Album Art Work Is Complete!

So the tracks have all been mastered and I'm waiting for the copies of the CD to arrive. Can't wait to hold them in my hot little hands. Next I'll be sending out copies to my chosen D.J.s and fingers crossed for some more air play.

A couple of tracks have been featured on one internet radio station. It was a couple of weeks ago on Estuary Radio and I was making toast and coffee when I heard my name mentioned. I was about to have breakfast with a friend and dragged her in to listen (she's heard the tracks before). The poor thing got no coffee until we'd listened to both tracks!

Now to reveal the cover art...

 

 

 

I'm excited. What do you think?

Finish Line Approaches

With only one more song to mix for the album (the ballad) I'm having trouble containing the excitement.

For people who know my journey well you will know that this second album was a long time coming for more reasons than I can list here - and I don't want to bore you anyway.

To get a sneak preview of how three of the songs are shaping up then go to the website www.franclark.co.uk . Just click and have a listen while you potter around and do whatever it is you do when you listen to music.

Please stay tuned for gig announcements and follow my journey towards the album launch - proposed date October 2013!

In The Mix

Pete and  I are in the studio as much as possible as we head for the final mixes of all the songs. With five mixed and just six to complete, can't wait to start the week because to me they are sounding hot! Not my words - the words of one of the backing vocalists who has had a sneak preview.

The second album is almost here!

If you want to have a short burst of three of the songs then head over to my website and have a quick listen.

Please give some feedback if you get time and check at the site for some live dates. Coming very soon...

Bye for now
x

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• Your first mix is often your best

Back In The Studio

It's Saturday afternoon, I'm gettingover a lousy cold. My eyes are heavy, my thoat hurts and I can't stop coughing. Luckily I'm not the one who has to sing today.

Win arrived for his backing vocal session and just had time to discuss hairstyles with Pete in the studio before we started.

 

 

Then it was into the booth for Win

 

 

 

and what an amazing job he did on two of the songs. The Friend You Need and The River Is Wide.

  

End of the session and engineer Pete and I listen to the rough mix of  the chorus from The Friend You Need

 





The Backing Singers Are Back

Those busy backing vocalists have been missing from my studio for some time now. With just five more tracks for backing vocals to be laid down on and the mixing will begin.

 

Here's Josie. I trapped her in the vocal booth one night and the results of her backing harmonies were magical. Even better than they would have been if she'd come here of her own accord. But she was tired and hungry and knew that the only way out of that booth was to sing for her life!

But seriously though. Thanks Josie for your hard work. Win is in on Saturday and the songs are taking shape.

I'll add some clips of rough mixes as we go along.
x

The Brentford Festival September 2011

Probably not the best in the world, nor the biggest but certainly the closest to where I live – The Brentford Festival opened its gates on the wettest and windiest days we’d seen in weeks. 

I had a wonderful plan that included recording everything that led up to that day so that I could show it as a video diary. It was to include rehearsals leading up to the festival and, of course, the live performance itself.  But the rain put paid to that and it was impossible to set up the camcorder. The show did go on when the rain slowed.

Let’s stop talking about the weather now. I’ve attached all the relevant photos to this recording of my interview at Hayes FM and hopefully you’ll get the general idea.

Needless to say, I was surrounded by some fantastic musicians. The gig was acoustic and included Manuel Salamanca on percussion and Pete Clark on acoustic guitar. My back up singers were Josie Bannis and Winston Ward who will also be appearing on my second album which is being recorded this autumn for release in the new year.

Stick around for more details about the recording of the album coming soon…

Where Have I Been?

I know when I started this blog I intended to be dilligent, keep it up to date, keep it informative, interesting, fun, post pictures and videos and all kinds of fancy stuff. Well I must admit I've done none of the above. I return to my blog to find it is as lonely as ever. No comments, no followers no nothing, not even moi - la blogger. Shocking.


I have to admit I have had a few diversions from music. It's not to say that I've abandoned my second album, it's just that so many other things have happened. For one thing, I've been trying to complete my first novel. It's almost there and I'm going to try for a publishing deal. I know - about as likely as a recording deal , right? Yes you most certainly are.


So why is it that I've chosen to do two of the most difficult jobs around - ever. (Well probably not ever, I'm sure getting a book deal and getting known for your music was easier once). But I fear that I am destined to be just another struggling artist.


One thing is for sure, if I want to get my book published or if I want people to buy my CD, then the product must be the best it can be. I know that. And that's what I've been working on. Getting this album to be the best in can be has taken a lot longer than I thought it would. People keep asking me 'when is the album going to be released?' And all I can say is 'soon.' I hope they don't get fed up, lose interest. 


I've certainly not lost interest in my artistic pursuits. I'm still pursuing. I'm still teaching singing and doing the occasional covers gig. I've got a gig coming up soon. I feel a bit rusty - have to brush up on some jazz and soul covers but I'm sure I'll get by.


One thing is for certain. I've always been here, in mind and in spirit - musician, writer, teacher and escape artist (oh I never mentioned that one), wife, mother, sister, friend. Trying to keep it all together and trying to finish the DREADED SECOND ALBUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!