As requested, here’s the latest: I’m sifting through what I’ve put down for the recording so far and priming myself to be brutal about it … A couple of the original songs probably won’t make the cut – luckily i have a few more up my sleeve   I’ve done this, following a bit of a break, which has helped me get perspective, I think.

I wasn’t prepared for what a tedious business this recording thing is – when you do it properly. I’ve had a false start at doing an album before – I learned there that it is possible to lose control of something by taking too much (apologies to the bemused folk who got swept up in that) … lol … Apart from that I’m just used to traipsing into a mates studio somewhere, rattling through some songs – badda bing – badda bam – and there you have it! This is not the case anymore. Now I have to do it like a grown-up (sigh).

Also – though there’s nothing wrong with ambition, (in my humble opinion x) - I have to accept it’s important to be realistic – at this stage anyhoo. Lets save the exhibitionism until the day Warner Bros foot the bill! I very much want something I can take on the road when I’m done, and (alas) I can’t fit a Wurlitzer in the back of the Mondeo!

That said, tedious or not, it’s all worthwhile when all of a sudden, as I’m sitting there chewing my nails & practising facial contortions, I stumble across some shimmering gem of a sound – and I get chills for the rest of the day… There’s a few of those it’ll be interesting to see if you can spot them when it’s done!

But I can’t take all the credit … I’m working with some fab people on this, and I thank them now (as I will continue to do) for their talent & patience.

xxx Bj

Yes, I’m in the process of putting an album together – it promises to be bolder and better than anything I’ve done before. Unfortunately a project like this takes time to complete – not to mention money. And I don’t want to cut too many corners with this one. As much as anything it’s a learning curve – a lesson in how to get it right. And as I don’t have a label behind me (fools!) to pay for it all up front so I can just crack on and DO it, there are bound to be delays … hmph! Of course I AM the most patient & casual person you’ll ever meet, so this is no problem for me at all!!!!!!

Currently I am working with my good friend, super-talented guitarist, arranger & producer Sally Wyatt and with the guys at Audio Shelter in Bristol. The basics of the main tracks have been put down. I’ve layered vocals & arranged some harmonies for everything so far. I have the instrumentation in place for the first track – barring the drums – and am currently working on the instrumentation for the second track. It’s quite a bitty process because the tracks produce themselves to some extent, and the things I thought would work & which sounded good in my head suddenly sometimes don’t work out in practise, or my attempts at communicating this to the good folks I’m working with are flawed! As things stand at the moment I don’t normally play with a backing band so for me it’s not as simple as just taking the band into the studio and getting everybody’s part down. My hope is that once the work is done on the album, I will find myself with a set of musicians who I can continue to work with in a live setting as well as in the studio, for all my future projects … Because in case you didn’t notice, I’m in this for the long haul!

I started the album off in the studio in February, worked with Sally on arrangements through March and now April’s here – I intend to get back in the studio fairly soon to polish off one or two tracks. Obviously the studio can’t wait around for me to be ready so I’ll need to book in between their other engagements – this is frustrating as the natural flow of the recording process gets interrupted, but patience is a virtue … Money of course is key and I’m hoping the good people at the bank will lend me a quid or two SOON   … I’m good for it …

So in answer to your question it’s still early days, but it will be worth the wait! Rome wasn’t built in a day y’know …      xx

OK. I lied about the “interactive” bit – but it IS an interview. And YOU call the shots … so, I got your attention anyway – right? Well, here’s how it works : You comment back to this Blog entry with any question – ANY question at all – that you want to ask … and I PROMISE to answer you, right here in the Blog. Well?