Gareth James Chronicles - Episode 1 (Get To You - Acoustic)

Gareth James Chronicles - Episode 2 (Let You Go - Acoustic Demo)

Gareth James Chronicles???? and my nervousness behind........

There has been some talk of an album coming soon by local, Cape Town Modern Country artist, Gareth James. Well, you've been hearing correct!!! woooohoooooo!!!

Guys and girls, I am so excited for this release, not just cos its my first full length album EVER but also cos I am doing it in the genre I fell in love with over the last few years, Modern Country. Now when I say "Modern" Country, I mean it exactly as it says. Its Country music with a pop/rock influence. Who are my influences with regards to my debut album? Good question... Here are some artists that I am heavily influenced by:

1. Keith Urban - http://youtu.be/nUVFuK1Opmc
2. Rascal Flatts - http://youtu.be/4fqPcnuVPR8
3. Taylor Swift - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA4iX5D9Z64

and many more...

The recording process was so amazing and working with Award Winning Producer, Jurgen Von Wechmar of Sunset Recording Studios in Stellenbosch was such an honor. Finding a producer that suites your genre is pretty easy in South Africa if you're in a rock band (depending of the sub genre of rock) but finding a producer for a Modern Country genre is super hard as you can imagine with Country stemming from Tennessee routes, but he just did a brilliant job. I also have to thank the musicians involved in making my dream a reality,

1. JP Crouch (Drums - Twitter: @JPCrouchMusic)
2. Andre Hope (Bass - Twitter: @Washburn76)
3. Donovan Chemaly (Guitars - Twitter: @Donthejhonson)
4. Marko Van Der Merwe (Keys)
5. Joe Recroseo (Pedal Steel, Dobro, Slide, Baritone, Electric Sitar)
6. Gavin Edwards (Male Backing Vocals - Twitter: @GavinEdwards_)
7. Berenike Monnery (Female Backing Vocals) and she also co wrote and performed a Duet with on "One In A Million Dream"

Yes this is a big band hahahahahahaha...

So to take you through our studio Journey I am going to put together a series of videos on youtube (release date to be announced soon) called, Gareth James Chronicles, that will feature some studio footage, sneak previews into the album's songs, acoustic performances of the songs and many more...

I must admit... I am super nervous to see how the South Africa audiences are going to respond to a Genre that they all know and love but performed and released by a local artist. What do you think?

Thanks so much again to everyone that participated in the making of this album and then last but not least, the most important thank you goes out to my manager,, Michelle Smit (Twitter: IamMichelleSmit) for her support and ma pal... we are going places...

Keep you updated soon

Cheers for now....

Steal it it's fine but you won't keep me down!!!

Hey Everyone

Good to talk to y'all again.

I'm writing today to tell you guys about my recent ordeal. On Friday morning on the 7th of September sometime between 01:00am and 06:00am somebody thought it a good idea to break into my studio and rob me of my bread and butter. R92500 worth of my life's work was stolen from me including 2 of my prize possessions, a Taylor Acoustic Guitar and a Shure Super 55 microphone. I wish I could explain how I feel about this cos the sad thing is that it's someone I know. Someone that knows MY gear as there were a lot of items that were in there that didn't belong to me and that they didn't touch. According to the detectives this person (I know who you are) had enough time to choose exactly what they wanted and knew exactly what they were doing. Some of the items that were stolen had to be unplugged in a specific manner that the common thief wouldn't know about. Very sad state of affairs this is guys BUT!!!!

I'm positive that this is part of God's plan for me and I know that now. Fortunately everything was insured so now I pray that they take care of me.

This is the list of items:

Taylor Acoustic
Yamaha PC9501N Power Amp
16 Channel Behringer mixing desk
8 Channel Alesis Multimix recording mixer
Dell Vostro Laptop
Behringer Condenser  Studio Microphone
Shure Super 55 vintage style Microphone
Vocalist Live 3 Harmony Pedal

If you hear of anything like this being sold, please contact me on gazaluz@gmail.com or in box me on Facebook (Gareth James)

I will be performing this Thursday evening as a solo act in preparation for my show with Karen Zoid on the 22nd of September with some amazing bands including, "The Inside Job".

Also if you'd like to just pop in and say hi, I'll be at the 48 Band Off at Barnyard Theater judging the finals of the Battle of the Bands. Come around guys and lets support some of Cape Town's best up and comers. The show is on Friday the 14th of September.

Ill update you guys soon with more info...

Cheers for now....

Musicians vs. Live Music Venues

Hey Everyone

I must apologise for being so scarce. Ive just hit a bit of a bad space and am slowly crawly out of it again. I just want to tell you guys a short story about my feelings on the topic of Live Music Venues that don't pay hard working musicians.

I just want to start off by saying, that I speak on behalf of all musicians, whether they do their own songs or whether your in a cover band or a solo act.

I fully get that the Live Music Venues that cater for original bands, well most of them anyway, supply sound and engineers and have costs to cover and I have the world of respect for most of them. BUT my issue comes in with Live Music Venues that don't want to pay for the guys that have been performing cover shows and working dam hard to make a living. I spoke to a fellow musician not too long ago and I was blown away by the price this Live Music Venue was paying musicians, R600 to play for 4 hours. If that's not exploitation that what is and what freaked me out is that musicians are falling for it cos they need the cash. I mean, if mine workers can kill people for a cash increase, then surely we can stand up say SCREW YOU!!! to those type of venue owners. Can you imagine what these venues that advertise and are known for live music would do with no musicians and to top it off, there's nothing violent about standing up as a musician and saying "pay for the quality I deliver or SCREW YOU!!!" (Although in some cases the venue owner could give you a fat smack for saying SCREW YOU!!!) but still... he'll still be sitting with no live music... I mean if every musician thought that way, then maybe venue owners would start thinking.

I mean I have some close friends that own venues that pay amazing cos they know that if you want quality Live Music then you must pay for it. I know as I have seen it for myself that on some bad evenings depending on the size of the venue that they'd still make enough to pay a musician more than R600 and no one plays 4 hours any more guys come on now...

Look I also fully understand where some Live Music Venue owners come from when they book an artist as they're promised so many people or a certain quality and the opposite is delivered. Then hold an audition evening where a certain amount of musicians come and sing 3 songs and then you can choose the best that will suite your venue. But dont have an audition and tell the musicians to do 2 sets (for an audition) and then refuse them a gig afterwords. If the situation arises and they auditioned for 2 sets (which adds up to more than 1h30min) then the least you can do is pay them rather than have let them come out to give you a free show. And if they were really bad then cut your loses but please stop using singers and musicians for your own personal gain and think you guys are going to get away with it forever.

The thing I love the most about our industry is that it's so small. STOP IT GUYS!!! Musicians will always be musicians as its in our DNA but Live Music Venues that make use of Musicians at no pay or minimal just cos they can, those come and go...

I hope I didn't make too many people upset by my blog but I just had to vent and who else can I vent with if not my awesome fans, friends and family. I heard recently that I'm known for pulling good people in and kicking them to the curb at random so I want to end this blog off just to let y'all know that I love y'all very much and respect and appreciate everyone's support over the years. 

Have an amazing week further and feel free to comment as much as you like... If you don't agree with what I have to say I fully understand but comment anyway.

Cheers for now....

My Media Launch Experience

Wow guys!!! What an amazing evening. First off, I have to thank my amazing fans for supporting me throughout my years as a musician. You have helped me achieve what Ive set out to achieve. Also, I want to thank my amazing wife for standing by me and my awesome awesome awesome manager, Michelle Smit for persevering and for pushing me and every now and then giving me a kick on my behind when I felt like giving up. Recently I signed to an amazing agency called Nue Light Productions who are opening some big doors for my future and also had a big hand in the success of my Media Launch with Sandra Hendryckx from Highlander in Glenn Gary Shopping Center in Vredekloof. Thanks Julita and Adele from the bottom of my heart, then last but not least, thanks to the media that arrived, especially Louisa Steyl (Tygerburger), Finesse Magazine and Dee Theart (Cape Town Music Scene) to name a few.

I met such an awesome guy, he was responsible for myself and my wife arriving at the venue in one piece, Ulrich Horn, chauffeured us in a Mercedes Benz, wooooowwwweeeeee!!! Such a beautiful car. We arrived to walk up the red carpet and was greeted by a fire dancer and then to my surprise walked into a full venue. The atmosphere was just so amazing and I met some awesome people.

Then when show time came myself and my band were introduced to the audience by Julita from Nue Light Productions and we were received with open arms thereafter. I spoke to someone not long ago who said not to do a media launch but I would honestly encourage more artists to do it. Its brilliant to build a platform and create some hype around your brand.

The idea was to create some hype around my EP Launch which is taking place on the 1st of August 2012 at Die Boer Teater in Durbanville. The show will be opened by Jesse Jordan (Debut single "Ready For The World") and Natasha Meister (Debut single and official music video "Safe In The Silence") and then my show will take place after that and Ill be joined on stage by some of SA's top session musicians and then of coarse as promised a surprise performance. My EP will be on sale at R60 as well as the "Gareth James Edition" MP3 player at R200 (To order MP3 players online go to www.metabolicinteractive.co.za) and key rings at R10.

To book a table you can email navrae@dieboer.com or call 021 979 1911. Bookings are essential.

I will be in touch soon

Cheers for now...

LDR on 94.5 KFM

LDR on 94.5 KFM

Make Some Noise on 94.5KFM

Hi Everyone!

Hope your morning has been amazing so far. Just popping in to speak about 94.5KFM. I want to use this week to make more noise than ever before.

"Everything Ive Got" needs to play 40 times on KFM for them to review all your votes. To decide whether they going to put "Everything Ive Got" on High Rotation (which means they play it allllot).

Go to www.kfm.co.za and vote on LDR (you can type "Gareth" in the search section as many times as you can or sms "Gareth James Everything Ive Got" to 32945. smses cost R1

For those that dont have access to the internet. You can vote on www.kfm.co.za from your cell phone too.

Get your votes on guys.

Spread this around to your friends and family's please.

My SA Idols Journey: Part 1

My SA Idols Journey: Part 1

What an amazing experience. The talent for Season 8 is phenomenal.

Arriving at Table Bay Hotel, damn its beautiful guys. Then there was interview after interview and loads more waiting BUT... whilst waiting I got to meet some seriously talented singers and had some fun singing with a huge group of people. There was this guy playing some awesome Violin. What a crazy awesome voice too and there were loads of those types. Competition is super tight this year guys.

Making Top 100 was an amazing experience. I arrived at Johannesburg International and got on a bus to Sun City. On the bus trip I felt the longing to be back home with my wife and son and missed them like crazy (Yes I know, I just left home and now I want to go back). Anyway, moving along. There was a really tiny guitar floating around the bus that everyone got a chance to play on and no, it wasn't a ukaleli (or however the spelling goes). So came the birth of a recent Country song I wrote called "Love You So".

Arriving in Sun City, getting luggage, waiting in a conference room for  a while and then sitting in the Theater in preparation for Day 1 of Hell Week. Then we got our room keys. I was roomed up with a super talented Clothing Designer and singer from Durban.

And that's about that as far as Part 1 goes for now. So the big question is: Is there a part 2 to this story? Keep watching SA Idols Season 8 on MNET/Mzanzi Magic or Idols Extra on DSTV Channel 199 everyday.

More news to follow soonest

Cheers for now

My honest opinion: Entry 1: Topic: Nikitas Battle of the Bands

I arrived at Nikitas for the Battle of the Bands at 19:00pm on Wednesday evening the 6^th of June to a very well set up table for the judging panel, set with platters and looked very professional annnnnnnnd that was about it, except for the MC who was cool. I enjoyed him. I am really proud to be working with Stage 24 who has put this competition together. Very professional but like “Murphy” would have it there were more negative points to the first round than positives.

Im writing this blog to explain that you CANNOT go on a stage if you are NOT prepared.

The first “band” came on called 6 Days Remaining and blew people’s minds in the worst way possible. They literally put their band together 6 days before they got on that stage. Guys you DO NOT stop playing half way through a song at any point. If the batteries on your mike "flicker Red", make sure there is another mike on hand. I was seriously disappointed seeing that. I didn’t make my night.

Then the saviour of the night came on stage and blew people’s minds with his phenomenal show, onstage presents and well written acoustic percussive playing. Tombstone Pete has to, in my opinion, be the most original, most talented guy I’ve seen in Cape Town. I’m definitely a fan. Check out his Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/tombstonepetemusic.

2^nd Band and round 1 winner, Thank You Johnny, was by far the better band on the Nikitas stage. Just one or two details that need to be worked on, they know what I’m on about. Tune your guitar’s bro’s.

3^rd “Cover Band” was The G-Stringers, If you going to do covers guys then make it your own. I kept saying to myself, “this is a competition guys, be original man”. After every single song I hoped it would be something original, but to my disappointment, another version of Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl. Then what irritated me lots was the fact that they were asked to play an extra 10 minutes, not that it helped, but again, its a competition guys, every slot is 30 – 35 min. Its just not fair on the rest of the bands that have entered.

It was so difficult to judge bands fairly having to look past the terrible sound. I actually felt sorry for the guys on stage. Luckily one or two didn’t pick up on it but damn dude, as a sound engineer that’s been in the business for so many years I heard more excuses rather than finding solutions and fixing it. I must also just add that the front-of-house rig will be upgraded hugely for the 27^th of June which is round 2.

Stage 24 is an amazing company and The “Gareth James” brand is proud to be working with them. They are punctual and professional and for a brand new company they have huge hearts and are so driven to make big things happen for their artists. I am really really looking forward to the rest of this awesome competition they have put together.

Please feel free to comment on my blog. Be fully honest. If you don’t agree with me I completely understand but remember that honesty is always what you going to read on this blog and you know what they say, “The truth hurts”.

Stay tuned for more blogging to come.

Cheers for now!!!

 Nikitas Battle of the Bands

Battle of the Bands

For the next few months I have been invited to head judge a battle of the bands at Nikitas in Bellville. Pretty exciting!!! Im looking forward to seeing the talent coming out of the Northern Suburbs or wherever the talent is coming from. I've judged a few of these type competitions and usually most of them are rigged (the judges favourite band). This is not the case this time round cos the judging panel are close friends and colleagues of mine, Michelle Smit (My career manager) and Donovan Chemaly (Session Guitarist). Donovan has been in the music industry performing shows for over 12 years. He has extensive experience in live performance and is one the most honest musicians I know. Michelle has been managing my career for a few years and has seen and been networking within the music circles extensively and knows exactly what she is looking for. So no favourites will be tolerated and even if we have friends in this competition we WILL NOT be favouring anyone.

I have been in the music industry as a performer for over 13 years and been working within the music Business circles for over 7 years. Read through your rules and regulation forms and make sure you market your shows properly cos crowd response will play a big role in your results other than the odds and ends.

Tomorrow afternoon I will be blogging about what my thoughts were regarding all the bands, organising, sound etc.

Cheers for now!!! 

Being on 94.5 Kfm

 

Hi guys & girl

Recently my single dropped onto Kfm's play list. 

But before that my management company submitted my single to a mass amount of radio stations all over South Africa, one of them being 94.5 Kfm. We bothered them for a while with emails asking, "Whats happening?", "How does it work now?" and loads more. Eventually we agreed to drop it and move on to the next challenge, (There was no way in hell i was giving up there). 

Two week later I was on a call and I got a BB from a friend saying "Everything I've Got" is playing on Kfm. I didnt think much of it cos, as I said, I was on a call. Next thing my phone went crazy with sms's, bbm's, emails and phone calls saying its on. So I put the radio on and what do you know, there it was, my song was on one of the biggest National Radio Stations in South Africa. I was unsure whether I was listening to the CD or if I was really hearing right. "Is that really my song?" I'm thinking. It has to be the awesomest feeling, I actually cant put words to it. Cape Town is hearing my story and loving it cos people were smsing in to Kfm and the radio DJ at the time said "they are getting an overwhelming amount of sms's for (Gareth James Everything Ive Got)".

Anyway, I will be keeping you guys updated as much as possible. Im going to be talking through my IdolsSA Season 8 experience throughout the show. 

Cheers for now