This
week Les Valentine are heading to the studio to re-record our 5 track demo to
the highest possible standard (within our budget at least). In preparation,
there have been relentless rehearsals, fine tuning and honing of our music.
Recording will present a completely
different challenge to the live shows, as instead of our usual acoustic set up
we will be playing all the instruments between the two of us (not at the same
time!). Also unlike our gigs, we won’t have the advantage of winning over the
audience or skimming over small mistakes with a cheeky smile or ‘witty’ joke. This
time, perfection is the goal and it needs to be achieved.
To get heard by the ‘right’ people you
have to have a product that can create lots of interest. As an unsigned band
there’s a hell of a lot of competition to make a career from your music. Therefore
maximum effort is needed at the rehearsal stage because the margin for error is
so small. Feedback from record labels has already highlighted that in order to
get signed you need more than a good live show, fan base or demo to get
noticed. You need the whole package and more. This is why we are working so
hard to get it right.
Between us, we will be playing guitar,
drums, bass guitar, piano and various other bits and bobs, and with only two
days in the studio we need to get each track recorded with a minimum of fuss.
Hence being locked away for the weekend making sure we get everything right
first time, or close to it.
When recording with a limited amount of
time you are, essentially, playing against the clock but also trying to get it
right. Professional groups have the resources to create their recordings over a
much longer time period and thus have much looser deadlines. They also have the
luxury of being shipped off to exotic locations to get the creative juices
flowing. We are going to Bognor Regis.
The sooner we get our music laid down, the
sooner the sound engineer can start polishing and tweaking. The smallest of
touches or effects can make the all important difference between a home-made
demo and the professional sound we crave. This is why unsigned bands are forced
to spend so much money on recording. The end product will be something that we
can send off to record companies, managing agents and local media. It is also
something that we can be truly proud of, a tangible fruit of our labour that
makes all the hard work worthwhile!
In other news, we have also been working hard
this week to enhance our online presence so watch this space (myspace.com/lesvalentinemusic)
and we will keep you updated as to where we can be found on the interweb.
Finally, we have also been booked for new
gig at a new acoustic night at the Pitcher & Piano in Brighton. Come along
next Sunday night, 16th September, and enjoy a night of chilled out
music at a brand new weekly Brighton event!
Dates for
the diary
11th-12th
September – We are booked into Ford Lane Studios to re-record our demo
properly.
13th
September – Our new CD of the newly recorded songs will be available, FREE!
16th
September – GIG – Pitcher & Piano, Brighton (potentially the launch gig for
the CD!)
27th
September – GIG – Laid Back and Latte, University of Sussex
26th
October – GIG – Sanctuary Cafe, Hove
9th April
– Steve's Birthday
19th
April – John's Birthday
And
remember – SPREAD THE WORD!
If you
like our music, tell people about it. Copy our CDs for friends who you think
would be interested, bring people to gigs. The hardest part really is getting
heard, so if you can help in any way, please do. As always, your support is
very much appreciated.
Thank
you,
Les
Valentine