I’ve finally updated the studio. I’ve doubled the amount of acoustic treatment in the room and turned everything around to facilitate a better working space.

I took the guitars off the wall too. They looked lovely up there but it’s about time things stopped looking like I have a studio and actually have a studio.

I’ve been watching a lot of videos from Pomplamoose and Jack Conte and his wonderful group of friends. They really seem to have the “Internet Musician” thing down well.

It seems I have an even longer road in front of me than I thought! Better than signing to a label though.

People often ask me what kind of music I make and it’s affected what I do creatively. I sometimes only write songs that I could play in a cafe or more dangerously, I throw away songs that I could not play live as a solo act. When I do play live, I seem to have all manner of percussion at my feet and attached to my hands and finding all kinds of play them along with the guitar and sing at the same time. It’s not easy.

It’s only natural for people to want to know what kind of music I play so that they can picture (or hear) it in their heads and make an assessment. I’m still not sure how I’ll define the songs to come but I’ll start with this

Today marks the day I became a videosong maker. By which I mean that I’ll be recording something today (and for the next few days) and edit it into a videosong.

VideoSong

A new artistic visual and auditory medium with 2 rules:
1. What you see is what you hear (no lip-syncing for instruments or voice).
2. If you hear it, at some point you see it (no hidden sounds).

Bring on the fun!

Hi, hit play on the right over there and listen to the music while you read (check you out multi-tasking!)

You can download mp3s from iTunes, Amazon and bandcamp. (Full quality FLACs also available at bandcamp.

Those of you that want to own a Physical CD can contact me or buy one from bandcamp

I’ve been working on a lot of things recently and the new EP will be out soon followed by a tour to promote it.

All those things sound very rock n roll but the truth is, I spent today mainly cleaning my garden and eating cake whilst watching “Doctor Who”. I like cake, I like “Doctor Who” and I like having a clean garden.

I also like having new songs and there are SO many coming soon. I’ve been reading a lot about music marketing and how to promote stuff on the internet. In my readings, I’ve discovered a whole lot of new artists, Jonathan Coulton and David Philips to name but two. I looked at their simple websites and thought hmm, mine looks a bit snazzy compared to theirs. I then noticed that their discography and their gig lists are a lot longer than mine. I was asking myself what these other artists have that I don’t and it turns out that the answer is songs!

I have  a large collection of “unfinished symphonies” that only require a small amount of work to become fully fledged songs. My pledge is to have that digital and physical pile of notes and words organised and on the way to full song-ness by the end of the week!

I’m considering licensing all my music using the “Creative Commons” method. This would mean giving away my music for free and encouraging sharing. It was and is backed by Jonathan Coulton and more info can be found here. I don’t know a lot about it myself yet but when I do, I’ll be sure to be blogging more about it.

Maybe this is the right move for me, maybe it’s not. I might be looking at this post in a few months time and wonder what I was thinking. All I can do is quote from JoCo -

I give away music because I want to make music, and I can’t make music unless I make money, and I won’t make any money unless I get heard, and I won’t get heard unless I give away music. – Jonathan Coulton

I’ve been giving my music away on bandcamp for a while now, letting you choose to either pay what you want or download for free. This move forward into creative commons is a scary one for me but it excites me so it can only be good.

So expect to see a) some changes around here, b) some free music available to you and c). the opportunity to pay for it if you wish

Over the next few weeks, it will be made available on other platforms (namely Amazon and Spotify) and let’s hope the word is spread.

To see my iTunes store, just click the picture below.

Itunes Link

I hate asking people for money for what I do. Something inside me thinks it’s wrong. Like begging. As a street performer and musician who often only gets paid by passing the hat around at gigs and barely breaking even to get home I rely mainly on others making the choice. This is something I need to get over and realise that if I want to do what I do, then I need to ask.

I’m not as easily influenced as I may sometimes make out but occasionally  I hear or see something that just makes me stop and re-evaluate what I’m doing. I’ve just watched quite an amazing TED talk that has changed a few things for me. The power of asking for something. I’ll get to that in a moment….

I’ve always said that if you don’t ask, you don’t get and I am always amazed when people put money in my guitar case. Some people like to talk to me (even though we often don’t share the same language) and some people scurry away. My favourite moment is when I make eye con tact with someone and nothing is said but everything is understood. There are times when this touches me so deeply that my knees go weak and I find it difficult to continue singing and playing.

This very experience is why I do what I do. I can’t hold down a regular job as it just doesn’t make me feel the way it does when I sing with everything I have and a stranger looks into my eyes and understands me. The very idea of “celebrity” makes me sick. This has never been something i’ve searched for. All I want is to play music and connect with a few people. As you’re reading this, I guess that we share a connection. If you feel the desire. Send me a message and confirm that connection. It means more to me than buying an album or viewing a video (although you can do that too, please).

I’ve had some amazing people help me recently and I cannot thank them (possibly you) enough. I want to remind you that we are at the beginning of something big. I will succeed, not because I believe I deserve success  but because I’m working towards it, every day and meeting wonderful people along the way.

Here’s the Ted talk by the inspirational Amanda Palmer. May I suggest you don’t want half of that “reality” Show tonight and watch this 13 minute life changer.

The Red Lorry is being re-released and will be available on iTunes and most other digital download sites on the 15th of March.

Some outlets are listed below…

The Ep will be available in these shops and more!

This is a double bonus for me as not only will it mean that you can finally buy the EP in the shop of your choice but it also means that people can find me and my music without any trouble!

You can now pre-order on iTunes by clicking the link below

iTunes Link

Thanks for reading and as always… Support Independent Artists!

I’m VERY pleasantly surprised at my youtube hits recently, I’ve decided that I’ll be posting a lot more in the future and as a way of thanks, here’s a free download:)

[freebiesub download="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/96008080/I%20Saw%20Her%20Standing%20There%20-%20Andrew%20Ferris%20Acoustic%20Version.mp3?dl=1"]

The interview can be heard on my soundcloud by clicking HERE

I met the hosts, Michi and Mary in a cafe just opposite the station and we spent about 10 minutes discussing the content of the show and how the hour would be laid out. At this point I was SO excited. I felt like a “real” musician. It’s a fun and games to sit in a room and write and record songs but being out playing them and promoting is where I really get the fire in my belly.

After a very quick cup of tea, we made our way to the studio and I was told that we had about 3 minutes to get in after the previous show and set up our stuff. My excitement grew even more when I found that I had my own room to sit in, opposite the hosts and with a pane of glass between us

I have my own room!

So as I mentioned above, the interview is above or HERE

I had a fantastic amount of fun as I got to sit in a room and talk about things that I love most – music! I wasn’t aware that I’d be giving so much detail however (hear for yourself) and I ended finding out a lot more about myself than I thought I would. I say umm, kinda and sort of too much for example!

Anyway,  I premiered the new song – “Moving on” and despite not having the ability to mic up the foot stomps, it was pretty well received. A big thanks to everyone for your kind comments!

My view from my room

I couldn’t get a photo of Mary as she was running around organising stuff but above is Michi in the control room.

To sum up, I had a great time promoting some stuff and I learned a lot from my first “real” time on the radio.

This song is about why I chose to be a musician. It certainly wasn’t the most profitable or glamorous choice (yet) and many of my teenage dreams have been dashed by reality but the truth is, I love what I do and wouldn’t go back and change picking up a guitar with curiosity.

I could have been the scientist that made the great discovery

I could have been a banker spending everybody’s money

I could have a been a doctor and healed all the sick

I could have been a politician winning votes with false promises

But I chose something different, and I say with certainty

That I’ve been doing it for so long it’s inseparable from me. Oh  

I could have been a fighter that began the revolution

I could have been in business making profit from pollution

I could have been a hero keeping all the people safe

I could have been a baddie set to destroy the human race

But I’m more sure than ever that I did the right thing. It’s why I wrote these words and with honesty I’ll sing

I am not afraid to say that I, I don’t know what I’m doing with my life

I took the road less travelled, made mistakes dressed up as fun

But I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one

I could have been a leader advocating peace and order

I could have been a taxman making everybody poorer

I could have been a genius building radical inventions

I could have been a liar, gaining trust with bad intentions

A few will ridicule this look at me just see waste. They’ll tell tales behind my back while I say this to their face

I am not afraid to say that I, don’t know what I’m doing with my life,

I took the road less travelled, made mistakes dressed up as fun.

And all the time I did this I  can’t say I ever won.

I am not at all proud of the things I’ve done. But I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one.

I am not afraid to say that, I don’t know what I’m doing with my life,

I took the road less travelled, made mistakes dressed up as fun.

But I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one

Yeah I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one

Yeah I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one

My world seems so different and relaxed when I hurtling along and the trees outside my window are a blur.
Buses are ok but trains… That’s where it’s at.

If you haven’t guessed already, I’m writing this on a train. I’m on the way to Vienna to be interviewed on a Viennese radio station. For some of you reading this, that may not seem all that impressive but for an English boy from a little village in the Forest of Dean, this is huge.

This is the first time I’ve been this excited about playing music for a while.
It’s got nothing to do with pressing my nose against the window of the train and watching the world whizz past
(ok, maybe a little).
It’s more than visiting one of my favourite cities in the world.
It’s the feeling that someone big is about to happen.

I’ve always said that as long as I was moving forward,  the speed at which I’m moving or the success rate was less important. Going slowly on the right path is far more rewarding than speeding along on the wrong one (its a metaphor, I’m not talking about trains any more). This has been my mantra for quite a few years. Sadly, it’s now becoming the time where I need to reach a certain level of success in order to continue doing what I do.

Winter brings COLD busking weather. Brrr…

I’m not talking achieving super stardom fame. I’m talking about earning enough money to do this full time and be able to live a life where I don’t have to buy the cheapest jeans all the time and  wear my shoes until all the soles have gone and I’m walking around barefoot like a guitar playing hobbit.

Saying that, I am living the dream that I’ve wondered about since I first heard Kurt Cobain scream and thrash his guitar. I’m writing songs and people are asking to hear them. I’m traveling and meeting more friends and people who enjoy music as I do. Ok, the original dream was for my band to get a record deal and tour the world being adored by all. I’ve modified it slightly to fit my current wishes. No less a dream, just more independent and harder work.

…Record companies are dead…

For those of you who love music but are not so clued up on the ins and outs of the music business, record companies are dead. Piracy may have contributed a little and we are living in an age where 18 year olds have never not been able to obtain free music (yes, it’s been that long)

There are a lot a scaremongers who are claiming that it’s piracy alone that “killed” music and the day that Napster was born (June, 1999) was the day that the music business died. This simply isn’t true. It certainly rocked the cradle and changed things forever but the music business is still alive and kicking, it’s just not controlled by the major corporations. Through the power of the internet, power has been taken from the big companies and handed over to the musicians savvy enough to also be good businessmen. I was not one of these, until recently.

It’s almost too easy….

For many years I still held on to the dream that Mr Big from the Big record company will see me play or even fly his helicopter to my house, knock on my door and mutter those words that every performer wants to hear “You are going to be a star!”. I’d then be whisked away in a limo and crowned king of the world…..

Yes, I got that desperate. I’ve done drastic things with my life and most in the aim of playing music. I’ve lost friends, ruined relationships and dashed hopes of a proper career. The friends and family I have retained or gained are the most patient and wonderful people in the world. The chances are that if you’re reading this. You are one of those people. Thank you.

I know this post is detailing my journey and experience of the trip to Vienna and you may be wondering why I’ve gone off track. I haven’t…. I promise.

The above ramblings are the thoughts that are occupying my head. I have just spent my monthly travel budget on one journey, I am not being paid for the interview and I am gambling on gaining some new fans (I hate that word but “music appreciators” sounds so contrived) who will one day send some money my way in exchange for my music.

I go back to my earlier point. I am moving forward. Yes, It’s flipping (sorry mum) expensive and possibly fruitless but this faith that has got me this far is manifested in actions like this.

“You’ve got to get out there and do it. Even if you mess it up, it’s better than sitting around”

It’s all good and well writing songs and recording them and posting them on the internet but as a friend once told me. “You’ve got to get out there and do it. Even if you mess it up, it’s better than sitting around”.

So here I am, on a train, keeping the faith and having fun along the way.

On the way to be interviewed in Vienna (not entering a Craig David lookalike competition)

Thanks for reading and look forward to part 2 – The interview!