New collaboration with juice!

Hello there,

Once again I'm using this blog to communicate info that doesn't fit into a tweet or a Facebook update!

 This time I wanted to let you know about a very exciting new collaboration that's in the works.

I'm aiming to develop my work with juice vocal ensemble, the utterly brilliant contemporary classical three-piece for whom I've already whipped up a remix, and a few other soon-to-be-released pieces.

To make this collaboration possible, we're raising funds via this WeFund site. 

 

Have a look, watch the video (below) and please consider contributing if you'd like to be a part of the project's success, and you'll receive all kinds of musical treats in return.

Many thanks, and hope to see you on stage soon!

Blog is back... with some big news!

Welcome to a new look blog page!

Why have I decided to bring this old blog back to life? Well, I have loads of news to share which could never fit in a Facebook post, let alone a Tweet...

My biggest news is that I have now completed my second album!

This new album is called:

"The House of Bones"

Details about the release are currently being confirmed, but expect more announcements soon.

If you'd like to discover the songs from this new record before it is unleashed later in the year, I will be performing them in my upcoming solo shows this spring... it will be a brand new stage concept for a brand new album. All kinds of music rehearsal, visual creations, costume & set designs are underway. Can't wait to perform it!

Here are the French dates:

2nd April 2011 at Point Ephémère, Paris, as part of Les Plans d'Avril arts festival.

15th April 2011 at Théâtre de La Licorne, Cannes.

16th April 2011, a special showcase at La Médiathèque de Mouans-Sartoux

I am also thrilled to announce that I have been offered the Carte Blanche at the brilliant festival Les Nuits Carrées which takes place on 1st & 2nd July 2011 in Antibes, France. This is a great honour, and I'll be sharing all the latest updates on this special event as it draws nearer, as well as the announcement of an exclusive Paris gig in June to preview this show.

If you're wondering why it's all happening in France, well... I am a Parisian after all.

But fear not, I am super excited to announce that I will playing at The Roundhouse in Camden on 20th May 2011! This is part of an excellent arts festival, and as well as my solo show there should be some collaboration with other performers on the night.

I'm also whipping up some shows in Italy and Sweden soon with two very different, but equally talented, female vocalists, both of them as a duo: une chanteuse + moi = much fun.

For all the latest news, please do come "Like" my artist page on Facebook.

Exciting Autumn!

Hello!

All kinds of exciting things are coming up this autumn, especially in the UK. Let me give y'all a quick summary.

First some signposts:

* Do keep an eye on my Facebook artist page, even if you're not on Facebook you can still see all the latest news, photos and exclusive stuff. It's like a hub for news and goodies.

* If you're not already following me on Twitter, well now is the time to hear my Tweetage!


Now here is the latest news:

* I'm playing some shows in the UK this autumn. HOORAH! I can't wait.

The big one is at the ICA in London on November 9th, with a set from my label-mate Ebb. I've dreamed of playing this venue for a long time, so I'm really chuffed! Book up your tickets soon to avoid disappointment.

* Other gigs will include Birmingham (3rd Nov) and Brighton (6th Nov) so keep your eyes peeled for ticket info on those also.

* We have some exclusive new live performance 'happenings' captured on film coming up over the next few weeks. To whet your appetites for all things BPM and LIVE, why not check out this mini-documentary by Julien Gidoin from our gigs at Le Sentier Des Halles theatre here in Paris last year.

* I've been busy creating some remixes for other artists, with the same sonic concept as my album, so only the Body, the Piano and my little Machine. The first one to be released is 'Threads' by Temposhark. I'm really pleased with it! I think of these remixes like cousins to the BPM songs on the album.

* Finally, we have been working hard on compiling 6 exclusive new versions / remixes of Tongue, my next single release. These will be packaged into 2 digital EPs, with a release pencilled in for October. I can't wait for you all to hear these mixes, as they are just brilliant. Such a thrill for me... oh, and wait 'til you see the video. It is rather special...

Anything else exciting that crops up in the world of Body-Piano-Machine you will hear about on Twitter, Facebook or by carrier pigeon.

Bye for now!

Coming soon...

I have not blogged for an eternity... but I have been using the web-platform du jour: Twitter!

You can know keep an eye my artistic endeavours by following me on Twitter itself, or just keep an eye on the widget (to the right of this page) or indeed on my MySpace page.

So, it's all getting very exciting in the build-up to the release of my album 'Body-Piano-Machine', which comes out on 27th April on Gaymonkey Records. We have a single coming out on 13th April; the song 'Flesh & Bone' the video for which you can watch in a previous blog post. The digital bundle comes with an exclusive remix by French electro-guru Leapstick, and a live track recorded last year at Point Ephemere here in Paris.

We have a massive Paris gig at the ultra-chic Nouveau Casino on the 29th April (achetez vos billets tout de suite les franciliens!) which should be a great evening: we'll celebrate the album release by performing our stage show which is not like most pop gigs... come and discover our performance and you won't be disappointed!

I've been getting some really lovely blog coverage. A big London gig is coming up too - announcement coming soon.

Please do get in touch by leaving comments here, on MySpace or indeed LastFM where you can hear more tracks from my album.

Interview + Live chez Radio Nova!

Voici l'interview avec moi et ma collaboratrice de scene, Benedicte Le Lay, et deux titres LIVE chez Radio Nova, avec Melanie Bauer pour "L'Eléphant Effervescent":

LISTEN HERE

Get Ready For The WOW

Check out the video for 'Money Note', Camille's new single which I produced with her:



Nice hula-hoop action! Mariah will be very jealous...

In other news, my on-stage participation in Camille's tour is nearly over. Just a handful of concerts left before I leave my role as pianist to concentrate fully on the overall musical arrangements for her show, and also to develop my other recording and live projects.

We are currently organising some gigs for Body-Piano-Machine for the autumn, and the album should be available around then also... so much more excitement to come before the year is over!

I'm Reborn in Flesh and Bone

Long time no blog.

I've been very hectic on tour with Camille. It's been going great - the audiences have been amazing and the show is equally electrifying for us performers. Special mention for those who came to our gigs in London and Germany. The reaction has been pheonomenal - thanks for the warm and energetic welcome! It's really energising and stimulating to experience such enthusiasm after travelling long and hard.

And also busy working on this visual treat; a video for the song "Flesh and Bone" from my forthcoming album "Body-Piano-Macine (BPM)". This song feature my on-stage collaborator Benedicte Le Lay.

It's directed by the very talented photographer and director Raphael Neal and I am thrilled with the results.

More exciting visual developments to come in preparation for the album release this coming autumn (2008).

Enjoy!

MaJiKer - Flesh and Bone
Uploaded by MaJiKerTV

Please feel free to send this video link around. It's there for your viewing pleasure!

Many, Many, Many Thanks!

Just a quick post to thank everyone who has been supporting me and my work recently.

Firstly, if you came to my recent solo show at Point Ephemere in Paris (or sent me your best wishes from afar) un grand merci! It was such a beautiful evening. I'll post some pictures and hopefully videos clips in the coming days and weeks. The audience was so enthusiastic and open to our work.

Secondly, the reaction to Camille's new tracks (from her forthcoming album "Music Hole" which I co-produced) has been overwhelmingly positive. Thanks for that! It's really great to see people getting excited about this project. It makes everything even more thrilling for me and the group as we prepare for our first live shows to know that there is an enthusiastic audience waiting to share these new sounds and sensations with us.

The single "Gospel With No Lord" has been playlisted in France on many radio stations (more than ever played Camille previously) and in the UK the song is Record of the Week on BBC Radio 6 Music. The other sneaky preview track "Money Note" seems to be provoking strong reactions in everyone who hears it, mostly enormously positive. Anyone with a sense of humour seems to 'get it' in any case!

So yes, THANKS to everyone who's supporting these projects.

A bientot in concert!

Get To The Point (FMR)

Here's the web flyer for my next show, and some info (in French)... as the biz gets busy buzzing!

"Sur scène, c'est un artiste complet: comédien, musicien, performer; le
tout exécuté au cordeau ... Terrible!"
Emmanuel de Brantes

"Wonderful performance... original, professional and entertaining."
Chànna Galhenagé - Gogoparis.com

"Voici un jeune homme qui bouscule le panorama d'une pop routinière, à
suivre de très près."
Remy Kolpa Kopoul


Après avoir marché sur Le Fil de Camille, MaJiKer présente aujourd'hui un concert live et unique, avant goût appétissant de son premier album à venir: Body-Piano-Machine (BPM).

Cet auteur et producteur anglais de 27 ans travaille et vit à Paris depuis 2005, date de la sortie de l'album de Camille Le Fil (qu'il a co-réalisé). Depuis la fin de la tournée internationale du Fil, il a produit les albums (à venir) de jeunes auteurs et interprètes : Sacha Bernardson (de Bordeaux), Mélissa Laveaux (d'Ottowa) ainsi que le 3eme album (Music Hole) de Camille. Parallèlement à cela, il a trouvé le temps d'enregistrer son premier album solo et d'en créer un événement scénique innovant.

Trois instruments, trois sources, trois couleurs:

Rouge, le sang qui bat dans nos veines, notre boite à rythme interne, la percussion primaire et incessante de notre corps humain.
Du ton le plus profond du Blues au saphir Rhapsody, le piano; une invention classique qui dénote sophistication et mélancolie.
Décoré de vert électrique, le clavier d'enfant: Yamaha PSS 270, affiche le nom de ses sons absurdes et programmés. A l'intérieure de la machine, les câbles sont soudés dans sa chair d'émeraude.

Sur scène comme dans son album, ces 3 instruments sont les seuls a être entendus dans ses chansons . C'est une bataille entre chair, bois et plastique, entre veines entremêlées, cordes et câbles; un triptyque homogène: the Body, the Piano, the Machine.

Pour cet événement, Bénédicte Le Lay, artiste de scène, a collaboré avec MaJiKer dans la mise en scène. Elle sera aussi interprète théâtrale, explorant et enrichissant les concepts et textures des morceaux à travers mouvements, création d'images et de textes.

MaJiKer
Body-Piano-Machine - Live Performance
avec Bénédicte Le Lay - special guests include Camille
le 04 mars 2008
à 20h30
Entrée - 12 euros
Réservations aux points de ventes habituels (avec commission)

Point Ephemere
200 quai de Valmy
75010 Paris
http://www.pointephemere.org/
www.myspace.com/majiker

Video Killed The Ma-a-Ji-Ker

Some more cheekily random video clips!

All Eyes On...

Check out these cheeky little video clips to promote and tease you for my forthcoming gig at Point Ephemere.

Make sure you reserve. your tickets before the big night: la salle est petite!

Happy New Ears

Happy New Year, one and all!

2008 is already presenting some exciting opportunities to transmit body/piano/machine sounds to open ears.

Firstly, I have my next concert for Body-Piano-Machine booked up and tickets are now on sale! It's at the great venue, Point Ephemere (Paris 10eme) on 4th March 2008. I'll post more info and news about this show in due course, but for anyone who wants to book their tickets before it's too late, click here:

FNAC Spectacles

or

France Billet

Watch this space for some sneaky teasers of my upcoming show.

Secondly, preparations are well underway for the launch of Camille's 3rd album, 'Music Hole' which I produced with her. To kick things off, we've been preparing a live performance on Taratata France's biggest and best live music show. All I can say is 'expect the unexpected'!

Lastly, keep an eye (and an ear) on Maya Barsony, as her fabulous new album should be released in early spring. I co-composed a song with Maya for the album which is packed with funky francophonic pop tunes.

More soon.

Mains d'Oeuvres Memories

Have a look at some videos and photos taken by a couple of audience members from my first live show on the 29th November 2007 at Mains d'Oeuvres (Saint Ouen). I'll try to upload some better quality clips later. Watch this space.

It was a really great evening. The audience was so enthusiastic and really seemed to follow us on our mysterious and MaJiKal journey into the heart of the Body-Piano-Machine.



Special thanks to Camille and Maya Barsony who joined us for their fabulous Dreamgirls-style routine in the grand finale.



My collaborator, Benedicte Le Lay was brilliant. It's a privelege to be involved in such a creative and fulfilling collaboration.



Check out this clip show by someone in the audience where a small dog enthusiasticly barks at the start, and then later I create a loop which is spectacularly out-on-tune on the first note (I think I just about get away with it...?). Oh yeah and watch that green sweat drip down my cheek. It's all action with me, init?

MAJIKER A SAINT OUEN
Uploaded by Sa-brina

Some more pics:








Thanks to everyone who came, and hope to see you at the next show, probably in late January / early February 2008.

Nova & No Nerves

Well my first solo show for "Body-Piano-Machine" is tomorrow and everything is coming together smoothly. Final rehearsals and soundcheck today. I'm especially excited to be performing with Camille and Maya (Barsony) together! It's gonna be crazy fun, all that energy on one small stage...

I'm not especially nervous, just very excited. Maybe it will hit me tomorrow... or 10 minutes before I go on stage.

I had a really enthusiastic article written about my album by Remy Kolpa Koupol who works at Nova , the most interesting radio station in France.

Check it out (en francais);

Jeudi 29 novembre 2007
Concert - Paris
Majiker (Chansong Organic & Synthetic)

Vous vous rappelez "Le Fil" qui courait sur le disque de Camille (c'était le titre de son album). Le voici, en spaghetti électrique multicolore, sur la pochette du disque imminent de Majiker. Pas par hasard, le Britiche parisien est le clavier et producteur de ladite Camille. Un album délicieusement foutraque, "Body-piano-machine", tout un monde à partir d'un mini-clavier Yamaha, d'un maxi-piano et de voix empilées en équilibre salutairement instable, du mélodique à l'human beat box. Voici un jeune homme qui bouscule le panorama d'une pop routinière, à suivre de très près.


20h (6 €)

Mains d'Œuvres - Saint-Ouen
1 rue Charles Garnier - 93400 Saint-Ouen (M° Garibaldi)
Tél : 01 40 11 25 25
http://www.mainsdoeuvres.org

Ice

Just a quick update, as I've been neglecting my Blog duties somewhat in the midst of a very hectic period.

I am here in Iceland mixing my "top secret project" (otherwise known as the new Camille album). It's all going great - we are working with Valgeir Sigurðsson as the mix engineer, whose album I wrote about in a previous post. It's pretty tranquil here, occasionally rainy, always chilly, but wonderfully exciting to hear the album come together.

And no, sorry to disappoint anyone, but we have not employed the 'Red Army Choir' to provide a polyphony of burps and farts as a rhythmical counterpoint to Camille's songs, but bravo to the inventive soul who concocted that rumour.

If only it were feasible...


By the way, if you are planning on coming to my show at Mains d'Oeuvres on 29th November 2007, please do reserve your tickets by emailing bodypianomachine@gmail.com. The venue is small and if you don't reserve you will not be guarenteed entry to the show. You have been warned!

Very Special Guests Confirmed

I am most pleased to announce that the special guests for my show ("Body-Piano-Machine - LIVE PERFORMANCE") have been confirmed.

They are:

Camille, , my long-term collaborator and friend with whom I produced 'Le Fil', as well as her new album (release planned for March 2008)

Bénédicte Le Lay , a theatre maker who has helped me develop the mise-en-scene of the whole show and who performs on stage with me throughout.

and

Maya Barsony, , with whom I have composed a couple of songs for possible inclusion on her forthcoming album. She's a French pop phenomenon waiting to explode when her album drops in early 2008. Ah oui...!



All three ladies have recorded their own 'featuring' songs for my album, and so I'm thrilled that they will be contributing to varying degrees on stage at my debut live show.

So if you haven't already done so, reserve your tickets now, for just 6 euros each:

bodypianomachine@gmail.com

Check out the press release below. C'est en francais bien sur!

--------------------------------------------

MaJiKer + special guests
Body-Piano-Machine - Live performance
le 29 novembre 2007
a 20h00
Entree = 6 euros
Reservations par email: bodypianomachine@gmail.com

Mains D'oeuvres
1 rue Charles Garnier
93400 Saint-Ouen
Metro: Garibaldi (ligne 13) / Porte de Clignancourt (ligne 4)
www.mainsdoeuvres.org

Apres avoir marché sur Le Fil de Camille, MaJiKer présente aujourd'hui un concert live et unique, avant goût appétissant de son premier album à venir: "Body-Piano-Machine (BPM)".


Cet auteur et producteur anglais de 27 ans travaille et vit à Paris depuis 2005, date de la sortie de l'album de Camille "Le Fil" (qu'il a co-réalisé).
Depuis la fin de la tournée internationale du Fil, il a produit les albums (à venir) de jeunes auteurs et interprètes :
Sacha Bernardson (de Bordeaux), Mélissa Laveaux (d'Ottowa) ainsi que le 3ieme album (à venir) de Camille.
Parallèlement à cela, il a trouvé le temps d'enregistrer son premier album solo et d'en créer un événement scénique innovant:

Trois instruments, trois sources, trois couleurs

Rouge, le sang qui bat dans nos veines, notre boite à rythme interne, la percussion primaire et incessante de notre corps humain.

Du ton le plus profond du Blues au saphir Rhapsody, le piano; une invention classique qui dénote sophistication et mélancolie.

Décoré de vert électrique, le clavier d'enfant: Yamaha PSS 270, affiche le nom de ses sons absurdes et programmés. A l'intérieure de la machine, les câbles sont soudés dans sa chair d'émeraude.

Sur scène comme dans son album, ces 3 instruments sont les seuls a être entendus dans ses chansons . C'est une bataille entre chair, bois et plastique, entre veines entremêlées, cordes et câbles; un triptyque homogène: the Body, the Piano, the Machine.

Pour cet événement, Benedicte Le Lay, artiste de scène, a collaboré avec MaJiKer dans la mise en scène. Elle sera aussi interprète théâtrale, explorant et enrichissant les concepts et textures des morceaux à travers mouvements, création d'images et de textes.

Equilibrium is Experienced

My 'top secret' project, which entailed 2 weeks in a studio in central Paris recording all manner of weird and wonderful noises from the human body and its interaction with a few carefully chosen artefacts, has unfolded most thrillingly. A lot more work to do with her (or him etc.) in October.


I had the privilege and pleasure of working with Valgeir Sigurðsson as sound engineer for this project. Yesterday I listened to his own album ‘Ekvílibríum’ on my creaky old Discman (yes, yes, I’ll get an iPod when I know I’ll use it) whilst walking up the Montmartre hill to Sacré Coeur. It just so happened that I landed on track 7, ‘Equilibrium is Restored’ as I reached the summit, and as my eyes were filled with the eternally breath-taking vista of all Paris unfurling beneath me. Buy Valgeir’s album, and experience your own out of body experience.

As I focused on the glimmering gold angels of the Opéra Garnier I saw a strange object float up into the sky – it was kind of shuffling side-to-side, all the time climbing. I concluded it must be a pair of black helium balloons. As they darted off ever-upwards into the late afternoon sunshine, I enjoyed a truly mesmerising moment as sound and image combined to magical effect. Takk fyrir Valgeir!

Pop Goes The Concept

This week I’ve taken some exciting steps forward in most of my current projects. And yes, I shall use asterisk bullet points.

* Final preparations were made for studio sessions next week for a certain top secret project that must remain secret or else it won’t be a secret anymore. I think I’ve already said more than I should have.



* I recorded all the bass parts for the album I’m producing for Canadian-Haitian singer/songwriter Melissa Laveaux. The man for the job was Martin Gamet with whom I performed on Camille’s tour in 2005 - 2006. Here’s a little sneaky peak of how funky Mr Gamet is and what a great voice Ms Laveaux has... Break it down now:



Melissa Laveaux - 'Tiptoe' (work-in-progress, bass and vocal clip)




* Finally, and this is my big news… I can proudly announce that I have booked the venue for the first ever concert for my own project Body-Piano-Machine (BPM)! It’s going to be 29th November 2007 at Mains d’Oeuvres in St Ouen (5 mins walk from the northern limits of Paris.) This is obviously enormously thrilling and slightly daunting for me, especially as I do not yet have a show to perform. But hey, I’ll worry about that later.

Helping me to create and develop the performance and featuring on stage in a performative capacity will be Bénédicte Le Lay , a theatre maker with whom I studied at Dartington College of Arts . We are collaborating to create a performance that lies somewhere between contemporary theatre and a pop concert, which seems appropriate considering the nature of my album.

I’m actually massively inspired by concept in pop music, especially when it forces the creators to explore new ground in their lyrics, arrangements or structures. The usual suspects could be listed but did you know that one of the most persistent exponents of Pop With A Concept was Donna Summer? Check out I Remember Yesterday, where Ms Summer adds a twist to her disco universe by adding in sounds from the 40's , 50's and 60's on the first three songs respectively. She ended the album with a track representing ‘The Future’ and so successful was her conceptual challenge that this track still sounds futuristic 30 years later. That track was I Feel Love. So if ever proof were needed that having a conceptual approach to making pop music can lead to marvellously creative results, then there we have it.

Blogs and Bangles

Hello, Bonjour etc.

Welcome to my brand new blog.

My name is MaJiKer, . I am a music producer and songwriter, as well as a stage performer. I've worked with several artists, including French singer/songriter Camille, whose award-winning album Le Fil, I produced with her. I've also recently finished my own album entitled "Body-Piano-Machine (BPM)" which you can preview on my MySpace page. I'll fill you in on some of my other collaborations in due course... watch this space! Well, more accurately, READ THIS BLOG.

I want to use this blog not only to share my opinions on and analyses of certain pieces of music that have thrilled or challenged me, but also to share some of my experiences as my various collaborations and projects unfold.

Having massively enjoyed reading the brilliant Nico Muhly's blog, when I randomly woke up one morning with the following song by The Bangles, in my head, I just knew that I should create my own corner of the web to share my musings with others:

The Bangles - 'If She Knew What She Wants' (1986)


Things to note in this song (aside from the shockingly poor grammar):

* The gorgeous backing vocals (BV's) that characterise so much of The Bangles' work, apparently inspired by The Beach Boys, were most likely what lured this song into my dream-based subconscious, as rich contrapuntal backing harmonies are a passion of mine.

* There is a stark contrast in interpretation and texture between the almost robot-like backing vocals and the girly, dynamic lead, a contrast that is accentuated splendidly when the two lines reunite in unison at the end of the first line in this clip ("fine, fine fine") and again with "nothing from mine".

* The catchy backing vocal part for the chorus is teased in the calmer 'breakdown' chorus, by stripping the BV's down to a unison line "he'd be giving it to her" etc. so that when the full harmony version come back on "he can pretend to give her everything" the effect is positively orgasmic! Well, maybe that's just my reaction...

* The genius decision to leaves the BV's on their own at the end without the lead so that (as in Britney's "Baby... One More Time") the listener can latch on to both the lead and the BV part, making the song twice as catchy, and giving even the casual pop listener a taste of the joy of counterpoint

OK, well a first post about The Bangles can't be all bad, non? Please feel free to leave some comments below.

Where we go from here, you'll have to wait and see...




*