Hi,
For those in the USA who have been trying to buy Heavy Drug - here's the low down.
This was meant to have gone on sale in the USA the same day it was released in the UK via Beatport. As far as we were aware this had gone up as planned however upon reading your comments we got our management in the US to check it was definitely available via Beatport before we started directing you to it and subsequently discovered that it wasn't!
We got straight on to our distributor and asked for this to be resolved and have been informed that this is now up.
www.beatport.com
Thanks for keeping us informed.
J.x
28 August 2009
21 August 2009
Escape!
Hey,
What's up?
My mind has gone into musical meltdown after our West Heath Studio sessions so I'm getting out of dodge for a week for some headspace. Heading to NY with my daughter to catch up with friends hit some new movies (District 9 and Up head the list) and go upstate to the beach for a couple of days and stay away from music for a minute!
When I return I'll fill you in on all the collaborations and where we're at and finally get all the videos and photos up from the recording sessions.
Until then be well,
James.x
What's up?
My mind has gone into musical meltdown after our West Heath Studio sessions so I'm getting out of dodge for a week for some headspace. Heading to NY with my daughter to catch up with friends hit some new movies (District 9 and Up head the list) and go upstate to the beach for a couple of days and stay away from music for a minute!
When I return I'll fill you in on all the collaborations and where we're at and finally get all the videos and photos up from the recording sessions.
Until then be well,
James.x
12 August 2009
Deep In The Trenches...
Deep In The Trenches...
Sorry late again!!! We're currently in mad lock down in West Heath Studios. We have been working like crazy, it's very intense! We have been working on about 17 tracks and recorded vox with myself, Lisa, Gavin, Joel and others!!! We've also been recording all the parts as much as we can whilst we're here with Chris Goss. Whilst it is going well it can be very intense at times; sometimes I feel like I'm losing my mind as there is so much going on, particularly knowing that we have to then go back and finish the main and best tracks afterwards so all in all feeling pretty overwhelmed at the moment. I have not had time for any thing else apart from studio lock down recently apart from True Blood series 2 which has been saving my sanity!!!
No it's all good just got to keep focused so bear with me and I'll hit you back when everything has settled down a bit and I'll get all the photos and videos up as soon as I get back into the real world......
Later,
J
Sorry late again!!! We're currently in mad lock down in West Heath Studios. We have been working like crazy, it's very intense! We have been working on about 17 tracks and recorded vox with myself, Lisa, Gavin, Joel and others!!! We've also been recording all the parts as much as we can whilst we're here with Chris Goss. Whilst it is going well it can be very intense at times; sometimes I feel like I'm losing my mind as there is so much going on, particularly knowing that we have to then go back and finish the main and best tracks afterwards so all in all feeling pretty overwhelmed at the moment. I have not had time for any thing else apart from studio lock down recently apart from True Blood series 2 which has been saving my sanity!!!
No it's all good just got to keep focused so bear with me and I'll hit you back when everything has settled down a bit and I'll get all the photos and videos up as soon as I get back into the real world......
Later,
J
05 August 2009
GU MIX #1 ON ITUNES
Thank you to everyone for the support. I just heard the awesome news that my Global Underground Bangkok mix comp hit #1 in the US iTunes store!
- James
- James
30 July 2009
Out of Hiding
Out Of Hiding
Apologies to all for my absence over the last month it has been pretty crazy. Planes, trains and studios and a flu I’ve just not been able to shake off.
So what’s been going on in my world?
I think from where we last left off the first main thing that happened is that I spent time in Brighton recording drums with Mike Pelanconi of Drum Drops’ fame (the motherfucking beatman) and two drummers who will feature on most of the tracks on the new album: Graham Fox the Joe Strummer of hitters from his look, voice and his attitude and Joshua Block of White Denim fame. I spent a total of nine days, between myself Pablo and James locked in a bunker experiencing moments of ‘Das Boat’ towards the end, recording all the new drums for the record, a truly amazing experience even if slightly brain damaging after hearing the beats for 12 hrs a day! Luckily there were a few breaks for me including Ibiza with Carl Cox in which I played at the opening of his night on the terrace at Space, which as always was great. That said you could definitely feel that the island nightlife is hurting this season. I thought Tiesto’s unannounced free gig on the same night was a pretty low blow but a sign of the times. A lot of what that island is becoming club wise is not what I remember about the good times.
After that I was in London for a bit whilst Lorna worked with Nike on an INSA show at the 1948 space. It was good to catch up with a lot of old friends on the opening night, a lot of old school Mo Wax heads who I’ve not seen for a long time and it was good fun watching my daughter helping spray paint logos pre the show. Next up saw Lisa’s band “Dark Horses” support Kasabian at Brixton Academy – she is truly talented and I was really impressed as it was one of her first shows, the music sounded amazing especially her voice. It was a great visual show as well.
I’ve also been spending a lot of time during this period working on new artwork ideas with Ben, Warren and Nick. I met up with Paul Williams the director of London to Brighton about working on his new film and I recorded Phillip Sheppard for the new Vertu ringtones, which we have created the music for. It is currently being mixed.
I went to see Oasis at Wembley the other week, which is always a good laugh, Noel was as hospitable as ever. Then after that I played Ministry of Sound for the GU CD launch with Agoria. This was the first time I have ever played the main room there and I have to admit I have been slightly dubious about playing there in the past but I had an amazing night. The crowd were great and I was surprised by how open minded they were – there was a really fun energy in the room, great hospitality and great to see Sebastian – it has been too long since we have played together and it always works really well.
We are putting out “Heavy Drug” as a single in August; the version, which is on GU’s Bangkok CD out soon. I have been doing promo and getting remixes together and also doing press for global underground including radio interview and magazine shit!
Most recently over the weekend I spent Saturday at my best girl friend’s wedding so congratulations and ever lasting love to Kate and Ed a truly amazing day. Also having the honour to watch my daughter being a bridesmaid. I couldn’t keep the tears back! This was followed obviously by a long day of drinking in the sun with friends and family. Then Sunday straight to Murcia in Spain for an MTV event with myself, Placebo and James Murphy. It was a strange night, long journey from Wales to find myself in front of 15000 people as Placebo had pulled out half way through their gig. My set got really messed around so it was hard to keep a focus but I think I pulled through. It was nice to see James Murphy. It has been a while – I haven’t seen him since Australia last January. Then it was straight through to get a flight at 7.30am to go back to London to work with Warren and Nick on the beginning of the album artwork which we shot at Nig Sky studios for two days. All I can say is that involved two beautiful semi naked girls, a host of serial and psychedelic sets, great costumes by Boudica, music and hair from the French maestro Raffe and crazy make up via Alex and of course a lot of weed to help one through the days all in all a pretty good Monday and Tuesday!
Also Monday Chris Goss arrived. The guitar Buddha is in town to help start us on our journey as we are trying to craft our madness. I spent yesterday working with Gavin, today getting into guitars and working with Joe Cadbury and tomorrow we are going to work on some of my songs, Saturday in with Lisd and Monday we are into Edwyn Collin’s studio. The adventure begins…
So I promise I’ll be back next week. Gonna hit you with a load of studio photos from both recording and from photo shoot sessions and things along the way but I will leave you with this rather entertaining photo montage courtesy of Pablo and Maff.
As you can see this is the type of thing I have to deal with on a daily basis. Enjoy!
PS - Get well soon Adam Yauch.
Apologies to all for my absence over the last month it has been pretty crazy. Planes, trains and studios and a flu I’ve just not been able to shake off.
So what’s been going on in my world?
I think from where we last left off the first main thing that happened is that I spent time in Brighton recording drums with Mike Pelanconi of Drum Drops’ fame (the motherfucking beatman) and two drummers who will feature on most of the tracks on the new album: Graham Fox the Joe Strummer of hitters from his look, voice and his attitude and Joshua Block of White Denim fame. I spent a total of nine days, between myself Pablo and James locked in a bunker experiencing moments of ‘Das Boat’ towards the end, recording all the new drums for the record, a truly amazing experience even if slightly brain damaging after hearing the beats for 12 hrs a day! Luckily there were a few breaks for me including Ibiza with Carl Cox in which I played at the opening of his night on the terrace at Space, which as always was great. That said you could definitely feel that the island nightlife is hurting this season. I thought Tiesto’s unannounced free gig on the same night was a pretty low blow but a sign of the times. A lot of what that island is becoming club wise is not what I remember about the good times.
After that I was in London for a bit whilst Lorna worked with Nike on an INSA show at the 1948 space. It was good to catch up with a lot of old friends on the opening night, a lot of old school Mo Wax heads who I’ve not seen for a long time and it was good fun watching my daughter helping spray paint logos pre the show. Next up saw Lisa’s band “Dark Horses” support Kasabian at Brixton Academy – she is truly talented and I was really impressed as it was one of her first shows, the music sounded amazing especially her voice. It was a great visual show as well.
I’ve also been spending a lot of time during this period working on new artwork ideas with Ben, Warren and Nick. I met up with Paul Williams the director of London to Brighton about working on his new film and I recorded Phillip Sheppard for the new Vertu ringtones, which we have created the music for. It is currently being mixed.
I went to see Oasis at Wembley the other week, which is always a good laugh, Noel was as hospitable as ever. Then after that I played Ministry of Sound for the GU CD launch with Agoria. This was the first time I have ever played the main room there and I have to admit I have been slightly dubious about playing there in the past but I had an amazing night. The crowd were great and I was surprised by how open minded they were – there was a really fun energy in the room, great hospitality and great to see Sebastian – it has been too long since we have played together and it always works really well.
We are putting out “Heavy Drug” as a single in August; the version, which is on GU’s Bangkok CD out soon. I have been doing promo and getting remixes together and also doing press for global underground including radio interview and magazine shit!
Most recently over the weekend I spent Saturday at my best girl friend’s wedding so congratulations and ever lasting love to Kate and Ed a truly amazing day. Also having the honour to watch my daughter being a bridesmaid. I couldn’t keep the tears back! This was followed obviously by a long day of drinking in the sun with friends and family. Then Sunday straight to Murcia in Spain for an MTV event with myself, Placebo and James Murphy. It was a strange night, long journey from Wales to find myself in front of 15000 people as Placebo had pulled out half way through their gig. My set got really messed around so it was hard to keep a focus but I think I pulled through. It was nice to see James Murphy. It has been a while – I haven’t seen him since Australia last January. Then it was straight through to get a flight at 7.30am to go back to London to work with Warren and Nick on the beginning of the album artwork which we shot at Nig Sky studios for two days. All I can say is that involved two beautiful semi naked girls, a host of serial and psychedelic sets, great costumes by Boudica, music and hair from the French maestro Raffe and crazy make up via Alex and of course a lot of weed to help one through the days all in all a pretty good Monday and Tuesday!
Also Monday Chris Goss arrived. The guitar Buddha is in town to help start us on our journey as we are trying to craft our madness. I spent yesterday working with Gavin, today getting into guitars and working with Joe Cadbury and tomorrow we are going to work on some of my songs, Saturday in with Lisd and Monday we are into Edwyn Collin’s studio. The adventure begins…
So I promise I’ll be back next week. Gonna hit you with a load of studio photos from both recording and from photo shoot sessions and things along the way but I will leave you with this rather entertaining photo montage courtesy of Pablo and Maff.
As you can see this is the type of thing I have to deal with on a daily basis. Enjoy!
PS - Get well soon Adam Yauch.
16 July 2009
APOLOGIES!!
Hey,
Sorry, sorry, sorry for the lack of communication recently!
The last few weeks have been a blur of trains, planes and studios. I 'll hit you up very very soon with a full update.
Love James
Sorry, sorry, sorry for the lack of communication recently!
The last few weeks have been a blur of trains, planes and studios. I 'll hit you up very very soon with a full update.
Love James
26 June 2009
The King Is Dead
The King is dead. Long live the king: Michael Jackson RIP.
Fuck! Another one bites the dust!
Since our last blog I shot off to Athens for the weekend to play the Ejekt Festival for the third year in a row, closing after Two Many DJs. It was fucking amazing! I want to thank everybody who was there; the crowd was off the hook as usual. Athens has definitely got to be one of my favourite cities in the world. I spent the next day eating seafood and swimming in the sea, watching the sun come down followed by the most amazing waffle and ice cream restaurant - a spectacle I’ve never seen in any country before: about 1000 people out just wallowing in ice cream delight – the perfect way to end an amazing weekend.
Then it was back into the studio. I’ve had a a really productive week. I’ve been working on some of mine and Gavin’s tracks, including a vocal version of “Heavy Drug” which is on the mix comp, then I met up with a really talented video director – Anthony Dickenson who is definitely doing some really cool shit. You should check him out. He has been working with my wife on some really interesting projects. I also had some meetings about potential soundtracks one in particular which would be cool as this would allow us to work on some hip hop tracks which Pablo and I would love to do because we have all these tracks at the moment which would really suit rappers but don’t really fit the direction of the new album, so who knows? This could be a really interesting proposition - I’ll keep you posted.
I then spent yesterday working with Lisa who joined us at the end of the last tour. You should check out her band “Dark Horses” - www.myspace.com/darkhorsesofficial who are absolutely amazing and have just recorded a new record with Richard Fearless. They have been opening for Kasabian recently. Lisa is one of the most talented singers I have met in a long time. We worked on a few tracks which have come out great so it has been really productive and exciting.
Today I am off to meet up with Warren and Nick regarding album artwork. We are in the process of coming up with ideas for both images and packaging and then we’ll be chilling.
I am playing Inverness tomorrow and then back in the studio on Monday with Gavin.
Also I thought you might like to see the covershot and track listing for the forthcoming global mix.....
Have a good week. Until next time!
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