(no subject)
ok, so I forgot to do this last year even though that one would have been interesting to keep track of, but at least I told myself to go back to filling this out again for 2012, so bear with me.
1. What's your first musical memory of 2012?
I'm not entirely sure, but I think Tom Waits' New Years Eve was played around midnight. I celebrated with Tanja and Calum at my flat and then met Sophie at a house party later.
2. What was this year's summer jam? And winter jam?
At the beginning of the year, it was still a lot of the Band before I then made this year's biggest discovery in Justin Townes Earle who was the soundtrack to most of the year, but especially the beginning. Around that time was also a lot of Townes van Zandt. Spring was a lot of Old Crow Medicine Show, then more JTE in the summer. In September I discovered Dawes who were pretty big for me too this year. The last few months had a lot of Tom Waits and Jason Isbell and more Dawes.
EDIT:
I completely forgot that both the Wallflowers and Bob Dylan released new albums this year that I listened to a lot. So consider those added to the list.
3. If your life in 2012 was a musician, which musician would it be?
Taylor Goldsmith?
4. Tell me a lyric from this year that meant something to you.
"And sure it hurts but it should hurt sometimes"
"Well I've always been a fool for a conversation and a couple of smokes / yeah and when I'm feeling this blue I just need someone to laugh at my jokes"
a lot of When My Time Comes and A Little Bit of Everything by Dawes.
5. What was the most awful thing you saw on a stage this year? And the best thing?
This year was actually AMAZING gig-wise, maybe the best I've ever had. I saw Bob Dylan, the Wallflowers, Justin Townes Earle twice, Dawes twice, Jack White twice, Old Crow Medicine Show, Deer Tick, plus a wide array of wonderful wonderful musicians here in London, a lot of which I'm happy to call my friends now.
On the downside, going to folk clubs like the Lantern Society, you also see some less than stellar acts. But it's all worth it.
6. Name the oldest music you got into in 2012.
Hmm. I don't know. This year was honestly about discovering new music for me, which is nice for a change.
7. Your favourite conversation about music this year: who was it with, and what was it about?
It's funny, I've become friends with a lot of musicians this year and enjoyed talks with them a lot. Gabriel's hyperboles for example. Or me and Simon getting really really excited about Dylan gigs. Or Jack, Bryony and Felix and me talking all sorts of music that night at mine. Felix and me discussing vocal groups. Having a Dylan-off with Ben (and winning!). And talking about cheesy christmas songs with the Goldsmiths gang.
8. Name one thing you surprised yourself by liking in 2008.
Audioslave - Like a Stone
9. Your music wish for 2013 is...?
Writing more songs that I feel proud to perform.
10. Describe the music of 2012 in one word.
folk
11. Most important record bought in 2012:
Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues
12. What will be the last music you hear this year?
It was something quite cheesy. Maybe Queen. And I think we started with Nina Simone.
=============
Where did you begin 2012?
At my flat in Dalston with Tanja and Calum
What was your status by Valentine's Day?
single.
Were you in school (anytime this year)?
sadly not.
Did you have to go to the hospital?
yes, but not as a patient.
Did you have any encounters with the police?
not that I can recall.
Where did you go on vacation?
New York City with Tanja.
What did you purchase that was over $500?
bloody antique fabrics for my dad which then got lost in the mail (wasn't my money but still!)
Did you know anybody who got married?
Fleur, Tanja's friend from uni.. if that counts.
Did you know anybody who passed away?
no, but I lost my wonderful Grandma in 2011.
Did you move anywhere?
no.
What sporting events did you attend?
a cringeworthy hipster basketball game in Brooklyn.
Describe your birthday:
I celebrated the Friday after my birthday and invited friends over to my flat and we had drinks and listened to music and it was pretty chill, but really cool. Very nice birthday!
What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2009?
Spend a week by myself in NYC? Not that I thought I would never do it, but it was more like a dream come true, I guess.
What has been your favorite moment(s)?
There have been a few, a lot of them involving singing. Like the gig with wonderful and talented friends at Ryan's Bar in Stoke Newington, where they decided that I should headline. And then going off to a pub that was about to close and me and Simon serenaded the pub owner and they let us stay because they liked my voice so much (what followed was the best lock i I've had in London). There were some brilliant moments with Tanja in NYC and also in London as well. But I think seeing Old Crow Medicine Show in Central Park by myself while the sun was going down was particularly special.
What's something you learned about yourself?
That I'm capable of going out and meeting people and making new friends. That I'm not totally incapable of writing songs.
Any new additions to your family?
no, but my cousin's wife is very pregnant, so I'll be an aunt soon!
What was your best month?
June/July/August? Something like that
What music will you remember from 2010?
Justin Townes Earle, Dawes, Jason Isbell, a lot of Lantern people.
Made new friends?
yes, particularly the crowd from the Lantern Society, who I found so incredibly cool and intimidating in 2011. It means a lot to me that I can now hang out with them and they consider me one of them because they're all incredible musicians and that in turn makes me grow as a musician as well as as a person.
New Best friend?
if Tanja hasn't changed her mind then no.
Favorite Night out?
Every single Lantern (and Folk Roots New Routes) was special. As were night out in NYC (Vans party for example). Drinking at the Lexington with Gabriel. Pub times with the Goldsmith kids. Parties at Lorraine's. The Ryans Bar gig. Simon's Borderline gig and the 12 bar party afterwards.
Any regrets?
Too much procrastination.
What do you want to change in 2013?
less procrastination, more work, more focus. some goals would be nice.
Overall, how would you rate this year?
I think personally, this was a great year though not so much professionally. But I sang a lot and made friends that pushed me and encouraged me, so I think I'm a lot more confident now.
What would you change about 2013?
if possible, get a love life.
Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
tanja's, the BL, the marquis, the betsey.
Have any life changes in 2012?
I started going to the gym in June and I quit smoking i September, if that counts?
Change your hairstyle?
i got a fringe in late 2011 and have stuck with that since.
Have any car accidents?
no.
Buy a new car?
no.
New BF/GF?
no.
Get a new job?
no.
Do you have a New Year's resolution?
Write more songs. Try to accept myself.
Do anything embarrassing?
Yeah, sure.
Buy anything new from eBay?
yes, but not all that much.. that's actually a pretty useless question.
What was your favorite purchase of 2007?
flight tickets to NYC.
Get married or divorced?
no.
Get arrested?
no.
Did you get sick this year?
yes, I had real trouble with my voice, which I was constantly losing and got laryngitis twice around spring. that was one reason why I decided to quit smoking. Since then I had a bad cold, but didn't lose my voice. That makes me way more happy than I expected.
Start a new hobby?
Going to the gym?
Are you happy to see 2012 go?
I don't care. Bring on 2013!
1. What's your first musical memory of 2012?
I'm not entirely sure, but I think Tom Waits' New Years Eve was played around midnight. I celebrated with Tanja and Calum at my flat and then met Sophie at a house party later.
2. What was this year's summer jam? And winter jam?
At the beginning of the year, it was still a lot of the Band before I then made this year's biggest discovery in Justin Townes Earle who was the soundtrack to most of the year, but especially the beginning. Around that time was also a lot of Townes van Zandt. Spring was a lot of Old Crow Medicine Show, then more JTE in the summer. In September I discovered Dawes who were pretty big for me too this year. The last few months had a lot of Tom Waits and Jason Isbell and more Dawes.
EDIT:
I completely forgot that both the Wallflowers and Bob Dylan released new albums this year that I listened to a lot. So consider those added to the list.
3. If your life in 2012 was a musician, which musician would it be?
Taylor Goldsmith?
4. Tell me a lyric from this year that meant something to you.
"And sure it hurts but it should hurt sometimes"
"Well I've always been a fool for a conversation and a couple of smokes / yeah and when I'm feeling this blue I just need someone to laugh at my jokes"
a lot of When My Time Comes and A Little Bit of Everything by Dawes.
5. What was the most awful thing you saw on a stage this year? And the best thing?
This year was actually AMAZING gig-wise, maybe the best I've ever had. I saw Bob Dylan, the Wallflowers, Justin Townes Earle twice, Dawes twice, Jack White twice, Old Crow Medicine Show, Deer Tick, plus a wide array of wonderful wonderful musicians here in London, a lot of which I'm happy to call my friends now.
On the downside, going to folk clubs like the Lantern Society, you also see some less than stellar acts. But it's all worth it.
6. Name the oldest music you got into in 2012.
Hmm. I don't know. This year was honestly about discovering new music for me, which is nice for a change.
7. Your favourite conversation about music this year: who was it with, and what was it about?
It's funny, I've become friends with a lot of musicians this year and enjoyed talks with them a lot. Gabriel's hyperboles for example. Or me and Simon getting really really excited about Dylan gigs. Or Jack, Bryony and Felix and me talking all sorts of music that night at mine. Felix and me discussing vocal groups. Having a Dylan-off with Ben (and winning!). And talking about cheesy christmas songs with the Goldsmiths gang.
8. Name one thing you surprised yourself by liking in 2008.
Audioslave - Like a Stone
9. Your music wish for 2013 is...?
Writing more songs that I feel proud to perform.
10. Describe the music of 2012 in one word.
folk
11. Most important record bought in 2012:
Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues
12. What will be the last music you hear this year?
It was something quite cheesy. Maybe Queen. And I think we started with Nina Simone.
=============
Where did you begin 2012?
At my flat in Dalston with Tanja and Calum
What was your status by Valentine's Day?
single.
Were you in school (anytime this year)?
sadly not.
Did you have to go to the hospital?
yes, but not as a patient.
Did you have any encounters with the police?
not that I can recall.
Where did you go on vacation?
New York City with Tanja.
What did you purchase that was over $500?
bloody antique fabrics for my dad which then got lost in the mail (wasn't my money but still!)
Did you know anybody who got married?
Fleur, Tanja's friend from uni.. if that counts.
Did you know anybody who passed away?
no, but I lost my wonderful Grandma in 2011.
Did you move anywhere?
no.
What sporting events did you attend?
a cringeworthy hipster basketball game in Brooklyn.
Describe your birthday:
I celebrated the Friday after my birthday and invited friends over to my flat and we had drinks and listened to music and it was pretty chill, but really cool. Very nice birthday!
What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2009?
Spend a week by myself in NYC? Not that I thought I would never do it, but it was more like a dream come true, I guess.
What has been your favorite moment(s)?
There have been a few, a lot of them involving singing. Like the gig with wonderful and talented friends at Ryan's Bar in Stoke Newington, where they decided that I should headline. And then going off to a pub that was about to close and me and Simon serenaded the pub owner and they let us stay because they liked my voice so much (what followed was the best lock i I've had in London). There were some brilliant moments with Tanja in NYC and also in London as well. But I think seeing Old Crow Medicine Show in Central Park by myself while the sun was going down was particularly special.
What's something you learned about yourself?
That I'm capable of going out and meeting people and making new friends. That I'm not totally incapable of writing songs.
Any new additions to your family?
no, but my cousin's wife is very pregnant, so I'll be an aunt soon!
What was your best month?
June/July/August? Something like that
What music will you remember from 2010?
Justin Townes Earle, Dawes, Jason Isbell, a lot of Lantern people.
Made new friends?
yes, particularly the crowd from the Lantern Society, who I found so incredibly cool and intimidating in 2011. It means a lot to me that I can now hang out with them and they consider me one of them because they're all incredible musicians and that in turn makes me grow as a musician as well as as a person.
New Best friend?
if Tanja hasn't changed her mind then no.
Favorite Night out?
Every single Lantern (and Folk Roots New Routes) was special. As were night out in NYC (Vans party for example). Drinking at the Lexington with Gabriel. Pub times with the Goldsmith kids. Parties at Lorraine's. The Ryans Bar gig. Simon's Borderline gig and the 12 bar party afterwards.
Any regrets?
Too much procrastination.
What do you want to change in 2013?
less procrastination, more work, more focus. some goals would be nice.
Overall, how would you rate this year?
I think personally, this was a great year though not so much professionally. But I sang a lot and made friends that pushed me and encouraged me, so I think I'm a lot more confident now.
What would you change about 2013?
if possible, get a love life.
Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
tanja's, the BL, the marquis, the betsey.
Have any life changes in 2012?
I started going to the gym in June and I quit smoking i September, if that counts?
Change your hairstyle?
i got a fringe in late 2011 and have stuck with that since.
Have any car accidents?
no.
Buy a new car?
no.
New BF/GF?
no.
Get a new job?
no.
Do you have a New Year's resolution?
Write more songs. Try to accept myself.
Do anything embarrassing?
Yeah, sure.
Buy anything new from eBay?
yes, but not all that much.. that's actually a pretty useless question.
What was your favorite purchase of 2007?
flight tickets to NYC.
Get married or divorced?
no.
Get arrested?
no.
Did you get sick this year?
yes, I had real trouble with my voice, which I was constantly losing and got laryngitis twice around spring. that was one reason why I decided to quit smoking. Since then I had a bad cold, but didn't lose my voice. That makes me way more happy than I expected.
Start a new hobby?
Going to the gym?
Are you happy to see 2012 go?
I don't care. Bring on 2013!