Friday 15 June 2012

Morning

Good Morning.

Hey.

Your amber eyes poking through the sheets.

Those sleepy, gentle drops,

look at me as if

for the first time,

with a sense of wonder.

With every morning, to this very day,

we wake up

and say,

hello.

Like we're meeting for the very

first time.

And before we embark onto our

daily chores,

we share our dreams.

For the first few moments

of our morning

we share the multitudes

of our bizarre minds.

Chuckling, holding,

trusting.

And then you're up and

off into the kitchen,

to make us some tea.




Tuesday 15 May 2012

I'm in Love with a Rock Star

I spin your record round
and round,

kiss my fist

pretend it's your
mouth.

I dance all night
to
your sound,

pretending like

you're always
around.

I'm in love with a rock star baby.

I'm in love with you crazy.

In love with a rock star baby.

Can't help but sway just maybe.

At school I dream of going
back stage,

being your groupie,
being your sage.

After school I don't look
at the
other boys.

They don't wear,

those cool
leather
clothes.

I'm in love with a rock star baby.

I'm in love with you crazy.

In love with a rock star baby.

Can't help but give in maybe.

Your poster's are all over
my walls
with
dead lipstick kisses

from the night
before.

I write my love letters
to you

hoping that one day

you'll write back,
to me too.

In love with a rock star.

It can't be all that far.

Much older now

and playing my own,

hoping one day

you'll hear my song.

Monday 7 May 2012

Stupid in front of the Tube

This is gonna be a rant piece, so if you've had a positive day, then this piece is probably gonna turn things sour. But if you're up for a little steam (and you never know, you might even agree with me) then please, continue. I want nothing more than to entertain you.

Question is, do you own a TV? If you do, even if it's one of those high resolution flat screeny ones, please, do yourself a favor, throw the damn thing out and incinerate it the moment it smashes to the ground. I know, you've spent a lot of your hard earned money on it, you deserve something so pristine and elegant looking. You think you deserve this machine-like-glass because you've worked long hours, sacrificed your social life and so you think you owe it to yourself to come home after 20 hours of work a day, veg on the sofa and watch mindless, vacant entertainment that is created to literally stupefy you.

Well you're wrong.

What you really owe to yourself is to get off your ass and go to a cool cocky hipster rock bar, where live music is being played, where real people, with real soul and real talent, are pouring themselves into something unique and fucking note worthy.

That's what you really deserve to do for yourself. To open your mind and soak up the culture that is decaying in front of your eyes (if you bothered to look up from the television set, you'd see that) and support work/art/creative bliss that's been slaved, bled and vomited over.

Since when is having a 'voice' (as in singing, not voicing an intelligent thought or anything cultured like that) on these soulless talent shows, considered a person to be talented? Oh I can hit a few notes, that means I'm talented... Wow good for you! Guess what, I can also wipe my ass with tissue paper, whilst brushing my teeth and shaving my legs... I guess I must be talented too!

Has our perception of what true talent is completely lost its credibility? And worryingly are people actually that stupid to fall for this lousy entertainment? Or are most people aware of the vacuous experience these shows create, but choose to shrug their shoulders, say meh, I don't care enough just wanna get on with my life and leave the entertainment business do what it does best - brain wash me into thinking this is high-quality-time-worthy music?

That would be worse. Because that means you choose to no longer have a soul.

Our so called televised 'culture' is literally about stupid people watching other stupid people being stupid. Oh joy.

If people spent half as much time out in the real world, supporting real musicians, as they did in front of the tube, I am sure the entertainment industry broadcasting their vapid shows would put in more effort in providing actual talented people (who can do more than 'hit a note'), simply because viewers would develop higher standards.

I could just ignore what goes on around me, not write my opinion on this matter and return to focus on the positives, surround myself with like-minded individuals who inspire me, and get on with my painting or whatever... But today? I wanted to rant, I wanted to write about the demise, the lack of shame, the losers that we suddenly put on a pedestal, write about and 'love' and 'admire' for all their dumbed down way of existence. It's like we don't care about quality. The dumber, the better.

Because really, who wants individual thinking? Who wants to raise the bar, when it's easier to lower it to the point where we're trudging through our own bile juice.

I mean come on, isn't it easier to be surrounded by dummies than someone who questions everything? God forbid, someone might even have an opinion.

Anyway. Rant over. Thanks for reading.


Sunday 6 May 2012

VIRUS LP

Take a wander over to bandcamp and listen the VIRUS LP by The Unkindness of Ravens.





http://theunkindnessofravens.bandcamp.com/album/virus

Friday 4 May 2012

The Spaces In Between VIDEO

Famous Painting

You know you're famous when you've got famous painters painting you!

From the fabulous John Lee Bird!


Monday 30 April 2012

Madam in Berlin

As some of you may have gathered, I moved to Berlin with my partner in crime to become full time artists. Berlin inspired us a year ago when we came over to play some shows and write/record our album (out 7 May by the way). Ever since then, we'd save up money when we were in London so we could head back to Berlin, play shows, write music and hang out with inspiring people. Some months back we felt like taking the plunge and move here full time. So when I found out that Madam were touring Germany and were in town, we seized the opportunity to see them.

I've written a live review on Madam before, but that was with the full band back in London. Tonight, however, the usually five piece band is stripped down to Sukie Smith and John Robertson and even with just the two of them, their sound is rich and compelling. The venue they play in is called Madame Claude, which is situated in Kreuzberg; a rather favorite part of Berlin for artists and musicians alike.

Madame Claude is a basement venue, with black stairs twisting all the way down until you enter a quarry of individual rooms drowned in red lights. The music venue and bar is famously known for their quirky interior design; furniture and odd little settings are glued and screwed upside down to the ceiling giving the illusion of who's actually upright and who's upside down.

Tonight it's Friday and just short before 11pm, someone comes in to announce that the show was about to begin and if everyone could make their way down to the live music room please. Without much hesitation, people begin collecting their beers and head on down to an even lower level of the venue.

The evening begins with Andreas Laudwein and Stead, both who are singers and songwriters and sometimes perform together. I kind of indirectly know Laudwein, mostly through the magic of Facebook after he saw us perform in Berlin, so it was a pleasant surprise to discover he was the supporting act. At first it takes the two gentlemen some time to get their sound right, something to do with the humidity apparently as the guitars keep going out of tune (it is incredibly hot, a rather shock to the system) but with the bantering and a few jokes thrown in, the time taken to set up is easily dismissed and forgiven. Laudwein and Stead put on a rather compelling show, their sound is a mix of slowed down Dylan and Zappa with a kind of classic country rock twist. Laudwein's voice in particular is almost angelic at times, sucking you into his story telling. Stead puts on more of a comic show, creating an almost husband/wife bantering between the two performers (which is rather endearing).

The night rolls on, it's after midnight and after a quick cigarette break, we're back down stairs to catch Madam. As usual, this band pulls me in straight away and emotions come rolling in like thunder and lightning. The sound is so crystal clear tonight, that I let go from reality and dissolve into their world. Sukie's vocals have this ability to be bitter sweet whilst lost in romance, even when she's verging on a whisper. It's rich and beautiful and something along the lines of elegantly wasted all rolled into one. John's guitar playing is sensitive and weaves in and out and around Sukie's vocals, creating this effortless sonic stream of nostalgia. To me, Madam is the real underground Lana Del Rey, but way cooler and far less contrived. To me, Madam's the real Nancy Sinatra gone rogue. And even with the band stripped down to the essentials,  their sound still manages to create an atmosphere as if the entire band were in the same room.

After sharing our stories from the streets and much needed celebratory drinks with Madam after their show, my evening ends at five in the morning.

How I love Berlin for it's never ending night life.

Perfect for a night owl like me.


Saturday 21 April 2012

Lost in the City

San Diego, Paris and then Berlin...

I wake up to the sound of sirens, even just the rolling of my eyes causes a searing pain through my skull. Apart from the disappearing red and blue lights seeping in through some cracked spaces, everything's pitch black. I twist my hands, curl my fingers, yup, they seem ok. I lift my arms, nothing seems broken. How about my feet? They feel like ice. I try wiggling the toes, at least I think I am, whatever I am doing, there doesn't seem to be any other pain but what's going through my head. A slight panic, maybe I was bleeding from my head? I start to touch my face, no real aches, just my lip feels swollen to the size of a fat cherry, otherwise nothing. Slowly I comb through my hair, gradually getting closer to my scalp. Something sticky on the side of my temple. I follow the sticky goo down to my right ear, possibly my ear is bleeding and just behind it, I feel a gash, it is tender but oddly numb at the same time. Confidence grows and I start checking the rest of my body, clothes were all there, but one of my left ribs felt bruised, maybe when I fell to the ground I landed on it, hopefully just a bruising and nothing cracked.

I start to sit up, my skull instantly screaming. I ignore it. A sudden surge of adrenaline. I grab hold of my feet to give them a rub, gradually building up warm blood. I crawl over to the cracks where I saw the siren lights come through. I peel back newspaper from partly broken glass. Everything's dark on the streets apart from a couple of lamp posts, which quiver with orange lighting. I keep tearing away at the paper, looking behind me to see if I could get a better grasp what kind of space I was in. Eyes adjusting, I make out what seems like a mattress in the far corner and next to it, a door perhaps?

Before I was going anywhere I needed to find my shoes. The temperature was below average and the more I was adjusting, the sooner I realized that I was on the verge of hypothermia. Partly feeling my way and adjusting my eyes, the room seems to be really small by about three meters by two. I head over to the mattress. A pair of trainers, a sweater, sweat pants, pair of wool socks, scarf and some kind of hunter hat lay perfectly folded, as if on display on the mattress. I immediately pull the socks over my feet, grab the sweat pants and slide them over my jeans. The sweater also, which feels unbearably itchy but choose to ignore it. Pulling on the rest, I suddenly feel a sense of cosiness overcome me, and for a moment all I want to do is curl up on the mattress and fall asleep.

However ignoring the sudden urge to pretend that what's surrounding me is far from normal, I feel my way for the door knob and give it a slow turn. Slowly pulling the door open, an almost strobe like flicker from a few overhead hall lamps light up the hall way, an intense fume of burnt rubber crushes my sense of smell and I hold the collar of the sweater over my nose. Other than that there seems to be no noise, nothing but the electric flicker from the dying bulbs over head.

I take my first step onto the wooden panels, avoiding a creak. Which direction? Left or right? Both ends were dark. I try to sniff out the direction the fumes were coming from, maybe best to avoid them. They seem stronger to my left. I step out and turn right. With just a few steps into a direction that could hopefully get me out of here, a sudden squeal, like finger nails scraping down a chalk board but with the volume turned up, comes towards me and the next thing I know, a blow, pushing me flat on my back. The squeal is gone the second it comes and without thinking I get up and run.



Wednesday 11 April 2012

Mothers Flesh

Come to me
my little darling
lady of the
sea.

You cherish nothing
more
than
the little birds
calling to you
from behind
the screen.

My little lady
a cast in shells
squeezed
and kissed from
inside.

You bare all
that
I
smother.

No kiss
no bliss
no little
crisp,

the sensation lies
within its spell
and nothing but
the smear
of aching
bells.

Come and sit,
taste my bitter-
sweet
and fall amongst
our ashes
as
we sink
and eat
our mothers
flesh.

Thursday 5 April 2012

Promise

Promise me your heart

I miss the days

of your sweet dreams

Monday 2 April 2012

Spaces in between

The spaces in between are made of light
of your sweet dreams.
Promise me your heart
I miss the days or
so it seems.

You are everything
yea
yea
yea
it doesn't mean...

You are everything
yea
yea
yea
it doesn't mean...

(Below still from next music video - The Spaces in Between - single)

Thursday 29 March 2012

Bondage Tape

Doing a new music video.

This time with bondage tape.

Very tight indeed.

Get excited.

I'm excited.

Still pics from video coming soon!

Saturday 17 March 2012

Bubble

Love's meant 


to forever


stay in a bubble. 


Don't burst it.


Reality's 


only


gonna kill


it.



Friday 17 February 2012

Bruise

You're my teenage bruise,

love and

muse.

My teenage bruise,

within

my woes,

a honeysuckle

dripping with

summer

dew.

My bruise

of delight

purple,

black

brown

with white.

Something stained

to never forget,

my teenage bruise,

a love I am,

and yet...

Monday 6 February 2012

Take Me for a Ride

Take me for a ride baby,

in that pretty pink Corvette

baby.


Roll down the sun roof honey

and let my hair fly in the wind.


Take me for a ride baby

in that pretty pink machine

you so love.


Press down on the gas

honey,


and let us fly into

the desert

my love,

and forever

disappear...



Forever.



Disappear.

Wednesday 1 February 2012

In and out of Love

I'm going to say it straight.

I know nothing. I really don't. I only know what's worked for me and what hasn't.

In my young life, eager to learn, I have come to understand that we can choose our thoughts. We can choose our feelings. We can choose how to live.

Like attracts like. So understand now, that what you attract, is what you want.

I feel blessed today and for days to come.

Is it in the stars?

Maybe.

Or am I in control of the stars?

Maybe

Or

maybe it's because I have worked hard for the things I want?

Or

maybe it's because I have opened my heart and allowed myself to be happy, to embrace love of all kinds and to

give love in return?

When I love, I forgive.

I love.

I love you.

I love.

Life can be as complicated or as easy as you want it to be. You are in the driver's seat, you make the choice.

In words, on paper, it's always easier said, than done.

Maybe.

And for some it can be a longer, tougher road to overcome their troubles, because roots grow deep.

Maybe.

But it's all perception.

However you want to see it.

Always remember though,

you are breathing,

so everything's ok.

THIS

right now,

is

a lot better than if you weren't breathing.

I am fine.

I choose to be.

And I choose to be fine in the days to come.

I choose.

I have choice.

I make my decision.

Make yours.

I love.

You love.

We love.

Together.

Tuesday 31 January 2012

Washed up on shore

Washed up on shore


leaving behind the melting prints

of those hearts who yearned

it more.


Washed up on shore


disappear within the oozing

sores

found by those

who longed before.


Washed up on shore


drenched in lovers

kisses

fighting for life

with angry hisses.


Washed up and

thrown away,

and I pray

you'll be back again.



Some



day.

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Rope

Once again
I hang from
your endless
rope,

dipping further into
your bucket
of lust,

drowning

drowning

drowning.

Once again my feet
are knotted,
hobbled and twisted
above your pink
head.

And hung I am,
from your endless
rope,

drowning

drowning

drowning.

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Glue

Stuck on you

glue.


Can't get through

glue.



Always with you

glue.



I      love      you

glue.


Monday 2 January 2012

HAPPY 2012

THE YEAR THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.