Roses Kings Castles
- Location: London,
- Website:
- Bio:
The idea for Roses Kings Castles came about late last year (2007).
Babyshambles were doing our arena thing and I had lots of time in hotels and on buses so ... (more) - Bio:
The idea for Roses Kings Castles came about late last year (2007).
Babyshambles were doing our arena thing and I had lots of time in hotels and on buses so it was an ideal way to kill time initially...
My plan was to air some of the songs I had written, to use it as a platform for the rest of the band to use and to give some of our fans an insight into my compositions. This original concept then developed even more when things in shambles camp were halted due to incarcerations and other hiccups.....
So....I thought, I might aswell go and record some of these songs - just for my own amusement really. I set about recording with a friend of mine Sebastien Rogers we recorded the whole album in a bedroom using the most basic of set ups, borrowing what we needed, the whole album took a about a week or two to finish.
This small bedroom project then somehow, managed to gain the attention of my record company who wanted to hear what I had been doing!
After lots of eerrrrs and aarrrgghs I sheepishly took them my music to listen to.
I was shocked when they said they wanted to release the whole album...
One thing lead to another and they finally (after many phone calls and emails) decided that they wouldn't release it? Very confusing !
But, nothing ventured nothing gained.
Although it was never intended as a commercial venture, the record company's enthusiasm did make me look at the music differently, perhaps it could be released!
So I set about trying to release it myself, spending lots of time researching, phoning, mailing....It was a challenge, very tiring but hugely rewarding and educational!
After loads of (No)s I finally found a distribution company who were willing to give it a go and release the album. (It's amazing how many of the other companies I approached suddenly became interested when they heard I had been offered a release! That's the industry for you!)
So the good folk at Shellshock distribution were willing to take the risk. First job done.
My friend Giorgia Di Lello offered to do the artwork and a fine job she's done, so the blueprint was in place.
At this point I had The music, distribution and the artwork......now to get some of it out.
I didn't want to release a single in the usual way so I decided to do something new and go for the PO Box idea.
For those of you who don't know - (I posted a bulletin on myspace gving my PO BOX number for people to send a SAE to - in return they got sent a signed Sparkling bootz CD)
Again it was a very time consuming but rewarding process posting out and signing all of those Sparkling bootz, but it was something which has helped build a very strong community around me and has put me in direct contact with those who like my music - This sense of community is something I feel is sadly missing from todays music scene..
So, where was I..
So a single was floating around in cyberspace and in post boxes, the next step - the album. Now this was far more difficult as I had to deal with lots of elements that were not needed when I released 'Sparkling Bootz'....
I needed help, but who? record companies wouldn't touch me as I'm already signed by EMI with shambles so?
By chance I came across a new company '360 degrees music' who basically offered me a tailored service based on my requirements. (shameless plug, but the truth is they were perfect for that I needed)
Stuff like artwork compiling for the distribution company, how do I sort digital, itunes etc.
Helping to set up and distribute promos? loads of things I had limited experience with.
It was all taken care of.
With lots of hard work and continued support from fans and companies willing to invest in music rather than profit I have come to the point of releasing my own album, it's been
a long time coming but we're here. x
Now go and buy it...
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