Claudine West 2019, blogging, composer, creativity, music

Where these mystical roads lead

We were travelling at night in the rain through Sherwood Forest Country. The skyline glowed with the orange city lights. Eerie. The flooded roads, as dark as addiction in denial, manipulation failures and that empty bitterness of self pitying rejection for some.  Opportunity knocks for all of us when we travel along the road of hope, good omens and vision. Friday night the Harvest Moon had shone brightly. Enlightened and changing times. Synchronicity and gratitude always. You all know who you are.

It’s all been positively busy the last month. Shutting one door when it came to the end of the road felt like a demon lifted from my soul. Diplomacy from my part. The escape. The casualties of departures that didn’t take advantage of opportunities lie bitter in ignoreland. With various projects on the go. I’m excited going into the autumn. Beautiful rustic colors.  a nip in the air. 

Last weekend. (14th & 15th September) I performed 4 sets of my Earth Tree Healing music at Newark Showground, Lizian Events Well Being Show. In the sunny garden. Tired out from a busy working no duvet days off for a while. Reinvigorated in the sunshine and creatively. My tools of communication = my instruments. Again, I am grateful meeting intriguing, spiritual folks. Fluke loop pedals, reptilians, crop circles, the Brexit pantomime….Belonging is a feeling I cherish. (Being one of the non fitter inners in the world.) Thank you Liz and Ian and the community for opportunities.

Reiki practice and meditation is helping a chilled out Claud with a positive, strong mindset.

I’m expanding my Library music portfolio.

Pond5

With my Earth Tree Healing single ‘Ethereal Sunset 432 Hz (Boho Mix) out on the 20th September. Followed by album ‘Western Mystical Tradition’ is released 28th September.

https://linktr.ee/earthtreehealing

enlight41

Another exciting new project will be unearthed publicly soon… winkety winner winky wink. Watch my instagram for sneaky stinking previews. @claudsville

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Not forgetting a big thank you for all the hard work uniquely gifted Angela Barker does behind the scenes for continued evolution, success and support for others. https://angelabarkertarot.com/

Love and Light ~ Claudine

 

 

 

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Claudine West Conspiracies, Dreams, music

The Apocalypse of Dark Secrets

How did this turn into such horror….???? After playing a gig at The DH Lawrence Festival with dry ice. We ended up back our ours talking people’s dark secrets, conspiracies, truths over a few bottles of “d d d d d d d d d..Prosecco” and kebabs. With our imminant debut Strange Currencies album about to be released. We discussed why we are the monsters… ‘Making Monsters‘


… I was descending down a hill on a bus with fog surrounding the trees. It was so vivid and white. Quite beautiful, I took a photo.

A rabid monkey thing suddenly jumped on the bus and started attacking us all. I was grabbing and flinging them off.

Then this world around us changed. So began the decimation.

This was the beginning of the apocalypse. We were holed up in a house. I was summoned outside. Just me…. A tribe/gang were waiting.

 

I discovered they were after Ange. Will Robinson (music promoter from I’m Not From London) held them off by delaying then.

We initially escaped. Travelled north and ate tapas. Finding the label of something lovely in a jar stating Sainsbury’s. I made a mental note to get some.

For some idiotic reason we ended up back at that house. They came back. With fishing rods this time. Surrounding us, trying to blend in. I ran to the room where she sat. Defeated. I said “Fill your pockets with crystals”

Even thought they wanted to kill Ange. (As she owed them and hadn’t paid up) They didn’t know what she looked like though. We escaped via a lilo and got dragged through the sea grasping onto another boat.

Driven by some form of terminator robot thing. We ended up beached on a sand bank with washed up ships full of live fish..

I woke gasping, then counting my blessings. This is all in an average nights dream session. I could live these lives and if I never woke. That would be my eternal reality. A mind sponge that the subconscious goes rabid with! #howmydreamsgetmade dry ice = fog. The monkeys things must have mutated from watching ‘Men In Black’ last night had lunch yesterday at The Full Moon Pub in Morton. Eating a really tasty starter of olives, bread, balsamic vinegar and (the red jar in dream I suspect) sundried tomatoes mixed up with olive oil. Commenting how lush it was and we should make at home. With me also watching a lot of hurricane footage (stranded ships) my constant need to escape. (lots of career changing/concentration of music making discussions and action taken lately a big need for change and day job motivation) The clarity is rewl. Even though my eyes now are adjusting in my 40 from short vision to long vision. I’m not ready for bifocals or seperate reading glasses yet. So suffer a sligh blurr.  Ange calls me ‘Old Bitch!’ We chorle as my hair greys a little more. As the need for adventure and escape to the country grows. Action is taken towards this… With a little help from the universe and law of attraction ofcourse…I find it incredibly draining and at times soul destroying doing day job and my passion and calling. But the bills have to be paid and I’m lucky to work in a decent job where I get looked after.

With all other dream fuel drip fed, blended and spat out… I now need to record more meditation music to calm my arse!

The dark secrets.. well you know your truth.. don’t you. 
Enjoy

My Meditation Music Links

Claudine West 2017, alternative, multi-instrumentalist, music, musician

Becoming Moons

Becoming Moons is the new album by Multi-Instrumentalist & Songwriter Claudine West. From the debris from a galactic collision.. Comes something whole. Alternative rock with acoustic colours. Avante garde explorations, therapy, spillings, worries, dreams and meanings. Album cover comes from a guitar art piece.

This project; It’s an evolving beast. A song will be added each month until completion. Track 1.  January 2017 saw the release of single and first song ‘Mantaray.’

Joanna Thompson “Mind-blowing harmonies, the most beautifuliest of lyrics constructed so perfectly. really impressive work, you’ve real skill, keep it up and i know you’ll soar!”

A video by Claudine West accompanies this:

A strong believer in recycling. A rejected song ‘Automatic’ from band Strange Currencies Claudine had recorded the music for, was edited, with new lyrics and Claudine’s vocals.

Track 2. February 2017

THE FEAR THE FEAR THE FEAR 

THE FEAR THE FEAR THE FEAR. Skirts lyrically around anxiety, paranoia and anger. Backed by a rock alternative musical core. A reflection lyrically of feeling felt during the day of writing and recording it.

Track 3. March 2017

Good Omens (We Are Termites)

becoming-moons-2017

Claudine West music

Strange Currencies Beginnings

Travelling full throttle into exciting times.

PP Johnson and I are working on and writing songs. We will be demoing while recruiting the final line up. New projects keep the fulfillment and variety. One gets ask what this band’s sound gonna be? Well under the umbrella of Rock. But not like the last bands I’ve been in. The freedom and ability to be creative, experiment, indulge is a fine thing.

As the new Strange Currencies official website and social media evolves. We will put up videos, blogs etc.

We are working on Unusual Haunts:

Compare once the band version is done.

and the instrumental

Vocals ripsaw into the essence of vibrations. With the stunning raw vocals and passion of PP Johnson. Blues/Rock/Funk drumming of Claudine West (Multi-Instrumentalist extraordinaire) Songwriting talents that produce things from the dark, the light and in between. Strange Currencies are the band that you always wanted to be in.. Sweetness follows..

Strange Currencies official website

https://strangecu.wordpress.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/strangecu/

Twitter https://twitter.com/strangecu

@strangecu

~ Claudine

Claudine West 2016, music, news

Pilgrim Promo Number #2 NewsFlash

Under the heading Original Rock Band with Psychedelic Funk & 70’s Soul.  Nottingham Unsigned band Subway Circus are about to go back into studio to record part 2 of their 2016 debut album ‘Pilgrim Commuter‘

Excited? Hell Yes!

Rather good live too! IMG_5543

http://www.subwaycircus.com/gigs/

Links

https://soundcloud.com/ubwayircus

 

Twitter @subwaycircus https://twitter.com/subwaycircus

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/subwaycircus

http://subwaycircus.com/

Claudine West live, music, musicians, production, Rock Music, songwriting, subway circus

Songwriting 

Composition
/kɒmpəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/
Bear with….To construct and deconstruct an idea is one of the most rewarding things a songwriter and musician does. The aftermath is a performance of said idea. The recording and capture.
There are many ‘jukebox’ bands and artists that simply cover others good work, some do it well. Some are cringeworthy.  I’m sure there are lots of talented musicians that are visual iTunes mini players.  Its super duper some make a fair living off performing week in week out. Nice! Hobbies are fun aren’t they? Familiarity favours applause. When attending a recent event. Comments were made that did not favour original bands. A moan at the lack of ‘covers.’ (3 words for you Sunshine. 1. Hung 2. Drawn. 3. Quartered)  I love watching bands. Being in this one (Subway Circus) we do a reworked version of Mad World. We have our guilty indulgences too.
 Subway Circus YouTube maybe a rocked up ‘Jolene’ will emerge one day.  We did tinker with ‘Rain.’
Having seen The Cult live recently (29th March, Rock City, Nottingham). I think I’ll leave it at that.
Copying is flattery.
They were supported by the band Broken Hands. Lovely bunch of lads. We purchased their new album ‘Turbulance.’ Its on rotation in the car.
broken hands
Playing to an empty room with disinterested folk is job satisfaction in a basket ;-0 Seen as a rehearsal performance out of the rehearsal room- Minus the vulgarity, Rainbow Bungle, George and Zippy impressions (making me cough up my ovaries) banter and frolics. Have you seen Bungles Twanger?
Processed with MOLDIV
http://www.subwaycircus.com
So what is the secret of writing songs?  Meeting your maker, inspiration, booze,drugs, booze, meditation, luck, structure, key changes, talent, creativity, satanic rituals, sacrifice, alien autopsies, tips from higher powers?
What make a hit? Catchiness, riffs, hooks, hocus pocus,  promotion, investment, formula, attractiveness, image.
 Sometimes the least favourite song one makes becomes the most popular. They you are stuck with performing it forever more. When even the thought of ever listening to it again in this lifetime makes the black plague seem an easy way out.
Of course you can also get signed (apparently is possible if you tick the criteria they desire yes!) Or use puppets! Sell out, change your sounds, get writers in, sing out of key, try to act hard, hang out with the big bad boys and be opinionated, get moulded, produced, marketed then probably dropped. Never play in your hometown where you were once humble and playing to nobody. But you know what? Puppets have good times!
You can sit or stand there with a guitar, a piano, a thought, a lyric, a loop, a rhythm. As a band we jam. It begins with simply that. Paul on guitar will introduce a riff, or ‘Speed’ our Bassist with come up with a bassline. Drums follow by myself, or begin. PP sings ideas. We have written a song from a vocal.  I like to document the process. I’ll be able to take a wonderful trip down memory lane after. I’m unable to show the jam of ‘Razorface’ we made last night..Sorry. We will of course showcase when done.
Songs are sounds, notes, chords, tones, melodies, rhythms. Songs are beauty. Songs are orgasm, Zen, Eden, The Celestine Prophecy, exorcism. They birth Demons. This is how they roll.
How do we do it? We have begun writing our 2nd album…It may be Unusual..It may be Haunting… We are soon to be going into studio for the 2nd session to finish our debut album.  Yes 2 sessions  = album.  Later in 2016 we will record our 2nd EP. ‘The Law.’
We have been playing our instruments for a number of years and practice weekly. Invested. If you invest time and effort you tend to get competent. If you are lucky enough to be gifted. There is your Brucie Bonus! We record live with guide vocal. With some vocal overdubs. Its in the bag. quick, raw easy. Indulgence in lots of instruments is kept for the home studio and solo work. That solo work births songs and ideas. Watch this very space.
From live recordings
To home studio
Go with your flow… be free, in order to do that. Relax and open yourself. Channel the vibes. Like meditation set your intent.  Pressure and writer’s block are a curse of the creative. Be inspired by the good and the bad, be inspired by boredom, politics, the news.  Pick a chord, hum a melody write a thought, a poem, improvise begin the begin. Make something beautiful for you. Record your favourite song, turn yourself on. Intro-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-chorus-chorus-end. Go crazy change the time signature and key half way through. I found sitting on the toilet scribbling lyrics on bog roll useful. Nowadays the advancement in technology means I can type it or dictate to my phone.
I’m a big improviser. I really do just go with the flow. I experiment with looping a rhythm, playing my acoustic until I like a chord structure. Vocals. I’ve been free flow lyric writing lately. (Writing as a go to listening the track) Whereas years ago I used to mainly write the lyrics first. Write stories, be the protagonist, write the things you can’t speak. Everyone has heard 1000 songs about love lost. Add a twist. Give it a serial killer, write about your crazy surreal dreams. Write about the bitter snooker hall bulldog chewing a wasp, who has caused parking inconvenience. Let the ghost in the machine take hold of your soul and spout out words that pop into your head and come from your hands. Even if they are not in the dictionary! Read stuff, get inspired. Learn a few words. Use the rhyming dictionary.

I scribble A-Z and rhyme to each letter. Even if it makes me dribble. Let it out. Do you think I know what this is about?  and I wrote it….;-0

‘Tokyo at Mohive, Chrono las over
Highway a night drive
Imploding supernova

Molasses in the spring with Olaf
Birds of paradise in the garden

Nephilim in darkness
Corroded movers
They shake new world orders
Roll it under, Make it thunder
Break the man in two

Machina took it out on toucan
The words and menopause
The losers in the blue room
Empty wards have active soul wanderers’

Piano, keyboards, synth strings, bass, banjo, mandolin.  Hooks, meat grinders, grate a courgette add …Sitar….. http://www.claudinewestmusic.com

In a Band? Just jam ideas, work on them. Play nicely, communicate, compromise. From a seed spawns a song. Dictatorships make for unhappy puppies. If your dictator is a genius? make your choice: Stick with, earn big then have an almighty fall out and make a solo record. Or leave on principle, struggle but be creatively happy. Or just look for the right people. That may mean lots of fails and a few winners. Fate deals its hand too incase you didn’t mind.
~ Claudine

Links

https://soundcloud.com/ubwayircus

Twitter @subwaycircus https://twitter.com/subwaycircus

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/subwaycircus

http://subwaycircus.com/

 

Claudine West blogging, music, songwriting

Read this! Into bliss.

The flat line of silence is unbecoming. Have you ever had a dream where you are performing an amazing song? The shadows watch from the sidelines. I still don’t wish to make amends with the past. Those shadows still watch in the waking world. I bang the drum, a different rhythm than I’m used to. The keyboard player was filming the birth of this baby during his performance. It was organ like and organic with an acoustic guitar. Others were present too, ghosts and vocals. But it’s all just a blur. Flowed on a different plane. Who that keyboard play is, was lost when I awoke. I cannot remember the rhythm. Maybe a soundtrack to a movie about finding yourself. The discovery and elation of travelling the right road. The subconscious is a magic maker. Tap into it and explore a whole new universe. The sign at my crossroads was a mirror on the wall. Oh the reflections…

I recall the old days of listening back to that days recording efforts. Stoned. Hearing new things, frequencies. Like a golden glow coated the track. Staying up all night analysing lyrics about want, obsession. The whisky and vodka relaxed inspired takes. Chain smoking Marlboro Reds. All night sessions are great when you are young. The body handles it better. Does sobriety bother me now?  Clear heads help one enjoy the mornings. The escape, the thrill is the music. Drugs and booze just numbed it eventually. Fun though. Nothing to prove, or ‘brag’ about. The dark times are but a memory. The recovery spanned a decade.

I’m sitting here with a cup of tea getting rather excited about our next session. Ive just been sent a bunch of new ideas. Basslines sent via dropbox. Then the guitar and drums and lyrics come. What came first? The chicken or the egg? There are no rules. There is the energy that channels through you. There is the true connection between musician and instrument. The vortex of creativity that sucks you inside, into bliss. When I look upon you from the stage. I read your eyes, your moves. I feel your energy. Then I get lost in the vibrations of sound. The adrenalin truly is the natural drug of choice. What does it for you?

The last jigsaw piece, A committed vocalist, will slot in pretty soon. I did manage to phone Dave our Bass player in my coat pocket yesterday. He text me asking what the underwater sounds answer machine message was? Womb and heartbeats! The second person of the day to get my pocket stalking.

I spent last year writing and recording meditation music, then a solo album. In between rehearsing and writing Subway Circus ditties. That will be unearthed. From new age, to folk/pop to rock music keep things nicely varied. Evolution and challenges for a musician. Is the popping candy of sweetness.

≈ Claudine