It's all about the music.
Creation of Kettering-based composer, guitarist and singer Chris Brown, hazeyjane is the vehicle for the live musical expression of his own original songs and arrangements of celebrated pieces of poetry. Acoustic and ambient in feel, hazeyjane present an intense melodic music of emotional intimacy and atmosphere founded on exquisite guitar figures and motifs (think Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, John Martyn and the like), using unusual tunings and chordal combinations as soundscapes for richly poetic lyrics.
Appearing as a solo artist until quite recently, Chris is now usually accompanied by the signature singing sound of Kevin T Ward’s fretless bass using harmonics, stopping and chords to add rhythmic expression, texture, and colour to the songs.
I find myself smiling at the tiniest memory of last week's adventure.
From Wednesday evening until Sunday I was in the company of over thirty musicians at the Vinterlejr songwriting workshop retreat in Riishytten, outside Billund in Denmark.
The UK contingent, constituting around a quarter of the attendees, were welcomed with open arms (literally) by the group of mostly Danes who had arrived earlier in the day.
Running to a relaxed schedule overseen by two lovely guys – Lars Graulund and Misha Hoekstra – the days flew by as we participated in multiple co-writes, technique and theory workshops, song-circles, communal meal preparation, and mucho late night music and conversation.
Alcohol was available in abundance and most appeared to indulge but I don't remember witnessing a single case of someone even raising their voice as a result of it. That has only just hit me. In a group so large, and living in each others' pockets for over five days it would be reasonable to expect at least one or two minor altercations, especially when alcohol is involved. I wasn't aware of a single one. How cool is that?
Abilities were varied, some phenomenally talented people who I assume had played and sung their entire lives, some only a couple of years into their adventure, most somewhere in between, but all, without exception were generous, kind, supportive and encouraging.
I was apprehensive at the idea of co-writes. I have only ever collaborated musically with one guy (the wonderful Mr Jon Delaney) and the very idea of being thrown together with a stranger to write an entire song in thirty minutes, if I'm honest, scared the hell out of me. So to Misha, Danny and Andy (the first time with our blues song - eish!) I'm sorry for my lack of contribution in our songs. I was reeling at the thought of not being able to come up with something during our efforts and those kinds of feelings tend to self-perpetuate, the unfortunate result being inertia.
After that, however, I managed to overcome my fear and went on to co-write further with Leif, a big, warm-hearted man, full of gentleness, retired now for a few years and progressing quickly in his playing and songwriting abilities. It’s an obvious comparison to make but if I ever had to select someone to play Santa Claus for my kids, grandkids or whatever, then it would be him. In around twenty minutes, we somehow managed to produce a heavy, beat-driven blues thang about making a cigar box geetar and painting it in different colours to match our mood. It was simple but quite effective, I thought.
I had three further co-works: one, a brooding, building song of acceptance of lost love, with Viktoria, a Swedish pixie with a fabulous crystalline voice, and the foundations of another, with Jens. Jens is a distinctive guitarist and lovely self-effacing gentleman who had produced such a plaintive chord progression the previous week and picked me out to help him to finish his song, to provide a few more musical ideas and come up with English lyrics. He told me he felt at a disadvantage not being able to speak the language fluently and how difficult it was to produce a convincing song in English, for which the audience is so much greater. I will be working on both of these songs over the next week or so and we will be keeping in touch with our ideas and recordings of it.
I had one other co-write, with my beautiful friend Andy, a man willing to bear his soul for all to see; together we wrote about how someone can take you over within the context of a song, how, in a couple of hundred words it's possible to reduce someone you don't even know to a quivering mess. That is real power. I felt the full force of this a couple of times at Vinterlejr and it really shook me.
On another occasion I took part in a song-circle, in which one of the participants plays a song of their own and the others listen and give their own analysis of it. The two newcomers in our group (myself and Lois) played a song in this, as did Leif. I was surprised at the time spent on these and the depth of analysis given. John (one of the main men at the event and whose guitar I was allowed to have for the week) was particularly helpful in coming up with ideas everyone’s song. One tip I was given was not to tap my foot quite so loudly when playing quiet pieces, as it tends to spoil the mood of the song. I was rather grateful for this as I hadn’t even realised I did it, or at least not as loudly! (I recall playing one song after that to the group in just one shoe.) Many thanks also to Inger, Lois, Leif, and Ole for their valuable perspectives on my song.
Each evening, we would assemble in the large room downstairs in the scout-hut-style building we had, where we were given the opportunity to air our new compositions from the day.
Hearing so many new songs in quick succession and for an extended period may sound like hard work. That couldn't be further from the truth. An incredible display of inventiveness would always ensue. I laughed my head off at some and sat in total awe at the musicianship in some. Oh yeah, and bawled my eyes out during some. I already mentioned that, right?
Nothing will stop me from doing my very, very best to attend next year. Certainly the money won't stop me. It was super cheap. (£75 for five days' accommodation, £25 each way for flights and £10 for alcohol for the entire time!)
All of these people have touched me in one way or another and I'd like to think I can consider them all to be my friends. I've just heard a snatch of the song Love Is In The Air on the TV. Surely it is one of the cheesiest songs around but it brought it home to me how much love there had been in the air for each other during those five days. I can’t wait to see them all again next year!
Today, I spent some time in the studio with my bassist friend, Kevin T Ward. He's put in some work in to create rather special accompaniments to several of my songs. We're looking forward to trying out these new arrangements at venues in the coming weeks. :):)
I began writing a little song yesterday. It's called Sugaree and via a conversation between an expectant woman and her unborn child it documents the fears she has of childbirth.
It's my shortest song by a mile. I'm hoping to record it in the next few days and get it out there. :-)
Posted a new song: "Anima RIsing" http://www.reverbnation.com/q/651eh5
I had a fun time over at Peterborough FM radio at lunchtime today being interviewed by Brian Watson. Playing totally unplugged and sans reverb is a little strange but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Here's a recording of the show in case anyone who didn't catch it would like to hear it.
The songs are:
1. Written In Water
2. Autumn Rain
3. Anima Rising
4. Crucify Me
5. Happiness
http://podcast.canstream.co.uk/pacouk/index.php?id=14623
I came home last night from a weekend in Friars Carse, Dumfries spent with other like-minded souls songwriting with the wonderful Martin Stephenson. I met some lovely people and was able to focus on writing new material. We all had to write a song during the Saturday and perform it in the evening to the others. I came up with a new song 'Crucify Me', which I am hoping to make a start on recording as part of my sessions with Ash Tu-kay when I come back from holiday in a couple of weeks.
Today I was notified that I am to play The Umbrella Fair 2015 on 15th August at The Racecourse in Northampton. I recently played at Tea On The Lawn there so I know the venue. It's lovely. :-)
I also discovered today that I am now number one in the local Singer Songwriter charts on ReverbNation. Yay!
Well, that was quite a day yesterday at Tilfest 2015. Four of my friends from the North East whom I hadn't seen in a couple of years and who had never seen me play before came along to support me. That was lovely but inevitably added a little to the pressure. Still, I found myself on stage on time at 4pm ready to go.
There was a decent crowd (all things are relative - remember this wasn't Wembley Arena or The O2) in the Acoustic Marquee as I started the first song.
I kicked off playing my song The Real You'. It's only the fifth time I've played it live. I wrote the song only last Tuesday and I suppose it is still developing. Phil sings backing vocals on this one and I managed to bamboozle her slightly with my timing on the choruses when she is supposed to come in. (Sorry about that, love.) We'll get it right eventually. smile emoticon
I played another seven songs, which barring a minor hiccup in Autumn Rain towards the end, all seemed to go pretty well.
Now that I have amassed enough of my own material to play all original stuff it's always a bit of a dilemma for me whether to play any covers at all. Often I don't. Yesterday I succumbed to the beery conviviality and played a token cover: YMCA. It's nice to see people's faces when the chorus comes in and it hits them which song it is. smile emoticon
You know, sometimes I wonder whether my songs are cut out for boozy bashes such as yesterday, where many people are looking to just have a good time, a bellyful of beer and possibly even get up and dance, but being true to yourself musically is an important thing to me and I can only play with any passion what's in my heart. ("YMCA?" I hear you say. Lol, well yes maybe, but please listen closely again to the lyrics before judging that one. The meaning of the song can get lost behind the stomping beat and blast of those horns in The Village People's disco classic. )
After my set a few people came up and told me how much they enjoyed my songs and asked if I had any CDs for sale. Naturally I hadn't brought any with me. Again. Note to self: get off your lazy arse and get some pressed. AND don't forget to take them to the next gig.
We had a quick bite to eat in The White Horse and then I was back on stage playing a few songs on my own and then with lovely Bobby C and Chad (and an unidentified but solid drummer) before Tim Copping and Shaun Keogh (aka The Dubious Brothers) came on stage and played a few of their rousing uptempo numbers. These two guys are gold.
I'm not really used to just getting up on stage and jamming along with songs I've never played before, so that was a tiny bit weird. Enjoyable of course but weird. It's strange to find yourself playing so many wrong chords in a song!
The strains of Tim and a few others playing the final number (a boozy Rolling Stones cover) provided the soundtrack as we packed the car and left the Tilfest 'Artist's Green Room' at around 20:15. I felt shattered. The sun was still shining as we drove away from the lovely little village of Tilbrook.
I'd very much like to be invited to come back again next year to play. Thank you so much for inviting me, Tim and thanks again to Dave & Ann, Stu & Mags and Karen for coming along to see me. x
Push has been put on hold. A new song, The Last Lines, has crystallised out of nothing and I have recorded a live version of it already. I've published it to ReverbNation.
You can listen to it here:
http://www.reverbnation.com/hazeyjane119/song/23360911-the-last-lines
Today I finally made a start recording my song Push. It's a pretty austere affair so I am hoping to be finished tracking by the end of the week, releasing sometime next week. :)
I'm looking forward to catching up with Gavin Chappell-Bates tomorrow night at The White Hart Acoustic Collective in Corby. We played together last December and I was blown away by this guy's talent. 8pm in Corby Old Village. :)
Jon Delaney (of Rogue State Circus) and I spent some time songwriting recently. Although only a few hours, it proved to be quite productive. The first song to come out of our collaboration is called Don't Speak Of Love and and I am hoping to make a start on recording a version of it next week.
Rockingham Park, Northampton, Northants, UK
Seaton Road, Northampton, Northants, UK
Carpenters Arms, Irchester, Northants, UK
132 Great Russell Street, Northampton, NN1 3BU
2 Green End, Kingsthorpe Village, Northampton NN2 6RD
31-33 High Street, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northants, UK
217 Wellingborough Rd, Northampton, Northants, UK
217 Wellingborough Rd, Northampton, Northants, UK
23 Market Hill, Kettering, Northants, UK
15 Main Rd, Crick, Northampton NN6 7TU
High Street, Corby, NTH, UK
37 High Street, Corby, NTH, UK
21 Station Rd, Blisworth, NTH, UK
The White Horse, Tilbrook, Cambs, UK
217 Wellingborough Road, Northampton, UK
Commercial Road, Corby, NN17 5XG
31-33 High Street, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Northants, UK
High Street, Corby, NTH, UK
Waendel Beer Festival, Wellingborough
Midland Band Club
2 Hallwood Road,
Kettering
NN16 9RG
The White Horse
Tilbrook
Cambs
PE28 0JP
High Street, Harrington, Kettering, Northants, UK
222 Kettering Road, Northampton, Northants, UK
The Rowell Charter Inn
Sun Hill,
Rothwell,
Northants
3 Silver Street
Kettering, Northampton
4 Piccadilly Buildings,
Sheep Street,
Kettering,
NN16 0AN
The Yards,
Market Street
Kettering
Rockingham Road Pleasure Park
Park Road
Kettering
NN16 9RG
Glasshouse Acoustic Sessions
Key Theatre
Embankment Road
Peterborough
PE1 1EF
Kettering Rugby Club,
Waverley Road
Kettering
NN15 6NT
The Folly
Folly Lane
Napton on the Hill
Warwickshire
CV47 8NZ
The White Horse, Tilbrook, Cambs, UK
231 Newmarket Road,
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB5 8JE
Phone 01223 352047
Peterborough
(Radio appearance)
The Falcon Tavern
10 Market Hill
Huntingdon
PE29 3NR
217 Wellingborough Rd,
Northampton,
Northamptonshire
NN1 4EF
01604 626126
The Olde England 2
13-14 Silver Street
Wellingborough
NN8 1BQ
Althorp Coaching Inn
Main Street
Great Brington
Northampton
NN7 4JA
Westbury Arts Centre
Foxcovert Road,
Shenley Wood,
Milton Keynes,
MK5 6AA
hazeyjane playing at 19:45
http://www.mkfm.com/local-events/72710-milton-keynes-comedy-festival.html
4 Piccadilly Buildings
Sheep Street
Kettering
Northamptonshire
NN16 0AN
Phone:01536 515517
The Walnut Tree Inn
21 Station Rd
Blisworth
Northants
01604 859551
Gipsy Lane
Little Irchester
Wellingborough
NN29 7DL
Phone:01933 276866
Umbrella Fair Organisation
Umbrella Pavilion
Racecourse
Kettering Road
Northampton
NN1 4LG
http://www.umbrellafair.org.uk/
Main Street
Great Addington
Kettering
NN14 4BS
Phone:01536 330174
Tesco
Corby
The Olde England 2
13-14 Silver Street
Wellingborough
NN8 1BQ
Kettering Main Stage
Kettering
Northants
Cottingham Rd
Corby
Northants
NN17 1SZ
Joules Yard
53-55 High St
Market Harborough
Leicestershire County
LE16 7AF
01858 463250
37 High Street
Old Village
Corby
Northants
UK
37 High Street
Old Village
Corby
Northants
UK
17 Oxford St,
Wellingborough
NN8 4HY
01933 441848
Coronation Park,
Corby
Doors: 12:00
The White Horse
Walgrave Rd, Old,
Northampton
NN6 9QX
01604 781297
83 High Street, Woodford, NTH, UK
Brave Old Oak
Watling Street
Towcester
Northamptonshire
NN12 6BT
01327 353621
3 Silver Street
Kettering
Northants
01536 484948
296 London Road
Kettering
Northamptonshire
NN15 6DX
The Bull Inn,
Cambridge
Bedford Street
Royal Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV32 5DY
01926 332506
Coach and Horses
Wellingborough
17 Oxford St,
Wellingborough
NN8 4HY
Phone:01933 441848
Stratford-Upon-Avon Picturehouse, CV37 6NL
59 Southampton Road
Far Cotton
Northampton
NN4 8DT
01604 705565
The Falcon Tavern
10 Market Hill
Huntingdon
PE29 3NR
5 Northampton Road
Ecton
Earls Barton
Northampton
01604 414 521
The Yards
Kettering
NN16 0AH
www.theyards-kettering.co.uk/
37 High Street
Corby
Northampton
UK
01536 268370
The Olde England 2
13-14 Silver Street
Wellingborough
NN8 1BQ
The Hallowe'en Spooktacular
222 Kettering Road
Northampton
Northants
217 Wellingborough Rd,
Northampton,
Northamptonshire
NN1 4EF
01604 626126
The White Horse
Tilbrook
Cambs
UK
90 High St
Gretton
Corby
NN17 3DF
01536 770404
The Christmas Spectacular
222 Kettering Road
Northampton
Northants
29 Silver Street
Coventry
CV1
1 High Street
Roade
Northants
01604 862544
Althorp Coaching Inn
Main Street
Great Brington
Northampton
NN7 4JA
Merchants' Inn
5-7 Little Church Street
Rugby
01788 571 119
MK11,
Keller Close (off Tilers Rd)
Kiln Farm
Milton Keynes
MK11 3LH
1 Alexandra Road,
Northampton
01604 245485
The Witch and Sow
High St
Northampton
NN6 8PY
01604 743 888
info@thewitchandsow.co.uk
www.thewitchandsow.co.uk
Tilers Road
Kiln Farm
Bucks
UK
01908 262924
The Old White Hart
Cotton End
Northampton
01604 709990
80 High Street,
Stevenage,
Hertfordshire,
SG1 3DW
with Gavin Chappell-Bates
Overstone Road,
Sywell
Northampton
01604 642286
10 Cotton End
Northampton
NN4 8BS
01604 945201
9 High St
Hardingstone
Northampton
NN4 7BT
www.thesuninnhardingstone.co.uk
London Rd
Wollaston
NN29 7QS
Corby Radio 96.3FM
59a Corporation St
Corby
NN17 2NP
The Vaults
64 High Street
Stony Stratford
01908 567104
The Three Locks
Leighton Rd
Stoke Hammond
MK17 9DD
The Walnut Tree Inn
21 Station Rd
Blisworth
Northants
01604 859551
Billing Aquadrome,
Northampton
NN3 9DA
Johnny's Happy Place
Keystone Youth Centre
97 Rockingham Road
Kettering
Northamptonshire
NN16 9HX
Arts Central
Clyde House,
Oldbrook
Bucks
MK6 2WA
42 Crafton St W
Leicester
LE1 2DE
0116 251 0080
Folly Lane,
Napton On The Hill,
Warwickshire
01926 815185
The Horseshoe
Ecton
Northampton
Market St
Rothwell
Northants
Wildfire Sessions feature
Umbrella Pavilion
Racecourse
Kettering Road
Northampton
NN1 4LG
Walgrave Rd
Old
Northampton
NN6 9QX
White Ark Festival
Coronation Park
Corby
6 Cossington Rd,
Sileby,
Loughborough
LE12 7RW
Phone:01509 815181
Rushden Railway
27 St Mary's St
Stamford
PE9 2DL
01780 763203
48 High Street
Weston Favell
Northampton
NN3 3JW
The Walnut Tree Inn
21 Station Rd
Blisworth
Northants
01604 859551