So here it is, the lead song from my new Distance EP – Someone to Love. Out next week on Bandcamp (or if you can’t wait, then here, right now!) [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCPFvFcYoXk&w=853&h=480] All four videos for the EP are playlisted here
First review of the Distance EP
From the Noisetrade blog: “If you dig the melodic, new wave side of alt-rock (with a heavy dash of quirky charm), Captain Wilberforce just might become one of your new favorite bands. Much like Elvis Costello and Randy Newman, Captain Wilberforce pairs cheery, upbeat musicality with darker, acerbic lyrics. While a song title like “The Johnny Depp Memorial Cafe” alerts …
You Can’t Have Me
Time for video number 3: levelling with you, probably my fourth favourite video of the four, but I do like the song, especially the insane piano skills of Mr Ric Neale. Will a jigsaw keep your interest while listening? I don’t know. Cut me some slack, I’ve got a miniscule budget here!! If you like it though, tell people. Comment. You …
Early EP release via Noisetrade
Well here’s a turn-up for the books – I was planning on a 20th Oct release for the Distance EP via Bandcamp but Noisetrade (I’m very happy to report) have jumped the gun and picked the EP out to promote on the front page of their site. This is a pretty big deal as Noisetrade have hundreds of thousands of …
Top Ten ways to help me out! Part 2
So here are some of the best ways to spread the word about my music*. If you do any / all of these you will have my undying thanks forever. If you don’t however, you are dead to me^. 5. Review my songs on Amazon / or CD baby Nice reviews, or absolute slatings work best. 4. Word of Mouth …
Top Ten ways to help me out! Part 1
Times are hard – no-one (apart from Russian billionaires) have any spare cash to spend on “under the radar” alt-pop bands. And they rarely do. So, how can you help me out on a zero budget? Let us count the ways* – here are numbers 10 to 6. (5 to 1 tomorrow – can you stand the suspense?) 10. Post content …
The Johnny Depp Memorial Cafe
Here’s video number two, Three weeks til the ‘Distance EP’ is released; this time created with the help of Alex and Aimee who guided me through the intricacies of Minecraft and laughed at my ineptness! Who can spot all the times I lost control of the little flying man? Anyhoo, you can really help spread the word on the ol’ social media by …
Good Times, You Said
So, here we are then, a month before my new EP is released. Want a taster? Here’s the video for Good Times, You Said; I’d love your comments. Also please tell anyone you think might be vaguely interested ;o) [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7hkO8v9aiI&w=853&h=480]
Help Dorothea set sail!
Avant Garde-Pop producer / Svengali / Captain Wilberforce collaborator and all round good egg David Lawrie has a new album on the cusp of release – I’ve heard it and it’s very, very good. Don’t just take my word for it: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVuiJwalKLk&w=560&h=315] Why am I telling you this, apart from sheer excitement? Well, seems he’s running a Kickstarter project …
Messing with Sondre Lerche…
Sondre Lerche is my favourite Norwegian Pop Star – yes, even with all that competition. So when he put the stems of his new single Bad Law up on Soundcloud for anyone to remix, I thought, why not? It’s not like I’ve got anything on at the moment, like a new EP release to manage, videos to create, new …
Distance EP released in October
So finally, the Distance EP will be available to download on Oct 20th 2014 from Bandcamp. Yes, it’s taken an eternity, mainly due to my determination to get to grips with the recording process and some major arrangement changes, but it’s now been mastered and sent out to reviewers / radio etc. with some nifty artwork from or8design.com. The track listing is: …
Ok, let’s backtrack a second
Typical. Seems like the Spreadshirt site is having issues with the artwork, so I’m sourcing a different outlet. Zazzle is looking the best option, so hopefully it’ll be working and up on the site soon.
Website refresh – video, T-shirts and more…
Now with added video playlist and merchandise Click on the merch link and not only do you get to check out a range of Captain Wilberforce T-shirts, bags etc. but you also get a sneaky preview of the artwork for the new ‘Distance’ EP designed by the always fantastic Owen at Or8design.com. Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks …
Death of the Album?
Interesting article here on Radio 1 controller’s assertion that the album is officially dead and playlists are king. My view is that many pop artists have released sub-par albums for years so this may well affect them, but those bands who don’t just aim to write 2 “hits” and 9 filler tracks will continue to connect with an audience who like …
Aardman animators watch your backs
Well I’ve had a productive weekend – just finished a (very basic) stop motion video for one of the songs on the new E.P. Feeling very pleased with myself, although no-one else apart from family have seen it yet, and they’re biased, so it could be terrible. But it isn’t. You’ll be able to see it on the release in …
Why I still don’t like Spotify (part 82)
Unconference was great back in May – I enjoyed myself immensely apart from a minor blip when I was put soundly in my place for having challenged one of the speakers, Jen Long ( Label boss and Formerly Radio 1 DJ) that Spotify wasn’t all happiness and roses for artists as she’d made out. Jen was saying that the rate paid …
17th July – gig details
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7dzKGyxcG4&w=640&h=360] So, this Thursday we’re playing acoustically at Hirst’s Yard, Leeds. It’s FREE in and we’re on at 8:30pm before Brothers Grimm take to the stage at 9:20pm. We’ll be playing new songs, like The King of Indecision (above) and a few golden oldies. Should be fun ;o)
Acoustic gig in Leeds – July 17th
We’ve been invited to support our friends The Brothers Grimm on Thursday 17th July at Hirst’s Yard, Leeds. It’ll be an acoustic set and we’ll be playing a mix of older songs and tunes from the upcoming EPs / album. I assume we’ll be on around 8pm, and I’m not sure of the entrance fee – details to follow!
