15 posts from 2007

Just got back from London, really productive weekend. Spoken to a few prospective new management companies and need to have a good think about what my best options are. I've got a few more further meetings in London later in the week so will post my thoughts in due course. All really positive stuff!    

The video below is a really rough video of a live and acoustic version of 'Never Say Never', filmed in Leeds on someone's mobile phone! Crazy! We have been asked to perform for a live BBC documentary in early January with the full-band, so will post once it's all done and sparkly! 

ASHLEY HICKLIN - Never Say Never - Live & Acoustic

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Playing two gigs tonight! Bit mad, but we've got one at Dr Wu's on Call Lane and one at a new bar opening in the city centre (Leeds). The String quartet can't make it due to important orchestral duties, but the rest of the band will be there and folkin it up...

Caught some of the bands at James Lambert-Martin's gig in Camden at the weekend whilst I was down there. The sound was much to be desired but respect to the bands that battled through it regardless. Fox Cubs were pretty tight but sounded and looked very much like the Killers and every other band of that ilk - nothing particularly new to the ears. Then again, it seems that A&R are shitting themselves at the moment and bend-over anything that's got a proven track record of selling records (which the Killers certainly have), presumably due to the ever-evolving digital market in which we live and love. Maybe I'm just being a cynic? Maybe i'm speaking the truth...

London London London! I've got a few meetings in the big smoke in early december, so fingers crossed i'm gonna pop into James Martin-Lambert's (AKA indie boy) night in Camden to check out how good these acts are live. Been chatting with Dave Farrow from DMF music this past few weeks (Seth Lakeman's manager) who has given my proposed debut album a whirl and reckons there are a few potential hits. He's in talks with EMI publishing about my material which is good. I'm also catching up with Jon Uren (Fruitcake Management - Tom McRae) and a few promoters/agents so will post progressions once I return 'up norf' as it were...  

I've been busy in the studio this week working on my favorite analogue Toft desk. I'm actually in love! (and the live room is immense!) New material is soon to follow, but for now you'll have to make do with a few pics of Bruce Woods who is co-producing with me at the moment...

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This is a rough demo of a new song, a proposed 'album track' (ie, not a single) about a lady called Alison. It's the first time i've really experimented with a more 'sample-based' sound; i usually record everything as a really 'live' sound with a full 'live' band, not sure if I like this or not?.. hmmm...   

So I was minding my own business on a weekend away in Paris, when a little old man collars me and asks if he can draw a charicature of me because apparantly I look 'interesting' !!!

Cartoon Ash - En Paris!

Ashley Hicklin - Portait from Paris - Photo

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At first I was obviously dubious that he wanted money out of me (of which I have none), but he reassured me that it was a freebie and that he was merely using me to generate an audience for himself. Thus, I agreed, stood there for 5 minutes and 'voila' - Cartoon Ashmeister! I actually quite like it! 

I've added a few new pics from gigs over the last few weeks, this one below was @ The Cockpit supporting Luke Pickett (Courtesy of Lexington Photography)... 

AshleyHicklin-SupportingLukePickett.jpg

In other news, i've been chatting to Jon Uren from Fruitcake Music Management (home of Tom McRae, Thea Gilmour, Kevin Devine, Jim Bianco etc..), a singer-songwriter focused label and management company. Jon took an interest in my material during my Leeds 'Bright Young Things' showcase back in 2006, and has now requested a copy of my proposed debut album. He's currently looking to expand the management side of things, so we're planning a meeting and gig event in the not too distant future.

I've also been talking to one of my all time heros - a chap called Simon Hale (he's a string arranger for the likes of Duncan Sheik & Ian Brown). Oh my word what a nice chap! He compared me to Duncan and really likes my material which is a massive massive personal compliment. Speechless... 

Think that's all for now, over and out, Blogster Ash x

Leeds Metropolitan University Newspaper 'The Met Lime' have selected 'Never Say Never' as single of the week, beating the likes of Ben's Brother, MIT, Lightspeed Champion and Gallows!!! 7000 copies of the paper have gone out and myspace hits have been on the up since it's publication which is nice!

The track below, 'One More Step', was recorded as part of the 'Never Say Never' EP by Bruce Woods, of which I have just finished mixing! Posted another couple of demo tracks from the album too if anyone's interested...  

Just about finished a long string of successful gig dates in and around Leeds and have sold-out of CD's which is wicked. Looking forward to the on-line digital release, which I'm yet to negotiate an actual date for, but will post once confirmed. Hopefully going to play one of James Lambert-Martin's nights in London soon so will keep everyone posted on that front too. Should be fun.     

Ta-Ta 4 now! AH x

Fortunately finding a specialist music lawyer is not as hard as I thought it would be; Paul (my manager) has been involved in the music industry sorting out royalty and accounts disputes for about 25 years, so he knows the who's who and the most suitable choices.

I think it's really important to get a good lawyer on board from an early stage - they can even help secure a deal - they know who's signing what, and frankly, labels can't afford to ignore what their lawyers are telling / selling them. Ignore your lawyer's phone calls and he might not do you justice when it really counts.

Thus, i've been hardcore plugging (again), and received an email from Richard Hoare at Clintons (the entertainment lawyers) requesting live London dates yesterday which is a real boost. So i'm on the case booking some as we speak!

James Collins from Collins-Long is also very keen to get involved. Will post more as this progresses... It's really important I get someone that understands what i'm doing and that I really get along with.

This last week has literally been manic! There's been a lot going on in the Ashley Hicklin camp! I've had requests for copies of my proposed debut album 'Parrysland' from three A&R reps (Sam Gregory from Warners, Gordon Charlton from Universal and Jimmy Smith at Parlophone) and also Bob Miller & his crew at the Running Media Group (home of the lovely Corinne Bailey Rae may I add!)

I've also been setting up a few live solo sets in the big smoke via Tony Moore at the Bedlam. Will keep you all posted. Here's an acoustic recording of 'Live and Breathe' to give you an idea of what to expect live...

In the words of Nancy Meyers, "Something's gotta give!"

Received a very nice email from the chaps at XL Talent yesterday, asking if I'd be interested in co-writing with the fantabulous John Fortis (who has written on the debut albums of Paolo Nutini & Razorlight). We're gonna have a little chat and take it from there...

Thank goodness my constant plugging over the last few months is gradually starting to pay itself off!    

This song 'Never Say Never' is a proposed single, a song that won us the title of Leeds 'Bright Young Things'. It was recorded with Bruce Woods (Nightmares on Wax, The Cribs) and features the full band (string quartet, drums, bass, guitars & vox). It was completed in a wee few rushed hours, then distributed to 14,000 people with copies of The Leeds Guide! - Big love and smiley faces to Leeds City Council for funding all of such, & Bruce! :):):) 

Compilation CD

Never Say Never

Ashley Hicklin & The Troubadours

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Over the last 3 weeks i've been fortunate enough to get in the studio with mixing engineer Tim Speight (McFly, Steps, Blue, S-Club-7), who has done a cracking job mixing some of my new and old material. Myself and Andrew Brothwell (of Vessels fame) recorded the tracks at Leeds College of Music in their brand spanking new studios on a beaut of an analogue Toft desk. We then invited Tim in to work his magic. Interesting to hear what you all think of this recording of 'Memories and Faces'...

Many thanks to Tim (http://www.spag.tv/tracks_mixed_and_mastered.php), Andy & Leeds College of Music  :) 

ure legendary xx Ashmeister xx

Thanks to all those who came down to support us at the Faversham last night. For all those wondering what the strange instruments were on stage, Sian is my new 'Clarsach' player (a Troubadour Harp) and Johno was playing the Cajon (a latin-esque box drum thing-a-me-jig!) I'm really digging these new additions to The Troubadours. Please come and see us soon :)  AH