift.ro alaturi de Sorin Romanescu, o colaborare ce o va ajuta pe Lu sa dea o nota acustica albumul sau “Red” – promovat acum drept “Acoustic Red”.
Concertul este organizat de CharityGift.ro, este sustinut de Radio Zu, impreuna cu Image Factory, byron Management, club Fabrica, metropotam.ro, eOk.ro, bestmusic.ro, iconcert.ro, muzicabuna.ro, maximum rock, port.ro, adoptaunong.ro, Lume Buna, Kudika, Amelie, Tabu, mayra si Fab.
Despre CharityGift.ro
Este un proiect de voluntariat 100%, dedicat responsabilizarii individuale si sociale, care functioneaza ca un magazin online, o platforma pentru expunerea de produse din partea furnizorilor care astfel se angajeaza sa directioneze, partial sau in totalitate, contravaloarea acelor produse unor cauze sociale pe care aleg sa le sustina. Astfel, CharityGift.ro este menit sa ofere ajutorul financiar atat de necesar cauzelor umanitare si in acelasi timp sa acorde tuturor oamenilor posibilitatea de a-si exprima bunatatea mereu, nu doar in situatii extreme sau in preajma Sarbatorilor.
Proiectul este sustinut pro bono de Andreea Marin-Banica, cunoscuta pentru implicarea sa extrem de activa in campaniile umanitare din ultimii 15 ani, de Rogalski Grigoriu Public Relations - pentru servicii de consultanta PR - si de Balms&Asociatii - care ofera servicii de consultanta juridica - Graffino si Hanson Online Brand Communication, care ofera servicii de webdesign si X3 Studios prin Proiect 1000, care ofera servicii de design pentru materialele de promovare. Recent, proiectul CharityGift.ro a fost adoptat de trupele Sarmalele Reci, Spitalul de Urgenta si Byron.
Tea Vasilescu Coordonator Proiect tel.: 0726 184 858
email: tea.vasilescu@charitygift.ro http://www.charitygift.ro/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1282658515&ref=profile Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/charitygift_ro
Friday, November 6, 2009
Lu Cozma & Sorin Romanescu, confirmed guests @ Charity gig
Dear all....
CharityGift.ro, the first online store where all products include a donation, is celebrating its first year in a charitable way. Tuesday, November 17th, 8 p.m. in club Fabrica (Bucharest) all CharityGift.ro friends and supporters will gather for a charity concert: Byron, Spitalul de Urgenta, Alexandrina, Lu Cozma with Sorin Romanescu and Hi-Q.CharityGift.ro volunteers and friends will celebrate offline, and the tickets' equivalent will be donated to an NGO. The name of the NGO will be chosen by the users on the website's homepage from November 10-24th. The beneficiaries of the NGO that gathers most votes will receive all funds on November 25th as their first Christmas gift.
CharityGift.ro, primul magazin online in care toate produsele contin o donatie, sarbatoreste primul an de la lansare in stil caritabil. Marti, 17 noiembrie, ora 20 in club Fabrica din Bucuresti se vor aduna toti prietenii si sustinatorii CharityGift.ro pentru un eveniment aniversar caritabil unde vor concerta Byron, Spitalul de Urgenta, Alexandrina, Lu Cozma with Sorin Romanescusi HI-Q.Voluntarii CharityGift.ro si prietenii proiectului vor sarbatori offline, iar contravaloarea tuturor biletelor de intrare va fi donata catre un ONG. Acest ONG va fi ales de catre toti utilizatorii CharityGift.ro pe prima pagina a site-ului, printr-un sondaj ce va fi afisat in perioada 10-24 noiembrie. Beneficiarii ONGul cu cele mai multe voturi stranse vor primi pe 25 noiembrie primul lor cadou de Craciun.
See ya there folks!
CharityGift.ro, the first online store where all products include a donation, is celebrating its first year in a charitable way. Tuesday, November 17th, 8 p.m. in club Fabrica (Bucharest) all CharityGift.ro friends and supporters will gather for a charity concert: Byron, Spitalul de Urgenta, Alexandrina, Lu Cozma with Sorin Romanescu and Hi-Q.CharityGift.ro volunteers and friends will celebrate offline, and the tickets' equivalent will be donated to an NGO. The name of the NGO will be chosen by the users on the website's homepage from November 10-24th. The beneficiaries of the NGO that gathers most votes will receive all funds on November 25th as their first Christmas gift.
CharityGift.ro, primul magazin online in care toate produsele contin o donatie, sarbatoreste primul an de la lansare in stil caritabil. Marti, 17 noiembrie, ora 20 in club Fabrica din Bucuresti se vor aduna toti prietenii si sustinatorii CharityGift.ro pentru un eveniment aniversar caritabil unde vor concerta Byron, Spitalul de Urgenta, Alexandrina, Lu Cozma with Sorin Romanescusi HI-Q.Voluntarii CharityGift.ro si prietenii proiectului vor sarbatori offline, iar contravaloarea tuturor biletelor de intrare va fi donata catre un ONG. Acest ONG va fi ales de catre toti utilizatorii CharityGift.ro pe prima pagina a site-ului, printr-un sondaj ce va fi afisat in perioada 10-24 noiembrie. Beneficiarii ONGul cu cele mai multe voturi stranse vor primi pe 25 noiembrie primul lor cadou de Craciun.
See ya there folks!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Interview with Dan Byron...
‘IF THE AUDIENCE CAN’T RELATE, THEN I HAVE FAILED....’ Dan Byron chats to Lu Cozma about his album ‘Forbidden Drama’ and the release of BYRON’S forthcoming, new album and single release.
I met Dan in a relaxed mood, chilling at a coffee house in Piata Romana, Bucharest, on a pleasant spring afternoon, sipping cappuccino and taking in the midday city atmosphere. Last time I saw him, he had just come off stage, buzzing from a hugely successful show at The Silver Church.
Certainly, it was one of those meetings where the weather and such an interesting interviewee, inspired hours of talking music, life, the universe, however the subject of his new album was very much on the agenda and he was keen to divulge.
What’s on his mind? What gets his thinking processes on hard drive? What are the issues that mean something to Dan Byron? By the end of the interview, I got to thinking that what he feels strongly about comes to life in song.
Exposed to music at an early age; the second child of 2 boys, exceptional parents who encouraged creativity; studying music at school, nearly marrying and living in Germany, even faking mental instability to escape Military Service were all subjects that could have made a story in themselves. But that’s for another time, maybe in his autobiography in years to come.
I asked Dan about writing, creating and performing original compositions and what’s his take on it all...
DB – The biggest pleasure I have is to create. And when I am at home, sitting on my chair, with my computer, with my keyboard, with my guitar and create something new and something exciting you know.... this is the pleasure.
LC – The album ‘Forbidden Drama’... what was the reason for the title?
DB – The first reason was it sounds well.
LC – Which is a good enough reason.
DB – Yeah. The 2nd reason is about things we don’t speak about. It’s about the reality of the world and all this corporate stuff, all these walls everyday that we build. 30 years after the album ‘The Wall’ (Pink Floyd), we’re still in the same shit or worse. During the writing of that album I met our manager, he thinks corporate. I met those corporate types. And the guitar player was a lawyer.
My kind of freedom and their kind of life gave birth to this album, from beginning to end. I start with corporate stuff and step by step going to my kind of stuff.
LC – Do you find as a writer you’re making a conscious decision or obligation to have some thought provoking content in your music?
DB – Many artists are talking about love. They are talking about love since the 50’s or one century before, but they don’t really talk about love actually, they only talk about love cos they know they can sell the album...
LC - Playing on sentimentality...?
DB – Yeah. For the next album, I tried hard, really hard, to write one song about love.
LC – Was it that much of an effort?
DB – It was a real, big effort. The first point; I don’t like to lie. If I make music, I have to be there and think. The second is I don’t want to talk about my private life, but I did... And I wrote a song about one love that I lost, it still obsessed me. Not because of the person. It was more about - I loved that love. I always remembered how it was.
LC – Nostalgia, you were kind of grieving over?
DB – Yeah, but that was the challenge. In that song the chorus is ‘There is one love we never forget, one love every day we try to recreate’. On ‘Forbidden Drama’ I included a little episode on (the song) ‘Faraway’. Faraway is about sex actually. It’s about the feelings you have but it’s not about love...
LC – Lust and a drive for lust...
DB – Yeah. When you have sex with somebody, you forget about your problems, your troubles, and you’re so far away from the world. And for this new album I was thinking man, I wrote something about sex before but not about love... The next album is about writing; the process, from beginning to end.
LC – The theme of the album and the songs ‘thread’ throughout will be about ‘writing’?
DB – I don’t like to have an album with greatest hits. If I write 20 songs and chose 10, it’s not good...
LC – You like to have continuum throughout?
DB – Yeah. There are many layers of the album. A primal layer when you first hear and then after deeper and deeper. For example; it’s exciting to write about writing because you can talk about all problems you have, you can talk about media, how you are treated by media, how you feel about all these chicks on the television showing their asses and being rich and you as a real artist writing about yourself, life and everything... and nobody cares about you.
LC – Celebrity is different from actual talent...
DB – Yeah, yeah.
LC – Do you find yourself writing social documentary in your music?
DB – This influence comes from Bob Dylan; Pink Floyd, King Crimson. I guess my major influence come from Roger Waters and Bob Dylan because they wrote something so social, that when I listen I start thinking on what my life is. When Bob Dylan talks about love, he really means it. You can feel it. Like The Girl From North Country. (Dan then puts on a convincing Bob Dylan imitation voice and starts singing).
LC – Is it all about the product, is it all about the story and is it about bringing the audience in to your world?
DB – Well it’s not actually my story. It’s everybody’s story, but from my perspective. It’s what I see around me.
LC – So you’re putting forward to people something they can relate to ...
DB - If they can’t relate, then I have failed. Empathy is the most important .
LC – You seem to have a really solid team of musicians you’re working with. Do they have any say in the creative process? Do you bring them on board at a specific time? Is it a joint effort?
DB - I become more and more like a dictator, ha, but not like that kind of dictator...
LC – Haha, what kind? Like a nice dictator????
DB – I’m obsessed with making drafts, with music soft (software) and I bring to life every idea I have for each and every instrument we have in this band.
LC – Do you hear the arrangements in your head?
DB – Yeah, but my rule is like ‘well this is what I think about this. This is the theme I give you but if you don’t like it change it. If you like it keep it’, you know? So for the first album they changed it a lot because I was not so professional, like...
LC – Or maybe not so sure of yourself, then?
DB – No I was pretty sure of myself then but I didn’t have all the conditions I have right now. In the meantime time I bought another computer, a new midi control...
LC – A new surge of confidence...
DB – Yeah, and right now I can do almost anything at home, you know. Back then I didn’t know the software so well...
LC – Were you reliant on other people to help you with the technology of it?
DB – No, I made everything myself but I learnt in time... But my computer was old. Many things I wrote, with my right hand with the mouse and it’s hard to do it like this, because until you write an idea you’ve almost lost it, you know... Many things I wrote with my pen because I just didn’t want to lose the moment.
LC – Has the new album got a title or a working title? Or are you still working on that?
DB – The working title is ‘A Kind of Alchemy’. It’s something like an innuendo on ‘It’s a kind of Magic’ by Queen. A Kind Of Alchemy because making music is like being an alchemist; transforming people, happenings, into something different.
LC – You haven’t recorded yet... But the content of the album is pretty much there?
DB – It’s been ready since November.
LC – So it’s just a question of when you’ll be recording. Have you a deadline for release and will it be independently released or through a record label? With Forbidden Drama did they (the record company) distribute? Can you find it in the shops?
DB – Yeah.
LC – When a band’s ready at the point of bringing a product together, it’s better to have full control of every process, graphics, design, distribution etc ?
DB – No, I don’t want full control. I want to know what’s happening.
When we made ‘Forbidden Drama’ I had full control and I failed a little because I didn’t know much about making an album. I knew how to make the music but the rest of it, it is too much for me. After that, for the DVD ‘Acoustic Drama’ I almost didn’t feel like I had something to do because our manager did almost everything. We realised we had a designer in our band and we didn’t know about it... 6Fingers the keyboard player made the design. He just showed me the final draft and I said, alright, it’s very fine. Right now we are pretty much a team, everybody is doing something.
LC – When do we expect the release?
DB – In the autumn.
LC – A tour?
DB – I hope so. We have a tour this summer. I don’t know exactly when and where. Anyway, just Romania. There is no reason to go outside and play in clubs where nobody knows about you.
Actually now we are working on the final drafts and I believe in one month we’re gonna go to the studio.
LC – Excellent. How can we find out updates and info’? On your website?
DB – Yeah. The next site I want total control. That’s why I think, maybe, we’re gonna make it!
LC – A video, for the next album? Have you got a single that you’re going to push forward with a video?
DB – We have many. We’re thinking, this song or the other one.
LC – A tight decision?
DB – I already know the first single. And if someone’s going to be against me I’m going to fight!!!
Whoa! Before a possible fight breaks out, better get yourself logged on to http://www.byronmusic.ro/ for updates, news, gig listings and info on the new album.
Interview by Lu Cozma.
I met Dan in a relaxed mood, chilling at a coffee house in Piata Romana, Bucharest, on a pleasant spring afternoon, sipping cappuccino and taking in the midday city atmosphere. Last time I saw him, he had just come off stage, buzzing from a hugely successful show at The Silver Church.
Certainly, it was one of those meetings where the weather and such an interesting interviewee, inspired hours of talking music, life, the universe, however the subject of his new album was very much on the agenda and he was keen to divulge.
What’s on his mind? What gets his thinking processes on hard drive? What are the issues that mean something to Dan Byron? By the end of the interview, I got to thinking that what he feels strongly about comes to life in song.
Exposed to music at an early age; the second child of 2 boys, exceptional parents who encouraged creativity; studying music at school, nearly marrying and living in Germany, even faking mental instability to escape Military Service were all subjects that could have made a story in themselves. But that’s for another time, maybe in his autobiography in years to come.
I asked Dan about writing, creating and performing original compositions and what’s his take on it all...
DB – The biggest pleasure I have is to create. And when I am at home, sitting on my chair, with my computer, with my keyboard, with my guitar and create something new and something exciting you know.... this is the pleasure.
LC – The album ‘Forbidden Drama’... what was the reason for the title?
DB – The first reason was it sounds well.
LC – Which is a good enough reason.
DB – Yeah. The 2nd reason is about things we don’t speak about. It’s about the reality of the world and all this corporate stuff, all these walls everyday that we build. 30 years after the album ‘The Wall’ (Pink Floyd), we’re still in the same shit or worse. During the writing of that album I met our manager, he thinks corporate. I met those corporate types. And the guitar player was a lawyer.
My kind of freedom and their kind of life gave birth to this album, from beginning to end. I start with corporate stuff and step by step going to my kind of stuff.
LC – Do you find as a writer you’re making a conscious decision or obligation to have some thought provoking content in your music?
DB – Many artists are talking about love. They are talking about love since the 50’s or one century before, but they don’t really talk about love actually, they only talk about love cos they know they can sell the album...
LC - Playing on sentimentality...?
DB – Yeah. For the next album, I tried hard, really hard, to write one song about love.
LC – Was it that much of an effort?
DB – It was a real, big effort. The first point; I don’t like to lie. If I make music, I have to be there and think. The second is I don’t want to talk about my private life, but I did... And I wrote a song about one love that I lost, it still obsessed me. Not because of the person. It was more about - I loved that love. I always remembered how it was.
LC – Nostalgia, you were kind of grieving over?
DB – Yeah, but that was the challenge. In that song the chorus is ‘There is one love we never forget, one love every day we try to recreate’. On ‘Forbidden Drama’ I included a little episode on (the song) ‘Faraway’. Faraway is about sex actually. It’s about the feelings you have but it’s not about love...
LC – Lust and a drive for lust...
DB – Yeah. When you have sex with somebody, you forget about your problems, your troubles, and you’re so far away from the world. And for this new album I was thinking man, I wrote something about sex before but not about love... The next album is about writing; the process, from beginning to end.
LC – The theme of the album and the songs ‘thread’ throughout will be about ‘writing’?
DB – I don’t like to have an album with greatest hits. If I write 20 songs and chose 10, it’s not good...
LC – You like to have continuum throughout?
DB – Yeah. There are many layers of the album. A primal layer when you first hear and then after deeper and deeper. For example; it’s exciting to write about writing because you can talk about all problems you have, you can talk about media, how you are treated by media, how you feel about all these chicks on the television showing their asses and being rich and you as a real artist writing about yourself, life and everything... and nobody cares about you.
LC – Celebrity is different from actual talent...
DB – Yeah, yeah.
LC – Do you find yourself writing social documentary in your music?
DB – This influence comes from Bob Dylan; Pink Floyd, King Crimson. I guess my major influence come from Roger Waters and Bob Dylan because they wrote something so social, that when I listen I start thinking on what my life is. When Bob Dylan talks about love, he really means it. You can feel it. Like The Girl From North Country. (Dan then puts on a convincing Bob Dylan imitation voice and starts singing).
LC – Is it all about the product, is it all about the story and is it about bringing the audience in to your world?
DB – Well it’s not actually my story. It’s everybody’s story, but from my perspective. It’s what I see around me.
LC – So you’re putting forward to people something they can relate to ...
DB - If they can’t relate, then I have failed. Empathy is the most important .
LC – You seem to have a really solid team of musicians you’re working with. Do they have any say in the creative process? Do you bring them on board at a specific time? Is it a joint effort?
DB - I become more and more like a dictator, ha, but not like that kind of dictator...
LC – Haha, what kind? Like a nice dictator????
DB – I’m obsessed with making drafts, with music soft (software) and I bring to life every idea I have for each and every instrument we have in this band.
LC – Do you hear the arrangements in your head?
DB – Yeah, but my rule is like ‘well this is what I think about this. This is the theme I give you but if you don’t like it change it. If you like it keep it’, you know? So for the first album they changed it a lot because I was not so professional, like...
LC – Or maybe not so sure of yourself, then?
DB – No I was pretty sure of myself then but I didn’t have all the conditions I have right now. In the meantime time I bought another computer, a new midi control...
LC – A new surge of confidence...
DB – Yeah, and right now I can do almost anything at home, you know. Back then I didn’t know the software so well...
LC – Were you reliant on other people to help you with the technology of it?
DB – No, I made everything myself but I learnt in time... But my computer was old. Many things I wrote, with my right hand with the mouse and it’s hard to do it like this, because until you write an idea you’ve almost lost it, you know... Many things I wrote with my pen because I just didn’t want to lose the moment.
LC – Has the new album got a title or a working title? Or are you still working on that?
DB – The working title is ‘A Kind of Alchemy’. It’s something like an innuendo on ‘It’s a kind of Magic’ by Queen. A Kind Of Alchemy because making music is like being an alchemist; transforming people, happenings, into something different.
LC – You haven’t recorded yet... But the content of the album is pretty much there?
DB – It’s been ready since November.
LC – So it’s just a question of when you’ll be recording. Have you a deadline for release and will it be independently released or through a record label? With Forbidden Drama did they (the record company) distribute? Can you find it in the shops?
DB – Yeah.
LC – When a band’s ready at the point of bringing a product together, it’s better to have full control of every process, graphics, design, distribution etc ?
DB – No, I don’t want full control. I want to know what’s happening.
When we made ‘Forbidden Drama’ I had full control and I failed a little because I didn’t know much about making an album. I knew how to make the music but the rest of it, it is too much for me. After that, for the DVD ‘Acoustic Drama’ I almost didn’t feel like I had something to do because our manager did almost everything. We realised we had a designer in our band and we didn’t know about it... 6Fingers the keyboard player made the design. He just showed me the final draft and I said, alright, it’s very fine. Right now we are pretty much a team, everybody is doing something.
LC – When do we expect the release?
DB – In the autumn.
LC – A tour?
DB – I hope so. We have a tour this summer. I don’t know exactly when and where. Anyway, just Romania. There is no reason to go outside and play in clubs where nobody knows about you.
Actually now we are working on the final drafts and I believe in one month we’re gonna go to the studio.
LC – Excellent. How can we find out updates and info’? On your website?
DB – Yeah. The next site I want total control. That’s why I think, maybe, we’re gonna make it!
LC – A video, for the next album? Have you got a single that you’re going to push forward with a video?
DB – We have many. We’re thinking, this song or the other one.
LC – A tight decision?
DB – I already know the first single. And if someone’s going to be against me I’m going to fight!!!
Whoa! Before a possible fight breaks out, better get yourself logged on to http://www.byronmusic.ro/ for updates, news, gig listings and info on the new album.
Interview by Lu Cozma.
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