This week it was back to normal and back to a routine. After I let myself go quite a bit during the reading week it’s time to be productive! So let’s start with the recordings.
I told you to stay tuned for some news on the recordings right? So news are: I managed to transform all the recordings into mp3 files, yay! I now have them on phone in my Google Play Music library next to all my other downloaded music from quite famous bands and I tell you it’s a weird feeling having your own music there! I sent them over to my friend and we both realized it’s different listening to them on your phone than through the speakers in the studio. The quality is different. That’s why I will go over the files again and try to make slight changes in the mixing. Something I learned during that as well! As good as your music sounds in the program and through the speakers, you need to listen to it through headphones on your phone or computer because that’s how people will mostly listen to it so if the quality in the studio is amazing but then on your phone it’s completely horrible, that’s not really helpful is it? So my goal for next week is definitely to have a closer look and try to change things we noticed when we listened to it on our phones. But then! Then we will publish one of the tunes on Soundcloud! Woooh, that’s exciting! We decided not to publish everything at the same time but have a tune once in a while, so if you want to keep up to date with that give us a follow on Soundcloud.
I was also talking about a name for our duo right? Drum roll please.... 54degreesnorth! So if you want to follow us on Soundcloud just type in 54degreesnorth and it’ll come up with our profile. No tunes there yet but it’ll hopefully be by the end of next week that we upload them. I’ll probably mention it in the next blog as well. Can’t wait to finally bring the music out there!
Another thing I realized when listening to the tunes. For one of the tunes we used piano and sang the melody and three harmonies right? See that song logically already exists, so we just arranged it differently. But when I now try to listen to the original version of the song, do you think I can follow it normally? Oh noo. First of all, I will sing the harmonies all the time and not the melody, secondly I recognize all the parts we had to do thousands of times because I sang the wrong lyrics or melody or whatever. It’s a weird feeling. I think I will never be able to listen to that song in a neutral way again but never mind, haha. The same applies to instrumental sets. When you put together sets and then you hear them on records in a different order or with different tunes. You’re just like: That’s not right. Any musicians out there, that can relate?
This week we (the college students) played at an open session here in Grimsay. What a lovely atmosphere that was. The weather this week was horrendous. So we thought: well let there be five people and it would be great, because no one will get out in that rain. The weather was literally that bad. But then when we came to the place it was filled with people! We really didn’t expect all these people there but it was such a cosy and lovely atmosphere. We played sets and songs we arranged as a group and it was a very good experience! We hadn’t played together as an ensemble for too long and we’ve not played in front of an audience together. So I think it was a total success! Next up for us is a ceilidh in Barra in November. There is still some work for us to do, but we’re on a good basis! The instrumentation with two fiddles, guitar, box and two english/gaelic singers is good to work with, because you have melody as well as accompaniment instruments and with two singers you can add harmonies where needed. Perfect line up!
Additionally I finished an application for the Student Development Fund. A fund that supports a project you want to do or an event you want to go to. One thing I realized when I came to Scotland or in general the UK is how much funds there are available. Funds are not spread in Germany at all whereas here you get them everywhere. All you need to do is apply. Now that is easier said than done, but it is definitely manageable and the outcome is amazing!
Planning. One of my favourite things to do. That’s why I finalized the trip to Glasgow next week. Going to the mainland and spending a weekend in Glasgow, can’t wait! Booked accommodation, trains, ferries so I’m ready to go. Additionally I booked flights to go back home for Christmas. Two weeks at home will be great. Finally seeing my parents and my little sister again! There is also a lot of concerts during the Christmas and New Year time back home so I’m really looking forward playing those and get back to the choir I sang with when I was still living at home. Also doing some jamming with mum as preparation for the great piping weekend in April hopefully!
Last night ended in a not very sober but very fun night. After having dinner with friends we were planning to go to a ceilidh in Daliburgh down in South Uist, but we had a quick look in someone’s house planning to just pop in there for about ten minutes. Well… not really ended the way we planned it. Ten minutes passed quickly and we were fully involved in gin, tunes and dancing. We started playing tunes after a while and didn’t stop till two at night. Let me tell you, I feel my wrists today! Not regretting it though, what a memorable night with a lot of cracking tunes and songs. Well done the Dancers! After all taxi companies didn’t answer, we decided to stay over and quickly the family house turned into a home for not so sober people. Let’s do it all over again!
Another week passed and it’s just crazy how fast the time goes by. This week will be all about finishing work for university so I don’t have to worry about that next weekend (I was supposed to do that today but a hangover crossed my way) and then also preparation for the weekend in Glasgow. Wooh, can’t wait! Friday couldn’t come quicker.
Enjoy your week folks & take care!
Cheerio bye,
Emilia
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