| — | Haruki Murakami |
Alex Winston - Choice Notes
Isn’t she a beauty?! I love this song so much, and this lady is a star.
Alex is like the perfect artist; her songs give me everything I want - they’re like friends, they know exactly what to say, her voice is special and amazing, she looks incredible and anyone that has ever seen her perform knows how that goes down.
I hope you’re already on the bandwagon..
If you’re not then jump on:
http://www.facebook.com/AlexWinstonOfficial
& @iamalexwinston
are where it’s at.
Pass it on.
<3
I don’t know if it counts as annual even though it’s only the second year.. But I vowed at the end of last year that I would make sure I summed up each year from then on. So, although it’s only the second, it will be annual, just not exactly yet.
Anyway this is it. That blog. That blog.
This year was very different to last year. 2010 was a whirlwind-adventure-amazing type year, and although 2011 was definitely a crazy one, it was for different reasons.
So, let me take it back real quick, starting with the end of last year.
My blog ended with me telling everyone that I was going to be supporting someone that is, in my opinion, one of the greatest artists on the planet; Janelle Monae. And that (btw) was absolutely fucking incredible.
2011 then started with a surprise birthday party in my flat, which was in all honesty the wildest party I, and many others, had ever been to. It was a biiiiig one with my all of my best friends in the world. It was amazing. As expected I was dropping down, getting my eagle on, flapping my wings and so forth and so on ALL NIGHT LONG.
YOU KNOW HOW I DO.
Next up was a session on BBC Cardiff where I met a lady by the name of Jen Long, and she is amazing. If you don’t already, you should listen to her Radio One show. I’ll have it be known that after my gig, she DJ’d, played Kanye, and got kicked out by bouncers she KNEW in a place she ALWAYS plays because she played him and it was so, so funny. How can you be kicked out of a bar/club for playing Kanye?! That’s fucked up yo.
Anyway..
I played HMV’s One To Watch gig with the amazing Ed Drewett.
I played NME’s Award Show supporting The Naked And Famous, then went to the Brit Awards after party and partied HARD.
I had a magazine shoot with Disorder and met a very talented and amazing young man called Jordan Shiel. You will know his name in the fashion industry, you heard it here first.
I went to the NME awards, fun times.
I then went on tour with The Good Natured (amaaaazing) for Get It Loud In Libraries. It was eventful to say the least, but I met some amazing and inspiring young people and had a great time with my boys on tour. I love being on the road, I miss it.
I had a photoshoot for Vanity Fair wearing a Raymond Weil diamond watch for ‘Ones To Watch’ with Jason Derulo. Pretty amazinnnng.
I played Help Japan along side some incredible artists like Yasmin, Ed Sheeran and someone you will DEFINITELY be hearing of all over the damn place; Random Impulse. He is a star. It boggles my mind that he is still unsigned. Labels, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
I played Club NME the next day which was definitely up there in the best gigs I’ve ever done. SO. MUCH. FUN.
THEN I went to LA.
Damn, I love LA. More than most things in the entire world.
It was special. I met some of the most incredible people I have ever and will ever meet. Y’all know who you are. I actually extented my stay and went to Coachella and it was without a doubt the best weekend I’ve ever had. Ever. So ridiculously good. I had the best time and I’m so, so glad I decided to stay (shout out to Ariel and Jesse for convincing me!)
I got back, had about half a day and then headed to Toulouse, France to spend a few days working with the incredible Fred Falke. Best ever. Toulouse is beautiful, GO if you have the chance.
I played Great Escape.
I went BLONDE. I know.. Who would have ever thought?! (Although I am debating going back to black though, we shall seeeee)
I played an acoustic gig at Selfridges for Project Ocean.
I went to Dublin with my three favourite girls in the world for Oxegen Festival. It was very eventful (as everything in my life seems to be) but it was great. Ups and down, swings and roundabouts etc but ultimately mission accomplished, with my three best friends in tact.
I played Underage Festival, amazing.
Then..
..I went to LA for the second time.
It was a last minute move, I decided to go the day before I went, booked a ticket and jumped on a plane accross the Atlantic the next day. That’s what I doooo.
This time I was there with one of my other favourite ladies, one of my best friends Kenzie May (check her ouuuuut) and we had the best time. I jumped on a plane on my own, but she was there on a little trip already so I stayed with her and we went harrrrrrd. Seeing my favourite LA people again was so fucking amazing. I don’t know if those guys really even know how incredible they are and how lodged they are inside my heart. Seriously. I’ll be back SOON.
I played Bestival - absolutely my best gig to date. And special and important for many other reasons.
I played a gig at Home House for Vanity Fair and Raymond Weil as well as playing at Westfield Shepherd’s Bush.
I played Little Noise Sessions supporting my favourite Marina & The Diamonds once again.
And here we are.
In the midst of all of these things, there have also been huge decisions made, massive moves, crazy actions and leaps of faith and a lot has changed. So much in fact. I’m a very different person to girl I was writing my blog at the end of last year. I’ll never be that girl again.
This year has seen me grow, change, be affected, get hurt, love, lose, trust, miss, travel, be spontaneous, be brave, make mistakes, work hard, gain friends, fight - for the right reasons, cry - best release ever, laugh - so hard it hurts, try - harder than ever, and like I said make some pretty huge decisions.
As you may have noticed; old photos, videos, songs, etc have all been taken down. Other things have been put in their place, couple of acoustic recordings, photos etc. That’s because of the decisions I’ve made. I won’t go into it too much, but I had to re-group, re-think, and re-decide many things this year and I am very fortunate to have a label behind me that have supported me and allowed me to be exactly what I am - an artist. And in order to be the artist I am, the artist I want to be, and the artist I imagine myself being; what I need most is the understanding of who and what I am.
In honesty, I’m still figuring out what that is. And as a result of many other decisions and changes this year, things for me managed to get very confused.
But like I said and have said many times before - I am determined to keep my promise of making the best album I can. For myself, of course, I need to be true to what my heart is screaming at me, but also for you. So I will do that. No matter how long it takes. Thank you, 679, for everything.
I can’t believe it’s Christmas this week! That’s crazy. I can’t believe how fast time has flown by. Mad, mad, mad. Then New Years and then my birthday, all within 10 days. It’s always a big time of year.
At BBC Radio Cardiff with the boys - Crimewatch yo!
Warner Christmas party with Grimmy and friends
Myself with Amir Amor and his lady, Diana at the Warner party
JEN LONG
My jokes self, Amir and Ed Sheeran at the par-tay
HMV’s Next Big Thaaaang
Disorder Magazine shoot
Disorder Magazine shoot #2
On shoot for Vanity Fair with Jason Derulo
Get It Loud In Libraries with The Good Natured, Rugby Library
Me and the man Random Impulse at Help Japan
Yasmin, Starsmith & Sparky
Calvin Harriss and Yasmin, Help Japan
Gotta let it burn
Thank You X - Downtown LA, incredible
Bestival, best ever
Vanity Fair/Raymond Weil interview
Marina & The Diamonds, reunited
Shoot with Yafeu Khamisi, my favourite
Little Noise Sessions supporting Marina
NME Awards with Sunday Girl, harrrr
Tour bus with my best ever Mr Paul Egan - he tha man
St Patricks Day, Guinness anyone?
Session at Ealing Studios
Actually on Hollywood Strip, courtesy of Nicky Berger, hah!
2 of the best ladies in the entire world, LA times
BOYZ TOWN
Myself and Mr Greg James watching Robyn in LA
Love these two, if only they weren’t my two favourite gays I would marry either one of them today
Just being a G at the Rose Bowl vintage market in LA, amazing day
Bitch be BURNT in Los Angeles! I go from super white, to red, to super white. Bah.
One half of Neon Gold (one of the best gals in the universe) and my favourite Captain, Ryan. Love love love.
My MAIN man, Amir Amor. World’s Greatest.
After Underage Festival with Stella & The Knocks
Hollywood with my gal Kenzie May, hell yeah I’m wearing a 50 Cent t-shirt yo
Amy & Mariel, LA round 2!
‘The Boy Is Mine’ fisticuffs with Kenzie over Ben Berger after the Grouplove show in London
All Club NME! Amazing, amazing
BBC Cardiff Session for Jen Long!
After Little Noise with Marina, she is the best
DJing at the launch of SWEET! For my gal Stars with my gal Stella, party orn
Rockin’ a one-piece to the studio like a boss
Underage with Stella, Diana & Stars. Lil Wayne tee and a Crufts badge, badass
COACHELLA! All of us were in one SUV. Love love love love love.
Myself and the beautiful Oh My girls at Warner Summer Draaaanx
Dublin, July ‘11. Peace up, a town down and OUT.
And that’s the end of that! That is what my 2011 looked like, haha.
So, to all you lovely people I wish you a very merry christmas, a very, very happy new year and here’s to 2012. Let’s hope it’s a good one! Do it BIG!
All my love, as always..
Sparky
x
I was only there for a few hours, but was very pleased to see some faces I ADORE and catch up with some old friends.
Jen Long is the best.
Amir Amor (my main man) and his beautiful lady, Diana. Love these two.
Party Rocking in the house with Grimmy and Friends
Amir, Mr Ed Sheeeeeran and my jokes self.
A good night. Christmas parties are ALWAYS when everyone lets LOOSE, like, really loose. Some people got a little too loose for my liking, pah, but it was good fun.
It was lovely to see some lovely faces.
Merry Christmas to the Warner team, especially my beloved 679. Love y’all.
SPARK - REVOLVING // LITTLE NOISE SESSIONS
………………………………………………………………
Video by James Arnold
………………………………………………………………
String Arrangements by Maxwell Cooke
It was an honour to support Marina once again last week at Little Noise Sessions for many reasons.
The first being the fact that I toured with her last year the day after I left school, which lead to my signing and has had a huge impact on my career. Marina has shown me nothing but support, and that support is priceless. I love her A LOT, both as a person and as an artist, as I’m sure you all do too..
The second reason being she is one of my favourite artists, ever? She has that special quality in her lyrical and melodic style that feels like she’s writing from my heart and singing from my mouth. That’s the quality I love in all of my favourite artists. Tracy Chapman, Alanis Morissette, Joni Mitchell. They’re all honest lyricists and their delivery is always so true and beautiful. Marina is up there with the greats for me.
She performed like the star she is, and once again I watched in awe. In awe of her and in awe of her adoring fans. You all know who you are! You’re all amazing.
‘Starring Role’ is incredible. And possibly my favourite? It’s hard to say because I love so many (all…) of her songs. But this one is special and I really hope it has the impact on everyone that it’s had on me. It needs to be huge, I believe it will be. I’ve had it on repeat since she posted it.
LIsten HERE
That’s all really. Just wanted to share that little bit of lurrrve. Pass it on yo.
Sparky
x
The other night I was honoured to perform at Little Noise Sessions for Jo Whiley and Mencap Charity. I had just a string quartet with me and did this little cover of Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself’ just because I like to mix t’up! It isn’t perfect, but what is? This is how it went down for anyone that’s interested. I’ll be posting some other videos in the near future, but for now courtesy of Orezlyrad on YouTube.. Thasss wasssssup..
Spark - Lose Yourself (Eminem Cover)
| — | Hector, The History Boys |
So I did these recordings last week and put them up for all of yooou. (Because I really, really, REALLY like ya) and I wanted to know what you thought! Your favourites?
There is so much going on right now, and I am determined to keep my promise of making the best album I can make for you. And, because of my determination to keep that promise I have had to change some things, pull some things, alter some things, make some big decisions etc etc blah blah. But I am sure when the time comes for you all to hear what I’ve done, you’ll prefer it. At least I hope so. I mean, you’re what it’s all for anyway right?! Right. We both know that. It’s aaaaall for you.
I hope you like these though. Let me know if you do.
And all of you, stay golden.
The first video is of ‘Try’. Then, I will post ‘Revolving’ and ‘Pieces’. Let me know what your best one is if you want to, I love knowing that.
My <3, as always.
Sparky
x
