Everybody's Going Greene

Dear Readers (wherever you are, whoever you are, and whenever you are)

My recent posts have featured links to two songs that most of you ought to be aware of (Mascara Betty remixed by Stereo Jack) and One-night Standards (a rough mix I whipped up in my home studio).

Last year, in August, I entered The Barleycorn Songwriter's Competition and came third place for Mascara Betty. What a popular song that has become! It was a great opportunity to perform one of my songs for so many people and to get such positive feedback from the audience! It was an out-of-body experience for me; I was so "into" the song that, when I played the last chord and the audience burst into applause, my eyes teared-up from surprise...I had forgotten they were there (very weird).

The songwriting competition was just the motivation I needed to get organised and my next POA (plan of action) was to get a full set together to perform at some more open mic nights. I put together a set for the Alive Music Club in April, which went very well and gave me the confidence to return to the Barleycorn Music Club.

Since I'm not the greatest pianist and I want to be free to connect to my audience, I realised I was going to need some instrumentalists to back me up. And that my blogging buddies is how Violet & The Greenes (the band) came about!

We have Clayton (electric guitar), Rudolph (keyboard), Darryl (bass guitar), and myself (vocals). We're having a great time getting to know each other and we're looking forward to our first gig as a band at the Barleycorn on 30 May (that's the end of this month!!!).

For those of you who are able to attend, there will be the unveiling of a new song, Estate Agent, that is definitely going to make you laugh and give you some insight into the seedy underbelly of the property world ;) For those of you who cannot be there, hold thumbs and send good vibes our way on the 30th.

I'll keep you posted....

One-night Standards

...and (for your listening pleasure) here's a rough recording of One-night Standards....

One-night Standards by violet-greene

I've also been working in the studio with Stereo Jack on this one, so keep an ear open for that remix when it's done!

Check out an awesome remix of Mascara Betty created by the extraordinary Stereo Jack.

Mascara betty by Stereo Jack