Thursday, December 22, 2016

Newsletter - December 2016

I was posting all over social media earlier this year, asking people to join my mailing list - thanks to everyone who joined up!

So I sent the first newsletter out just now and you can also view it on the link below:
http://shoutout.wix.com/so/eLadV6ap#/main

If you'd like to join the mailing list for next time, just visit the front page of my website www.websheldon.com and sign up!

THANK YOU to everyone who has bought my music and shared, liked, commented or supported me in 2016!  It means a lot to me!!!



Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

"Shit Happened" - As Planned. Woo!

So compared to my usual lists that are on A4 paper and split by months and priorities, this year was very different: I only had ONE new years resolution for 2016:





And I've had an amazing year!

It didn't start off great though... I was paying 2 rents and living most of the week in this god awful freezing cold house in Newbury, away from home and working on some really tough projects in my SAP Consulting job but it all turned out well in the end!

It felt like it took me a LIFETIME to get to the point where I had all the equipment, the skills and the knowledge to get some solo music released, but I finally did it and had THREE releases this year, all written, recorded and produced by myself (aside from my Yoko Ono cover song).
- The first single "Ranch House On A Hill" (22nd January)
- The first EP "Modern Life Is Lies" (20th May)
- The latest EP "Today Is All" (2nd December)

I had features in Niji Magazine, Backseat Mafia, Artistic Echoes and a twice weekly feature spot on Chat & Spin Radio to promote 'Li(v)es' from the first EP.  I moved back to London full time in May and had the honour of playing in the church for the wedding of my friends Maik & Elisabeth in Dresden.

In Summer, I started working as an intern at BonaFideStudio.  I'm now recording, mixing and hosting PopStar parties there.  I also recorded my first voice over for an advert this year, did some on location recording for a Fidel Castro event, had Jonathan Ross dancing at one of my gigs the other week and made new remixes for Passion Bel Canon and Hipnotic Jazz.

Aside from music, I started attending a Spanish class which was been a truly wonderful experience! I really lack confidence when attempting to speak in Spanish, so to be around others who are in a similar situation has helped SO MUCH.  And in a place like London which can be so cold and distant, I've met not just class mates, but a proper group of friends as well and we go for food, drinks, karaoke nights and clubbing.

After practicing meditation on and off since 2014, it all seemed to click this year and I found an inner calm and a way to relieve myself of tensions, anxiety and stress in way that I didn't know was possible before.  Since I moved back to London though and I'm working in music full time again, I'm so much less stressed now and consequently I haven't been meditating very regularly.  My thinking at the moment is: if it helped me so when I was full of anxiety, just imagine how great I could feel to meditate from a starting point of already feeling good inside.  Interesting thought.

So.  The "MAKE SHIT HAPPEN" resolution worked.  Maybe it's more about being focused in my attitude primarily and then the list of things I want to do should come as secondary.

There's loads of things I could have done better this year too:
- Playing more gigs / attending more gigs of local artists
- Finding different ways to promote my music (maybe a paid promo campaign for the next release)
- More immersion into Spanish
- Maintaining my meditation
- I've met and worked with new artists this year, but I want to work with MORE!!
- It would have been nice to have a music video for one of my songs - but that seems like a whole other world!

So, I best get thinking about what I want to achieve for 2017 now...




Friday, December 2, 2016

IT'S OUT!! My new EP 'Today Is All'.

Take a listen here...

And to buy it, you can head over to Bandcamp via link below:
Bandcamp: https://websheldon.bandcamp.com/

Or alternatively go to your local version of iTunes, Amazon or Google Play / eMusic.


Tuesday, November 15, 2016

#onelove

'#onelove' is a song from my new EP 'Today Is All', to be released on Friday 2nd December via Bandcamp, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and Spotify.


Sunday, November 13, 2016

NEW EP 'Today Is All' - Out on Friday 2nd December

My 2nd EP 'Today Is All' will be released on Friday 2nd December!

It's a mixture of electronic music, pop and hip hop and features some awesome artists from around the globe including Priveyt, Paper Kray and Too Shay.

It'll be out on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and Bandcamp (amongst many others..).

More details coming soon....



Saturday, September 17, 2016

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Joni Mitchell QUIZ!

Ok so I know there's many other things I *should* be doing with my time, BUT... I couldn't help myself.

There's 15 questions each with a short line from a song and then you have to choose the correct answer out of 4 options!

Lets DO THIS! :D

https://www.onlinequizcreator.com/joni-mitchell-lyrics-part-ii/quiz-205613

Monday, September 5, 2016

Listen to today's Interview on Chat and Spin Radio (audio)

Listen to my interview on Chat and Spin Radio today.

Talking a bit about the reason behind my artist name, my most unusual gig whilst working at Trevedra Farm, collaborating with Of Embla and the inspiration behind my song Li(v)es.

www.chatandspinradio.com
Follow their Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/chatandspin/?fref=ts





Hear the song Li(v)es in full here:

GIG - Weds 7th Sept - Amersham Arms

Just booked a last minute gig at the Amersham Arms in New Cross - Wednesday 7th September, this week! 7pm onwards... I'll post more info when I know more...




How to get there:

Tune into Chat and Spin Radio tonight!

I'll be live on air talking about my music on Chat and Spin Radio later today at 17:15hrs GMT!

Tune in on the link below:
http://www.chatandspinradio.com


Thursday, September 1, 2016

Interview on Chat and Spin Radio Tomorrow

I'm going to be live on Chat and Spin Radio tomorrow night at 17:15 GMT as they ask me a few questions about my music and play a song from my current EP.

Tune in here:
http://www.chatandspinradio.com


Friday, August 12, 2016

NEW REMIX OUT! Hipnotic Jazz X The Gentleman's Irish - Hell's Fire (Web Sheldon Remix)

FRIDAY GREETINGS!

This is a remix I did for Hipnotic Jazz and The Gentleman's Irish.

I LOVED the original track as soon as I heard it - the lyrics really spoke to me and the production was a new side of Hipnotic Jazz that I was really feeling. The longest time it took me to make a remix for someone was a month, this one was done in 2 days because that's all I had free and I think it's my favourite remix so far ;-)

I also mastered it myself at BonaFideStudios where I'm working as Trainee at the moment. If you're interested in getting a track mastered, you can contact info@bonafidestudio.co.uk and it's £20 per track!

For Remix enquiries, send a message to: management@websheldon.com

You can hear/buy the original song here: hipnoticjazz.bandcamp.com/album/new-scriptures-ep


Thursday, August 11, 2016

Unfollow The Leader (Acoustic Version - Live at The Church, Muswell Hill)

Just realised I hadn't posted this yet!

It's a song that I wrote with Hipnotic Jazz last year and the original version is on his album "Infinitely Inconsistent" https://hipnoticjazz.bandcamp.com/album/infinitely-inconsistent

This is the live acoustic version...


Saturday, July 30, 2016

Li(v)es (Acoustic Version) - Live at The Church, Muswell Hill, 28th July 2016

So I played a gig the other night, I've got a few photos and videos to upload from it yet, but in the mean time, this is an acoustic version of Li(v)es from my EP from the same night.



Friday, July 29, 2016

So Long, Marianne

Marianne, the lady who inspired the famous Leonard Cohen song 'So Long, Marianne' died yesterday.  This is dedicated to her for inspiring such a wonderful song.



Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Trainee at BonaFideStudio



So as you probably know I have some time away from SAP at the moment which I'm using to 'work on music' so this is taking the form of...


  • Finishing my second EP.
  • Updating this blog more often.
  • Playings gigs and open mics (Next gig Thurs 28th July at O'Neill's in Muswell Hill, 7pm).
  • Getting to know the music scene in London better.
  • Collaborating with other artists for side projects
  • And as of Monday this week.... working as a Trainee at BonaFideStudio in Muswell Hill, North London. 

I had a trial day last week and met the head producer, there was a band being recorded at the time and other artists/bands coming in to use the rehearsal room.  And then on Monday I met another producer there who writes electronic/R&B/dubstep type tracks - it was very cool and I got to see the programme Reason in action for the first time, which I am dying to use now after seeing first hand what it can do!

Yesterday I was meant to be recording vocals for the EP but I was so inspired after watching the producer write a song in front of me, I wrote a song myself... I think I'll include it on the EP, it's fresh, new and a nice progression from what the second EP is, to what might come after that and I LIKE it.  Think of upbeat glitchy drums with a bit of rapping and some Web Sheldon style 80's synths thrown in.

So I'm going now! Must get recording!

Click on the website below to find out more about the studio I'm working at:

Recording starts at £20 per hour with an Engineer.  There's also a rehearsal space and to list a few artists that have recorded there: Patrick Wolf, Klaxons, Kylie Minogue, Kings Of Leon, Elastica.

Tel: 020 8883 9641
Email: info@bonafidestudio.co.uk

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Gig Booked @ The Church (O'Neills) on 28th July (Muswell Hill)

It feels like it's been a lonnnng time since I played live... the last time I was gigging regularly was early last year so I'll be starting to book a few shows now in the next few months!

I'm living in East Finchley at the moment and the other day I noticed that The Church (O'Neills) in Muswell Hill have live music once a month so I'm booked in for Thursday 28th July at 7:20pm.

I will be playing 4 songs and will only be playing acoustic (lets ease back into this gently).

It's free entry and there'll be plenty of other artists playing on the night too - looking forward to it!!

If you're planning on coming, join the Facebook Event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/490660937798226/


The Church (O'Neills), Mussel Hill.

How to get there:



The night is run by Plugged In Switched On and if there's any other artists reading this who want to take part, you can email them here: pluggedin007@gmail.com

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Recording Studio - Internship

So whilst I have some dedicated music time over the Summer, I'm looking for an internship in a recording studio.  If anyone hears of an opportunity or have a contact that might be able to help me, please let me know!

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Wedding in Dresden (Photo)

I had the honour of being asked to play the piano at a friend's wedding in Dresden a few weeks ago - this is one of the pictures from the day :)


Friday, June 17, 2016

Free Album Download from London electronic act: TMRWS DREAM



I posted a Playlist last week of new songs from electronic acts based in London (go visit it here).

I saw this morning that one of the acts from that list TMRWS DREAM, have just released an album "Copacetic" and it is available for free download from their website - which I have just done and it is spinning its way through my iTunes at the moment!

Visit their website here: http://www.tmrwsdream.com/ to download the zip file!

Have a listen to 'High Horse' one of tracks from the album below:


Thursday, June 16, 2016

Artist Feature: Le Foux



So I'm often scouring Soundcloud looking for artists that have either an electronic, alt pop or trip hop kind of theme - something that is related to my own music in some way.  I started following Le Foux a few months ago and I started to notice that new song after new song kept appearing regularly in my Newsfeed.

One problem that I have in making my own music, is making the genre sound consistent.  I'll go from making a Trip Hop track one week to a House track the next and that's not ideal when you're trying to put together an album of coherent material.  Brazilian singer, songwriter & producer, Le Foux does not have that problem though.

He's just published a Playlist of 28 tracks called "Zut Alors" and it's an inspiring collection of 80's influenced Synthpop.  This guy has a good ear for catchy melodies, hooks and synths.  The quality of the songwriting is what stands out for me - there's a lot of ideas, but the songs aren't overcrowded.

It's refreshing to hear an artist making songs that are pure pop and unashamed to embrace the genre.

I asked Le Foux if he'd tell me a little about his musical history and his inspirations...


"I remember getting my friends to organise mini 'music festivals' where we'd all have to come up with original pieces - mind you, no one could play any instruments, so there was a lot of humming going on lol. I was probably 7 then. But I had a very tiny Casio Keyboard I used to perform with, and I still have it somewhere in the flat! I remember I got my first guitar at 12, and had weekly classes until I was 15. I began writing songs then, and probably using the first few chords I learned..(A, E, D).

I grew up listening to my brother's mixtapes in the car - A-ha, Duran Duran, Oingo Boingo, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Bowie, Tina Turner, Erasure, Cyndi were always there for us. For a long time the melodious aspect of that pop music was enough for my ears. It was only when I heard Madonna's Like a Virgin that it became a challenge to me.  I loved the track instantly and straight away, I was told off for that.  I can vaguely remember someone saying to me that if I knew what Madonna was saying in that song I 
wouldn't try to sing along.






Instead of asking for a translation though I decided to learn English myself (I'm Brazilian, so i'm fluent in Portuguese).  Since then, growing up and making music has always been about speaking of things which make me think.  I believe music should make people think as well as dance. Adding to that, I've managed a degree in Psychology, and my readings of freudian authors like Melanie Klein, Addams, Bion, Winnicott, Ferraz and also of Freud (of course), have definitely helped my self-analysis and been a constant part of the process.

So, I write about what excites me both positive and negatively.

I make music I believe for the same reason everyone else needs/makes music - I need to learn of my freedom so as to free my chaos."



To connect with Le Foux, go to the links below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lefouxx
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/lefoux
Bandcamp: https://lefouxx.bandcamp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeFouxxx
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lefoux/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/b/113401830938746462087/+LeFoux?pageId=113401830938746462087



A photo posted by Le Foux (@lefoux) on

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Subscribe to my Mailing List

Any music marketing book will tell you the importance of having a mailing list.

I have tried a few different tools to help me set this up in the past but haven't been totally happy with the result.  However, I used wix.com to build and maintain my website and they've just added a new feature to help with managing a mailing list - it looks pretty good so I've set it up!

Join my mailing list by visiting my website: www.websheldon.com

I can't imagine anyone (including me for sure!) likes receiving more emails than they absolutely have to so I won't be utilising the list very often - but more for special announcements like the release of new music!

It can be difficult to get news out there sometimes as with Facebook, they hide certain posts (unless you pay for them to be promoted), with Twitter you have to post things multiple times because they simply get lost in the masses of posts coming through and Instagram is more for pictures (plus you can't add links in a post).

So this is a good way to make sure you know about it when there's something big and new happening with my music!

To join the mailing list, just visit my website www.websheldon.com

Monday, June 13, 2016

What is Summer Storm about?

Summer Storm is the third track on my EP 'Modern Life Is Lies'.


Buy it here: https://websheldon.bandcamp.com/track/summer-storm


This is a song I wrote back in 2012. I had been using Ableton to record my music for a few years but I didn't have a laptop at the time, so in order to play live, I started to use Garageband and I wrote Summer Storm on there. A few years later, I found myself teaming up with an massively talented musician Beth Swain and we made an album under the name 'Bilamie'. We covered Summer Storm and made it pretty rocky! Now, this is the third version of it - sound more like the original, but just as dark, if not darker!

So the song is about love. My only 'love song' on the EP. You know at the start of a relationship, where things are going great but you haven’t had ‘the conversation’. Then a few months pass, feelings intensify, but you’re still not sure where you stand?

Starts of relationships are wonderful times filled with life affirming excitement and passion. But for someone with self esteem issues, there can also be a darker side to this period. Constant doubt, questions of worthiness, anxiety, overthinking - and all the time keeping it all inside because you want to be their ‘rock’ and you want to be strong for them. That’s what this song is about.

Lyrics:
Please don't leave me wondering
Please don't blow so hot and cold
Please don't say that you miss me
Then stare blankly and withold

Touch me like you always do
Let me know you're always there
I'll hold you, I’ll love you,
If you let me, I'll take care of you

If you allow me to
I'll take care of you
If you allow me to

I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
I’ll take, take, take good care
I’ll take, take, take good care of
I’ll take, take, take good care
I’ll take, take, take good care of you

No don't shield your heart from me
No don't close up and resist
Your head might choose a safer route
But only a heart can feel this kiss
Use my shoulders when you're climbing
Sleep on me when you need rest
Rest on me when you're broken
I will try to do my best for you

If allow me to

I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
If you allow me
I’ll take, take, take good care
I’ll take, take, take good care of
I’ll take, take, take good care
I’ll take, take, take good care of you

I know you’re on a different plane
Every day swallowed into a hole
I know you’re living for survival
Everything else on constant hold
I'll still be here when it's all over
And you've weathered the Summer Storm
I'll still be here, I want no other
Ready to take you in my arms

I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
I’ll take care of...
If you allow me
I’ll take, take, take good care
I’ll take, take, take good care of
I’ll take, take, take good care
I’ll take, take, take good care of you


Credits:
from Modern Life Is Lies, released May 20, 2016
Written, performed and produced by Web Sheldon.
Mastered by Nik Burchall of Audio Animals.

Sunday, June 12, 2016

What is Purple Steeple about?

Purple Steeple is the second song on my new EP 'Modern Life is Lies'.

Buy it here: https://websheldon.bandcamp.com/track/purple-steeple


Music has always been running through the inner most part of me. It consoles me when I am down, it motivates me, encourages me, and makes the best days even better.  In 2014 though, I decided to take things a little more seriously and I quit my job to attend Point Blank Music School in London and be taught by professionals how to produce music.

It was at the same time that I started meditating. Part of this practice can include taking note of the thoughts running through your head and being aware of what you're thinking, and not just letting your mind run away with itself. I started to find this useful to control my thoughts a bit more.

A few months later I found myself walking through the London underground tube and instead of being caught up in the all the rush and stress of everyone else speeding their way through the walkways, I started to chill, observe what was around me, what was happening. I noticed the smell of the underground, something that I used to love when I came to London as a tourist. I noticed the different decorations on the walls, the old stations, the new ones... It made me realise how powerful the mind is and how much control we have over how we feel and react to something.

I remember a time during the summer of 2006, I was working in Manchester and we were in the middle of an amazing heatwave. During lunches, I used to go out to these dis-used tennis courts and just sit in the sun for 30 minutes, against a wall, and think about... nothing. I was so relaxed, and it came so naturally because I wasn't even trying. I realised this was a time I'd kind of meditated before I even knew what it was.

There's a link between heat and feeling relaxed too... I remember in 2004, I used to be a cleaner in a supermarket from 5am till 8am and then go to a reception job from 9 until 4. By 4:30pm, I would already be home and laid on my bed, in the spot where the sun came through the window every day, and I'd sleep for half an hour. I would wake up feeling super relaxed. When I sing, 'I feel the sun in my sleep', I'm really thinking about that moment.

For the rest of the song though, it's really about my love of the city, how the energy can either drain you or feed you - and it's really up to you how you react to it. It's how you can be surrounded by the craziness, and by hundreds of stressful people, yet you don't have to be sucked in and feel part of that stress, you can just take a step back, and observe, and enjoy that moment in life for what it is. Maybe smile at someone who looks like they're having a bad day. There's often a lot of people who looks like that on the tube.

Lyrics:
I feel the sun in my sleep
I feel the sun, I feel the heat

I’m gon' be alive, when I feel my
Mind free, get free, lost in the people
I’m gon' feel alive when I rake my
Seeds from the flowers of the purple steeple

Every time you say your truth
You grow a little inside

Mmmm slow motion
Bathing in the ocean
Of the people and the laughter
In the streets

Mmmm slow motion
Mmmm calm in the commotion
Drinks, rocks and
Harmonies and feet

While I recharge
Somethings goin' down in the city
I need this time
To cleanse my soul

While I recharge
People are spinning 'round in the city
We need this time
To feel worthwhile

When I wake up
I’m walking down to the city
I feel the waves
Washing over me

When I wake up
I’ll be venturing through the city
I wanna feel the life
It makes me feel alive inside

I’m gon' be alive, when i feel my
Mind free, get free, lost in the people
I’m gon' feel alive when i rake my
Seeds from the flowers of the purple steeple

Every time you say your truth
You grow a little inside


---
Credits:
from Modern Life Is Lies, released May 20, 2016
Written, performed and produced by Web Sheldon.
Mastered by Nick Burchall of Audio Animals.

Saturday, June 11, 2016

What is Li(v)es about?




So this is the first track on my EP.

If you like it lots, you can buy it here: https://websheldon.bandcamp.com/track/li-v-es

It's a song about a personal struggle to turn an inherently negative mind into a positive one and how that is further impacted when you start to think about all the corruption, conspiracies and lies that we face in modern life.

Most of us work too hard to even think clearly when we get home at night - and so what happens? We want to zone out and forget about our day and the world outside us and we don't want to have to forced to deal with anything else in additional to what we already have to. So we start to ignore important issues, we get caught up in celebrity gossip, drinking 10 pints on a Friday night and being spoon fed our views by the media.

But we have the Internet now and we have a world of information at our fingertips. We don't have to blindly accept what the television tells us, what our favourite newspaper tells us, or what the corrupted media tell us - we can do a bit research and make up our own minds.


Lyrics:
I found myself
3 years ago
Didn’t need meditation or
Any kind of control

As quick as I rose
Sliding back into despondency yeah
Nothing is permanent
But change

Do you visualise?
Do you believe you’ll make it right?
Do you think you’ll rise in spite of
The great divide
Or will you cower, cover your ears
Detach until you disappear?
This is modern life now

And the stories they tell...

You're in control
Be your best friend
Contentment is inside you
It’s not a place at the end

When I am true
To myself I find
I find
Life is my own design

Our time on Earth is short
They keep you working/drinking
You’re not thinking smart
When you’re only just surviving
Question all; our lives, their lies
They want you dumb and compromised
This is modern life now

And the stories they tell...

Even with our eyes we see different waves of energy, different reality
Everything around us is just interpretation
Are you waiting for a revelation? For the summer? For a holiday?
Or do you need to be told that death is on its way?

And the stories they tell...

We don’t need the might of fear to bless us or forbid
We know in ourselves whats good and whats destructive
We don’t need the threat of guilt to be good people
If we can’t think for ourselves, we can’t live without help
If we can’t think for ourselves, we’ll buy every story they sell


--
Credits:
from Modern Life Is Lies, released May 20, 2016
Written, Performed & Produced by Web Sheldon.
Mastering by Nick Burchall of Audio Animals.

Friday, June 10, 2016

New album from Hipnotic Jazz - "Cognitive Resonance"


Hipnotic Jazz releases his new album today!




It's available on Bandcamp to stream and download for free - although if you pay something, you do get some free stuff too! You can click on the player below to listen and the links on it go to Bandcamp.

I've worked with Hipnotic Jazz on a few tracks in the past - his music is electronic, futuristic, experimental and pretty trippy at times.

I just got to track 3 as I'm listening "Sapien Machine" - the bass is awesome!


What is it about COVERS?

I've been posting a lot about my new EP recently... Already though, I'm halfway through recording the next one.  I said that this year, my music was going to kick off properly and thankfully it has now - a single in January, an EP in June and another EP before the year is out.

The next EP is going to be a bit more upbeat and will have some Hip Hop elements with guest raps from Priveyt, Too Shay and possibly more artists too depending on what happens in the next few weeks...

So far, I've got 3 songs almost finished and another 3 to record.

I'd like to have a cover song for this EP too but haven't decided on one yet.  I do notice a certain reluctance by some artists to avoid playing songs by other people or covering them on albums - and it comes across to me like they feel like there is something to prove by only playing their own music.

I'm not a massively secure person but I've never felt that kind of reluctance to play covers... if i love a song, I have to sing it, or mess with it and change it completely..or maybe not change it at all! I LOVE playing covers. It gives me chance to pay respect to an artist or to a song that I love.  I like hearing covers from other artists as well as if feels you like get a little insight into their listening habits - and it's always interesting to see how they change the song to make it their own.

I don't have an album cover yet for the next EP.  Or a title.  All these cogs are still turning... ;-)


Thursday, June 9, 2016

Playlist: New London Electronic / Chill (June 2016)

Heres a few of my new favourite electronic / chill tracks from London based artists (including one of my own for good measure ;-)  )





To visit my website, click below:
http://www.websheldon.com

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Buy or Stream "Modern Life Is Lies"

If you'd like to buy my EP, it's available in many different places including iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and eMusic. I won't put any links here because they are specific for each country but if you go to your local version of iTunes/Amazon etc and search Web Sheldon, you will find it.

Alternatively, you can pop over to Bandcamp and buy the EP on there.  Ok, you might not be registered there already, but you only have to register once and Bandcamp is a great way to support independent artists like myself as we get a much higher percentage of the money you send.

To buy on Bandcamp, click on the image or link below:

https://websheldon.bandcamp.com/



Saturday, June 4, 2016

My song 'Li(v)es' included on the new Club Fungus Playlist

I had a nice surprise today... The song Li(v)es from my new EP has been included on a playlist by Club Fungus / Subwav.  I thought that was pretty cool to be included as many other songs on there have thousands of plays! Big thanks for the support!

Check out the full list and listen below!


Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Playlist: June 2016 - Female Trip Hop / Electronic

Here's a few tracks I'm listening to at the moment!

They're all female vocals and around the Trip Hop or Electronic kind of style.

Wedding in Dresden - Those Were The Days (snippet)


I went to the wedding of an old friend last weekend in Dresden and had a bit of a guitar playing session during the reception... This is the very last bit of Mary Hopkin's 'Those Were The Days' - which seems like an international favourite as people always seem to know it!  The sections of 'laaaa laaaa' went down much better on this occasion though due to the language difference - but it was nice - everyone can join in on laaaa laaaa laaaa! :D

I played in the church too (which was a massive honour for me on their special day!) and I'll post that video up too when it comes through to me...


Tuesday, May 24, 2016

What is Raat Ka Nasha (Feat. Of Embla) about?


This is the 5th song taken from my debut EP ‘Modern Life Is Lies', released on Friday 20th May 2016.

Buy it here: https://websheldon.bandcamp.com/track/raat-ka-nasha-feat-of-embla




Available worldwide on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Bandcamp and Spotify.


If I'm completely honest, this song just came out of nowhere. I had some dirty electronic beats that I was messing with and a keyboard hook. At the time of writing the lyrics, I was thinking about this studio apartment that I used to live in back in 2012 in Manchester. I had this awesome job that I loved, living 10 minutes from work, I had loads of time for music and I was running lots and lifting weights regularly and generally just felt like I had a good control over my life.

At the time of writing, I'd played a gig a few months before in a venue called The Good Ship in North West London. It was actually a gig my former band Bilamie had meant to play but we'd broken up a few weeks before so I decided to get my s**t together and play a solo electronic style gig. On that night, there was an group called Of Embla @ofembla playing, the singer was called Maiken. I already heard one of her songs online called 'Puppet' and it kind of blew me away. It was sultry, dark, sexy, jazzy and just a combination of pure magic. I got talking to her on that evening and we said we would work together at some point.

So I when this track came up, I asked if she'd like to sing the chorus. When she came over to record, she brought a poem she had written called Chaos Machine. We had a jam to incorporate it into the song and she did this awesome performance, just speaking the words to the music... I loved it and thought it fitted perfectly - she sounded powerful (like when I felt I had control over my life), the lyrics were coherent but disjointed (like the lyrics in the first part of the song) and the performance was perfect.

Raat Ka Nasha is a rough translation from Hindi meaning 'Enchanted Evening'.

Lyrics:
Warm nights
Walls are windows wide
Gentle wind blows
Over my skin
Circulating

Indian spices, home is
Stubbed roach and rollies
In my finest wine glass
Rocks of ice

Every night is
Soft, unfocused
Long contented sighs

Every night is
Long, unfocused
Long contented sighs

Every, every, every night is mine
Every, every, every night is mine
Every, every, every night is mine

City air, city noise
Summer bliss intoxicated joy
Just like my mind
Alive with
A streaming of feelings and drive
These evenings of diving and crashing and
Blissfully feeling my place
In the world

Raat Ka Nasha
Raat Ka Nasha
Raat Ka Nasha
Raat Ka Nasha
Raat Ka Nasha
Raat Ka Nasha
Raat Ka Nasha
Raat Ka Nasha

Every, every, every night is mine
Every, every, every night is mine
Every, every, every night is mine

Calm, chaos
Chaos machine
Machinery
Rhythm
Rhythm and blues kitchenettwork..
Coffe shop - ping basket - ball..
Calm, chaos machin - ery - thm..

Idelogically speaking,
On behalf of..
Me? You!
The panel has spoken,
Solar panel - electricity
Chaos machinery

---
Music & production by Web Sheldon
Lyrics & performance by Web Sheldon & Maiken Marlen Sunby
Mastered by Nick Burchall of Audio Animals

www.websheldon.com

Friday, May 20, 2016

'Modern Life Is Lies' IS OUT!

YAAAAAY!!

Ok so it's 3:04am here in London and I was determined to sort everything out after midnight so it was ready for when people woke up in the morning! I'm quite aware I don't have thousands of devoted fans waiting for my release, but for the people that are, I appreciate them a lot and want everything to be perfect and ready for the morning when they want to download it :D

But it took a bit longer than anticipated....

I decided to write a bit of a description about each track, which is on my Bandcamp page and on each YouTube video as well...

Anyway so for now... here is the EP!

Ohhh - also, if you listen on Spotify, I've added the lyrics there as well so they match the music ;-)

And here are some links to buy the EP:
Bandcamp
iTunes
Amazon UK - please note that it is available in many other countries on Amazon, just search  "Web Sheldon" + "Modern Life" and you should find it :D
Google Play


Thursday, May 19, 2016

Summer Storm - 'Only a Heart Can Feel This Kiss'



You know at the start of a relationship, where things are going great but you haven’t had ‘the conversation’. Then a few months pass, feelings intensify, but you’re still not sure where you stand?

Starts of relationships are wonderful times filled with life affirming excitement and passion. But for someone with self esteem issues, there can also be a darker side to this period. Constant doubt, questions of worthiness, anxiety, overthinking - and all the time keeping it all inside because you want to be their ‘rock’ and you want to be strong for them. That’s what this song is about. It's my only love song on the EP.
The quote is from "Summer Storm", taken from the "Modern Life Is Lies" EP, released on tomorrow (Friday 20th May) via iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Bandcamp and Google Play.


www.websheldon.com




1 Day to Go!

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Raat Ka Nasha (Enchanted Evening)

This is an excerpt from the 5th track from my forthcoming EP 'Modern Life Is Lies' and features the Norwegian artist Of Embla.

Raat Ka Nasha means 'Enchanted Evening' in Hindi.


Li(v)es - Theism & Atheism



I was raised as a Christian but stopped identifying as one in my mid-teens. I've seen many arguments directed at non-religious people, asking how they know right from wrong if they do not have a religious book with rules to follow. We don't need to follow a religion to live a just life though; morals can come from life experience, from friends/family, from history or from philosophy.


I try to show respect for my friends and for anyone who follows a religion. I've seen people being criticised in the past though for 'picking and choosing' what they follow from their religious book. To me, this is good sense - to question critically or to adapt appropriately to your life and to the times we live in. But if you do 'pick & choose' (for want of a better phrase), please do not feel guilty about it - and don't let anyone make you feel that way.


The quote in the picture is from 'Li(v)es', the first track on my new EP 'Modern Life Is Lies', released on Friday 20th May (this week!) worldwide via iTunes, Amazon, Google Play.


www.websheldon.com





Thursday, May 12, 2016

Li(v)es - Thinking For Ourselves


We have the Internet and we have a world of information at our fingertips. We don't have to blindly accept what the television tells us, what our favourite newspaper tells us, or what the corrupted media tell us - we can do a bit research and make up our own minds.

On of my friends shared this post on Facebook and wrote "From the right or the left! Think before you decide, think before you share, think before you vote!" Spot on, I'd say.



Taken from the song 'Li(v)es', the first track on my EP 'Modern Life Is Lies' released Friday 20th May via iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Google Play.

www.websheldon.com