Hello Blue People: Love and Peace to you all.
It's been a long dark time since I last wrote but change is a-comin' and I'm back at work on a new album that I believe I mentioned some months ago. In any event, it's real and it's being tweaked as I write this. No more bars for me. No more bad influences. I want to work. I want to be productive. I'm sorry for being bad. Please, don't spank me. I'm just that way...
Sometimes we get lost and I think I have been for the last several months (years, decades) whatever...anyway I feel like making music again and I'm also feverishly editing several music videos that I hope to have out later this summer. SO...this is a short message, yes. Just to say 'hello' and let you know I'm still breathing...and writing.
Be patient. New tracks cometh in the heat of the new summer. PEACE TO YOU ALL.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
NEW TRACKS COMETH
Saturday, February 02, 2008
YES, A NEW ALBUM IS IN THE WORKS
Well, it's been quite a while since I've written anything on this blog of mine. I thought it was about time I get back to it.
By the way---thanks to the gazillions of fans out there in the big blue world who have signed up or on to the DB fan list. You guys are amazing. Thanks for the support and I hope you like the 12 tracks that you get in exchange for joining up. I have been so shocked at how many people are signing up each week. I try to write back to as many as I can to say a personal thanks but there have been so many lately that it's impossible to get back to every single one. Still I appreciate all of you hugely.
I've gotten a lot of emails lately from fans wondering if I'm dead or dying---I'm not. I'm quite alive and well and working on a new album.
Oops! I let that out of the bag didn't I? But what's a homosexual musical genius to do all winter long if not work on new material and anticipate dropping another load of tracks on the world sometime in the summer? And so THAT's what I've been doing. Working.
The next release---I can promise you---will be eclectic. By that I mean it will probably contain my widest ranging set of songs and tracks yet. I don't seem to be able to pin myself down to just one style. There are currently 22 tracks completed and more in production.
One of the ones I like the most is a re-working (not really a remix) of a track from StereoPornoGroove called "What Heterosexual Males Fear The Most" and I'm enjoying playing around with it again. I always liked the basic music in that one. It was originally recorded way, way back around 1999 in a basement studio in the Capitol Hill area of Washington, DC. I later did the mix that's on SPG and now I'm tinkering with it again---and changing it quite a bit. I will be giving it a new title I think. Something controversial maybe. Perhaps I'll call it "Straight Boys Aren't As Intelligent As Gay Boys"...but then again probably not.
Anyway I hope you're all well out there wherever you are. Lottsa love to you all. Stay tuned for more info on the new tracks. PEACE.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
NEW SONGS & JEREMY ENIGK
Been working on new material over the last month or so. Haven't written much. Sorry to you news junkies. Music doesn't always move quickly. And I'm in a bit of an experimental mood lately.
I can't really say when there will be another release. Although there is some tentative talk of doing some music videos and that sort of thing just to put a different spin on tracks that are already out there in the world.
There is an album's worth of new material that I could put out and might---but on the other hand I'm still fooling around with some of the newer songs and I like fooling around. I sometimes have trouble telling myself that things are done and that I need to move on. The fun for me is all that tinkering around and trying different things and then sometimes destroying 2 months of work and starting over. Fun. Fun. Fun.
I've discovered a singer that probably everyone in the world already knows about. I'm famous for not being up on current musical events---but I recently started really getting into a guy named Jeremy Enigk who used to be lead singer for emo band Sunny Day Real Estate. He has a relatively new album out called WORLD WAITS which, in my humble opinion, is just amazing. I can't stop playing it. It reminds me of when Coldplay came out with PARACHUTES and I couldn't turn it off. Anyway Jeremy's music is just absolutely beautiful. And frequently he reminds me vaguely of John Lennon. The arrangements are quite complex and the melodies are real as opposed to the monotony of much modern day pop music. His melodies are lilting and actually start in one place and go somewhere. Which is what a real melody should do.
Anyway in a world full of mind numbingly simple hip-hop trash and Britney Spears' pop shit---beauty is a rare commodity. Jeremy Enigk's music makes me feel BETTER. It improves my day. As opposed to forcing me to wallow in cheap sex or intentional ugliness.
I highly, highly recommend WORLD WAITS to anybody out there who still believes that music can be transcendant. This guy is a major talent and I hope he gains the audience and recognition he deserves.
Later. Peace.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
APPLE TO RELEASE DB TRACKS IN 256KBPS ACC DRM FORMAT
Hello DB Fans,
In the next week or so, Delphinium Blue's music will be available in the iTunes music store in the new DRM-FREE format as part of Apple's new iTunes Plus Service.
This means DB albums and individual tracks will be sold in both Apple's standard 128kbps AAC DRM format and their new 256kbps ACC DRM FREE format.
The quality difference is substantial and if you have Delphinium Blue material that you want to upgrade to the new higher standard it's pretty easy to do. This is a big step for the digital music world and I hope you guys like the way the songs sound in the new improved format.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
THE ELECTRONICA COLLECTION ARRIVES
My Dearest Blue Boys & Girls
All Over The World:
And I DO mean c-e-l-e-brating! Do you people have any idea how much vodka has seeped through my weary brain in the last several days? I thought not.
Anyway, the record is dedicated to my ex-boyfriend Eddie Parsons who was an amazing manager and adviser (and who seems to be incapable of communication these days).
It came out on iTunes on Monday the 1st of Octber and is now out pretty much everywhere worldwide. If you're in Japan you can buy it. If you're in Germany you can pick up a copy. If you just so happen to live in Amsterdam it's totally available. So get it okay? I need to eat, plus it's really good music. Made by one person rather than a squabbling "group" of sex crazed bandmates. I've never been big on the whole band idea. I prefer art pretty much made by one human being if possible.
When it comes to making art I'm not very democratic. If you don't like that then you can make your own...
This record is a sort of greatest hits kind of thing and it has all my big electronica tracks from 2003 to the present. It's my way of celebrating the 5 years that I've been signed to INgrooves (the world's greatest record company and certainly the most forward thinking one).
A brief aside: INgrooves tracked me down in late 2002 (I think) and I hemmed and hawed (did I spell those words correctly) and finally signed the contract and sent them what became my first album The Secret Life of Boys---which came out on a new service called iTunes in 2003. INgrooves has been incredibly supportive all these years and has always let me put out whatever I wanted. Lately INgrooves has become home to Thomas Dolby (one of my idols), Jody Whatley, The Crystal Method and Theivery Corporation (who also live here in Washington). They've also put out remixes from one of my pals in Baltimore---Ultra Nate (who I shared a stage with back in 2004).
P.S. Write when you can. [arlingodwin@yahoo.com] I'm lonely you know. I spend all my time making music for you.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
I SAW A FILM TODAY OH BOY
Hello Blue People. I have been busy putting the final touches on a retrospective release called "The Electronica Collection 2003-2007". This 16 track album contains the most important Delphinium Blue tracks from the last 5 years, plus one new cut: a bonus club remix of "Boy Seventeen" which is nearly 9 minutes in length. INgrooves has set a release date of October 8th.
In other matters---I happened to rent a really amazing film last night from the local video store here in the Dupont Circle area of DC where I live. The movie is called "Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer". I had read something about it back when it first came out but I had never seen it. I was absolutely blown away. I highly recommend it. It's a weird, beautiful movie of the sort that is rarely ever made---and never by Hollywood. Although it was DISTRIBUTED by Dreamworks!
It's set in 18th century Paris---and concerns a young man who is born with a super-human sense of smell. Literally. He can smell everything in great, great detail. Like an animal. And from this central idea comes a fascinating story---the end of which you will never be able to predict. Suffice it to say that the movie grabs and holds your attention from start to finish. Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman have supporting roles but the main character is played by a lovely young thing by the name of Ben Wishaw. This kid is a Meryl Streep-level talent. They should just go ahead and give him a couple of Oscars and get it over with because he's that good.
The director is Tom Tykwer who made "Run Lola Run" which is also a very cool film. But this one is amazing. Sometimes hard to watch and at other times so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. And Mr. T also composed the music---which is haunting and atmospheric to say the least. Anyway, if you want to see something really cool rent this or buy it like I'm going to.
Incidentally, upon doing a little research I discovered that "Perfume" was deemed almost unreleasable here in the U.S.---and made only a couple million dollars---but it grossed over $100 million in Europe and the rest of the world.
What the fuck is wrong with Americans?
We do love our football, guns and Bibles and we really like our entertainment dumb and boorish. Anything that's really beautiful or which isn't wrapped up with a neat ending or moral isn't something we're interested in. Too bad because the rest of the world just keeps progressing along nicely without our approval. A 100$ million gross ought to tell you something. It ought to tell you that a whole lot of people found this film to be very engrossing. That's a pretty impressive haul if you ask me.
Anyway---speaking of the UK, Europe and the rest of the world (where most of my fans reside): thanks for being there and buying my weird music. PEACE & LOVE.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Stella Parsons' Remix of Boy Seventeen Coming This Fall
Hello to all you DB fans around the world.
The remixed "B17" track will most likely be released on a new album ( a greatest hits kind of thing) to be called "The Electronica Collection 2003 - 2007". It will contain 16 tracks---all recorded since I signed with INgrooves. Everything is being remastered and so far it sounds amazing. I can hear things in the original tracks that I couldn't hear before. Aint technology grand?
I won't ramble on. But I wanted to let the faithful know that a collection of the very best electronica tracks from my short career are on their way. You'll be able to get this album either as a physical CD or as a digital release---or both. Stay tuned for more details.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
UNTIL THE END OF SUMMER
Hello from DC. My cat Stella insisted on being in this photo. She's rather fond of me (she knows where the food comes from).
I'm counting the days until Summer is over. I hate the heat and it IS freakin hot in Washington right now. Last I checked it was around 97 degrees.
Anyway the heat has been my excuse to stay in and work on new tracks---both for release purposes and live performance reasons. I actually sat down and wrote a new song this week for the first time in eons. You see --- I don't really need to write anything new. I already have the world's largest collection of unfinished songs so when I DO write something new---I end up feeling guilty for having neglected my earlier, incomplete progeny. Still it's a lot of fun to work on brand new things.
Hope you're all well wherever you are and having a great summer. I can't wait for Fall to get here. Hope to have some new music for you by then. And we are still in the works as far as live shows go. Talking to the clubs etc...Stay cool. I have to go get ready to hit the clubs tonight. I think I'll do 17th Street. I need to meet some new queens. PEACE & LOVE.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
LET THE SUNSHINE IN
Blue-people. Listen up. A great science fiction movie has been made. It's called SUNSHINE and you need to see it.
Cillian Murphy (pictured in this publicity shot) is the star and the film is jaw-dropping. I sat through the whole thing with my eyes about to pop out of my head. Go see it.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
HIDING OUT IN A COLD, DARK ROOM
Hi.
And speaking of fall - I hear that Annie Lennox is releasing "Songs Of Mass Destruction" around that time of year and nothing makes me look forward to cooler weather than a new Annie album. Now if only Madonna would let go another record before Christmas - then my life would be complete.
Monday, June 25, 2007
THE POPULAR GIRL IN CLASS
Greetings To My Fans All Over The World
(especially you crazy french, russian and japanese)
And YES you do get 12 free tracks when you do that but I'm still shocked. Who knew there were so many of you out there? The curious. The supportive. The real fans. Thank you.
And while I'm on the subject of signing up to the mailing list and getting the 12 free tracks - how come you're all downloading but you're too shy to tell me what you think of the songs? I mean some of you have written to give me appraisals but I could use more!
Anyway - there have been more sign ups to the email list in the last 2 months than in ALL of last year combined. Whether this is due to the release of New World Coming by NOKIA - on their latest European and Asian cell phone - or not - I do not know. This phone is reportedly being sold by the tens of thousands and that's a good thing. Undoubtedly lots of new fans are being turned on by this track (it's not a ringtone it's the whole track) when they purchase the phone. So, if this sudden popularity is due to NOKIA then THANKS cell phone people - for picking that track for your new product. It IS a cool tune if I do say so myself.
And anyway - I am amazed and bewildered at the huge number of new fans signing up and lending their kind words and support to Delphinium Blue. THANK YOU all profusely from the heart of my bottom. I promise not to spam the hell out of you. Actually I only email when there really is something cool going on that you might want to know about.
Delphinium Blue is actively talking with a number of booking agents and other assorted club persons with regard to doing some rather lengthier live shows sometime in the near future. I would personally prefer cooler weather for those shows - and it looks like I wouldn't be able to do anything any sooner anyway so...good for me.
In case you didn't know - in order to do a live electronic music show a lot of backing material has to be adapted to a club environment - and that's what I've been doing now for many weeks. And there will be many more before I'm ready to come out of my cave (uh studio). But interestingly enough - from this work has now come a fairly manic new version of Boy Seventeen which is very fast and very clubby. If you guys come to the shows and if you like it then maybe I'll release it at some point. There have been a lot of requests for a club version of that song (ever since it first came out) so now I can tell you that it actually exists. And it's pretty much done. So, I'm moving on to New World Coming later this week - revamping it and the other tunes which will make up the live show.
Anyway enough rambling for now. Hope you are all safe and sound wherever you are in the world. Love and peace to you all.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
GAY PRIDE 2007 AS SEEN FROM MY APT.
Yesterday was Gay Pride parade day here in DC and the queens were out in full force. I shot this photo from my balcony and also recorded some audio from the craziness down on P Street. I think I might use the audio on future songs etc...
Plans are underway to release DB's first album The Secret Life of Boys as a CD sometime soon. The album has been available at iTunes as downloads for a long time but Amazon is offering to sell it through their on-line store and it will be available through others as well. More on that when we know exactly when that's happening.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
DB DOES LICENSING DEAL WITH NOKIA
Hello Bluish People The World Over,
Now on to other things: it is SO nice to occasionally make some serious money in the music business.
With that in mind, I am happy to report that thanks to my wonderful label INgrooves (in San Fran) I was recently offered a licensing deal with the world's largest cell phone company NOKIA for use of the track "New World Coming" on a new phone that they are releasing all over Europe and Asia.
No---this is not a ringtone. It's the whole track in stereo. This phone evidentally takes pictures, does phone stuff and plays audio files like an iPod. Anyway if you want to hear the track that NOKIA chose (and it's one of my favorites) you can check out Delphinium Blue at iTunes. "New World Coming" appears on the album The Secret Life of Boys.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
RED WINE & SOLDER IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING
Greetings from Washington, DC where I am once again writing new material and recording new tracks. It's been a long, long time since I actually sat down and came up with new music and new lyrics but I've definitely been in the mood lately and the ideas are flowing fast.
After releasing "Sara" earlier this year I'm kind of over the whole Stevie Nicks thing! Don't get me wrong: I love the Nickster but it's way time for me to catch up on my own ideas and the things that I want to express.
I'm having a blast using some of the new software I bought back in 2006 but had not had time to explore. I was so busy trying to get "Sara" done that I never got to really sit down and check out SONAR (made by the wonderful people at Cakewalk).
I spent pretty much every night last week drinking red wine and making minor upgrades and fixes to some of my studio wiring. Things get frayed when you're pulling patches and cables around during sessions and there were some connectors that had gotten crudded up with dirt and so on. So those were all pulled apart and everything was re-soldered. (Solder, for those who don't know, is a metallic material which is heated with a soldering iron and used to join wires together---that's the simple definition.) And I do love the smell of solder in the wee hours of the morning!
So, after making repairs I settled down to recording some rough tracks and laying down crude test vocals---in an effort to get comfortable with the new programs. The fact that I am working totally in a digital world these days makes things sound SO clear that it almost freaks me out sometimes. The mic preamp I'm using now is so pristine that I have to EQ it down a little! I actually have to kind of dirty it up a bit to make it sound right. Yes, things can be too good sometimes. And rock'n roll and pop music was never about being perfect from a sonic point of view anyway. It's more about the overall sound I think. But it is weird to have things sounding so good that they're actually better than I need them to be.
And I am amazed at the effects possibilities now a days. Back in the 90's you kind of had to put effects like reverb on your voice and record it that way unless you were using a big board and outboard processors. And that method had a lot of drawbacks. It is much better to record vocals "dry" with no effects so that you can change your mind later if you want to. And now I just click the mouse and turn a "dry" vocal into a "wet" one with compression, delay, reverb and whatever else I want. And it all works in real time. Of course, it helps to have a computer with 2 Gigs of RAM.
And if I wanted to cheat and fix vocal mistakes (which I do not ever do) I could. There's a program built into the new software that allows me to adjust places in a vocal where I might have been off key. It works so well that I intentionally sang a few lines way off key and then applied the program and it really got me to laughing because it's like magic. It makes you kind of giddy to experience this level of control---even though I have no plans to use this stuff on my releases. You can actually apply this trick to an entire vocal track if you want and it makes minor "improvements" throughout. Tempting I will admit---but I prefer to do my own singing with my own voice. I mean editing a bunch of takes to get a good final vocal is one thing---but letting a computer fix your pitch problems is going too far in my opinion. But hey---Madonna will no doubt continue to sound far better than she did back when she started (when vocal processors were not yet invented). Ok, I'm sorry. Madonna does not fix her vocals. Right. For that matter I'm sure Britney doesn't either. But those Simpson girls are another matter.
I have a better idea: have some actual talent at singing. What a novel approach these days.
Anyway---I have no idea what I will release next. There's a lot of Delphinium Blue music out there in the world already so I hope that will be enough to hold all the fans over for a while. I wish you all a great weekend---what's left of it---and a productive week.
If you need me you know where I'll be: in the studio. PEACE.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
DB's REMAKE OF STEVIE NICKS' "SARA" NOW AVAILABLE AT iTUNES
"Drowning---in the sea of love,
Where everyone,
Would love to drown..."
MY DEAR BLUE PEOPLE,
"Sara" has been released at iTunes. I'm not gonna go on and on about it. Just wanted everybody to know the new single is out and you can get it RIGHT HERE.
Hope you like the new track. Peace and love to you all.
Friday, March 16, 2007
"SARA" DEBUTS AT E-MUSIC & ADAM CURRY SPINS "BEAUTIFUL"
First off - THANKS again to former MTV VJ Adam Curry who out-of-the blue decided to play a track from the "Stereo Porno Groove" album on his massively popular "Daily Source Code" show today. I love that man! He played "California" last summer and helped a lot of people find that song who probably wouldn't have otherwise. "Beautiful" - the track he played today - was actually written for a drag queen bar tender here in DC believe it or not - years ago. I won't go into detail but JC if you're out there YOU know who you are!
Secondly - "SARA" has finally been released (not yet at iTunes although it should appear there any day now). But the new single is for sale at the huge online store E-MUSIC and a few other smaller services like TRACKITDOWN. It will soon be available virtually everywhere that music is sold online. I know I've been yapping about iTunes for months. The song was kind of held up by Apple (it's a long story) but it really is about to be released at the world's biggest on-line music store so for those of you who prefer iTunes - hang in there, it's coming.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
WAIT A MINUTE BABY ("SARA" COMETH)
My Dearest Blue Boys & Girls,
I can not thank you all enough for the untold number of emails regarding "Sara".
I know that for a very long time I've been updating you (seemingly endlessly) about the new single. And I truly feel like the boy who cried (okay maybe screamed) wolf. But it really is on it's way. I swear to God. Honestly. What can I say? It really, really is very close to being released...
The master recording was turned in to my amazing record company INgrooves (in San Francisco) back around the middle of January. And yesterday I had a fairly lengthy chat with my A&R rep (I'll call her Ms. T) and was told that the record will be out on iTunes possibly this very week but certainly within the next several weeks. So hang in there. It's literally going to happen any day now.
The bottom line is that it's very close and I think you're all gonna love it. It's going to have been well worth the wait. I wish I could have been more accurate in giving out a release date but Apple doesn't really do that unless you're Madonna. And I'm not. So I just get kind of a ball-park idea of the date. I try my best to keep you guys up to date and I SO appreciate everyone who has written (starting many months ago) asking about the release. I have been stunned by the enthusiasm.
In the meantime - if you haven't clicked on the "SARA" EXCERPT LINK on the main page of the official web site you should - if you want to hear what it sounds like. In any case - "SARA" is coming on "a white winged dove" or "a great dark wing" as Ms. Stevie would say...and any day now. Keep checking back here or at iTunes - because we're finally very, very CLOSE.
PEACE & LOVE TO YOU ALL.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
INTERVIEW WITH A MIDDLE CLASS ROCK STAR
Snow is coming down in heavy, torrential waves, blasting sideways by my 8th floor balcony, adding a fresh coat of white to the ice and slush that fell last week and already clogs up the gutters and sidewalks of P Street down below. Didn't that sound poetic? No? Well, it's beautiful to look at while it's coming down...
Anyway - did you guys see Prince on the SuperBowl? All I can say is "WOW"! There is absolutely no one working in music today who can do everything he does and do it so very, very well. Singing, playing, dancing - and in the pouring rain no less. Purple Rain indeed.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
GO RAINBOW RADIO INTERVIEW THIS WEEKEND
I wanted to tell you guys about something coming up this weekend - an interview I did recently that will be airing on GoRainbowRadio.com starting Saturday Feb 17th.
Go Rainbow Radio is hosted by Tim Corrimal - who asked me a lot of interesting questions in a nearly one hour interview covering subjects as diverse as recording techniques to song lyrics to Pride Festival performances. And he'll be playing a number of DB tracks as well.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
A SUPER PURPLE BOWL
It's Super Bowl Sunday - (I'm calling it A Super Purple Bowl) and normally I could not possibly be any less interested. I have never watched a football game (or any sporting event) ever in my entire life - I totally don't get the appeal at all - and I don't intend to start getting it today.
HOWEVER - the halftime show is whole 'nother matter - what with Prince handling the procedings. So - yes - I will be tuning in to at least take in the Purple One live this evening.
The last time I saw a live performance of his was a few years ago when he was inducted into the Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame and his show was fucking unbelievable. He was singing, playing lead guitar, dancing all over the stage, tipping the mic stand all over the place and generally just tearing up the stage. Awesome is by no means too heavy a word to describe that show. I just sat there watching him with my mouth hanging open in disbelief. I hope for a repeat today.
In other matters - "SARA" is very soon to hit iTunes and a 2 minute excerpt of the track is available at the official web site at http://www.bluemusiconline.com/
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
GET A FREE 10 TRACK ALBUM! REALLY!
My Dearest Blue People,
Just wanted to let you all know that I'm giving away a FREE 10 track album of demos and unreleased studio tracks.
Yes it's 1000% FREE. Totally.
All you have to do is sign up to my fan email list.
And believe me when I promise that: I will never spam you with stupid, useless emails. Just info on new releases, live shows and that kind of thing. I really don't even do a mailing all that often so you have nothing to lose...
Previously I was giving away free copies of 3 tracks that were otherwise available at iTunes and a gazillion other stores. But I kept thinking about doing something more. Something bigger. Something to show how thankful I am to all of you around the world who buy my official releases. And anyway - this is it. I have a ton of music stashed away in the old vault and a lot of it is really interesting if not necessarilly completely perfect. Sometimes IMperfect is better.
These tracks are quirky and strange and there's even a recently discovered instrumental of the original version of "Boy Seventeen" that I had thought was long lost. And it sounds quite a bit different than the finished single version.
Anyway these tracks are cool to me and I hope you like them too.
Honestly - I'm just trying to build up my fan list. I mean I could make up a story that sounds more "show biz" but this is the truth: real fans mean a lot to an indie artist. And the music biz powerbrokers that I deal with every day are impressed and sometimes make decisions about my work based on how many people have willingly signed up to my fan list.
So please, please help me out - support a real, 100% indie artist who's doing it all by himself - and get a FREE 10 track album that can't be bought anywhere in the world. Just go to bluemusiconline.com and fill in your first name and email address (that's it) and you'll be instantly taken to a secret page with links to these 10 high quality unreleased mp3 tracks.
And hey - once you get them please write and let me know what you think. Thanks again for supporting me...and indie music. PEACE & LOVE TO THE BIG BLUE WORLD.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
"SARA" MASTER DELIVERED TO iTUNES
I am very happy to report that - after a year of working on it - my newest single "Sara" has gone to INgrooves - my label in San Francisco. It's now out of my hands.
The early response from those few fans, radio people and various DJs here in DC who have heard the song has been very upbeat. I'm thrilled that the reaction has been as big and positive as it has.
My A&R rep Jennifer Tusa has been extremely supportive of this track and for that I am so grateful. When I told the label about the song she instantly wrote me an email saying "we have to get this out ASAP!" INgrooves in general has always been so easy to work with and so supportive. They let me do my own thing and when I have something ready to be released it's just a simple matter of contacting them and getting the track into the pipeline - so to speak.
Now that the record is out of my hands - it's nervous time. Whenever I finally finish a new record and let go of it I immediately start worrying that I didn't do everything as well as I could have. But in this case I think the fans are going to be pretty much blown away. This track took a year of my life.
I actually started it in a basement apartment in Georgetown working on some fairly old equipment. All of the major instrument and vocal tracks were laid down there.Then I moved to a new place in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, DC and continued to do overdubs and eventually the mixing - but this time on brand new computers, new interfaces and new software. No tape was involved at all in any way. This is totally a 100% digital project. And it sounds like it! I then bought new digital mastering equipment to do the final copies on and that was a lot of fun actually - for the first time. Mastering has always been painful in the past but now I really am set up quite well for that part of the process. The final mix sounds awesome so I hope you will all like it.
Anyway the audio files and artwork etc have all been sent to INgrooves and they are making plans to release it and promote it. It's hard to know the exact date that Apple will put it up live but if we hear anything at all we'll let everyone know via the blog and also emails out to all the fans who are on the fan list. I would estimate that "Sara" will be available within a few weeks.
PEACE.
Friday, January 05, 2007
PROMO WHEELS BEGIN TO TURN FOR "SARA"
The promotional wheels are starting to turn for my next release - "Sara" - a track I've been blathering about for a year.
When you do your own version of a song written by a superstar (in this case Stevie Nicks) it can take some time to get all your ducks in a row so to speak. And actually I won't be absolutely certain of a release schedule for a few more days.
We await word from The Harry Fox Agency in Los Angeles as to the status of our license application and then we will await further word from our record label INgrooves as to getting the song out to iTunes and all the other online stores. This track will be on-line only. But I assure you it's good. Everyone who's heard it so far has loved it. I just hope all the Fleetwood Mac fans out there don't start stalking me and sending threatening emails. I love Stevie and the Mac and would never mean to do them any injustice. I originally worked on this song as a live track and then it turned into a bigger project. Anyway I hope you guys like it. It's in the pipeline on it's way to release and as soon as I know more I will certainly pass along any new info.
In other news - I'm going to one final holiday party tomorrow night - taking along the Dutchboy I've mentioned in earlier posts. He only has a few more weeks left before returning to Amsterdam so we're running out of time to be debauched. Don't worry I think we'll get a little more nastiness in before he goes home.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend. If you don't have the new album yet "Stereo Porno Groove" please go get it at iTunes. It's the poppiest thing I've done yet. 14 tracks of ear candy.
PEACE & LOVE.
Monday, January 01, 2007
HAPPY NEW YEAR - HAVE A GAY OLD TIME!
Happy New Year to all you fabulous blue people everywhere!
I hope you're all well and I hope you didn't over-do-it on New Year's Eve. I was actually scheduled to take in the last few hours of 2006 with that beautiful Dutchboy I mentioned in my previous post - but we both came to our senses and stayed in, got lots of sleep, and saved money, etc. etc. But never fear - this coming weekend I'm taking Mr. Amsterdam with me to an amazing last ditch party in Reston, VA - with a house full of rich, gay men who know how to eat, drink and be merry (and who keep celebrating the holidays even when the general festivities are clearly over for most people). And in a way that straight people can only dream about. A lovely, decadent evening WILL be had by all I promise.
On the musical front: "Sara" is done and final preparations are being made to release it. Both to YOU the listener and to radio.
Then I will be working on preps for a live show. I'm being badgered to death by my friend Mr. Jimi Jam here in DC to do some live shows and I guess I should. It's been a while since I was on a stage and I'm kind of getting in the mood to sing for you fags...and assorted breeders!
Then, if I am still standing, I hope to complete a couple of new singles by summer and get those out and then do a new, ambient, instrumental album by Fall. My cup runneth over. But then that's what cups should do...
Bye for now. Love and Happy New Year to all YOU fans all over the world - especially you crazy Japanese and you equally crazy Russians - you know who you are!
PEACE.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT...
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting...
Yes, it's the weekend and I'm getting ready to escort a gorgeous Dutch boy to a party out in Virginia. When I say "gorgeous" try to imagine the new blond James Bond dude only a lot younger and you'll have the right idea. And by the way I like to be shaken not stirred! Anyway - after the party we'll probably make the scene in Dupont Circle and god knows what after that...
(Did I actually write the words "make the scene"?)
In music news: I'm working on the beginnings of an all ambient album - to be made up partially of previously recorded material and then some new things as well. About half and half. And many of the older pieces will get the remix treatment before they go on the new record. I hate to call it New Age but I guess you could. After doing 3 albums and 1 EP - more in a rock-electronica vein and chocked full of actual songs - I'm kind of looking forward to recording some instrumentals. They're a lot of fun because they don't have to follow the old verse-chorus rules that pop songs generally need to have.
I'm also gearing up to release "Sara" - my version of the old Stevie Nicks classic. That's going to be a pretty big project. Everybody who's heard this track absolutely loves it - which is very gratifying since I worked my ass off on it for a very long time. The vocals on "Sara" were recorded at a house in Georgetown over a year ago. Then I moved to my new 8th floor apartment in the Dupont Circle part of DC. I bought a lot of new equipment and then once that was up and working I continued to work on "Sara" doing overdubs and all the mixing in the new place. So, that record has really followed me around. And I never get tired of hearing it. Maybe that's because it's not my own song - I love Stevie's stuff - but it's just a cool record and I'm really glad I went ahead and finished it. I think you're all going to really like it a lot.
Ok enough rambling. I have to meet James Bond at the Metro. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Love to you all.
A
Saturday, December 02, 2006
HI! MOTHER FUCKER!
Hi Blue People,
Long time no write, I know. Been busy finishing "Sara" (my version of Ms. Nicks' old Fleetwood Mac tune). It is now totally done - even the radio edit. Still planning to release it early in the new year if all goes according to plan...
Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving. I took the train - visited my mom and my sister and her brood in Virginia. Ate too much. Thought I was going to throw up that night. Ate leftovers the next day. Throw up feeling returned. Now I'm on a massive diet so I can be skinnier for all the coming holiday parties.
Anyway - I'm exploring some new licensing opportunities: that's when you give TV or film people permission to use your songs in exchange for beer money! Actually I really am very involved in some new business ventures that should get my tracks on to network TV and into major movies. A lot of my songs certainly would be perfect there. So, I'll keep you posted.
If you're going out tomorrow night (Saturday evening) and if you live in DC - I'll be on 17th Street for a while and then back at the Fire Place at around 10pm. Come up and say "Hi! Mother fucker!"
PEACE & LOVE TO YOU ALL.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
MIXING "SARA" THIS WEEKEND
It's Sunday afternoon and I'm getting ready to go see "The Queen" - which you might think is a movie about my life but actually it's about Queen Elizabeth and it's getting raves so I'll let you know later whether it's any good or not...
Been working my ass off trying to finish "Sara" - now that we have Stevie Nicks' persmission to release it. I've made about a thousand mixes of it but I believe I've finally got the definitive version.
The plan is to send it to radio in January and get it out as an exclusive iTunes track around that same time. This song has taken a lot of my energy over the last year so I hope everyone likes it. So far the reaction of friends and DJs here in DC has been highly enthusiastic. Everytime I preview a new mix of the song someone will ask if they can have the CD. And I think there are a few demo copies floating around that really shouldn't be. You'll get to hear the real thing soon enough. Think of it as my New Year's present to all my loyal fans.
Hope you all have a fab weekend - what's left of it. If you're in DC tonight - I'll be holding court at the 17th Street bars for a while and then end up back over at the Fireplace later - as always.
Peace and love to all you deep blue people everywhere.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Thanks J-Ho! "Joy" Reaches #13 at SIRIUS OutQ
Hi Blue Peeps!
To my utmost shock and delight - radio god J-Ho at SIRIUS Radio's OutQ channel continues to spin my current single "Joy". The track is at #13 this week - above Sir Elton and Indigo Girls and snapping close at the heals of Scissor Sisters. To say it's an absolute honor to be in such esteemed company is a huge understatement. All of these artists are heroes of mine so I could not possibly be happier.
Many thanks go out to Jeremy Hovies (J-Ho) for playing the song on his shows and helping to introduce Delphinium Blue to an audience that I have long dreamed of reaching. That is: my gay brothers and sisters all over the world. "Joy" is being played on a couple of dozen large college stations and a handful of commercial ones but the station I'm most thrilled and proud to be played on is SIRIUS OutQ and Jeremy is, needless to say, now on my Coolest-People-In-The-World list.
By the way: the next single to be released to radio is likely going to be my electronica remake of Stevie Nicks' Fleetwood Mac classic "Sara". Early demos of this track have just gotten a hugely supportive response from friends and fans. I originally recorded it a year ago and have performed it live once - but there was a licensing hold up regarding it's release which has now been solved to everyone's satisfaction. I am currently mixing the final master for "Sara" and if all goes well it will show up at iTunes in January and we'll submit it to our radio friends just after Christmas. Stay tuned for more news on "Sara" - and thanks again to Jeremy Hovies and SIRIUS OutQ for making "Joy" a success.