Nick Ward Blog http://nickwardmusic.com/blog Musings of a Musician Sun, 18 Nov 2012 20:07:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 …..to be confirmed http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/to-be-confirmed/ http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/to-be-confirmed/#comments Sun, 18 Nov 2012 20:07:07 +0000 admin http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/?p=57 Hello!

I have been very busy recently, a lot has been happening behind the scenes, some of which is good & some not so good.

The good news is I have been into the studio with the band to start putting down new tracks for the next album. The bad news is that we just didn’t get the right sound & feel that I was looking for, so before we did a whole albums worth of material at this unfamiliar studio, I decided to call it quits.

A bonus though was that I recently got to record one of my new songs with the wonderful Atheen, a duet entitled Now There Is Nothing. We hope to release this shortly so check back very soon. I also recorded a cover of a well known song which could be released along with the single. Keep your eyes peeled.

There will be some exciting news on album no.4 very soon. I’d love to tell you about it now, but am sworn to secrecy till everything is confirmed. I can tell you the title of it…..World In Reverse. But shhh, don’t tell anyone!

I am very much looking forward to next months gig in Porth with Simon Townsend, it should be a great night.
December also sees me & the boys doing a live session on BBC Radio Wales. Another one for the date to be confirmed.

Catch you soon

Nick

]]> http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/to-be-confirmed/feed/ 0 Money, Money, Money http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/money-money-money/ http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/money-money-money/#comments Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:44:03 +0000 admin http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/?p=53 Forgive me for I have sinned. I haven’t posted a blog for some time. But I’m here now so let see what I can share with you today.

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of supporting The Christians at The Globe, Cardiff.
It is a lovely venue & I hope to play there again. The Christians were very good, although only lead singer Garry Christian remains from the band who had all those hits in the 80′s & 90′s. Still, it was an enjoyable night and great to see a music venue jam packed full of friendly music lovers.

Organising a tour has been problematic, but we are still hopeful of hitting the road before the end of the year. In the meantime check out if we are playing near you on the gigs page.

I have written more than an albums worth of songs recently, but recording them will have to wait as, along with everyone else, the double dip recession (thanks Osborne!) is biting and funds are not flowing freely at the moment. Still, good things come to those who wait, and I believe this collection of songs to be my best work yet. I hope so anyhow!

I hope you are enjoying your copy of Cadenza, if you haven’t a copy then order one on CD or download direct through this website, or download from anywhere you buy your music.

Cheers Butties!

 

]]> http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/money-money-money/feed/ 0 Out Of The Old, Into The New http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/out-of-the-old-into-the-new/ http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/out-of-the-old-into-the-new/#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:41:31 +0000 admin http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/?p=48 So what’s happening? Quite a lot actually. I enjoyed my support slot with Tom Hingley, the former main man of the Inspiral Carpets, at The Factory, Porth. It was my second solo appearance at The Factory & it is a venue I don’t think I’ll ever tire of…..it’s always a pleasure to play there, the organisers, staff & soundmen are all good people, hope to see them again soon. And the same goes for the people I met afterwards….espacially Mark, Hina & Dai (what a guy! Even gave him a lift home as he was such a top man). Also had the chance to engage with Mr Hingley himself (see photo), and he was as charming as can be.
The following day in Port Talbot we had a first run out as a band with new guitarist Richard Cummings. It was an outdoor gig, in a tent….though was more like an umbrella…..& it was very cold. Our fingers didn’t really work properly, but everyone seemed to enjoy, and Rich being the professional he is, fitted in perfectly.
Next up is a solo slot as support to The Christians, a great band I grew up with in the late 80′s early 90′s. They have great songs & am looking forward to seeing them perform. This will be at a lovely venue in Cardiff called The Globe Theatre on 25th May. Tickets are currently on sale, grab one if you can.
Finally, I have begun recording new material & am very happy with the results so far. After Cadenza’s mellow melancholia I fancied doing something more upbeat……& a bit noisier…..so have started as I mean to go on. Hopefully you’ll get to here something new in the summer.

]]> http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/out-of-the-old-into-the-new/feed/ 0 New Songs & A Duet? http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/new-songs-a-duet/ http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/new-songs-a-duet/#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:51:04 +0000 admin http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/?p=34 This will be a very short blog!

I have writen many songs over the last few months, most of which I’d like to knock into shape with the boys in the band as they are that type of song.  I have earmarked one as a single I would love to release before the summer washes over us.

Another song I’d like to start recording soon is a duet. So I am on a quest to find a female singer to guest on a track with me. Who do you think would be a good choice to approach? Depends on the song I guess. I know who I have in mind, and no I’m not telling you hehe.

I’m looking forward to some acoustic gigs the next few weeks, hope to catch you there.
Nick

]]> http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/new-songs-a-duet/feed/ 1 A Full Hour With Nick Ward, Interview & Music http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/a-full-hour-with-nick-ward-interview-music/ http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/a-full-hour-with-nick-ward-interview-music/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:07:31 +0000 admin http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/?p=43 The good people at Music Corner Shop & CETA Radio recently chatted to me about new album Cadenza, my influences, growing up in Wales and lots of other stuff.  A full hour of chat & music old and new.

Check it out – HERE

Hope you enjoy some new songs from Cadenza, older songs of mine plus a few of my favourite choices.

]]> http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/a-full-hour-with-nick-ward-interview-music/feed/ 0 Writing, writing, writing http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/writing-writing-writing/ http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/writing-writing-writing/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:34:13 +0000 admin http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/?p=27 Well it’s mid-Feb already, Cadenza has been doing really well, I can’t tell you how chuffed I am with the response. When I started recording last summer I only intended to do an acoustic EP, but I guess I knew deep down that I had too many songs, so I thought what the hell….let’s do an acoustic album. I had been listening to a lot of acoustic stuff around that time…especially Nick Drake, Gillian Welch….Graham Coxon’s Spinning Top album….& also Damon Albarn’s The Good, The Bad & The Queen album, and though you cannot hear it I’m sure they influenced my writing around that time.
Writing can be a curse sometimes, but also cathartic…..so I’ve been writing again (actually I’m always writing!), and have reverted back to the electric guitar and the piano. I’m already excited about the way the new tunes are shaping up….hopefully I can unleash one or two on you at gigs this summer.

 

Here is another lovely review of Cadenza by a great site called Mojophenia. Check it out here

]]> http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/writing-writing-writing/feed/ 3 Cadenza Review http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/cadenza-review/ http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/cadenza-review/#comments Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:14:29 +0000 admin http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/?p=30 Please check out this wonderful review of Cadenza – HERE

]]> http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/cadenza-review/feed/ 0 Cadenza At Work http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/cadenza-at-work/ http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/cadenza-at-work/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:08:13 +0000 admin http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/?p=18 Cadenza has now been available for 5 days, & I’m bowled over by the response to it. Thank you for all the positive feedback, I can’t tell how how much it means to me.
I guess heartfelt lyrics & melodies are not dead yet, especially in Japan, where it seems to be going down extremely well.
We’re hoping to bring you a new video shortly….in the meantime enjoy Cadenza and I’ll catch you soon.
Nick

]]> http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/cadenza-at-work/feed/ 0 Pre-Release Nerves http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/pre-release-nerves/ http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/pre-release-nerves/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:37:57 +0000 admin http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/?p=3 So, 5 days before Cadenza is released & I’m getting the usual myriad of feelings about it.
Excitement, nervousness, worry, jealousy, apprehension….& lots more if I’m honest. I wish I could have planned some dates, or a tour, to coincide with the release, but it was not to be. But we’re working on it!
I don’t know if people listen to lyrics any more….actually listen…..but there is a lovely booklet full of the lyrics to these songs that comes with the cd, or digital booklet if download. I am quite proud of them so hope you get the chance to read them while listening.
Cadenza is a very different piece of work to Pink Bay or Outside Looking In….deliberately so. None of my song writing heroes wrote the same album twice…..& neither will I.
Writing & recording it was a joy…..I hope you enjoy listening to it.
Nick

]]> http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/pre-release-nerves/feed/ 0 Cadenza artwork http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/cadenza-artwork/ http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/cadenza-artwork/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:18:31 +0000 admin http://nickwardmusic.com/blog/?p=6 What a shirt! My Mum dressed me like this quite regularly!

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