I'm still here.

It's about time that I apologise for my absence recently! 

In the last month I have moved from my hometown in Wales back to Birmingham to take on my third (and final!) year at Birmingham City University. It's an exciting time but also a very busy time. I am going to be calling on all my organisation skills for this year. 

My modules of choice this year are focused upon the music industry and PR. On the music front I will be studying the production module, Music Industry Enterprise and the theory module, Popular Music Culture. My third chosen module is Communications Management. I'm going into my third week back at university now and I an certainly happy with my decision to study these. The hands-on approach means it's going to be a semester of hard work but worth it in the long run! 

Of course, on top of my choices I have the two big modules. Like most third year students I will be working on my dissertation throughout the whole year. My question is based around representations, popular music and feminism. However, that's not all! I also have a production project to work on. It's only in the early stages at the moment but keep an eye out as I will definitely be updating you on it in the near future.

I will try to keep the blog up to date with my media work throughout the next few months but if you don't see me for a while it's probably because I either have my head in a book or I'm busy typing away at my assignments!

I'd also just like to take this time to thank everyone who reads my blog. I really appreciate it! Don't forget I'd love to read your thoughts on my posts so feel free comment. 

An interview with Kids in Glass Houses

Sadly the Merthyr Rock weekend has now come to a close and we'll have to wait a whole year for our next instalment of festival fun and great music from the Welsh town. However, to keep the blues away or to catch up with what the MRockers got up to, you can head to welovemerthyrrock.tumblr.com for posts and pictures of the fans' experiences.

But if that's not enough... then take a peak at my interview with Welsh rockers, Kids in Glass Houses! 

Ahead of their headline show, which saw Merthyr Rock out with a bang, KIGH took time out of rehearing for an exclusive on the MRock fan blog. Find out what front-man Aled Phillips had to say before the weekend about the festival, the future and the stuff in-between! 

How are you guys feeling about headlining Merthyr Rock this year?

Excited and a bit nervous.

Does it feel extra special to headline a festival in Wales?

Any show in Wales is special so headlining a festival adds that little bit extra.

Who are you looking forward to seeing this year at Merthyr Rock and why?

Future Of The Left. A hugely underrated band who deserve to be loved.

You guys curated one of the stages last year, how was that? How did you got about choosing the acts for the stage?

It was fun and challenging. We just looked at bands who don’t always get the breaks they deserve and tried to help in a small way.

So you did a gig at Le Pub recently – how was that? Why was it so important to you to help out?

It was great. It’s difficult being a small venue, making enough money to keep going and the gig world needs these small venues. Remember kids, small is beautiful.

What do you think of the impact that Merthyr Rock has had on bringing awareness to great Welsh music? 

Anything that gets Wales and it’s music into the national consciousness is important. Merthyr Rock is just the sort of thing that makes that happen.

The Smart Casual vinyls are looking awesome! You must be proud of them? Was it something you always wanted to do?

Most bands want a ‘record deal’, not a ‘CD deal’. Vinyl is great.

How has it been playing Smart Casual around the UK again? Any particular highlights?

It’s nice to re-visit songs that we rarely play these days.

Do you have any pre-gig or pre-going-on-stage rituals?

Nothing. That sort of things a bit naff.

Have KIGH got anything big coming up in the next few months/2013 that the fans should look out for? 

Album number four.

What have you guys been up to this summer? 

A few shows and a few holidays. Some drinking and some fornicating.

If you could create your own ultimate festival, which bands/artists would you have playing (dead or alive)?

Prince and Michael Jackson. Anything else would be filler.

What are (or would be) your favourite songs to get you pumped to go on stage or on a night out?

‘Nothing Compares To You’. Sinead O’Conner’s version.

What are your personal favourite gigs that you’ve been to?

The good ones that you can’t remember the next day.

What are Kids in Glass Houses’ five festival essentials?

Prophylactics, johnnies, alcohol, condoms and booze.

You can find the interview and much more on the Merthyr Rock fan blog!

Music Journalism Workshop - Merthyr Rock

On Saturday I had the fantastic opportunity to help run a music journalism workshop put on by Merthyr Rock. The workshop invited youngsters from around Merthyr to learn about the tricks of the trade and put their own skills in music journalism to the test. 

The workshop offered perspectives from two individuals at different stages in their career and working on different types of music journalism. The session was run by Rhys Milsom, music editor and sub-editor for various review sites in the online world, and he was joined by Arts Correspondent for Media Wales and Wales Online, David Owens. 

With participants ranging from 14 to 21, the workshop got them thinking about the sort of music career they'd like to go into, the music they enjoy followed by a hands on section which saw them writing about music that many had not heard previously. Rhys Milsom offered some great techniques for getting them to think about how you can write about the different elements of music and how to put it together into a review. 

Milsom and Owens offered valuable insights into their own career paths and how they got into the industry, along with some encouraging words for the group to inspire them to pursue their dreams. 

It was an excellent opportunity for aspiring music industry professionals and a worthwhile way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

On a personal note it was great to see people getting stuck in and getting over their initial nerves to take part in something productive and fun. I'd love to see more of these workshops about, I would have loved to get involved in something similar when I was younger. It's excellent to be a part of a festival that does much more than just put on some great music but gets people involved in so many ways! 

If you're heading to Merthyr Rock this weekend then make sure you check out the workshops and other opportunities they have on offer. Get involved, you won't regret it! 

Have you ever been to or helped out at a similar workshop?
How did you find it? I would recommend getting involved with something so worthwhile and interesting either helping out or attending!

Merthyr Rock - Kids in Glass Houses Interview

The countdown to the Merthyr Rock weekend has well and truly begun!

I've loved being involved with Merthyr Rock again this year as their blogger and had some great fun re-doing the blog and jazzing it up for the second year of the festival. If you've been following or checking up on the blog (I hope you have!) there's being a variety of news, updates, competitions and great music being posted and creating more excitement for the big event. 

But I also have some really exciting news about an upcoming piece I will be doing on the blog...

an interview with Welsh rockers, Kids in Glass Houses! 

Not only will this be a great piece for the fans following welovemerthyrrock but it is a fantastic opportunity for me to test my interview writing skills. Although my interviews have been very varied throughout the past with the likes of popular fashion bloggers, lecturers, campaigners and more, I haven't done as much work as I'd like to with bands... and where better to start than with one of my own personal favourites and Merthyr Rock's Saturday headliners? 

It's made even better by the fact that we want KIGH's fans to get involved too, so if you fall into this large bracket or even if you just have an interesting question then we'd love to hear it!

Check out the blog post here! 

MRock want YOU to message us (on the Tumblr) with the questions you've always wanted to ask Kids in Glass Houses or if you think you've got an interesting question that they'll never have been asked before then ask away! I'll be picking some of the best to go alongside my own interview with the boys.

Please check out the interview once it's posted up on the blog!

Merthyr Rock 2012

I'm really happy to be able to say I'll be working with the Merthyr Rock team again this year!

If you didn't know (...which rock have you been hiding under!) Merthyr Rock is a new Welsh rock festival in Merthyr (surprise surprise) and after a successful first year featuring headliners Ocean Colour Scene and The Blackout, they are back for a second year with big names such as Razorlight, Kids in Glass Houses and Skindred.

After my internship with them last year, I was eager to get involved for the second year of the Welsh Rock Festival. Of course, when I was offered the chance to run the official festival blog again (after setting it up and running it last year) I jumped at the opportunity! If you would like to find out about my experience last year as Crew Member, you can read about it here. Back to the blog...

Here it is, all fresh and updated for 2012!

I'll be frequently updating the site with news, information, interviews, features, competitions and fan posts/submissions!

I'm really excited to get stuck in with making the blog as interesting as possible so please take a look and tell me what you'd like to see on there. Make sure you get yourself to the festival too, I promise you will not regret it. There will be an amazing atmosphere, awesome selection of bands and an all-round fantastic weekend on offer.

Alpha She - Studio shoot

I mentioned in a recent post that I was hoping to be involved in another band photoshoot and as promised I'll share my photos and experiences with you! 

The girl band, Alpha She, were great fun to work with - which is always a bonus! Up until now I haven't had the pleasure of working with female 'models' (other than on my Richard Avedon inspired shoot in which, with a little persuasion, I got my friends involved with) so this was a great opportunity to do some work with females.  

The style of the shoot was based around an updated 60's theme... meaning big hair, classic poses and neutral colours. The main focus was to take separate images of each member of the trio in order to create a sequence. The final images are going to be used in the girls' promotional material so I wanted to get a good selection of images that would work well together but also be strong stand-alone images too. I also took the chance to try out a variety of different lighting set-ups and styles to get a wide variety of shots, which you will hopefully notice in the selection of photos here!

I use my trusty Canon EOS 550D on photoshoots and in this I used both dark grey and standard white backdrops in order to get some variation, to compliment the different poses and styles of images and to work with the 60s style. I personally love the grey background for studio work and after researching I noticed a lot of 60s photography features a black and white effect so thought grey would work well in this instance for updating the look.

If you'd like to see more of the shoot then head over to my flickr page - you'll also find lots more including my other studio work and different styles of photography so feel free to check those out too! If you do, let me know what you think. I'd love to get some feedback or constructive criticism! I'm still in the process of learning about lighting and improving my knowledge regarding studio work. Hopefully the more work I do, the better I will get! 

The shoot was great fun and I shall hopefully be doing more photography work with London Calling Management (the team I arranged this and the previous studio shoot with) later this year and next year so keep your eyes peeled for more!

Marina and the Diamonds

Cardiff, The Coal Exchange – 27^th June 2012

The Lonely Hearts Club tour hit Cardiff last week with all the pink, plastic and pizazz that would be expected of Miss Marina Diamandis. The half Greek, half Welsh popstar headed home to celebrate the successful release of her newest album, Electra Heart, which bagged her a number 1 ranking and a top 10 single.

Amongst the backdrop of the impressive venue, the stage was a small affair but made up for it in set-up. With a silk nightgown floating, purple chaise lounge waiting and 70’s style TV buzzing, the stage promised nothing less than a spectacle of typical Marina-style. Like a florescent halo, the words Electra Heart hovered over the stage letting the fans know that the newest album of the 26-year old star was ready to be showcased. The Diamonds were ready and waiting for their Queen to take to the stage.

Kicking things off was supporting act, Meredith Sheldon. It’s easy to see that the vocals and thought-provoking style was in-keeping with Marina’s, however Meredith failed to completely engage with the excited audience. Sheldon exuded an effortless air of cool as she took to the stage in a ripped up t-shirt and rock ‘n’ roll appearance but with little connection to the audience her set was a personal and somber affair.

Anticipation soars as the lights go down; the crowd erupt as the Abergavenny-girl floats on-stage in a plastic-pink dress and a white veil. Light floods the stage as Marina’s hauntingly sweet vocals burst into ‘Homewrecker’, provoking an explosion of confetti from her hands. The fans’ expectations are certainly met in the impressive opening and the room bounces their way through the first track.

Removing her veil, the faux-bride turns to her heart-shaped glasses and moves on to ‘Oh No’, which sees her move around the stage in a playful, whirlwind manner; setting the tone for the rest of the show. This certainly isn’t just a gig, it’s obvious that Marina has considered every song and every outfit – that’s right, the star makes 2 outfit changes throughout the set, as well as incorporating a few extra minor changes to boot.

   

The next dress is a baby pink, glittery knee-length number. Ready for a theatrical performance of ‘Power and Control’, Marina begins the song from her damsel in distress position on her purple chaise lounge. But once up again, Marina bursts back into her cheeky interaction with the crowd.

Marina played the role of everyone’s friend as she chatted with the crowd, particularly highlighting the overwhelming heat which saw everyone agree that inside the venue was ‘our summer’. The one-of-a-kind queen of thought-provoking pop gave a shout-out to her family who were hidden amongst the fans in the crowd and responded warmly to the constant calls of “we love you Marina!” with “I love you too!”.

Playing a host of songs from the number 1, Electra Heart and her 2010 debut studio album, Family Jewels, Marina took time to showcase her vocal talents without the pomp and glamour that EH calls for. Taking to the keyboard, she sang both ‘Obsessions’ and ‘Teen Idle’, reminding every fan just why Marina is a diamond. Her voice resonated around the hall and the goosebumps could be felt all around.

The set enthusiastically draws to an end with the single, ‘Primadonna’ and finishes with the euphoric ‘Radioactive’ which sees the venue turn momentarily into a club as the crowd jumps along with Marina.

Leaving the stage, the crowd begin chanting for the encore. Murmurs ripple through the crowd as fans wonder what she’ll return with. A majestic-styled Marina returns in a silky green dress. But of course, Marina has to sprinkle her own signature flair over everything she does and falling across the dress is a sash reading ‘Teen Idle’ – of course leading to the track.

The finale was always going to leave the fans wanting more, what else would you expect from Miss Diamandis? The giant burger and cheerleader pom pom come out to accompany the hit track Hollywood, which ends the night on an incredible high.

Marina’s enthusiastic engagement with the Coal Exchange saw her not only bring Electra Heart alive with stunning vocals and glittering glamour but made the night a memorable spectacle for all her diamonds. With her Lonely Hearts Club tour, Marina brought home a slice of summer with her cheerful nature and passionate on-stage performance! 

(*Photo taken by myself)