Rocking Out With His Socks Out - Alex Hulme @ MMU Acoustic Lounge 1/05/13
Where you aware that Hive Radio Manchester's home university actually throws a fantastic live bash every Wednesday afternoon? Well Em Music Matters was thrilled to discover MMU Acoustic Lounge and she is very excited to tell you all about it! Each week MMU's own Holden Art Gallery sees a lovely little acoustic set from a talented up-and-coming act at around 12:45. A beautiful space becomes filled with some incredible, extraordinary sounds, you know where to eat your butties on a Wednesday lunch time now! (Oh and has it been mentioned that this rewarding experience is absolutely free!?) Get down!
Last week the elegant high ceilinged and creatively highlighted Holden Building saw the innovative sounds of singer-song-writer Alex Hulme in the afternoon sunshine. Em Music Matters was even lucky enough to catch the dear fellow for a quick chat after his chilling and charming set...
(MMU Acoustic Lounge runs every Wednesday 12:45, Holden Art Gallery.)
Amiable Alex Hulme an artist whom 'hops ship' across the North West, gigging from Manchester to Liverpool, found himself down at MMU Acoustic Lounge this Wednesday after gigging here 3 or four times earlier this year. He enlightens us he is a big fan of the venue: ' I love it, it's really, really cool to come down, it's a lovely little space, and no-one boo's, which is good!' The Liverpool based lad wows a crowd of revising students over their afternoon tea or lunch with his pop/folk feeling, melodious and harmonious, Alexs woo's his listeners with his impressive yielding, soft and compassionate voice. Watch out Ben Howard, you've got competition.
Today's session serves us with a variety of tracks, both his own compositions and a few artistically spun covers. Alex surprises and astounds eardrums with his loops, a master of the foot pedals, ditching the shoes in the gallery's relaxing ambiance he rocks out this afternoon with his socks out! (Odd socks, reflective of Alex's quirky and fantastically out-of-the-box musical manner!) He tells us how he has been writing and recording since he was a mere ten years of age once owner of 'an awful line-six rift tracker thing that does everything in little four or eight bar phrases,' advancing later to lord of the loops. Dreamy echoes and harmonies are formed by Alex's talented toes!
Alex tells us 'I very much lead a double life' gigging both his own music and cover sessions: 'I do my own stuff which I put my heart and energy into' in the week mostly we are told, but by weekend Alex hits pub and clubs with ingenious interpretations of well-known tracks, 'I'm not a fan of doing exact reiterations of a song, as a writer I like to put my own spin on it... put my own stamp on it.' And that he just does, the sampling of his covers today such as Paolo Nutni's: Last Request and Jessie J's : Do It Like A Dude, see the songs transformed by Alex's touch, advanced into something to marvel. Not the same-old, same-old guy with a guitar bashing out the Top 40 for a bit of recognition, but an imaginative and original performer.
Hulme is most remarkable however, in presenting his own tunes. We are treated to tracks of his own efforts such as: All That I Have a serenade of echoes and resonance, amongst many other sensational numbers.
(Talented toes: Alex is master of the foot pedals.)
Having studied at Paul McCartney's school (and now performing arts university) in Liverpool, Alex found the chance to audition for and in fact achieved a one to one session with former The Beatles rock and roll star. Bashful and modest Alex tells 'it was amazing, absolutely incredible....' the talented chap once even 'had a jam with Billy Ocean as well.' Of course as these phenomenal opportunities arise he had to 'be a bit cheeky and grab a few quotes from them,' and just as his renowned fans, Em Music Matters is in awe of Alex's aptitude and ability.’
QUOTES FROM FURTHER FANS...
Sir Paul McCartney: "A beautiful song and a wonderful melody."
Billy Ocean: "A great voice and a great understanding for melody."
Check out Em Music Matters chat with Alex Hulme….
http://www.mixcloud.com/HiveRadioManchester/emily-schofield-the-indie-buzz-interviews-alex-hulme-mmu-acoustic-lounge/
And Listen out for his music and further chat on Hive Radio Manchester’s The Indie Buzz 10-12 Wednesdays!
Blog written by Emily Schofield.
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