Singing Harmonies

Gina has invited me to sing backing vocals for her, with Jenny and Marie, for a couple of songs when she supports Jack White at The Trocadero on the 28th of February. We had a rehearsal last Thursday, four of us sitting around her giant kitchen table choosing harmonies to sing and singing together over the bare bones of the track. I have words to learn: it's not the words necessarily, but rather getting them in the right order. We sang for probably an hour and a half, and it was lovely to have the experience of slotting into a set of harmonies. On the recording I sang all of them (actually I think they may have replaced some of me with them, so to speak), but in real time, singing in harmony with other women is a unique experience. We were focused and each came away with notes and phone recordings to get the details right on the day.

I've had a long break from properly singing, and am hugely relieved to still be able to do it. Today, I've sung through some of my songs for Tuesday's live Loud Women broadcast on Resonance FM, which will be my first live 'gig' since November. I am looking forward to that: last time I was there was with Dexter Bentley for his show, so I know the studio (and some of the staff there too, probably). I'm trying to do at least two songs from the new album that I didn't sing on his show. Fingers crossed my voice will be with me on the night!

I am so looking forward to gigging again. I've had enough poor cats and dogs, stairlift and walk-in bath, cancer and funeral daytime adverts to last more than a lifetime. The same emollient voiceovers, sad piano, off-the-shelf graphics and gently threatening message runs through all of them. Then in the evening, it swaps over to gambling, fast food and cleaning products with an uplift in energy underpinned by barely-heard dance music tracks. I have not been tempted to buy a single one of the products on offer, and indeed have silently vowed never to do this in my lifetime, so there.

The Mojo review, and having lots of people play my songs on their radio shows, has been invigorating. If you know me, you'll understand how much this was needed.

Oh yes- a visit to the Tirzah Garwood exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery and the William Morris gallery in Walthamstow last week also were really uplifting. Three cheers for art, and three cheers for music! We need these cultural joys in these dismal, grey and threatening times.