Next Release is project X

To wrap up 2007 we have decided to release a digital only EP this coming November. The EP will contain two new tracks plus remixes from our debut album 53 Degrees North.

We will sell this release on iTunes and also via our soon to be launched digital download store. This will have the songs available as DRM free high quality MP3 files.

The EP will have a slight festive feel to it as one of the songs will be our take on the Christmas single. There doesn't seem to be many Christmas specific singles released anymore, probably because the single format is dead and buried, but anyway we love Christmas and I have always wanted to write something Christmassy.

The other new track will be something more in tune with what we are planning for our second album... as Sarah has hinted at already this will be a little darker and more futuristic. We are hoping to spend the winter writing new songs and will pencil in a release for sometime in Spring 2008.

More on the EP soon.

Matt

Move over Sheena (Sarah)

A close friend of mine said something recently, that I want to share with you:

"Everyone should see Prince in concert at least once in their lives".

I was lucky enough to see the wee-man at the 02 arena last week, and I've gotta say that he completely bowled me over.
I always liked his music - but now i am a FAN.

I'm telling you, it was more a spiritual experience than an evening of entertainment! He made me laugh, he made me cry - he completely inspired me.

How can someone so small effect people on mass like that?? The 02 arena is massive, it's like a futuristic amphi-theatre. We were seated very high up, so standing up to dance was not for the feint-hearted. But I swear, when he played 'You've got the look' I pushed aside the vertigo and boogied my ass off!!!! It would have been physically impossible not to dance - a bit like sneezing with your eyes open.

So if you ever get the opportunity, please see PRN in concert. He's small, he's purple and he'll blow you away.

Our first album was mainly written on a laptop in various parts of my house, we recorded the vocals in my spare room and in Sarahs living room, now though we have some dedicated space. Rock on!


View from the hotel in Stein.


Stuttgart Airport


The obiligatory shot from the plane.

Like I said it was a flying visit to Germany.

Good intentions

I really did want to write something but I guess jet lag got the better of me, it's that hour difference it's a killer.

DE to UK

Back from a quick visit to Germany...

Had a good review from someone called Marc Tater therefore we like Germany very much.

http://www.chaindlk.com/reviews/?id=3894

Next Month Zurich

Photos and blurb to come later.

Matt

(Sarah) Phil Oakey spotted busking in Sheffield City Centre

Matt and I were strolling through Sheffield City Centre, on a cool late summer's afternoon. To our amazement, who should be walking towards us but the Oakey and two of his musical chums. He looked straight at me as if to say 'I'm sure that's that bird from NK who keeps stalking me with her awesome album...'. Two minutes later, the musical trio set up their instruments (including a big bass drum) and started busking. Bold as brass.


This was a dream I had last night - but one that I thought was worth sharing.

Bye for now!

blog rocking peep peeps

You will see an obvious gap in the posts to our blog, so what is the reason? I think pure plain bone idleness to be honest and just too many things to keep up to date. Facebook, Myspace, Website etc etc etc.

H O W E V E R... We shall endeavor to be a bit more talkative now.

SO as you will know our album is finished, it hits iTunes on September 3rd. We had an initial 1000 copies made so that we could use these to send to press & radio. As a bit of a tester we decided to start selling them via our myspace & main website. The response so far has been well... overwhelming and we are really pleased. What is more encouraging is that some people who have ordered the album have started to talk about it in various forums and really help spread the word, they have even started to defend us if there are any negative comments. This is amazing and is main reason why we decided to make an album, basically because of our love of music.

I'm going to try and make this blog as candid as possible... wait that has made me think of a story... more about that in a bit. Anyway what I mean is I think it's important to engage with people that show any kind of interest in Northern Kind. For over a year we have been fairly modest in promoting what we do, mainly because we have been making the album and didn't really want to shout about it until it was finished as not to big ourselves up too much. Now however that it is finished we want to tell everyone. YEY!

BUT it kind of feels wrong, because ultimately that makes me feel like I'm pushing people to buy our music and hand over cash for the privilege of hearing us. Don't get me wrong I'm in to free enterprise and the prospect of being rich but self promotion in music makes me feel a little dirty. I think this is where record companies have worked so well for bands as they separate the artistry from the business side. Making music is creative but then again so is marketing it. As an artist I love doing what I do and talking about it, but doing the hard sell just seems wrong.

Ultimately I'd love to earn a living from doing what I enjoy, but I already do and that is design related. So why do I do music? Well because it's part of me and always will be and I fucking love doing it. The feeling I get from writing something is one of the best feelings of accomplishment. Have you ever listened to a piece of music that completely lifted your spirits? well creating something is a million times better. When I collected our album from the plant I was content, content for that fact that I had achieved something I wanted to do. I didn't care if I sold any or if people liked it.

Sorry but in the words of Forrest Gump, "I'm pretty tired now" but before I go here is the "CANDID" story.

When I was young there was a TV program called CANDID CAMERA. It was a hidden camera show, for that very fact I had always thought that the word CANDID meant to hide things or to conceal something. So anyway 25 years or so later I found myself in a difficult meeting with a client. During the meeting my client said "may I be candid", I interrupted and said "well actually I'd rather you tell us what you were thinking" he said "well I'll be candid with you", I said "NO I want to know what you are thinking" so anyway you can imagine how stupid I felt when I learnt what candid actually meant.

Tomorrow I may talk about music and TV.

Turrah x