Where has the bear been hiding?

Dayton Ohio. 28 Dec 2010. hello!

Well, yeah…it’s been months since I have posted anything on here. Mea culpa punx. I’m sure you all survived without me somehow. For those of you on twitter you are probably sick of me by now.

What have I been up to in the last 5 months of silence? Well lots really…

I finished a tour, dealt with family illness, recorded an album, moved to Los Angeles, sold a TV show I co created, wrote some TV episodes for other people and got married.

I will fill you in on all the music parts now and fill you in on all the other happenings in another blog lest you starve to death while reading this post.

So…the last show I played was in Vancouver in August and I am itching to play again. It looks like I will be in Europe for a month or so in March/April and will hopefully be back there again later in the year.  Since I am in the States I will probably play a bunch of shows here too next year. I don’t quite know how that will work but we will see soon. I may even do a tour of house shows at fans places. Should be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to meeting everyone in person after years of seeing everyone online.

I finished recording and mixing album number 3 “Fragments, Footprints and the Forgotten” in Dublin just before heading to Canada in August. It was recorded in the same room as the last two albums over the course of two weeks. This time there were no guests, everything you here on there is me playing or singing. I didn’t over analyse anything, most songs were recorded in one or two takes, I left most of the warts in. It is different to the other two, a progression I hope. I didn’t want to make exactly the same record. The next one will be different again I hope. I make these things to satisfy myself, and I am always honoured, surprised and very glad when people say they enjoy listening to them and come along to the shows. I know one day it will probably stop and people will move on, but I will continue to make music one way or the other.

It is tough out there in music land. Unless you are prepared to tour all year it is hard to make ends meet. I have way more listeners and it grows constantly but the numbers of records sold don’t.    Anyone in the indie world hoping to make ends meet on records sold alone is dreaming.

Buying music digital or physical is largely a dodo. That’s just the way things are and there is no use whining like a spoiled pup about it. If you want to make enough to eat and pay rent you have got to have your arse out on the road and sell merchandise. That is the hard truth.

This obviously is harder on people who have kids or a relationship. Who the fuck wants to be involved with someone you see for a few months of the year?

Tough especially for new bands or artists starting out. It’s okay for myself because I already have a small and loyal audience that allows me to tour. Saying that, EVERYBODY now has to be out on the road working it and EVERYBODY is competing for shows at venues.

A nice side effect of this has been the rise of diy house shows.  It may be the only alternative for bands and musicians starting up now. DIY to the max. Musicians now are going to be tougher that’s for sure. More power to them.

So I think you will see music change, there will be a lot more part time musos and maybe less bands. I survive by keeping overheads low, If i can’t carry it I don’t play it. It’s all in a state of flux with music at the moment. Interesting times. Anyone who tells you they know how it will all work out is full of shit. No one knows. It’s kind of cool and exciting in a way. I like things being broken down and rebuilt. A big fan.

As the final days of the record “Industry” gasp and rattle their death breaths I don’t really give a fuck. I never expected, creating the kind of music I do, to be part of that system to a large degree. The ability to make music and create full time was all I ever wanted to do. Anything else was a bonus. And the internet allowed me to do it. I would not be doing what I am doing now with out it. Without blogs, word of mouth, torrents and downloads. Without you lads and lassies. Thank you.

All that being said, the new album will be coming out for sale in a physical format. Cd and limited edition vinyl. 300 copies. I’m very fucking excited about the Vinyl.

There will be a pay what you want for digital downloads via bandcamp and 25% of all digital sales will go to charity, probably Amnesty or Doctors without borders, I have to decide yet. Suggestions welcome. It will also be available on the usual suspects Amazon and Itunes etc.

The physical release of the record will be through my good friend Emil’s Label, Black Star Foundation. They are also behind most of the shows for Europe this year. I can’t thank the man enough. A smart fucker and a good soul. My favourite label I have ever worked with. It will be distributed by the good people at Cargo.

I finished the artwork a few weeks ago and everything is out at the printers as I type.

Right, coffee is finished. Back to the world of scriptwriting. I will fill you in on that in the next blog.

Thanks for reading. Have a brilliant new year.

Declan