Well, we thought we'd continue to let you know of the new changes at Pure Records in light of the lack of bricks and mortar and what better time to do it than on International Women's Day Eve Eve...(It's onSunday)
We're embracing the digital age and remote working (like all the cool kids are doing) and we're doing the whole video conferencing/hangout meeting thing with the new team.
You'll see from the photo of the glamorous world of remote meetings, that Emma our MD is still at the helm with Alison (our already amazing tour manager) working alongside Steve on tours and I'm back on the social media side amongst other things.
Our Joy, who was part of Pure for a long, long time has moved on to other bricks and mortar at a very exciting local VFX and media company working in the gaming and media industries which is very exciting! We wish her all the best, it's an exciting place...have a look...pitstopproductions.co.uk/showreels
Kate also features in an exhibition of inspirational women for International Women's Day in Barnsley as part of this event on Sunday:
https://events.ticketsforgood.co.uk/events/1778-shefest-2020-liveyourbestlife-an-iwd-celebration
So, have a lovely weekend now that there are lighter nights and croci and daffodils are appearing.
See you soon, Sally.
Earworm of the week: Village Green Preservation Society (which may keep popping up as I'm working on a community shop project)
This week’s remote teabag count: (from York, Barnsley, Leeds and London) 63
Quote of the Day: 'It's not things in themselves that trouble us but the opinions we have about these things' Epictetus 55-135AD
]]>So, you'd thought you'd seen the last of me but I'll be back doing some blogs and letting you know what's going on in the world of Pure Records.
It seems like we've been hibernating or even in a cocoon (not like the 80s film) and the world of music is changing including us. So, popping out of the cocoon, there have been some changes of personnel and a move towards being more online and digital and this includes...wait for it...selling the bricks and mortar!
Yes, the building that Kate and the company have called home, studio and offices for many years is on the market and blowing its trumpet as a featured property in the Yorkshire Post Property Section tomorrow!
I asked our MD Emma a few questions about our beloved Edgemount...
How long has Edgemount been in Rusby possession?
Just over 20 years! For the first 10 years it was Kate’s home when she converted the barn and developed the recording studio.
For the past 10 years it’s been office and a home for Pure Records. It’s been a residential studio and provided a base for our tours and other touring bands. Perfectly located in the centre of the UK and close to the Motorway network.
How old is it and does it have any interesting historical facts?
It’s set in about an acre. It was a gentleman’s residence and the barn was to house coaches. We’ve retained the feature of the barn door and have fitted the large window as part of the renovation. It has also been a chicken farm!
How has it been used by Pure Records?
Kate's album Sleepless was started at our old studio at Ledgard Jepson and then finished at Edgemount. Underneath the Stars was the first of Kate’s albums to be recorded there in full.
Why are you selling it?
Creating music has become a digital business and recording technology has changed. We will maintain a small studio but we don’t need a property the size of Edgemount to do so. Also remote working/ working from home is very much the future and our business model is evolving.
Is this a sad time for you all?
We are really sad to see Edgemount go. It’s been a home for Kate and a base for the family business so we are all attached it. It’s a peaceful place with fantastic views and walks. It has facilitated our business for the past 20 years and we have made some amazing records there. #musicinyorkshire
And on that melancholy note, we will round of this blog, more soon...
Earworm of the week: Take a Giant Step Outside Your Mind by the Monkees.
This week’s teabag count: 52 (there are fewer people in the office and remote working becomes the norm, we'll have to do a remote teabag count going forward!)
Quote of the Day: Be Kind
Joy has been on holiday this week, but thanks millions to Fee for stepping in to help with all things Pure, alongside all things Underneath the Stars.
Ron Block is over and it's always so lovely to have him at Pure. Do look out for Damien, Ron and co performing out and about - Banjos Rule!!
This week’s teabag count: 103 - counting all the coffee morning ones 👍👍
Earworm of the week: All around my hat - not even sure why!
Steve’s key trauma: it's the missing trailer lock key this week - has anyone seen it?!]]>We’ve had a steady away week this week; harvesting apples and also giant tomatoes have been rumoured around these parts. Yoga classes have started again (thanks to The Fe Tree) and we’ve been to Silkstone Green’s Open Day - ‘twas fun :-)
There’s been a photo shoot - very exciting, can’t wait to share the images with you.
We are prepping for Kate’s October dates, getting everyone from Ulverston to Aberdeen has been fun, and then back to Edinburgh, then back down to new venues at Manchester Folk Festival and Leicester Haymarket.
Joy has got quite carried away booking accommodation for the December tour - it seems quite addictive!
More next week, Emma
Earworm of the week: Farmer’s Toast by Kate Rusby - getting ready for all things harvest festival.
This week’s teabag count: 62 - full team out this week. Also 14 apples - we have tried really hard!!
Steve’s quote: When it’s apple picking time at Edgemount, everyone picks on me.]]>Hope you’ve all had a good ‘back to school’.
We’ve had a lovely time planning all sorts this week - photo shoots, a visit to the Royal Albert Hall with Richard Thompson, a visit to the London Palladium with Dervish, getting the Festival back on sale, maybe a new Christmas album - so many things 😀.
I’ve even had a morning ‘Into the Greenwood’ today - time to just be, and we had brunch over the campfire. Thanks very much to Jamie for his hospitality. https://www.facebook.com/bushcraftglamping/
Congratulations have to go Kate for her EFDSS Gold Badge nomination - so proud of you. You can read more information here https://www.efdss.org/news/336-september-2019/6500-gold-badges-celebrate-excellence-in-english-folk
More next week, Emma
Earworm of the week: Withered and Died - Richard Thompson or Kate Rusby - take your pick.
This week’s teabag count: 32 (I’ve had a few days alone in the office and kept my spirits up drinking tea. Joy did join me for two days 😎)]]>Hello again!
So the question of the moment is ‘How on earth is it the end of August already?!’
]]>So the question of the moment is ‘How on earth is it the end of August already?!’ See - the lovely apple tree at the studio reminding us that September is nearly upon us. Ooh and we saw a deer today while out walking the dogs!
We have thoroughly enjoyed the last few weeks and festivalled up to the hilt. Underneath the Stars was totally brill, even if ever so slightly wet around the edges which made everything quite hard work. We tested lots of plans to destruction and even created some new ones. You were all fab! We have such awesome volunteers to help us through and the build team - well - you are just amazing humans 💖🎪✨.
We then enjoyed some time beside the seaside at Whitby Folk Week and in the meantime, Kate and co have been to Edmonton in Canada, Beautiful Days, Tønder and Shrewsbury festivals. Thanks for the super hospitality at all of the above.
Onwards and upwards, the new school term is upon us so we can all get back to normal - whatever that is. We’ve got Autumn gigs on the horizon and a new Christmas album to keep us busy.
More next week, Emma
Earworm of the week: Get Movin' (Feet Don't Fail Me Now), Cut Capers
This week’s teabag count: 41 (Joy is away but Tom called in added the extra one!)]]>Hellooooooooo!
Sadly, 44 blogs later...this will be my final blog (unless I nip back and do a guest one now and again!).
]]>Sadly, 44 blogs later...this will be my final blog (unless I nip back and do a guest one now and again!).
I will be moving on from my regular day at Pure Records as my other jobs (yes, there are a few!) seem to be taking over - which is a good thing!
Hopefully, I've left a bit of a legacy here and I shall continue to be around in a freelance capacity (you'll probably still see my subtitles on Kate Kooks) whilst someone else takes over the day-to-day social media stuff. I'll also add a quick thank you to everyone here (everyone, so I won't name them all).
But thing's won't stop, the Pure Records team will carry on to bigger and better things with the immediate exciting thing being Underneath the Stars Festival just around the corner where I shall be fully immersed. It's that last-minute programme changes and transport arrangement time in the festival organising timeline, so Emma certainly at the moment is eating and sleeping festival! (although there's probably less sleeping and more tea and wine drinking at the moment - that's usually how it works).
Anyway, have a great stars festival if you are going, a great summer and see you all anon.
Sally.
Earworm of the week: Goodbyeee 😢
This week’s teabag count: 88 (UTS prep!)
Sally's closing quote: "Well-behaved women seldom make history." Originally from Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (1976), but said by many-a great woman!
]]>The brass boys were here again this week being all Christmassy!
Also…while some of us stayed in Yorkshire, others had brilliant adventures in Sark this week!
]]>Also…while some of us stayed in Yorkshire, others had brilliant adventures in Sark this week!
Kate and the band were headlining at Sark Folk Festival, where we’ve never been before. We’d heard brilliant things about it, from fantastic scenery and nice people, to something about horses and carts, so Kate, Damien, Emma, Steve, the band and the rest of the family were keen to find out! We had a moment with Emma, to ask her a few questions about the trip…
Sal: How is gigging in Sark different from mainland UK?
Emma: You have to treat it like a ‘flyout’ gig - which means we have to source the larger equipment like the double bass, at the venue. Sark is quite unique though as the island is so small and we had to make the gig fit what we had. The festival team were amazing though and worked really hard to get everything together for us.
Cars/ Planes/ boats/ tractor and trailer and a horse and cart were all part of the journey!
Sal: How did people react to Kate's music and her visit?
Emma: People loved it! It’s so special to have that opportunity and everyone appreciates the effort made to get there. It has just the best view from the festival site - a great backdrop to the music.
Sal: Were there any differences in lifestyle/culture/food/drink?
Emma: Well, no cars makes such a difference. The pace of everything is much slower as you have to walk or cycle wherever you need to go. Amazing seafood!!
Sal: What were your favourite bits?
Emma: So many! The hospitality, meeting Christopher and Sarah at the Seigneurie, the beauty of the island, enjoying the festival, kayaking with the team - the list goes on. We are planning the next visit already.
More next week…
Earworm of the week: Anything Christmassy that we don’t want to be singing in July!
This week’s teabag count: 82 (the brass boys were back again!)
Album Quote of the Week (in honour of Sark): " Oh to drive his two best horses, likewise his cart or plough."
]]>Earworm of the week: Johnny B. Goode
This week’s teabag count: 83 (the brass boys cometh)
Album Quote of the Week: "Had been but a dunce without wine"
Earworm of the week: Anything with 'baby' in the title (apart from 'Ice Ice Baby' by Vanilla Ice)
This week’s teabag count: 47
Steve's Quote of the Week: “Didn’t hear the alarm reminder for my Audiology appointment”
Earworm of the week: 'I Just Called to Say I Love You' Stevie Wonder.
This week’s teabag count: 58
Steve's Quote of the Week: 'smells like tobacco' in response to a suggestion of a new tea instead of Yorkshire Tea. Yorkshire Tea it is then...
Earworm of the week: 'Happy Birthday dear Jooooooe'
This week’s teabag count: 71
Steve's Quote of the Week: “She can eat two taties more than a pig”
HOW IS IT THE END OF MAY ALREADY???!!!
They say 'cast not a clout 'til May is out' so that means after today, we can all put our winter woolies away as it must be guaranteed warm weather now until the autumn!
]]>Their deaths led to Queen Victoria forcing parliament to pass a law that made it illegal for children under the age of 10 to work underground. Still too young, but it gave many children the time for an education and chance to be a child.
This features 26 amazing kids from Barnsley Youth Choir 15 boys and 11 girls aged 7-17. We are very proud of it."
You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBIhG_zq_W8
Earworm of the week: 'Halt the Wagons'
This week’s teabag count: 44
Steve's Quote of the Week: Having found a bird up one of the chimneys..."When it comes out, charge it some rent.”
Earworm of the week: 'The vinyl countdown'
This week’s teabag count: 93 (the band are here)
Lyric of the Week: "The butler swallowed his laughter and slyly winked at the cook.”
More next week…
Always a proud moment and a cause for a celebration at a record company and a bit of extra excitement for tonight's gig in Derby...maybe that's why it was prudent to schedule a day off tomorrow?
So, the vinyl is on the way and it's going to be a continuing drama, so could be up for a BAFTA next year with the rest of the soaps? It's going to be SOOOOOOOOO exciting when it gets here though! Watch out for THAT photo! Can't wait.
This week we've been drowning in packaging, worrying about the packaging and the environment and excited to get the first Philosophers, Poets and Kings CDs into the post! We've got daily trips to the Post Office every day with a few sackfuls and it seems that they are arriving at their destinations and people are happy so that's always good to hear and those lucky people have them a day or two ahead of the release date which is today!
The band are back on tour again this weekend and next, so all beds at Edgemount are full; Sally and Joy had a wrestle with a large mattress so everyone had somewhere to stay! The glamorous life of record company staff!
Earworm of the week: 'Happy Birthday dear Emma...'
This week’s teabag count: 67 and some more cake...and some wine...
Lyric of the Week: “If it wasn't for wine we couldn't sing of Philosophers, Poets & Kings.”
More next week…
]]>People have been out and about this week with just one week to go until the release of Kate's new album Philosophers, Poets and Kings.
Kate has been for chat on the Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe on Radio 2 over in Manchester which was a lovely catch up and they played three tracks from the new album.
]]>Kate has been for chat on the Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe on Radio 2 over in Manchester which was a lovely catch up and they played three tracks from the new album.
If you missed it, you can listen again here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01phglj
Kate also went with Damien to Bilbao where Damien was performing with his band at The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum and they ate a lot of pintxos (nibbly snacky things).
And as if Damien didn't have enough on, he's been down to that London to take part in Keira Martin's show at the Sadlers Wells Theatre along with our friend and yours...Michael Walsh:
https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/2019/wild-card-keira-martin/
Back on the hill we are all working on the build up the album release and making sure we've remembered everything...and tracking down that elusive vinyl!
Earworm of the week: 'Happy Birthday dear Joy...'
This week’s teabag count: 73 and some cake, not bad going for a bank holiday week!
Lyric of the Week: “If it wasn’t for wine we couldn’t sing, of Philosophers, poets and kings."
More next week…
]]>Whilst Sally has been enjoying the lovely Spring sunshine, Emma is recovering from her climb up Scafell Pike through wind and rain and snow! She did say that there were amazing views when the cloud lifted though. Sally was happy just looking at the pictures!
Pure HQ has been busy this week collecting pre-orders for Kate's new album, Philosophers, Poets & Kings - out on the 17th of May, luckily we've got Fee helping us out whilst Joy is away on holiday. We also had more visitors in the shape of The Fretless, a Canadian fiddle foursome, who stayed over last night after their gig in Barton upon Humber as part of their current UK tour. we will make sure they've had their fill of Yorkshire Tea before they go.
Kate and Damien have also been tinkering in the studio ahead or Damien's trip for a gig with Stevie and Duncan from the Kate Rusby Band in Bilbao this weekend.
Earworm of the week: Hal-An-Tow (to welcome in the May-O)
This week’s teabag count: 68 - a few visitors but Fee mainly drinks coffee!
Steve's Quote of the Week: “its not a mix it’s mine”
More next week…
]]>We've got some extra help in from Jake ahead of the album release and Kate and the band are gearing up for part two of the Spring Tour starting soon. This is all in between checking how the Proclaimers Plot is coming along and Freda the dog performing as St. George.
Sally presented a seminar in London called 'Women of the Future' on the equality of women in various industries including music, sport and film and TV. Food for thought indeed.
Also, our MD Emma is climbing Scafell Pike this weekend, I'm sure we'll have an update for you and maybe a pic so keep an eye out for that.
so phewf, see you all next week!
Earworm of the week: Sisters are Doing it for Themselves.
This week’s teabag count: 37 (Joy's gone on holiday and can't persuade Jake into being a tea monster!)
Steve's Quote of the Week: "I've got a bat flattery"
]]>Kate and Damien had an exciting trip to Ireland this week to appear on t'telly on t'Late Late Show with Dervish. A beautiful song that Kate has recorded with Dervish.
Philosophers, Poets and Kings went live for pre-order! on 17th April!! https://purerecords.net/collections/kate-rusby/products/philosophers-poets-kings
Damien has also been back in the studio with Ron Block working on more banjo loveliness after the success of Banjophony album, more of that to come later.
There's also been a little bit more filming for something to amuse you in May...keep your eyes peeled.
Hopefully, we'll get a modicum of rest this Easter weekend with friends and family, but remember, it's perfectly fine to have chocolate for breakfast on Sunday! #chokky4brekky
Earworm of the week: Down by the Sally Gardens
This week’s teabag count: 38 - 4 day week, Thursday is the new Friday!
Steve's Quote of the Week: "I got the new loo seat - just got the bog standard"
More next week…
]]>Another full-on week at Pure HQ...
Kate and the crew had a really busy weekend on the Spring Tour for Philosophers, Poets and Kings including two sell-out shows in London. The Spring Tour continues in May, but this is not a break for everyone...oh no!
]]>Did I hear banjos???
Kate and the crew had a really busy weekend on the Spring Tour for Philosophers, Poets and Kings including two sell-out shows in London. The Spring Tour continues in May, but this is not a break for everyone...oh no!
Not only did we have more filming for one particular video for one of the tracks on Kate's new album but, after the first play on Radio 2 last week, 'Jenny' (Ordinary remix), has been first out of the stalls so to speak (see what we did there?) with its release this week on itunes, Amazon and Spotify.
So here's to another busy week at Pure Records...looking forward to some chocolate at Easter!
Earworm of the week: Still Jenny from the new album - an enforced earworm this week!
This week’s teabag count: 67
Steve's Quote of the Week: Is it warm in here or am I frightened?
]]>On Tuesday, we were finally able to announce the album title and the cover to the world!
As you can see from the photo, the album is called 'Philosophers, Poets and Kings' and on Wednesday Mark Radcliffe's Folk Show on Radio 2 was the first airplay of the track 'Jenny' - which is apt for any horse racing fans this weekend.
And to top it all off, last night was the first gig in the Spring Tour and the first play of 7...yes 7 brand new songs. Kate said that it went really well and she enjoyed it so that's always good. You can keep up to date with daily tour goings including GigCam on at Kate's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
Kate plays in Royal Leamington Spa tonight before 2 sell-out shows in Kings Place London tomorrow and Kettering on Sunday. We'll let you know how it all goes in next week's blog.
Earworm of the week: Jenny from the new album!
This week’s teabag count: 104 plus 12 pots of coffee - there has been a lot of rehearsing!!
Steve's Quote of the Week: (when asked about any tips for the Grand National?) “Yes - back Loose Button - it’s forced to come off"
]]>Apart from Kate's windy update on her gardening plot for the Proclaimers, we've been doing some proper filming for Kate's new album...
]]>We spent the whole day on Monday at a venue nearby filming three songs to go with the new album.
We can't say much else but there was tea, fruit, sandwiches, lights, a smoke machine, sparkles and then no sparkles, two camera operators, Damien, Josh, Duncan, guitars, drums, double bass and of course Moooooooog.
Jim, our resident music video editor, will be taking away the rushes and rushin to get it all together before the launch date coming really soon! The pictures were looking really lovely so we can't wait to see it.
You might have even seen the sneaky peek that Sally and Kate did on Monday on Kate's Facebook Page.
In other news, Emma is now just about able to walk up and down stairs after her brilliant efforts for the Monsal Trail Half Marathon on Sunday. She said that the weather and scenery were lovely. She managed it in 2 hours 9 minutes which is exactly the same length as films such as Last Tango in Paris, Raging Bull, the Sting, Beauty and the Beast and Matrix 3. You can find out more and still support their very good cause here: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/threeps
Ooo...and don't forget it's Mother's Day on Sunday. Make sure you treat the Mothers in your life or get treated yourself.
Ooo...and don't forget the clocks go forward this weekend!
Earworm of the week: London's Burning - including in a round. (Children are learning about the Great Fire of London at school.)
This week’s teabag count: 36 (We're seeing what Barnsley Brew is like and Emma has been working from the cricket...)
Steve's Quote of the Week: "with a slip of a grin he started the thing that couldn't be done and he did it"
More next week…
]]>After Sally's news last week, it's Emma's turn this week as our very own MD is doing the Monsal Trail Half Marathon for charity on Sunday. It will be a massive achievement, so we asked Emma a bit more about it all...
Sally: Tell us a bit more about how this run came about and what its all for...
Emma: A good friend, Helen, asked if I fancied the challenge - it seemed like a good idea at the time! Training has mostly gone well though - we've been out and about, up and down the trails. Now it's only 2 sleeps away!!
We are raising funds for families in crisis through Jack and Paul’s memorial Heads Together Barnsley Charity (set up to provide support for families in trauma) and also raising awareness of the "Speak To Me" campaign "Let's acknowledge domestic abuse can affect everyone- silence keeps it alive." Please support us if you can 👍🏃♀️
Sally: Good luck Emma - and sisters are still doing it for themselves!
You can find out more and support their very good cause here: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/threeps
Earworm of the week: Everybody wants to Run the World (The Tears for Fears Sport Aid version) especially for Emma's run.
This week’s teabag count: 48
Steve's Quote of the Week: "I keep saying the wrong worms"
More next week…
]]>Happy Red Nose Day and album release day for Ruth Notman and Sam Kelly's Changeable Heart - out today! We're so excited!
]]>You can buy real-life albums from us at Pure Records here:
https://purerecords.net/products/changeable-heart
but it's also available via Amazon and the usual digital download and streaming services.
Whichever way you get to listen, you won't be disappointed.
It's also another celebration this week for our super Sally who has made it on to a prestigious national mentoring scheme for Women in Film and Television with her other hat on. You may remember that she is the one who directs the live streaming concerts that we do and she is also a TV camera operator as well as a multi-camera director.
She's even had to dust off her Yorkshire Passport and go down to that there London where they talk about 'supper' rather than 'tea' but she's managing well and is now part of the fearless girl gang! (Look up the fearless girl statue - it's great).
Read more about the scheme here: https://wftv.org.uk/mentoring/mentees/
https://wftv.org.uk/industry-leaders-back-the-launch-of-wftvs-2019-innovative-mentoring-scheme/
Sisters really are doing it for themselves!
Earworm of the week: Sisters are doing it for themselves!
This week’s teabag count: 55
Steve's Quote of the Week: "Get your glasses lasses"
More next week…
]]>Sam and Ruth tracks from Changeable Heart have been making their way across many, many airwaves on various radio stations up and down the country as well as some great reviews so we're dead chuffed about all that. www.notmanandkelly.com
Kate's Proclaimers Plot gardening project is coming on a treat and she managed an all-girl family pancake race on Tuesday which was brill, even though there was some cheating by the yoof. We love a pancake day here!
Kate's release date and new artwork have gone live this week so that's quite exciting and we even managed to pin her down to answer a couple of questions in the calm before the storm of the album release...
Sally: The album mastering is finished and it's all off to be pressed now...how do you feel at this point
Kate: It’s always a bit nerve-wracking at this point actually cos it’s the point you have to just let it go!! After nurturing an album for so long, it’s always a bit worrying sending it off out into the world. But I’m so pleased with how it’s all turned out
Sally: Can you let us into any sneaky clues about the album? Are all the songs on a theme? Was it cathartic to write? Was it easy or quick to write?
Kate: OOOh well I don’t want to give anything away obviously!!! But there are songs on there that I’ve been wanting to do for a while, songs that have been part of our family since I was young. There's also a song on this album that I’ve been writing with my dad for the last few years, when I say the last few years, I mean, when we’ve had a glass of wine or two our thoughts would return to it, so we made up bit more, and on it went. Finally, I finished it!! Woo hoooo!! So I’m very pleased about that. There’s no theme though, some songs are traditional, some I’ve written, some I’ve found in my old books and tinkered about with until they become new songs. Not going to tell you any more at this point!
Sally: Is it hard to keep an album secret until its release when you've been working on it for so long? Do you want to tell everyone or do you want to wait until you think it's ready and the best it can be?
Kate: I want to wait. I’m very, very good at keeping secrets! There are things that I want to tell people, but I’m good at keeping tight-lipped. There are a couple of surprises on the album that would ruin the pleasure of people discovering them if I tell all beforehand.
Sally: what's next now for you?
Kate: I’ve already started a new Christmas album!! I have all the songs sorted now and have started rehearsing them up with Damien (very handy being married to a brilliant guitar player) I usually do an album a year, alternating between Christmas and ‘normal’, and because I didn’t do an album last year for one reason or another, I wanted to do two this year to keep both gigs fresh. I always think, if you feel creative then keep creating. I might even do three this year mwahahaha!!!!
Thank you to Kate for giving us a great insight into this point in the album process.
Can't wait for the release now!
Earworm of the week: PPPPPPPPPancake Day (from Maid Marion on her Merry Men) - what an earworm it is too!
This week’s teabag count: 64
Steve's Quote of the Week: "I keep saying the wrong worms"
More next week…
]]>Spring, St. David's Day and the lovely weather we've had on the hill this week means that the daffodils are out - and Kate's snapped a pic of her and Freda out and about. Lovely.
We're currently working on plans for filming some videos to go with Kate's new album later this month with our usual film crew so we know it's going to look lovely. The logistics are not easy by any stretch of the imagination because Kate's band are all professionals from all over the country so nailing them down to one date and time is - to put it nicely - tricky.
Damien and Anton have also been mixing it up a bit with one of the tracks on the album and taking it in a totally new direction! It's been a lot of fun and who knows where it might go eventually? Do you think he's been eating too much sugar?
Earworm of the week: Country Roads: John Denver
This week’s teabag count: 75, back to full strength!
Steve's Quote of the Week: "Someone's poking in t'trough" (someone was actually poking in the trough outside the office)
More next week…
]]>We did manage to catch Kate and her new allotment plot video amongst her busy schedule this week. Have a look on Kate's facebook page, it's quite amusing. She's going to grow stuff in her Proclaimers' Plot (There's labels and everything!) , especially for our visitors coming to Underneath the Stars Festival this year, 2nd to 4th August. So we're looking forward to seeing what pops up when there's 'Sunshine on Leaf' (see what she did there?...)
On a more serious note, we've been juggling the logistics of some filming days to go with Kate's new album release which is getting scarily close with so much to do! We're planning to film three of the new tracks locally and it's all quite exciting - we may even need extras so keep your eyes peeled...
... and we're not even going to mention that there are Christmas dates coming in already! Shhhhh.
Earworm of the week: Sunshine on Leith! (Leaf)
This week’s teabag count: 27 ...Joy's done her best...
Sally’s nugget of wisdom: Don't concentrate on what you eat between Christmas and New Year, concentrate on what you eat between New Year and Christmas...think on.
More next week…
]]>It's been all heart-shaped this week in Pure Records with some family birthdays, Valentine's Day, Ruth Notman and Sam Kelly's Changeable Heart album going on pre-order and to top it all, that sniff of spring in the air and a first dig in the allotment! Hooray!
]]>Tracks from Changeable Heart have also been making their way across the airwaves this week all over the country on different radio stations so the cat is well and truly out of the bag.
Pre-order Changeable Heart here
It's decisions...decisions on the album artwork for Kate's new album with some right old curved balls being thrown from the designer...all will be revealed soon...Brownie points for those who get the reference 'none more black' if we were considering a plain black album cover...
And how will we launch the album? on a dock with a bottle of champagne or in Barnsley with tea bag?
We've also just got the news that Kate is now an ambassador for Music for All, a brilliant charity who believe - as we all do - that music changes lives. It really does...
...and we'll leave you with that thought this week.
Earworm of the week: Proclaimers' 500 miles
This week’s teabag count: 56...Emma's gone all fruity but we've had painters in the kitchen.
Sally’s nugget of wisdom: Emotion is created by motion...think on.
More next week…
]]>Kate had a lovely party for Freda the dog as she turned 1 - complete with Blue Peter Styleee doggy birthday cake! It's all go here!
We've also started to hear Ruth Notman and Sam Kelly's new album, Changeable Heart, on the actual radio ahead of their release on 15th March, with more airplay on the way on Sunday 10th Feb on the Johnny Coppin Show.
And we thought you might like to see a little side project we are doing: A Year on the Hill with a photo per week, taken by the lovely Joy, of our fabulous view; or by the fabulous Joy, of our lovely view from the office. Here's the year so far and by the end of the year we're going to put the photos all together so you really can see what we see during the changing seasons up here on the Yorkshire Hill.
So we'll leave you with that little bit of Yorkshire.
Earworm of the week: Life on Mars (Sally's been doing research on the Mars rovers)
This week’s teabag count: 42 - we've topped up on loose leaf Yorkshire tea so where does that leave the tea bag count?!
Steve’s Quote of the Week: I've got nowt to say cos I've gotta cold.
More next week…
]]>Time is marching on and so does album production. This week, Kate's new album has reached the mastering process with the brilliant Nick Cooke from Nick Cooke Mastering who you may know from Kate's band, but this is his day job.
We managed to persuade him to take a minute out to answer our questions so we can find out more about the mastering process...
Sally: What has been done up to this point where the album is mastered?
Nick: Well, after months of composing, researching, rehearsing, recording, editing, mixing and listening the album is ready to be mastered.
Sally: What does the process of mastering involve?
Nick: Mastering is the final step where you are able to use fresh ears to enhance and mould the recordings into a finished product that sounds great on everything. It basically involves a lot of listening in an acoustically accurate and balanced environment, then using technical processes to subtly enhance, clean up, and clarify the music so you can hear everything in a way that is really pleasing to the ears, whether you are listening on the radio, on a phone, CD or vinyl, or even in a concert hall or cinema.
Sally: How do you work with Kate and Damien as artist and producers during the mastering process?
Nick: I get involved towards the end of the mixing process where I speak with both Kate and Damien as well as Josh Clark (mixer extraordinaire) to understand what they want the album to sound like. For this album, both Damien and Josh were able to attend the mastering session so they were able to hear first hand any alterations I was making, which was great. After the mastering session, everyone listens to the album on various devices: at home, in the car, on headphones at the gym and so on. There may be some slight tweaks for me to make but then it’s pretty much done.
Sally: What happens after mastering?
Nick: Once everyone is happy with the sound of the album, the masters for each format, along with the artwork for the album, are sent to the various manufacturers for production. The digital download and streaming goes to a digital distribution company, the CD masters go to a CD duplication plant. For the vinyl release, it is a little different as the masters will get sent to a vinyl cutting engineer who creates a physical master for the vinyl pressing plant to produce a set of test pressings. We will then listen through the test pressings making sure they sound amazing before vinyl production (vinyl pressing) can start.
Sally: Ooo, we'll have to find out about vinyl pressing too...!
Sally: What skills do you need to be good at your job?
Nick: Definitely a love of music and carefully listening to music. But mainly an ability to listen to people and interpret their descriptions of what they want their music to sound like, and of course the technical knowhow to achieve that. Oh... and patience, it doesn’t always happen first time!
Sally: Is mastering a science or an art?
Nick: A beautiful balance of both, it is quite technical but the science is there to enable the art to come through and shouldn’t hinder it.
Thanks Nick - for anyone interested in more - check our this article all about Nick's studio here https://www.audiomediainternational.com/studios-recording/nick-cooke-opens-white-mark-designed-mastering-facility-in-somerset/
Earworm of the week: Changeable Heart by Ruth and Sam
This week’s teabag count: 62
Steve’s Quote of the Week: We're digging our way to Whitby so get t' kettle on!
More next week…
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