Hangover Lounge Gig, 22/8/10
On Sunday, I got to play a strangely wonderful gig. I played a totally acoustic gig at The Hangover Lounge and… it was soo special in so many ways.
Firstly, I got to play on the same bill as Elizabeth Morris (allo darlin’) and Amor de Dias, both of whom were absolutely fantastic. I hadn’t heard any Amor de Dios before but I’m going to search their stuff out now, very flowing and… surreal is the only other word I can think of? They were last on and it was a great way to finish off the day.
I went on first and looked out at a room of expectant faces. It’s quite a big room, too, so I was worried about projecting. But it was liberating! No worrying about mic or sound or pedals or backing tracks. It was just me and my guitar, singing my heart out. I loved it. And the audience all kept soo quiet, they made the gig work.
The highpoint of my set for me was when Elizabeth joined me for ‘Your Woman’ so all I did was play guitar while she sang it. That won’t ever happen again and I love those kind of unique moments. It’s why I make music, to meet people like her and have lovely collisions like those.
Then I got to see her play. I was sat in between my friends Vanessa and Nat and, I have to admit, she did make me cry at least twice. I blinked the tears back but it was difficult to keep it in, particularly after playing myself. When Elizabeth performs, she’s just there, I can’t really explain what I mean. She was sitting about two feet in front of me, singing these songs she’s written that I love, full of love and lust, despair and insecurity. Perfect.
It was a wonderful day. Days like those make me feel so lucky and happy to be a musician!
Cosy Den Festival 2010 And General Swedieness
Woah. On the 4th of August, Robbie and I travelled over to Sweden to do a bit of travelling but, most importantly, play the Cosy Den 2010 festival, a multi-day extravaganza of amazing music.
We also travelled to Gothenburg as we both missed it. And, boy, do I miss it more now. It’s such a beautiful city. I’m not knocking Stockholm but Geeburg will always have a bit of my heart.
On Sunday the 8th, I played at Cosy Den. It was a strange gig, I was very on edge. I’ve not been that good mentally lately so singing a setload of intense love songs was always going to be slightly daunting. But the Cosy audience is the best you could ask for - they were warm and accepting of my dodginess.
And then, on Monday, I played ‘Death In Kettering’ on a ferry! Really, what could be better?
I realise that it’s now five years since Mattias invited me over for the first time to play Cosy Den. In the past five years, I can’t explain how much going over there to play has changed me, changed my music and changed the way I interact with the world musically. Certainly, I wouldn’t have been playing Indietracks or London Popfest or HDIF without the initial reaching out from Mattias.
Who knows what one small act can snowball into? A fanzine interview can turn into a gig, the people you meet there can put out your records or become your fellow travellers or simply, your friends.
I would like to thank Mattias and all the Cosy Den Crew for everything they’ve given me the past five years. Here’s to the best alternative music night in the world! 
Indietracks 2010
(for more general pics of the festival, click the pic)
On the 24th of July, I was lucky enough to play Indietracks 2010. And I had a whale of a time!
I played in the church which, for me, is the best stage of all. It’s the right size for the intimacy I want in a gig. It was a bit nerve-wracking as I was doing two very new songs, one only around three weeks old. And both of them are still too raw, singing them is perhaps too much catharsis as opposed to performance.
(This is the audience in the church, filling up just before I played!)
But the gig went well and I met loaaads of lovely people afterwards who said they’d loved it. Bless em! That’s the best thing about gigging: the connections you make that would never have been possible otherwise. It’s one of the times that I, as a nutter, can try to break down the walls between me and other people without getting carted away to a loony bin. So, let’s hear it for socially-sanctioned temporary transgression of normal mores!
And on that note, a big thank you to Martha and Blair! 
Indietracks Interview
Hello! As you may already know, I’m playing the violently lovely Indietracks Festival this year
And I’ve just done an interview with them. You can read it by clicking here!
It’s my usual rambling nonsense, enjoy!
Indietracks
Yes, I can confirm that I am playing Indietracks 2010!
Woowooo! Choo chooo! etc.
See you there, popkids!
London Popfest 2010
Last Sunday, I had the honour to play London Popfest 2010. And I played on the same day as three fab bands, Leaving Mornington Crescent, Horse Shoes and The Wake. Yes, that The Wake! :-O
First on were Swedish razorpop stars, Leaving Mornington Crescent. I love LMC’s mix of 60s’ girlpop and Buzzcocks, I love their short, punchy songs and I love their MPC drummer. Mmm…
Pic courtesy of Marianthi
Then I played and I had so much fun! The audience was really friendly and I felt a proper sense of connection, despite it being a bigger venue than I’m used to playing. I talked to loads of lovely people after and even sold some records.
Next were Horse Shoes who played a set of dreamy, summery songs with innocent melodies that reminded me of early Field Mice.
Last on were The Wake. It felt quite bizarre that I was standing, watching The Wake, a band I’ve listened to for years. They were amazing. Very raw and full of heart, it was a singalong set.
Thanks to everyone at Popfest for putting me on, I had so much fun playing. And thanks to you if you were in the audience that night, I’d give you all hugs if I could!
Original Sin Interview
I’m very happy to be interviewed for the excellent Original Sin site! Click here to read it!
London Popfest Comp
Hello! I’m honoured to be playing London Popfest this Sunday. And they’ve just stuck up a FREE comp of bands that are playing. It features Horowitz, allo darlin’, Red Shoe Diaries, The Wake, Leaving Mornington Crescent and looads more. That’s some of the loveliest indiepop bands in the world right there. And there’s a track from me too! 
Click here for the comp!
love and kisses,
Jyoti
London Popfest!
Yaaay! I’m playing the 2010 London Popfest, full details here!
If you go, come and say hi, don’t be shy!
Merry Crimbo!
Hello! Even though I’m a bit of a bahhumbug when it comes to Crimbo, I thought I’d give you all a little pressie this year. Ladies and gentlemen, I present the present of the Mental At 5am EP!
Did you read this rambling post? Read it now? Good!
Well, the night I talk about there, the night that Mattias Cosy Den stayed over is when I recorded this live, acoustic EP. We stayed up very late and I chose one of my own songs plus a couple of covers that I love. Here’s what’s on the EP:
1. Death In Kettering
This is one of mine, taken off the last album, ‘Don’t Mention The War.’ I love doing this song acoustically, I don’t know why. It’s just one of the purest songs I’ve written. Whenever you write a song, you have the idea of it in your head and then, after a while, you have the finished thing. Mostly, the reality will diverge from the idea. But ‘Death In Kettering’ is probably the closest I’ve got to the idea yet.
2. Mellow Doubt
Probably my favourite Teenage Fanclub song. It’s such fun to play and sing. I first worked it out when I was on a promo tour of Germany in 1997. I was on my own in a hotel room, missing my wife terribly and feeling totally isolated. All I had was my guitar and this song on my CD walkman (yep, it was that long ago!).
3. It Doesn’t Matter Two
Like every true Depechie, my favourite album is ‘Black Celebration.’ And this sublime love song is off that classic. I think it’s prime Martin Gore: sex, death, lust, nihilism, existentialism all wrapped up in catchy melodies and sharp lyrics. And it sounds a bit Russian too, for some reason.
4. Mattias
This is Mattias signing off the night in Swedish. I do hope he’s not being rude!
If you’d like to have this EP, just click here and I’ll be yours in a jiffy.
I hope you enjoy it, have a lovely festive season and a wonderful 2010!
love and kisses,
Jyoti
