Barcodes On Flowers: Hijo Unico

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barcodesonflowers:

I grew up surrounded by siblings,
yet I grew up an only child,
Blood never set fire to me,
they always said my dreams were wild,
I spent hours alone playing football,
‘it’s not tangible’ they said,
They told me to cut my hair,
you encouraged me to blossom,
you taught me to always be…

To My Tumblr followers….

www.facebook.com/chordblossom

Please click ‘like’ on my new venture, and i promise i will update this blog more often with tales of woe/wow. Thanks guys! 

Dresscodes for Lovesick Parties

My 7th (and last) Poetry Book is released today. It’s called ‘Dresscodes for Lovesick Parties’ and it’s Free (along with my previous 6 books) with a suggested donation to my local animal shelter, The Rainbow Rehoming Centre

All info and Downloads @ www.daveitferris.com/rainbow (please have a look :)

Northern Ireland Music Awards

Gosh, where do I even start?

So Alternative Ulster & the Oh Yeah Centre recently convened, found 70 ‘industry’ types (that are being kept secret) and voted on varying categories in order to come up with the Northern Ireland Music Awards. 

My first though upon hearing this was ‘I never heard of the voting for this’, assuming that some vote had been sent out to be registered and I’d simply missed the boat. However, it seems that the ‘top brass’ of AU and Oh Yeah, have taken it upon themselves to represent the entire music scene on our behalf, using tax payers money to host a glitzy award ceremony at a time when NI Music could be doing with funding for benefit, instead of for vanity. That’s what this comes off to me as; a vanity project. A vanity project that we’re paying for, that’s representing us, and that we had absolutely NO say in. Does that sound fair? Our very own bilderberg group seems to assume it can represent the rest of us gig-going & record-buying public.

Alternative Ulster has done this kind-of ‘industry decides all’ thing before. I would say ‘if I remember correctly’, but I do, and I remember discussing it at length with 3 friends over a beer, who had seen the same thing. When they were in search of the best NI Songs of their lifetime, they asked us, the public, to vote. 

Here’s a link to a post made by AU Editor, Jonny, on a local Music Forum ;

http://fastfude.org/topic.php?id=28383

The key thing to note is (again) the inclusion of ‘Industry pundits’. Was there any need for AU to try and pass this off as a ‘public’ voting round? I’d assume they had their list prior to any voting and just simply wanted to appear engaging. Another thing to note is how the winning song (Lafaros Tupenny Nudger, which is a great song) only has two votes from that particular forum. AU did have their own forum @ www.iheartau.com but it seems to have been removed. However, I did view it at the time, and again, it was completely mixed, and Lafaros song certainly wasn’t a constant there either. My point being ; this isn’t the first time AU has used ‘industry’ folk (that cannot be revealed) in order to appease their own outcome. I mean, had this particular vote being completely down to public, and we all backed a Black-metal band for the best song, the entire AU office would have wept for a week inbetween repeat listens to the bands NME have said are brilliant that month.

Another thing that really grated on me, was the inclusion of a very-specific musical genre ; Electronic Music. Sure, there’s no way they could have included ALL musical genres, but by including one, they have effectively smothered all others. Folks in metal bands SHOULD be let down by this, folks in country bands SHOULD be let down by this. All i’m seeing and hearing at the minute is ; if you have ANYTHING negative to say about these awards, then you’re just jealous your band isn’t on the shortlist. Well, i don’t have a band, what’s my excuse?

Another looming issue is the overall naming of the event. This is probably the real kicker; Why does AU and Oh Yeah feel they can represent our entire music scene without so much as consulting us? What gives them the right to call it the ‘Northern Ireland Music Awards’? Like most people, I’d assume that to achieve funding for this glamorous evening, ‘AU Awards’ just would not have cut it. 

I don’t really have anything negative to say toward the Oh Yeah centre except their involvement in this completely opaque vanity project that serves to do nothing more than re-highlight bands that have already been highlighted a thousand times, to the same people, and under the guise of ‘doing it for the scene’. 

Most people in the NI music scene with a teaspoon of sense and a tablespoon of balls should start to be a bit more vocal about these kinds of issues, instead of fearing that their true feelings will stop their band from getting support slots and features in local magazines. I alone have spoken to around 10 people today who have given me novel-length rants at this, but who will never ever repeat their honest opinion for someone else to read. This is what’s wrong with the NI Music scene; folks don’t feel like they can criticise those with ‘power’ lest they be blacklisted and forced to busk for the foreseeable future.

I haven’t written this spiel just to be awkward, controversial or a dick. Nor have i written it because I’m jealous. These are the usual kind of insults one receives in NI when you do anything other than suck-off every idea the ‘top brass’ has to offer. It should also be noted that I’m not a ‘writer’ or a ‘journalist’, and i don’t even really understand punctuation too well. But i do have feelings and a lot of experience within music.

I wholly support my local music scene and I always have done. Come 01.01.12 @ www.chordblossom.com i’ll be launching a brand new website dedicated to the music scene of northern ireland. This new website based on the music scene of northern ireland will be run by the people for the people. If you have ANY interest in your local music scene, please get involved! Info@Chordblossom.com

Music is/should be an Impulsion

One thing, that I now feel inspired to write about, is something that has cropped up time and time again over the last few months…. Music Writing.

To be more specific.. why and when we as musicians write music. I mean (and this is not knocking anyones style. it takes all types) when i hear musicians i know say that they haven’t written a song for 6 months but ‘have to soon, because we want an EP out for the new year’, i kind-of do vomit in my own mouth a little. That statement isn’t just one musician i know; it’s probably around 50% of all the Musicians i know. 

I’m from the complete other side. Scope out my Myspace Blogs from 2006/2007 onwards and i have a tendency to mention how I’m not recording music to ‘be famous’. I write my music to document my life, and i always have done. When I finish a song, i don’t estrange myself from it because it doesn’t have ‘sell-ability’. In my opinion, this is how music started, and i’m a bit sad that this rationale has been lost, in favour of getting together to force-write songs because of commerce. However, commerce alone is completely fine, i just can’t subscribe to musicians getting together in order to create commerce, especially those who maintain that music is their passion.

One of the reasons I slipped into poetry-writing was how instantaneous I could get those opinions/feelings onto paper and document them. I know from the sales figures that not many folks like my/like poetry, but none of that matters to me, I’M documenting my feelings down, and because i am me, that’s the only thing that matters.

As a musician, specifically one who writes a lot of stuff (read: good, bad and terrible), it’s really amazing to look back on something 5+ years old and have a lyric remind you of a time, a place and a person. Take last week for example, i was cleaning out my closets and found lots of old school jotters (that i stole) full of songs that i hadn’t seen in easily 8+ years. I pulled out my acoustic and went through every single one. Between trying to remember, and actually being nostalgic; i think i sat for around 6 hours playing ancient songs. However, one song ‘Angel with Glitter Wings’ just took me back. It was written about a girl (who would become one of my best girlfriends of all time) that i randomly met on halloween night, who had glittery wings. Simple. The song is far from even average, but it’s nice, and had i not been into documenting experiences and feelings so much, i can honestly say i’d have NEVER remembered what she wore when i first met her, such is my terrible memory.

The point I’m trying to make is ; I find it a horrible shame that musicians are only writing for the sake of writing. Writing to create product. It’s a worldwide epidemic, and not limited to NI, but it’s tragic. There’s such a drive these days for musicians to spend 1 hour writing and recording a song, then 3,595 hours promoting it, but what is the point, really? This is not a mere statement of trying to appear the epitome of prolific, because if i released every song i wrote, I’d have 100 albums, and i know certain folks who are the same (Glenn from Intermission, Furlo, Fighting with Wire), it’s about writing for writing sakes… otherwise you’re painting a wall in the hopes of selling a building.

Hey! Just a few things ;

1) Here’s a link to an Unreleased EP of Mine that Contains 2 Re-Recordings and a Demo. It was recorded a while back, but I’ve had multiple people ask me for the Re-Recordings, so i decided to package it up as a Free Ep in Order to Get it out to you guys. I hope you like the Full-Band nature of these tunes!

Cover
Download

2) In order to keep you folks entertained until my next batch of releases, I was considering releasing an album of (full) songs that are either; demos for the new records, that have since been scrapped, or songs from years ago that i never released. Would you be interested in hearing that? Since the quality isn’t stellar, i would also be releasing this one for £Free.

My Brand New Website dedicated to the Music Scene of Northern Ireland launches soon.

Daveit Ferris - Dresscodes for Lovesick Parties

Here’s a Preview of my 7th of Poetry Book.
It’s released on October 19th (my birthday)

Hope you’ll give it a quick read :)

Preview : http://daveitferris.com/dresscodesforlovesickparties.pdf
 

Heights

For as Long as i can Remember, I’ve only ever had one Constantly Reoccurring Dream:

I awake to Feel heavy wind blowing in my Face. I am Blindfolded and my Hands are tied behind my back. I am Sitting on a Chair, a hard chair. Beside me there are a few men whispering in a Foreign Accent. This goes on for quite some time, as my Panic-Levels Increase ten Fold. Suddenly a Door is Loudly opened and i hear footsteps in asphalt walk closer and closer to where i am sitting. A Loud Conversation takes place a few feet away from my face, until suddenly my Blindfold is Ripped off. My Heart Immediately attempts to Jump out of my Ribcage when i comprehend that i am tied to a Chair on-top of a Skyscraper. I can see Huge Skyscrapers in the Distance, but nothing dwarfs the one I’m currently on. My Main captor increases his Volume as each Minute passes, but i cannot understand a word he says, so i continue to repeat ‘Do YOU speak ENGLISH?’. After a few conversations back and forth with his ‘men’, i am suddenly dragged (whist still on the chair) across toward the Edge of the Building. They leave me there on the VERY edge and all walk into the Door. I assume their plan is for a Major Gust to topple me, so i immediately thrust my weight forward and land on my Front. Hoorah! I assume i am now safe, and when i can muster some more strength (and give my captors time to vacate the building), all will be fine. Sadly, my Captors have not left at all. They all return and once again drag me to the very Edge of the Building. This time though, the Main Captor puts his Foot on my chest and screams more questions at me. Before i can even reply, he applies all his Weight and starts my Downfall to Death.

I Slowly somersault in the Air numerous times, i can feel the elevated wind pressure on my face, i can feel my breathing get harder, i can see city lights blur as i spin around and i can taste nothing but complete fear. I always awaken when I’m about 100ft from the very ground, usually in a Cold Sweat.

The Consistency of my dream is such, that the faces always remain the same, the plot is nearly always identical, my clothes are always identical, and the Language they speak is always the same.

a) I will NEVER wear Clothes like i do in the above Scenario
b) If i Recognise one of those Faces, i will RUN
c) I will never Move to a City Resembling the one above

I have been Petrified of Heights since i was Very Very Young. I’ve never Had any Large Falls or any Childhood scars that would steer me away from Heights; My body has just always been afraid of Falling. I am thankful to my Body for this Guardian Angel Approach though. I guess you could say that i get a Panic-Attack anytime I’m put into a Height-Related Situation (Flying for Example).

These days, My Fear has only been Magnified by my Human Curiosity leading me to see videos of those poor Folks Jumping from the Towers on 9/11 and Suicide Jumpers Etc. That Small window of time from when they jump until they hit the floor, must be incredibly difficult; You no longer have a choice to save your own life; you’re helpless.

I Don’t know if it’s a common reaction, but i almost always go ‘woozy’ at even slightly-high Heights. Woozy = Dizzy, Close to Fainting. Heights and my Body are like Mismatched Magnets with terrible hatred for Each Other. A Relationship soured.

I also attribute my Fear of Heights (acrophobia) to the fact that i avoid ‘Danger’ at all Costs. I’m not a Stick in the Mud by any means, but i would never involve myself in something that COULD prove fatal. For Example:

• Bungee Jumping
• Parachuting

Cure? I’m not sure I’d ever try to rid myself of this fear response. I think it’s healthy to be honest. Very Healthy. It does restrict me from doing Some things that i’d love to be able to do though; Like View New York from the Empire State Building and Climb to the Top of the Eiffel Tower.

(However : http://www.360cities.net/image/empire-state-building-panorama-manhattan-new-york-city#56.03,2.60,70.0 will do for now! )

It’s at the Top of a Huge Building like the Empire State, that we realise how small we are in relative terms to this Huge Earth.

Heights are the Devil.

Do you like New Music? How about New Northern Irish Music?

http://www.chordblossom.com/board/index.php?%2Ftopic%2F31-local-band-official-video-thread

I’ve posted a heap of Videos from some of the best bands (in my opinion) in Northern Ireland right now… Have a little look/listen.. you won’t regret it!

Me and Willow just chillin’ like ice-cream fillin’

Topless Rock-Show.

A Short cover of ‘Something to Hope for’ by the band ‘The Undeserving’. This was done about 4 years ago+. 

I are Cher