Chase Marsdon

Blending the interests of a modern young Londoner; music, food, work and play.

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It’s well into March already? It’s kind of worrying how life speeds up when you reach your 20s. There are so many things I want to do but I don’t know how to put them in order. In the wake of the Recklings finishing, I found I had time for other things which I hadn’t before. I’m passing my exams better (boring), and having more time made me pick up the guitar and play things to myself. I was better than I remembered (but still not great). I even go to more gigs with my boyfriend which I hadn’t done in ages. It’s mainly his idea but I realised that while I was playing gigs I wasn’t going to see many artists that I loved. Me and him are seeing Blur in the summer which I cannot wait for. Holidays are booked, new jobs are starting.  Being with someone new changes everything. It makes even bad days seem superfluous in comparison to how happy you are overall. The start of the year wasn’t so great with work, friends and family. I have lost a few members of my extended family in these last few months, who can never be replaced, but he has helped me through much of the feelings of loss and confusion, probably without realising it. He brings new meaning to things in life that I’ve been doing for years, and changes my perspective.

I keep berating myself for not going out with my friends more. The truth is I hardly have the time for such colossal hangovers what with deadlines becoming shorter at work closer to qualifying. I woke up on Saturday morning to a huge booming sound which made the windows shake, and then realised I was in Forest Hill again. My friends share a house there. I remembered then why I don’t see them too often. I downed a glass of water before leaving, only to witness the skeleton of a burned up double decker bus outside. Forest Hill. 

So what’s next? I don’t know. I’m so content that it’s probably not good for me. I’m looking forward to finishing my studies and to move on. I have a terrible time standing still. But I also want that balance of music, friends and life. I forecast being able to move out properly by the end of the year, but there’s still so much to figure out. 

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Alley Cat

I wanted to thank everyone again for making Saturday such an eventful night! It had been something I knew I would have to do, but when I got there I didn't expect that at all. I had a quiet moment before any of the bands arrived to have a brief conversation with the sound guy at the Alley Cat, talking about music, bands etc. The subject of my newly diminished band naturally came up. I mean, the only reason I was there was to tie up loose ends, see some friends play and attempt to recoup the money I had paid, which I did. Talking to someone else who knows how these things go, it was easy to see that what could be seen as a blow was really just a blip. No one died, we're all still walking on this earth. In fact, even sitting on three dead tracks doesn't bother me in the slightest. They cost less than a months wages. What does it matter?  When the place began to slowly fill up around 8pm I put on the playlist I'd had since Halloween... Another night that never was. I propped myself up at a table with some wine and watched the bands through the glass while working the door. I am constantly amazed at the generosity of my friends, and even people I have never met before. It was a pretty long four hours but after I had earned back the money I had paid for the night I got drunk with my friends, spoke to the bands, and met new people. In all I had a really great time, and got some money to put towards a nice break.  What with the rumble of upcoming job interviews, unwell relatives and a new amazing person in my life, I conclude that the end of one thing is always the start of another. This is another chapter. I also inadvertently side-stepped into a new project. It is unknown whether this will be fruitful or just another way to stay in practice, but it doesn't matter, does it? 

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Square One

Horray, chest infection! I truthfully can't wait for the winter to be over. I've been holed up at home for the entire Christmas season. I haven't been able to rehearse, which feels pretty rotten. I have, however, been watching a great deal of quality films on Netflix (hah), some of which have been about bands. I'll watch anything about music, really; documentaries, films, biopics, music awards, reality TV. I find it all fascinating. In these films there's the usual group of boys who quit school, form a band and forge ahead into the unknown. At least most of these guys seem to have managers knocking on their doors and people coming to see them play. Ahh Hollywood. Oh wait, but it shouldn't really be that hard, should it?

Being in a band is one of the hardest things I have done. It has outlived a lot of my relationships. It has been the only kind of team activity where I felt like I had a place. Generally speaking I like to do things alone, I find that I am better suited to tasks where I'm uninterrupted. Sure, it was easy in the beginning... Write songs, shape them, make them good. The hard part came later when you want to actually do something with what you've made. In terms of structure there's probably three sub categories of your average band on the scene:

The band with one person who has a lot of talent amongst a group of hard workers. The talented member has the ideas and the other members are there to shape these ideas into actual plans. If they have a good direction and also the talented member happens to be a good leader, this is the gold standard of band. The kind of band everyone would want to be in, but couldn't because of the next sub category. The reason that I say the talented member ought also to be the leader of the band, is because his ideas will have had the most influence on the songs, be it lyrics, melody etc, and therefore the meaning of the songs and their message is built around them. 

The band of just hard workers. There is a saying that too many cooks spoil the broth. This is exactly what is going on here. What we have are four or five individuals with opposite ideas, all trying to vocalise at the same time, and what ends up happening is nothing. Of course, democracy comes into play here, you can still have a great band, if the lines are blatantly drawn in the sand. The trouble is once you introduce the M word into this equation you usually have a sudden grapple on your hands for who and what people are entitled to based on who has contributed to what. The point everyone seems to miss is that whatever goes into a band should always come out evenly at the end. 

The band of one hard worker, no talent and slackers. Well... Whatever. 

I was thinking a lot about a fool proof plan to getting your career off the ground. It's never been so easy as now to produce, promote and play music. The three Ps. You can produce music cheaply, it just may take some time. Promotion is at the touch of a button, with things like BBC Introducing, Soundcloud, Youtube, Facebook etc. These will also cost you absolutely nothing. Indeed even gigging only costs the fare you paid to get there plus how many drinks you ideally want to consume. Unless you've been suckered into those pay to play promotion scams (we've all been there, but ideally only the once.)

So where does all this money go? Before Enterprise Studios got demolished we had a pretty cheap rehearsal space, providing we all turned up. To be fair, even though the Recklings are still paying off our recording fees, that still doesn't cut much out of a well budgeted salary. 

I think what's missing in a lot of bands is forward thinking. I'm not talking about jumping into something and hoping it works, I'm talking about having a long term plan, sticking to it, paying for it in advance, and having a leader. The real headache is finding out who you can trust to go the distance before you paint yourself into a corner. Who really knows how something's going to take shape at the beginning? You only really know when it may be coming to an end. 

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Still Slightly Drunk

I spent the remaining hours of 2014 with my closest friends playing card games that quickly turned into drinking games. I won't bore anyone with the results of those, but I think it's safe to say everyone got plastered. I was enjoying the feeling of being totally care free for the night, since things have been difficult these last few weeks. Work is beginning to pile up and I've had to make some hard decisions all on my own, which were necessary but not entirely comfortable. Still, I'm looking forward to this year. Things are going to take shape, and I'm going to qualify as a tech at the end of the year. From there options are endless. I feel empowered and know that nothing can get in my way.

Usually I would make a list of things to do for this upcoming year, but I can't think of much. Everything I want or need I already have. Truthfully the only thing I can think of is to remain true to myself, and to know that when I do something, I do it for the right reasons. It may help to be more healthy too blah blah blah. My hangover is telling me to go back to bed. Hope everyone has a great 2015. Make it count! 

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100 Songs That Made Me Who I Am Today

I've been pretty bored at work. I'm well over halfway through my course now, which got me thinking about where life leads you, and where you were when you weren't aware you were being lead. A lot of the songs here aren't my favourite songs, not by a long shot. Instead they represent pivotal moments in my life, and what I was listening to at the time. Love, rejection, unrelenting happiness, uncertainty etc. Some of them were gateways to more songs along the same genre that until then I had never really given a chance. Some of them were just songs that boyfriends past really loved. Anyway, in no particular order, here they are: 

1) Gasoline- Audioslave 2) I Miss You - Blink-182 3) I Wish I Was Someone Better- Blood Red Shoes 4) The Universal- Blur 5) Digital Bath - Deftones 6) Average- Celebrity 7) Digital Love- Daft Punk 8) Babylon- David Gray 9) Blame- Gravity Kills 10) Franklin- Paramore 11) Break My World- Dark Globe 12) Books From Boxes- Maximo Park 13) Dive For You- Boom Boom Satellites 14) Between Two Words- Devil Sold His Soul 15) We Know In Part- Early Day Miners 16) Blood- Editors 17) Grounds for Divorce- Elbow 18) Share the Sunshine Young Blood- Emarosa 19) Hello - Evanescence 20 Spiralling- Keane 21) Fool on the Hill- The Beatles 22) Just a Day- Feeder 23) White Butterfly- InMe 24) Floods- Fightstar 25) Tomorrow Comes Today- Gorillaz 26) Brothers on a Hotel Bed- Death Cab 27) Californication- Red Hot Chilli Peppers 28) Pieces- Hoobastank 29) Meglomaniac- Incubus 30) Belief- John Mayer 31) Without You I'm Nothing- Placebo 32) Smokestack Lightnin' - Howlin' Wolf 33) Passion - Utada Hikaru 34) Golden Skans- Klaxons 35) In For The Kill- La Roux 36) Losing My Religion-R.E.M 37) Meltdown- Lisa Gerrad & Pieter Bourke 38) Lucky You- Lostprophets 39) Wide Open Space- Mansun 40) Black- Pearl Jam 41) Alumina- Nightmare 42) Blue- A Perfect Circle 43) Love Is A Catastrophe- Pet Shops Boys 44) Just Like a Pill- Pink 45) Sleeping With Ghosts- Placebo 46) Numb- Linkin Park 47) House Of Cards- Radiohead 48) How To Disappear Completely- Radiohead 49) Obokuri Eeumi- Ikue Asazaki 50) Bury Your Head- Saosin 51) Pink Bullets- The Shins 52) Black Hole Sun- Soundgarden 53) Outside- Staind 54) Days- Flow 55) Stronger- Sugarbabes 56) The Real Folk Blues- Seatbelts ft. Mai Yamane 57) Sheepdog- Mando Diao 58) Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now- The Smiths 59) Time- Pink Floyd 60) Dancing in the Moonlight- Toploader 61) Lonely Soul- UNKLE 62) Drought- Vienne Teng 63) The Story- 30 Seconds to Mars 64) Night Lead Me Astray- Younger Brother 65) Forever Love- X-Japan 66) Teenage Dirtbag- Wheatus 67) Love of My Life- Weiss Kreuz 68) Flux- Bloc Party 69) Hold Your Colours- Pendulum 70) Feeling a Moment- Feeder 71) Godless- The Dandy Warhols 72) Hey Joe- Jimi Hendrix 73) Far Away- Jose Gonzalez 74) Lucky You- Lightning Seeds 75) Angel- Massive Attack 76) Electric Feel- MGMT 77) Hyper Music- Muse 78) Line of Fire- Tom McRae 79) The Drugs Don't Work- The Verve 80) Bluebells- Patrick Wolf 81) Torn- Natalie Imbruglia 82) Breath Me- Sia 83) Let Go- Frou Frou 84) Can You Dig It- The Mock Turtles 85) Medieval Waters- Carter Burwell 86 Happiness by the Kilowatt- Alexisonfire 87) Overdose Delusion- Akira Yamaoka 88) Pets- Porno for Pyros 89) Oily Water- Blur 90) Moves Like Jagger- Maroon 5 91) Malaguena Salerosa- Chingon 92) Dirt- Seven Summers 93) About Her- Malcolm Mclaren 94) To The Moon and Back- Savage Garden 95) Long Day- Tyler James 96) Cells- The Servant 97) Milstone- Brand New 98) Cold- Annie Lennox 99) Streetcar- Funeral for a Friend 100) Just Communications- Gundam Wing OST

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What is Talent?

October was a busy month, but we’re well into November now and things are quietening down. We played a short show at the Spice of Life in Soho the weekend before Halloween. TAF were hosting it, so it was a really great opportunity for them to see us live. Ville and Mat are two of the most intimidating people I have met, with an answer to everything. That said, I think we put on a good show. If nothing else, we weren’t like the other bands. We were louder and filled with excited energy. The event gave us a good idea of the other acts that TAF are working with. They were well rehearsed, that is true. We weren't, but we used the stage we were given. 

I often find it quite amusing to look over at my bandmates when they’re watching other bands, all stony faced and trying to mentally dissect what exactly this band is trying to put across with their music. It's only a matter of time before one of them will turn to me and deliver a short review of the band, probably comparing them to some drippy well known indie band. I wonder how they can enjoy anything at all, when they’re constantly picking things apart.

I will be the first to put my hands up and say I don’t know my legato from tomato. The thing is, none of that really stops me and Paul from producing songs that are strong, and catchy and well structured. I don’t necessarily believe that having a background in music will hold you in better stead of writing songs than anybody else. There are courses you can go on for song-writing. Why? Do you need someone else to show you how to pick up a pen and write things down? You have people running around, writing awful music, hiding behind a B-tech in song-writing, infiltrating the charts. Does that make them qualified to do so? I’m not sure. I don’t think a lot of the greats from history would agree either. So when I smile and agree with my qualified band mates, I’m not necessarily agreeing with them at all. For one, they aren't the ones writing the music. Secondly, they don't even want to.

Growing up, I learned the piano for years, but I could never sight read. When I went to do my grades, my piano teacher told me to just keep my head level with the music and not look at my hands. By doing this I passed. If I hadn't I probably wouldn't have. In my secondary school, my music lessons were just vacant spaces between more important and demanding lessons like Science, Maths and English. There was no funding shoved in that direction, at all. In music I didn’t touch an instrument any more technical than a hollowed out coconut. Why, from there, would I choose to study music? It was only in my late teens that I went through my own channels to learn to sing and play the drums, and even now I'm not sure why. I still play the piano too. I am not qualified to do anything really, but I do it anyway.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is this: Does studying music make you a better a musician, or simply a better critique of music? I can still tell a good tune from a bad one. I can tell when we're out of time, or when the balance isn't right. I write the majority of the lyrics that we use in the Recklings, and I have a lot to say about structure and deliverance. I work hard, and I think that between me and Paul that's what made the band it is today. Without the two of us there would be no band. 

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Am I Working Hard Enough Yet?

It's been an awful few weeks and, though I'm not a dog, I believe I have earned this reward of greasy chinese food. I have suffered a few blows, and not had much keeping me steady on my feet. In a fit of impulsive energy I decided to take it upon myself to begin a few projects to help move the band forward. 

 The first was to begin enquiring around a few venues in London, trying to find a suitable venue for a club night every month for our band and a handful of others. From the pubs and other bonafide gig venues that I contacted, I found nothing that could be called ideal. If booking fees and locations were ideal, there were always added hurdles such as bringing all of our own equipment or racking up £300+ behind the bar. One venue was almost perfect. It was commutable, well known, it was free to book and would provide a sound technician for a small fee. The problem was, they were asking for a guarantee of 80+ people turning up. I balked and then replied to their email with the most truthful reply that any band could give. I told them that I sympathised with their desire to keep a venue busy, but that it's a total double-edged sword for bands who want to try and build up a following when they can never play at a venue more than once without continuously bringing an entourage. I mean, how can you ever realise something's potential without it ever getting off the ground? Anyway, I got no reply, I suspect probably because I mentioned about the swords, so I gave up and crossed them off the list. Now that I look back, that's probably the reason we've never played at a venue twice. Because we never make up the numbers and therefore are never rebooked and never paid, either. Can't venues see that it is beneficial to them to benefit the bands that they are putting on. Growth and development is slow, and takes time, and a place to call HQ! Venues: Help us to help you!

My second task was trying to find a new drummer. For a while now we have known that Dan was leaving to pursue other things. The quest to find a replacement drummer has been so draining for all involved. I went through the usual channels of posting on various artist-seeking-artist websites. The kinds of replies I got ranged from the ages 15-50, and not one of them I considered to be either able or willing to actually be in a band. Some of them spelled so appallingly in their responses that I didn't justify them with a follow-up. Some were downright lunatics. The best one was a response from a 40 something fellow whose biggest influence was Elton John. I told him we're probably not the band for him. We did get one into the rehearsal room once and, though he was totally able and it seemed to go well, he never followed up. It was fruitless. I have mentioned before that I'm currently learning the drums. My teacher recommended that I visit Drum Tech, a musical mecca for music students in London. I took the train to Fulham Broadway in my lunch break, armed with fliers. I fell at the first hurdle when I got to the admin desk and the secretary informed me that there was nowhere, not even a notice board, where I could pin my poster. What?! I couldn't believe it. I was told that they don't accept fliers from bands because it is at the students discretion to seek out bands themselves. Well, what on earth? How can that be possible if they don't know where to look? A whole goldmine completely untouchable. Time and oyster credit wasted. 

Finally, we have been preparing a halloween gig which we set up in Project Orange. Booking rock gigs on Halloween is equivalent to trying to get a hold of a turkey on Christmas day, it can be done, but you will pay. We settled on Orange because it's a fairly popular place among the alternative scene, and not difficult to fill. However, we had to bring EVERYTHING. PA hire, amps, leads, drums, the lot. Even after assembling all of this, we have to get it to the venue. I have volunteered to drive to Clapham Junction to bring most of the gear, but I have doubt about pulling this thing off all on my own. I have been heavily hinting to my friends to come to this, but they probably won't and so all of this schlepping will be for very little. 

I'm feeling tired just relaying all of this back... It seems like everywhere you look, there are barriers keeping you in, and the world out. The contributing factor to bands being complacent is that the same industry that's always spurring them on is the same that tugs on the leash. It's all money, time, people, popularity. All of which cannot always mix well. I want to know, is all this hard work for nothing? 

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A Week In the Studio

I'm a little late in recording this event, but that's because I've been so tired since finishing the whole project. The guys and I were recording our three singles last week. I was off to a shaky start since I had offered (in a fit of stupidity) to drive most of the drum gear up to TAF in order to make life easier. Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm not the most confident of drivers... In fact, I'm not even convinced I know how to drive, I reckon I just have a lot of luck on my side and everyone else on the road is smarter than I. Fortunately for me and everyone else in the Lewisham and New Cross area, Dan was directing me. We got there in one piece and I parked up. I enjoy taking up my fair share of responsibility in the band and helping with the gear, as my instrument is with me always.

When we got inside my tension rose a little and apprehension began to set in. The studio was at the back of the building, and the vocal booth faced the control panel. The place was littered with acoustic guitars, cables and many panels and instruments with knobs and dials and buttons that I would never understand. We had our work cut out for us, I thought. It wasn't that I was disputing the ability of myself or anyone else in the band. On that plane I felt completely at ease. I knew that with what we have, and what else we will learn in the future, we can deliver. Instead I was wondering what the atmosphere would be like for the next five days, as I have never been with the guys in such an environment before. 

It was when all the gear was set up that Mat handed me a mic and told us to run through the songs, I knew I had come such a long way. A year ago if someone had handed me a mic and demanded a rendition of something, I probably would have clammed up and made an excuse such as having a sore throat or not being ready. So it was at that moment that I felt more confident than ever that we were, all of us, exactly where we were meant to be at that moment. That we were ready, and so I sang our songs. And after we had the guide tracks laid out, I relaxed, sat down and just watched the process. We got the drums done the first day, and I drove home feeling that the following day would be full of promise and creativity. 

I got there everyday around 10am. I don't like to be late for things, as I don't like to feel rushed. Mat was a real pleasure to work with, and I liked that he challenged the guys and myself to try things we had never considered. He had a level of knowledge and wit that surpassed my own by light years, but never made this overly apparent unnecessarily. In fact we talked a little about the drums, which is my latest passion, and he gave me some really useful tips. Ville would occasionally drop by too, to check on progress. The two are brothers, and so it made me think a lot of my own sibling, and draw my own comparisons about who, if situations were reversed, would be who. I envied their lifestyle immensely, because they have been able to set up their own business, and work with whom and what they choose. Not many people have that luxury. And of course I'm not disputing that it's hard work, but it's insanely cool, and that is it's own currency. 

In all the whole week went off without a hitch. It's made so much easier when you trust and know the limitations of your band mates. If you've ever been in a recording session, you'll know it's a lot of work for one person at a time, and the rest are just hanging around waiting for their turn. So you have to be patient and understanding. When I was in possession of the final mixes, I played them to a handful of people in my close circle. The feedback was really positive and I was proud of myself and the guys. I'm really keen to find out what happens next in this chapter. 

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A little nod to the father band.

I've been really busy recently. I went on holiday with some friends, and the band and I have been playing a lot of gigs. Work is going very well too. Nothing like a little romance gone wrong to put things on an even scale once more. Still, that's the beauty of experiences... If you don't have them, you've got nothing to write about.

I recorded a great deal of the highlights of Reading Festival on my sky box. I was watching Paramore and they had a power shortage towards the end of their show. Did they go off? No, they sat down at the edge of the stage and played The Only Exception. It occurred to me that anything can go wrong for anybody, even Hayley Williams. As a band we've had our fair portion of things gone to hell. I remember a gig at the Good Ship where somehow the strap to Steve's bass managed to unhook itself at both ends, and Paul kept knocking his microphone down, nearly taking me out when I tried to pick it up. Strings have been snapped, high notes have been haphazard. It's how you deal with these things that counts. If you have a paddy, cry and/ or call it a day then you're not what music wants.

Coming back to this relationship business, walking away knowing you did the right thing for you is what you'll remember when your chest stops feeling tight and your stupid mind keeps you up all night. I write a lot of songs during difficult periods of my life. Sometimes I write them wishing that the way I handled myself in the song is how I handle myself in real life. Of course, you're not at the ready with your notebook and pen when you've just ended a relationship with someone. Still, I find it comforting to listen back to something we have written, and remind myself that I've been there before, I'll probably be there again, and I made it through.

That is what music means to me.

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10 Band Bad Habits

When I talk about the band to people I have just met, I often get asked how I get along with my band mates. Are we always on the same page? What would I change? It's sometimes hard for me to focus on the positive, because there are just so many things that can, and do make me frustrated. In my experience I find musicians pretty hard to deal with. They can be lazy, disorganised and pretty terrible with money. But I think that's what makes an individual get into music or the arts in the first place... They simply can't do anything else! They can't hold down a full time job because they can't follow instructions. I even find that people who play music are often naive, and have delusions of becoming well-established on very little more than hot air. So here is just a handful of things that I have experienced during my time playing music:

1. Any small amount of money changing hands is far too complicated. So we've set a date to record and mix a couple of tracks weeks in advance. The day rolls round and sometimes not only one person but two people have not brought the right amount. Or, even better, someone offers to pay the money in full through transfer and that person is chasing the others up weeks later trying to get that last fiver or fifteen pounds, all the while the resentment grows larger. Guys! Pay your amount, and pay it on time! 

2. The Pint Dance. You've just finished practice and you head to your local for a quick one to finish off a good session. Who's round is it? You know you bought one last time, but no ones forthcoming with buying you one so do you mention you bought a round last, or do you just buy a beer for yourself and pretend you don't remember that every single person in this group owes you at least on drink? Or, do you pretend to have no money and ask someone to cover you?

3. Setting up gigs at the beginning of the week? Guess what? No one's going to be eagerly awaiting your arrival at The Swan on a Monday evening, no matter how good you think you are. However, someone's gone ahead and booked it anyway and it's too late to cancel, so you finish work and hop on a train to the far end of London for sound check which should be at 6 but is delayed til 7 because the band on before you are late. This pushes your 9pm slot to 9:30. After sound check you've got nearly 2 and a half hours to waste. You have eaten very little and can't afford the £10 burger that you really shouldn't eat anyway because you're trying to keep your weight down. You play your 20 minute set to no one, even the other bands can't be arsed to watch you. You miss your train home and wait 30 minutes on London bridge platform for the next one at 11:45 all the while knowing you have work again at 8:30am the next day. Seriously? Fuck that.

4. People playing over you when you're trying to communicate. The song is over, I'm talking now. Shut up before I take your tools away and toss them out the nearest window. And you owe me a pint too. 

5. Key change. The singer is complaining because he or she is not happy with the key. The guitarist isn't happy because he will have to relearn it all on another part of the fret which is more difficult. Oh ok, so shall we just play it in the wrong key and wonder why it doesn't sound nearly as bright and as clear as it should do, just to make your life easier? It'll sound awful but at least one person's happy. And then, after months of insistence and badgering it's finally changed, which took all of an hour, and all anyone has to say is 'Oh, that sounds much better!' /facepalm. 

6. Being late/ not turning up. We paid money to be in practice at a certain time, therefore any person not turning up on time is wasting that money. It's ok though, we'll cover your portion of cash if you've forgotten practice was today, we don't mind. 

7. Booking practice at stupid times. As above, booking a practice at 10am on a Saturday is just asking for trouble. You've been at work all week, you have your weekend to-do list and that didn't involve getting up at 7am to be at practice for 10, whilst trying to navigate the limited underground and overground train services on weekends. Never mind the fact that at 10am the only sound the singer is going to be making is the sound of a goose being stepped on. 

8. Not being honest. Your band mates deserve your honesty and loyalty. They are putting in as much time, effort and money as you, making everyone's ambition the same. If you can't be upfront about things then you're really not the kind of person I want to trust myself with. I'm not saying you need to tell us your life story, but when it comes down to age, skill level, money and time then you better be straight with me. There is literally nothing worse that someone lying to your face every time you see them. Eventually it will all unravel and you will be found out and thrown away. 

9. Playing too loud. Everyone needs to be heard. If you can't hear yourself then you will not be able to do your best. Tell that idiot to turn down and don't be surprised if things start to improve. 

10. The singer turning up drunk or hungover. You sound terrible, you can't even stand up and you're out of time. If you know you've got practice the next day then stick to lemonade. It's part of a band to sound awesome and to overindulge later. Carelessness isn't not the same as being carefree. 

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So, so proud of our new recordings. You can find the rest on soundcloud.com/recklings.

I have had a really busy week fitting my usual working pattern around a random opportunity to do catering work at several events around Holborn and Kings Cross. A friend from my past life at Waitrose has converted an old fashioned fire engine into a street food vendor. In exchange for him taking band snaps for us, me and Dan filled a gap in his workforce over Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It was really great fun, and it felt so good to be outdoors while the summer sun was out. I've never eaten so many tacos in my life. In fact, I've felt so good this week that it's almost completely counterbalanced what an awful 8 weeks I've had at my real job. Yesterday ended with a few bottles of wine at Locale, my work's nearest bar/ restaurant. I'm not feeling as terrible as I thought I would today. We have a band meeting later on to discuss our future!

We heard from TAF last week, which was extremely exciting. We've all gone away and thought about the situation carefully, according to the plan we have received in relation to building our band profile, and eventually our touring career. It's a one year plan, which conveniently synchronises with the last year of my training. The same time I'll be qualifying it will be obvious whether my career is going to be a Pharmacy Technician or a singer. There are only two problems... The practical aspect, which is of course the money, and what my singing teacher pointed out to me. How do we protect our songs. It's not gonna be an easy thing to point out to the guys that without money we are gonna fall at the first hurdle. I think there are some mixed ideas and reservations about how we are going to afford recordings. But come on! This is exciting, right?   

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Aftermath of the Big Meeting

Two exams in one day today, sandwiched between a label meeting yesterday, and a gig in Shoreditch tomorrow. I have a thumping headache, but I will type through the pain. 

So we finally found our way to the label. It turns out it's not a very easy place to find... But we got there in the end! It was exactly how I imagined... There were drum pieces everywhere, tall ceilings, iPads and rooms where exciting things were hidden within. As we waited I closed my eyes and took many deep breaths, like my singing teacher tells me to do before a show. I opened them and a very tall, very well presented man dragged a chair towards us and sat down. His name was Ville and we went round introducing ourselves. I felt very self conscious when I explained what I do for a career. My job is very difficult to describe to somebody who doesn't work in a hospital. It is, however, a job that you can make sound very cool if you want to, haha! 'So' he said 'What do you want from me?' 

The band and I had had a very small meeting via Facebook chat regarding this the night before:

Liz : Ok so... So far we have attempted a combination of ways to get our stuff out there and heard. If our main objective is to tour, we ought to be playing more gigs. That said, until we have some constructive criticism about our songs, we are not gonna be able to improve, and until we get people that like our music, people won't come to gigs and the cycle continues. We aren't afraid to work hard, but we are afraid that we don't have the money to achieve our goals.  Paul: With time it comes back to money again. I think we would practice 2 times a week if we could afford to have a permanent room with all our gear in in SE London that would take us all no time to commute to. 

Liz: Aye, always being in the same room with the same damn equipment would be a bonus...

Paul: We need a solid goals list and some feedback.

Steve: I am excited and ok with the idea of working with these people. I just need to speak with them and make sure i trust / like the kinda of people they are.

Paul: Agreed.

Liz: Yeah, definitely...Number one rule, we all have to be happy with it. Or it simply will not work.

Being in a band is like being on Dragon's Den. I'm not joking. You have an idea, a song, and it's your job as a musician to make that song as appealing to as many people as possible.

Side note: There are those whose ambition does not stretch much further than playing the Dog and Duck at the weekend. That's fine, and that's not because they are a bad band, musician, singer, whatever. So we'll leave them to the sideline for the time being...

Anyway... Your song, the product, is presented before an audience, who are at liberty to criticise it any way they please. You can gig your whole life and never reach out to people. You may just be writing bad songs. This is the sad truth, but if you believe in what you are saying, then it must reach someone else on a personal level, right? So you work really hard, record your tunes, become tight live, then you write more songs. You're still not reaching fans. Why? This is where we find ourselves now. We have no productive feedback, we have no direction, no idea what to do next. So, when the tall, well presented man asked us 'So, what do you want from me?' we asked for guidance. The things he told us in that hour were invaluable, but it was not clear from what he said whether we will ever see him again. By the end, however, I think we were all, hand on heart, ready to run the gauntlet for this guy. Not because he was offering us the world. Not at all, he just gave us some amazing advice. I think you would be surprised just how many bands expect the world to be handed to them on a plate as soon as they walk in. It's the ego, and many bands have it. I think about 99% of bands simply do not listen to good advice. What's worse, I realised while sitting there listening to what this guy had to say, that so many of us really forget why we started being in a band in the first place. I felt terrible at that moment. I had forgotten the heart-wrenching moment you stand before an audience and belt out something you have written about something you care about. It becomes about mass producing something that you aren't even in love with anymore. I'd forgotten that being in a band was fun (except when it isn't fun lol), and that the boys are like my family. That I spend more time with them than even my real family! That the band is, aside from work, the thing I put the most of my time into! How could I forget that? I forgot that we make music! Maybe the guys at the Dog and Duck have the right idea after all! 

After the meeting I think I thought we would all be reeling with excitement. However, as we sat down with our pints at the Horniman and Hays, a great quiet came over us. My head was pumping full of information that I couldn't quite process. Before us Paul had an open notebook with which to outline a plan of action, but no plan came. The fact still remains... On our own, we're not gonna get shit done. 

Ville's parting advice was to write 10 songs, choose the best and ditch the rest, rinse and repeat. We have some hard work ahead. 

[chasemarston-blog]

In preparation for Father's Day this Sunday. This channel is an absolute god send for the Gaijin who desires to recreate their most beloved Japanese food favourites. I will be making an array of sushi for the family, topping it off with my famous Lamb massaman curry. No correlation, don't care. I will upload the recipe on the day. I'm making my pilgrimage to Soho tomorrow night to stock up on some supplies.

It's been another fruitless week at work. I suspect I will pay for my laziness in weeks to come. It's just that I've been having so much fun lately! I took the train up to Nottingham last Friday to visit some good friends. I'm not entirely convinced that living (and paying) in London is all it's cracked up to be. Not when you can buy a two-bedroom flat with a communal pool, sauna and jacuzzi for £120,000. Am I right? £3 a pint in a club. Enough said.

So it was that I ate and drank too much, while catching up with my newly wed friends. I was the only single of three married couples that weekend. No regrets. I had the pleasure of meeting some new people, and dancing the night away in Rock City, though I had some serious whiplash the next day. I am normally a composed and rigid person but alcohol is my demon. I literally lose my shit when I drink excessively. 

That reminds me! We have a meeting with a record label next week. I'm incredibly bitter that I won't be there for the first half an hour, I couldn't leave work any earlier. I've been reading the fella's blog who founded The Animal Farm. it offers invaluable advice for bands, and I can summon many an example of how the Recklings fit into one category or another. I cannot, for the sake of the other band members, go into these here. Lets just say I'm not one hundred percent certain everyone's on the same page haha. I believe what we require most is guidance. Then 10 songs good enough for an album.   

[chasemarston-blog]

A chaotic performance for the Recklings last night. My dramatic exit caused Paul to go into a frenzy, collapsing on the floor and unplugging Steve's base with it. Paul later complained of hip pain. It was a brilliant night, definitely one to remember. During Suffocate my botched high note was quickly forgotten when Paul snapped a guitar string and then threw his wasted guitar into a speaker, taking his pint with it. After a speedy retuning we were back on track making, in my opinion, one of our better appearances live. We got reviewed by a nice fella who met us backstage and earned a couple of new likes on Facebook. It's the little things that make a difference.

Today we were back at Enterprise, making new noise. We've been banding about a new song called 'Change the Skies'. It's already looking really promising, although I want some more backing vocals. I guess I'll have to take care of that after my exams are over. It'll be great to hear Steve's contribution when he comes by next time. We cut practice short today, me and Paul were hungover and my voice just gave out after two hours. It is never okay to get slaughtered the night before rehearsal, it's just torture. Luckily we went to the George round the corner, had a few pints (I had a coke) and then me and Dan went to get Ramen at Shoryu. It was absolutely delicious, although I felt like a balloon walking back by myself through the nauseating circus that is Piccadilly. 

There's so much to look forward to with the band, we've already had some great gig opportunities come our way, and there's talk of a halloween party too, though that's rather far away still. 

At this moment, I'm ready to go to bed (though not ready to get up and go back to work.)

[chasemarston-blog]

This morning's poached eggs on leafy salad with thinly sliced white bread, salt and pepper to taste. They're not my best poached eggs but it's been a while since I've made them! I was flicking through the Style section of the Sunday paper when I came across an article about Michael Alig's upcoming release from prison after 17 years. It seems an overwhelming coincidence that I only watched Party Monster for the first time a week ago. It must have been such a cool scene before the murder of poor Angel. I felt such sympathy for his family, I can't even imagine being told that news? I wonder what Alig will do in the future. He's got such a keen eye for fashion, I reckon that's what he will gravitate towards. 

I just looked to my left and a tiny fly has already landed in my tea. Spring is great, if only there weren't so many insects! I've moved into the garden to get a bit of sun on my face. It's still too cold to go bare on the arms and legs but I'm ready for my trip to Portugal in a few weeks with my friend. Some quality time by the pool, under a cloudless sky, is needed. I'm a little preoccupied about the flight on the way home (I've never flown by myself), but it should be a short journey and I can sleep or catch up with some revision. 

I've been thinking a lot about last Friday today. I went out with friends for somebody's birthday. I often reflect on drunken nights out. We went to Be At One. It was alright I guess, the music was a bit crap and too loud. I hate having to be on top of someone's face to communicate with them. The cocktails were about £9, which for the venue was a bit overpriced for my tastes. My friends seem a lot less preoccupied with spending money than I. I felt guilty when I looked at my bank balance after payday and realised I had only just about broke even (that is to say I only had about £200 left in there before) Eek! I've had an expensive month, what with pre-paying for holidays and getting in a new supply of Sk 11 Cream (the only cream that I find really works for me). I need to stop buying so much food while I'm out too.

The other shocking revelation of looking at my bank balance was how much I spend on buses, here, there and everywhere. I lost my season ticket... It just fell out of my bag somewhere. That was an enormous fuck up on my part because not only did they fine me £20 at the barriers, but it's re-issuing was delayed by another week because the woman working at my station said I had not filled out my form properly when I had. Correct me if I'm wrong but 'For Official Use Only' is not relevant to me in the slightest. In all this little incident has cost me near £60. Serious cut backs are to be made this month. At least everything I need to pay for has already been paid for. I just feel guilty that I'm losing sight of my goal to move out and get a place of my own. 

I'm listening to Blondie's Hanging on the Telephone. I'm currently learning that for my singing lessons. We're focusing a lot more on my stage performance, especially since the last gig my singing teacher attended. I have trouble finding somewhere to go to prepare for shows, which in turn makes me a bit shaky on my feet for the first two numbers. I guess I still have a long way to go before I can demonstrate my ability confidently from the word go. 

[chasemarston-blog]

Raided the fridge for revision fuel. I have my fifth exam next week on GI and blood disorders. I'm not so much nervous as feeling the crushing exasperation of flicking through the BNF for hours, looking for modes of action and each individual generic drug to find the right one for the condition given. Anyway, this is my toasted chicken, bacon and avocado sandwich, with a bit of melted Jarlsberg cheese on for good measure, no mayo. I only managed half so I put the remaining half in the fridge for tomorrows lunch. It was delicious! I really fancied that too. I am currently on a break from cramming, listening to my 'Current' playlist on Spotify whilst reading . It's a collection of my most favoured bands at present. I'm digging back into Britpop, but merging it with current indie and rock favourites. I've also included some of the better bands the Recklings have supported in the past. I'm reading an article in the Sunday Observer about Damon Albarn, his childhood, his past projects and his new solo album. 

[chasemarston-blog]

New Beginnings

The Recklings got back into rehearsal today since last weekends' show at Jamm. We said goodbye to our long-standing drummer, Cat. She's left us to pursue other things, and we got Dan in to fill the position. It was sad to see Cat go... She's played with us for almost 2 years and has always been brilliant. She always came through at gigs, and always looked on the bright side. I'll miss how she always came to practice wearing cat-themed clothing. On the other hand, Dan has been a great friend for years. He's a great drummer, and I was excited to see what his take on the songs would be. He didn't disappoint. It was just a shame Steve couldn't make it to practice, guess I'll have to wait til next weekend to see the full picture.

Practice, the shows and everything that comes with it has become less of a chore since Steve joined. Our original line-up was poorly put together, and I think we all suffered for it in our first year as a group. That said, we wouldn't be the band we are now without the journey. I can feel things building and building, and I don't know where it's building to. I've actually been looking forward to going to rehearsals, much more than before. I feel more inspired, though I don't have the time to write new things that often. We have 10 songs now. 10 strong, audible, lyrical songs that test my own vocals to the limit. I have to admit, I regret not having the time to practice more. I could be the singer I want to be if I could put an hour aside most days. Trouble is, when you work an 11-hour day, I get home feeling really drained, and just don't have the energy. I don't know if anyone else feels the same way, but I feel heavy and light-headed, which doesn't make for a decent quality sound. 

There are rumours of new recordings and music videos to come. That would be amazingly fun to do. Having a recorded final product of the work you put in is really nice to have. We'll see though, it's an issue of money and time again. Our next show is only a month away, on the 24th May at Water Rats. It will be Dan's first gig with us, so I'm incredibly excited for that! I hate to say it, but introducing a new person into the band has been really fun. When Steve joined as well, it was like we were then finally a real band, really tight, really together, and we all got on so well. I'm looking forward to more exciting things in the future.