7 songs: Chris Stringer

Hey guys!

Today we've got the third post in our "7 songs" series and I'm so excited about it.

Without really noticing, this series is becoming one of my new favourites,
because we get to celebrate our emotions but also get to learn more about the songs other people decide to pick.

There's not a day where I don't find myself talking about music to at least one person - and I feel like this feature allows me to share these chats in a way that is quite intimate.

So, let's see who's picking songs today, yeah?


Chris Stringer is a singer/songwriter originally from Swansea, UK - now based in London.

Influenced by acts such as Bruce Springsteen and Fleetwood Mac, his love for Folk, Rock & 80s Pop was shaped by some of the best.

Chris' own sound could be described as Alternative Country which ties in Folk elements.

He has shared the stage with Nizlopi, Luke Concannon, The Blanks and more.
Chris has easily built himself a loyal fanbase with his unique, yet comforting and exciting sound.

You can now catch him with his new band, The Rocketeers.

Live dates:
3rd September 2017 - Palmers Green Festival, London (UK)
16th September 2017 - Stoke Newington Green, London (UK)
30th October 2017 - Stringer Things (Halloween Show) at Gullivers, Manchester (UK)


Alright, let's see what songs Chris has chosen to share with us!
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1) a song which makes you dance
"Us VS Them" by LCD Soundsystem

I am... not a good dancer.
Don't get me wrong; if I'm at a funk & soul event, I'll be cutting some serious shapes. This track, however, gets me moving whenever I hear it. Brushing my teeth, cooking dinner, whatever - I'll be bopping around. It's SO good. The build up, and the payoff. SO GOOD.


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2) a song that calms you down
"T.R.O.Y" by Pete Rock & CL Smooth

This song has such a great feel to it.
It's relaxing, it's got a sick sample, and the lyrics are incredible - listen to/read them, the story is incredible. No matter what kind of mood I'm in, or where I'm at inside my head, this song never fails to bring me to a good level.


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3) a song with a deep meaning
"Hurricane J" by The Hold Steady

I had a not so great time a few years back, around 2010.
This song arrived at a turning point in my life, and I will always associate it with that. I jokingly say it saved my life, but in all honesty - that's probably not too far from the truth. I joined the message board and made a lot of wonderful friends through the mutual love of this band, and the release of this song/album culminated in a London show that saw members of The Unified Scene from across the globe; if this didn't save my life, it certainly changed it.


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4) a song which makes you feel nostalgic
"Pure Shores" by All Saints

I make no secret of my love for this song. 
It's perfect.
This was a huge track from my childhood, and due to it's genre I guess it kind of got forgotten in my formative years. But nowadays I will champion this song at every opportunity, and I would it's one of the best modern pop songs ever written.


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5) a song which has accompanied you for a while
"Life During Wartime" by Talking Heads

I wanted to choose this track because, while it has only been with me about ten years, it's always there; above my desk I have a poster with the words "This ain't no party / This ain't no disco".
The lyrics tell a brilliant story and in the song I guess they're used to describe how difficult the conditions the character is in, but contrastingly those two lines can be applied to any situation where you just need to get on with it.


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6) a song from your favourite genre
"Entombed" by Deftones

I find it almost impossible to pick a favourite genre.
One because my 'favourites' shift so frequently, and two because genres shift so frequently. I guess my favourite sound is a blend of big, melodic guitar sounds with a mix of both gentle and soaring vocals; this Deftones track really matches the kind of balance I love - and is, for me, an example of Deftones at their best.


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7) a song by an artist / a band which has surprised you
"Seasons" by Future Islands

I don't think there was anyone who wasn't surprised by this track, particularly it's now-iconic introductory performance on Letterman.
Samuel T Herring is a force of nature. This surprised me on one front because of the performance (seriously, just WATCH IT) but also because it was different to what I'd usually listen to. I have an eclectic taste in music but generally pretty 'safe', and this was crazy. They are straight up one of the best bands I've ever seen live, too.


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And now that you've listened to Chris' selection, 
make sure you also check out his music.

Listen to "The Bridge" below:




Chris Stringer online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram



More 7 Songs: Savannah Outen | Vanessa from HITS



Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words Intro: Vanessa Jertschewske | Words 7 Songs & Image: Chris Stringer

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7 songs: Vanessa from HITS

Hey guys!

What would you say is the most magical thing about music?
For me, it's definitely the fact that it can make us feel so many different emotions.

A song can make us feel happy, excited, 

it can make us dance,

it can make us feel nostalgic,

and sad.
And sometimes it can just help us cope with our emotions. 

And because I think we need to celebrate our emotions more,

I've decided to start a new series.

The fun thing about a new series, is you never know how it goes.
You never know if you'll enjoy writing/hosting it, and you never know if anyone is going to enjoy it
 - until you test it out.

So that's what we're doing now, we're testing this.
I'm going to need your feedback, so please feel free to test this with me.

The point of "7 songs" is to celebrate different feelings whilst also celebrating the diversity of tastes.
I'm hoping to have more music guests to chat about their 7 songs, so let's see how this goes.

Ladies and Gentlemen, here are my 7 songs for 7 feelings.

I hope you enjoy!

1) a song which makes you dance:

"Rose-Colored Boy" - Paramore

I love songs that make me happy just by sounding fun and inviting you to dance.

However, "Rose-Colored Boy" takes things to another level; the instrumentals are so bubbly and sound so carefree, but the lyrics talk about the numb feelings connected to anxiety and depression.

This clever contrast makes this song even more brilliant to me, because the song is quite literally a metaphor and I think it's genius.
With this Pop situation, you'd think the lyrics would be rather shallow and catchy, but Hayley Williams just hits you with so much depth in such a sneaky way.

"you say we gotta look on the bright side,
I say well maybe if you wanna go blind
you say my eyes are getting too dark now,
but boy you ain't ever seen my mind" 



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2) a song that calms you down:

"Stop This Train" - John Mayer

A bit of John Mayer can calm me down whenever I'm freaking out.

This song in particular is one of my favourite songs ever.
Now, I'm aware that the lyrics aren't particularly soothing, but the atmosphere of the song is just so enchantingly hypnotizing.

John Mayer's guitar playing is on another level, we don't need to discuss that.
But "Stop This Train" is one of his most beautiful compositions, in my opinion.



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3) a song with a deep meaning:

"Weathered" - Jack Garratt

Put this song on and watch me turn into a sobbing mess.
Okay, it's not that extreme, but the personal connection I have with this song, just gets me really emotional.
I first heard this song when I was on a flight back home from Berlin. I bought the album when I had a wander around Berlin and put it on my iPod for when I was heading back home.
"Weathered" came on and it immediately soaked me in.

I have a lot of respect for Jack Garratt and love the way he crafts his music and also performs it.
 The backing vocals and the beats in this song are so powerful and I adore them.

When pretty much the entire crowd sang along to this song at Barn on the Farm 2016, I might've shed a tear or two.
"Weathered" is one of my all-time favourites and I'm so glad it exists.

"when you go, I'll know I'm old"



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4) a song which makes you feel nostalgic:

"When Did Your Heart Go Missing?" - Rooney

Okay... I have a feeling that about 90% of you might know this song.
I knew the song, before I knew the band.

My first proper indie-rock gig was a Rooney show in a sweaty club in Stuttgart, Germany.
I still remember the excitement and the thrill of singing along to this song.
It's just one of those tracks you need to blast in the car and shout the words to - as loud as possible, no matter how terrible it may sound.

I have a lot of love for this band and for this song.
It doesn't take more than the guitar riff, to make me feel like I'm 14 again.



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5) a song which has accompanied you for a while:

"Wrong Directions" - Martin and James

This song has been with me for a little more than six years now.

I first heard it when Martin and James supported Taylor Swift. The minute they started playing, I made everyone around me shut up - just so I could notice every little detail.
When they started playing "Wrong Directions", I knew they were going to be my new favourite band.

I've been able to work with these guys more times than I can count and this song has somehow always been involved. (our video intro is a re-arranged version of it which Martin wrote for us)

In 2012, I stole a line from the song and named this website after it.
So, I guess this track has been with me for a while, and I'm sure it'll stay a good friend.



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6) a song from your favourite genre:

"Sharpshooter" - The Arkanes

I can't deny it, Rock is my favourite genre and I'm the happiest little person when I'm at a rock gig.
I just LOVE heavy drums, badass basslines and loud riffs and solos.

The Arkanes are without a doubt the most blogged band on here and I'll probably never get sick of their music.

When they started playing "Sharpshooter" the first time I saw them, I lost my mind and just had to dance.
It's a shame the band isn't active anymore, but I'm so glad I've got their songs to enjoy whenever I need a healthy dose of rock music.



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7) a song by an artist/a band which has surprised you:

"Guillotine" by Jon Bellion ft. Travis Mendes

I have to admit, at first I thought Jon Bellion was one of those overrated artists who pop up every now and then.

But - thankfully - I eventually took the time to check out his work. And holy moly, I'm glad I did.
There is SO much depth and detail in his music, it's quite fabulous.
"Guillotine" has surprised me the most because of all the carefully crafted elements; it's not just a heavy beat - it's a bassline layered with acoustic guitar, piano, samples and even a string section.

I feel like a lyrics nerd, but I just need to quote this bit because I think it's brilliant:

"the secrets you tell me,
I'll take to my grave
there's bones in my closet,
but you hang stuff anyway
and if you have nightmares,
I know that you love me,
even when I lose my head
guillotine"

In case you'd like to learn more about the song, I highly recommend watching this making of video, it's super interesting.





And those were my 7 songs.
I really hope you enjoyed this little talk-through and maybe you even found a new song you've liked.




Come and say hi! Twitter | Instagram

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words & Photography: Vanessa Jertschewske

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Songwriter Stories #1: Liam McClair

 Hey guys!

Songwriting has always been one of the most fascinating ways of writing to me.
When I was younger, I wrote countless amounts of songs. They were terrible, but I enjoyed writing in a creative way; without restrictions, without things stopping me.

There are so many incredible songwriters out there. Some use lots of metaphors, some write very vividly, some rely on strong verbs.
Songs transport emotions, tell stories and describe situations.

I've always wondered how songs I like came together. 

Did the writer first write the lyrics or the music? What's the story behind the song? Who inspired it? Who influenced it?

Speaking to some of my wonderful readers, I soon learned that a lot of you feel the same.

And instead of wondering, I've decided to invite talented songwriters to share their writing process with us.
"Songwriter Stories" is a new series and I'm very excited to have the wonderful Liam McClair kick it off today.

Liam McClair is a singer/songwriter from Manchester, UK.
His sound can be classified as acoustic/folk with raw pop elements. Most of his recordings are guitar based and vocals focused. But you'll still find piano ballads and harmonica instrumentals paired with supportive percussions whilst listening to Liam's repertory.

Liam is about to release his third EP "Honest" at the end of this month.
You can (pre-)order it here: "Honest" on iTunes

But before that, he's here to share his songwriter stories with us!
Enjoy!
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"I am still attempting to perfect the best way to write a song. When I say best I mean most productive and efficient. I find the whole process quite organic and an outpouring of an emotion I am currently feeling or an emotion that I have not fully processed yet. 

When I first starting playing guitar I would learn all of my favourite songs and try to sing along to them. I was learning Coldplay, Radiohead, Bill Withers, Joni Mitchel, Nick Drake and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, than as soon as I liked a song I would learn to play it. This process helped me to discover new chords and chord progressions. 

My first few forays into song writing were all fairly cliché in their content.

 Lots of love songs, tales of heartache, ‘I Miss You All The Time’ being the chorus of one of my first songs. I was like any young singer songwriter attempting to try and convey my relative teenage angst through the Em7 chord I had just learned the day before. 

When it came to lyrics I never used to transcribe them, I would follow a more improvisational method. Once I had the chord progression together that I liked, I would sing over the top in order to find a suitable melody. In this process I would discover that I had inadvertently created syllabic gaps that only fit certain words. Then once I had found a phrase or two that fit (and that rhymed, for some reason I am most comfortable in rhyming lyrics I think it creates a continued theme and also ties phrases and verses together) I would then chose a direction for the song to take thematically. 

Usually I will discover the theme of the song upon a second or third listen to the recording of the first few phrases I have added in over the top. Other times I can create an image in my head from the tone of the chords and my voice. 

Most of the songs I have written up until now have had a strain of love through them. 

My first EP How contained contrasting themes, with "Rough Waters" I wrote from personal perspective of a break up. That song must have been ready formed and was waiting for an outlet as I started playing one Wednesday afternoon it effortless flowed into a recording. 

"How", the title track, was an attempt to capture the feeling of pure desire for a person who you deem seemingly impossible to talk to even though they are just the same as everyone else.

 "RoamThe Globe" was a musical diary of a 6 month travelling trip and confronted romances from long distances and Somewhere Before was inspired by watching a documentary on dementia and considered losing a loved one. 

When it came to writing my 2^nd EP I was under more of a deadline therefore the pressure helped me to write more.

 I had intended to release and album but due to time constraints this became an EP. 

"Honey", the title track, is a pure and honest expression of desire and pride. I wrote it when thinking of how I would express myself if I were totally in love and how I would want that person to feel. 

"Girl At The Station" came from a desire to write a blues song that ended up being a country blues track. In retrospect I found myself just using words that fit the song as opposed to taking careful consideration, the words fit together quite naturally.

 I found the same with "If You’re Really Mine" which is a song all about doubts, it is heavily inspired by The Beatles as I was when I wrote it as a student in Liverpool. 

My favourite track on the EP is "Fall Down", a piano based track all about support, which is only just over a minute long. I have had various people tell me it should be longer but I think the fact it is short gives it a unique appeal and the honest expression involved has made people warm to the track.

I have found that even though I always perform with a guitar a lot of my best writing has come from playing piano. I am not the best pianist but I find the visual element of being able to see all the keys out in front of you helps in my writing.

 How and Honey from my title EP both started on piano as did Someday a track from my forthcoming Honest EP. 

When I was writing my forthcoming Honest EP I conscious of creating songs that fit a structure. I wanted it to be clear how the song progressed through its verses and choruses. 

I also attempted a new strategy when writing "Alchemy". This song is based around a book, The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho and I was inspired by British Singer Songwriter Nick Mulvey who said his song Meet Me There came after reading a Rumi Poem. I liked the challenge of turning a complex tale into a song and I feel I have done that, however like any interpretation of a book it’s pretty subjective. 

"Someday", a track on my upcoming EP is the song I have taken the longest to write. I transcribed the lyrics and considered every line and I think that comes across, it’s a song about having faith that you will find someone in your life eventually. I was feeling pressured by the social constraints of age related goals especially concerning finding long term romance so that song was a good release and I think people can relate to the song and also feel its hopeful nature.

 "Oh Mary" is another track from the Honest EP and this song was a pure unedited outpouring, loosely on the theme of regrets and reflective sorrow the track fitted together beautifully one day after I had been experimenting with a similar chord progression in various keys.

 The title track of my forthcoming EP "Honest" is an important song to me. It is an expression of a change I went through in my early 20s, a resolution to be more truthful in my life. I was, again, trying to experiment with a different topic to love and admiration and I think I achieved that, the song has more themes of support and confession. The structure of the chorus provides me with a mantra that I can follow into the rest of my life and I also think it has the best structure of any song I have written with clear distinctions between the various segments. 

So how do I write songs?

 In numerous ways, voice recordings on my phone turn to songs, phrases I think of in my car turn to songs, playing guitar and fishing for ideas turns to songs. I am yet to discover a consistent and reliable formula or time to write music but it is something I love doing and each and every song has unique origins which keeps the process fresh and exciting and long may it continue."

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And there we have it, a beautiful insight in Liam McClair's writing process. 

I hope you enjoyed this is as much as I did. 

Liam McClair online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube
 

Many, many thanks to Liam for taking the time to write this for house in the sand. You're a legend who definitely deserves a pie. :)



Thank you for reading! 

 

Credits // Text intro & outro: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Text: Liam McClair

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Cover vs. Original #1

Hey guys,

besides the "Get To Know:" section I promised you another new series in my last update post. And guess what? Here it is.

As you can already tell by reading the headline the series is called        

"Cover vs. Original".

Now what is it all about?

Well, we all have done it before. Yesterday, today or maybe last week.

We all have had a jam session to our favourite song, singing the lyrics and dancing around. That means we all have covered a song. 

A song originally written and performed by someone else.

And that's what this series is about - cover and original versions of songs. 

I'll be posting two videos in each post - one is the original song being performed by the artists who wrote the song (or let it write) and one is a cover by another artist. 

(Of course there is more than just one cover of a song online but I will pick out one that caught my attention.)

Comparing and deciding which version you like better is your part of it.

There will be a poll on the sidebar (left side) where you can vote for the cover or the original. The poll will be open until the next round of "Cover vs. Original" is online, which will be exactly one week later. So there'll be a new part each Wednesday!

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