Happy New Year!

My Dear Friends, Happy New Year! I hope my first missive of 2012 finds you very well indeed. I had a most refreshing Christmas vacance, taking in a little sea air and watching too much Poirot, it would seem..
While I was away I wrote a song called 'Waiting for You' and made this little video of it.
Waiting for You from Tamara Parsons-Baker on Vimeo.

It's still in its early stages (written and recorded within a few hours) so let me know what you make of it. I was thinking some cello might sound good on it..

Photo by Pier Corona

I've already played my first gig of the year. It was the Pindrop acoustic night at the Port Mahon on the 2nd January set up by Seb Reynolds. There were loads of great acts including Joe from Borderville, the Epstein, a band I saw first a year ago, Swindlestock, and the people's favourite, Huck, of course, with his new brand of baladeering. Huck's forthcoming narrative, cross-genre album of intoxicating Americana, 'Alexander the Great', is shaping up to be something quite else. You can see videos from the night here.

Swindlestock by Pier Corona

I'll be taking a little break from live performance for a month or so. I want to concentrate on recording and writing new songs. Plans for the Martyr's album are finally coming together. I can't wait to get back in the studio with the boys, o the boys.. I'm also looking forward to recording my second solo EP at the end of the month. O yeah! I have a fresh batch of my first solo EP, 'Lover', waiting to wing their way to your door. These solo EPs will form a sneaky little series. You can order the first, the white disc, from the store if you haven't already got a copy. It is available to purchase online from here. It'll also be available on Itunes "soon". I'll keep you updated..

Although I won't be performing live for a while I will be starting work on another new project "The Loft Sessions". These will be live acoustic sessions, recorded in my attic, featuring collaborations with a whole host of Oxford's finest. The first session will be up by the end of the month (fingers crossed) featuring a very talented chap I met up with before Christmas. So, till then keep on feeding "ze little grey cells, n'est-ce pas?"

Merry Christmas! It's my 60th blog!

If you didn't make it to the Jamboree last Monday, boy, did you miss a great night! It was a festive frenzy with George forcing Christmas hats on the audience. He had a vision, a sea of bobbing red and white. He got in return - steely eyes and quaffed bangs.. The Martyr's headlined what turned out to be an eclectic night of music and poetry with a whole bunch of performers, all very different but almost all uncannily unified by an inclination towards bestiality and innuendo. Weird! It was a great laugh, though our set ended with me almost trashing tommy's drumkit but remembering, first, that I'm not really that "rock and roll," and, second, drum kits are expensive. Damn you conscience! Thanks to everyone who made it down to celebrate the "Jingly Jamboree" and our see our last gig of the year.

And what an amazing year it's been! The Martyrs formed in February and played our first gig at Mr Wolves, Bristol, in March. My solo songs were played on BB6 Music and London Radio and at about the same time we slickly converted from a 5 piece to a 3 piece band, around Easter. Having signed to Big Red Sky Records, we supported the fabulous Secret Sisters in May. We then recorded our debut EP in the same month, before appearing on The Joanne Good Show and BBC London Radio.  And then there was the nervy journey to meet Tom Lewis from Decca Records in June (OMG!).
We played loads of awesome festivals including Cornbury and Wilderness Festival in July and August. Spetember was the gig that almost never happened at The Croft, Bristol,  which turned out to be one of the most fun gigs ever. I recorded my solo EP, "Lover", in September, which has just arrived through the door (so if you want one for a stocking filler, head to my store and I'll get it in the post). Another highlight was when The Martyrs and I were filmed on the roof of the O2 in October and then supported Charley Coombes and the New Breed for BBC Intro O2 Upstairs. November was about chillaxing and rehearsing with Tom Sharp, our new guitarist. The Toms are weary from "beers, beers, beers" (so good, apparently, they named it thrice..), Huck's red leather hang-over suit is beginning to curl at the edges (a sure sign of overuse) and me, well, I need a whole tanker-load of beauty sleep.

Hopefully see you in 2012 for another epic year, and our debut album. Eek! Merry Christmas!

Upstairs at the O2

Photo by Becks Compton

What a night! The Martyrs and I had been looking forward to this gig for quite some time. It was an awesome line up. ToLiesel played a fine set as in streamed the undead masses of ghouls, gremlins and some guy dressed up as a tall box?!? Samuel Zasada were brilliant as always. I loved the way they were dressed up as dead music icons. Buddy Hollie on bass and Billie Holiday on keys were especially cool! By the time we got on stage the O2 was heating up nicely. It was great to play to such a big crowd. The best part of the evening might just have been turning round to see Humphrey and Tommy rocking out in their Zoro masks! Actually, bringing our new guitarist, Tom Sharp, on stage for the first time for the final three songs might just beat that. It's a mighty honour to be playing with Tom! Charly Coombes and the New Breed brought a classy end to what was a really fun night of bands, booze and bad-ass costumes. Thanks to everyone at the O2 Upstairs team and BBC Introducing. Click on the pictures here to view more images from the night. There will also be a special feature on the BBC Introducing in Oxford show this Sunday. Tune in from 9pm.

Tamara and the Martyrs on the Roof

The Roof Team

On Monday night we clambered up the fire escape of the O2 Academy and played our new song 'Get Him Out,' for the cameras of the O2 Upstairs/BBC Introducing team. The sun quickly set and the wind was ahowling, which led to a spooky scene for the video. Just right for the Halloween weekend show. If you still haven't heard then we are playing at the O2 on Saturday night with Charley Coombes and the New Breed, Genuine Freakshow, ToLiesel and Samuel Zasada. Thanks to Vicky, Dan and Sam for making such a cool video, here it is:

EP Review by Oxford Music Scene Magazine

Oxford Music Scene Magazine have reviewed our EP in this month's issue. Read the full review here on page 26. And, if you still haven't got your hands on a copy, then you can purchase one in our store here.

'Reclaim the Night' Launch gig

Monday night was all about charity. It was 'Reclaim the Night' at the Port Mahon organized by Nicola Jane Peters to raise awareness about violence against women.

First on stage was Jazz singer and pianist, Rachel Hughes. She opened with a new song of hers called 'Sometimes Love is Poisonous.' After a softly spoken preamble in which she explained she'd have to reapply frozen peas to her scolded thumb between numbers, her voice was an unexpected delight, rich and deep. Her songs were heartfelt and personal and the audience drank it in in silence.

Up next was Anna Hobson, a poet I've seen perform before at the Oxford Pride Festival, which she helped organize last summer. Her poetry is dark and visceral, performed with confidence and a sharp wit. I especially liked 'A Tale of Modern Courtship'. Read more of her poems here

Claudia and Jessie closed the first half with an awe-inspiring bunch of operatic arias. From Dido's Lament to The Flower Duet from Délibes' Lakmé, there was something to suit every taste. Claudia sang in Italian and Jessie in English. Both with pantomime eyebrows and thespianic gestures, they zigzagged through different operatic registers with ease, making us all well up one minute and belly laugh the next. It's funny how even when presented ironically, Dido's song still triggers a very real emotional response. There's something in it, innit? My favourite performance had to be Jessie singing The Laughing Song from Strauss' Die Fledermaus. A rare and wonderful thing to see, especially from two meters away!

Exonic, an MC from Witney, opened the second half. Her music blasted out over our heads as she snapped into the mic. Her performance evoked in me memories of marveling at the verbal dexterity of Laura Dockrill and Kate Tempest. With a style all her own, though, she tampered with the lyrics of popular songs, sharpening and bending their meaning. The audience were plenty warm by the time I got on!

I chose to open with a cover of 'Behind the Wall' by Tracy Chapman, in keeping with the theme of the night. It's a haunting accapella piece about domestic violence, and has been a favourite song of mine since I was small. I then tested out a few new songs and got a lot back from a delightfully attentive audience.

Lucy Aryton then took to the stage to share some of her poetry. In a highly skilled performance, Lucy took us on a journey through the poetic past of a political activist to an increasingly political present. She charmed us too with tender observations, reaching deep into childhood memories. I especially liked her poem about her best ever summer.

Hannah Bruce saw us to the end of the night. Her cold-kindled, husky voice fitted the close of the night perfectly. Everyone sat huddled around the stage, as the room began to emanate a kind of Autumnal festival vibe. I had to watch from the door as the room was at bursting point. Hannah closed-up with a stunning rendition of 'Me & A Gun' by Tori Amos.

I won't lie. It was so nice to be part of an all-female bill, and to play for a largely female audience. This night stands as proof of all the fantastic female talent that exists in Oxford today. The best thing for me about the event was the atmosphere. Despite any nerves the performers might have had, all these were dispelled once on stage thanks to such a friendly and warm audience, who were as quick to hop on stage to help move a piano or pin up the lights as they were to applaud the huge variety of acts on show.

If you want to find out more read some info here or join the march on the 28th October in Glouscester Green.

Solo EP available and the Martyr's album begins...

Humphrey hams it up

Since our journey to the South the Martyrs and I have been slogging away in the rehearsal studio, learning a batch of new songs. Tommy 'Octopus' Longfellow has been getting creative on the drums and trying to prove he ain't just a pretty face. Humphrey 'The Squid' Astley continues to nauseate with his bravura axe wielding. He even finished off one recording session with a bit of slide guitar using a ham and salad bap.

Can it get any more ROCK & ROLL?

The weather was so good  on Saturday that we decided to spend the whole day in the dark windowless rooms of Studio 101 recording 'Charon's Boat' for the album. This is the first track we have laid down for the album and we spent the day getting the bass and drums just right. It's quite a complicated song to record as most of the action takes its cue from the vocals, so with no vocal to guide us timing was no walk in the park.

 

It's great to have finally started recording our album. We aim to have it complete by the end of the year, ready to take on tour in 2012.
  

I've now finished recording my solo EP 'Lover' and the first order of CD's should arrive at the end of the month. If you fancy one sent to your door, as soon as they come in, you can pre-order them from the Martyr's store.