Category: music

Free Download: Themes 1, 2, 3

These were sketches of melody ideas for a project that never really came about. But I quite like the ideas. This piece is just a few little sketches that I came up with while playing the piano in Java’s café in Galway one afternoon. It’s a beautiful piano, and it seems to prefer being used for instrumental music than anything else. There are times when it can be a bit annoying, as the piano is there for anyone to use, but generally people treat it with respect and you can stumble upon some beautiful piano music in there.

But this piece was really shaped by that piano, actually, the sound of the piano is quite distinct, and I really would love to use it for some recording. My digital piano sounds just a little too bright and cheery for the music, in my opinion, but I’m probably just being a bit of a stickler.

[audio:http://www.misterebby.com/previewtracks/themes123.mp3]
mister ebby – themes 1, 2, 3

the old baby grand

Inspiration: Brad Walsh

Brad Walsh is a multi talented creative force. A singer/songwriter, producer and photographer. I remember hearing his music quite a few years back and liking his electro influenced sound. Yet he has developed a really signature sound that is totally identifiably his own. His cover of Stacey Q’s Two Of Hearts created a major buzz online, and his remixes of Britney’s Womanizer and Ashlee Simpson’s Out Of My Head are absolutely fantastic.

Check out his new album on his website, which is hitting shops in October.

And you can listen to more of his music at his MySpace page, including his amazing cover of Two Of Hearts as well as his original songs.

Why is he an inspiration? He’s done it all himself with style and determination.

Brad Walsh - Human Nature
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Free Download: Sleep With You Tonight (demo)

One of my favourite things is going out clubbing, and spending the night on the dancefloor. I started clubbing when I was about 16, and fell in love with the feeling you get when you’re dancing in a club. I wanted to write a throwaway dance-pop song that reminded me of the kind of music I was dancing to when I first started clubbing.

The lyrics aren’t anything special – just relaying an idealised version of a night out on the pull in a club. I’d written a few songs about breakups or being in love, but I’d never written anything about meeting someone for the first time and that energy you feel when you see someone who totally grabs your entire attention. So, this song was an attempt to capture that feeling.

The directness of the lyrics is inspired by a friend of mine from a number of years ago, who would always be very direct with anyone they took a fancy to. Never bothered with any kind of a chat up line or pleasantries, just direct and to the point. And more often than not it worked, much to my surprise. So this song is a nod to that particular friend, who knows who they are I’m sure. :)

I demo’d it at home and it’s my second attempt at trying to program some beats, and incorporate some loops to add to the sound. It’s not finished, and it’s certainly not perfect, but it gives a good idea of where I want it to go.

[audio:http://www.misterebby.com/previewtracks/swyt.mp3]
mister ebby – sleep with you tonight (demo) (right-click and save to download)

Lyrics
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Collaborating #1: Anna Lee

I had a visitor for a few days: Anna Lee, who I used to play piano with is back in Ireland for a few weeks, and spent some time here in Galway. Had a little mini session playing songs for each other in Java’s Café, where there’s a beautiful grand piano upstairs. But we’ve not yet managed to get around to having a good music session together.

I spent about two years in total playing with her, gigging around Ireland and a little bit around the UK too, before she headed off to Spain. I’ve known her since university, and we both used to play the singer-songwriter night in uni. She’s got a fantastic voice, and has released one EP so far, but I’m hoping she’ll release a full album. Here’s one of the tracks from that EP:

The video was shot and edited really badly by myself, and I helped her put together the EP for release, including working on the cover design and getting it available for sale. It was definitely a learning experience for me.

We had some great gigs playing together as “Husband | Wife” and just with me accompanying her as a session pianist. We shared a house together for about a year, and would practice and mess around with music at home. Here’s a cover of Portishead’s “Glory Box” that was recorded in our living room one afternoon back in 2006. Just ignore us messing around at the start ;) Read More

Inspiration: Gabriela Kulka

Gaba Kulka
Gabriela Kulka is a fantastic songwriter from Poland, who I describe to people as the lovechild of Kate Bush and Danny Elfman who grew up listening to jazz. She has released three albums, and has always managed to blow me away with each release. Check out the lead single from her most recent album, as well as an amazing cover she does of London Calling, which she turns into a waltz. Obviously.

Niejasności

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