Stringzy here. Well, I ended up doing it. I recorded another album. This time in the States, in beautiful Portland, Oregon. What a great city. I travelled over to America with my trusty acoustic guitar and a suitcase of pedals and went in to meet Adam Selzer at his studio, Type Foundry, where I was going to rehearse that evening with local Portland lads Luke Ydstie (bass) and Ben Nugent (drums). I was, to coin a phrase, shitting myself. I’ve never been so nervous in my life. Except when I went to my first grand final with my brother. Hawks versus Swans. We lost. I’m happy to say, though, that if this rehearsal had been a footy game, WE GOT THE FOUR POINTS!! (That means we won, for those non- Victorians…) It was awesome, such a buzz to play these brand new songs with these guys. And I liked all three of them instantly too, which is a bonus.
Particularly in Adam’s case, because we were destined to spend a lot of one on one time in the studio together. And had we not liked each other it would have been totes awks. HOWEVER, it turned out to be a fantastic experience. Adam is patient, skilled, efficient, funny and a really good musician. I’m two of those things, so we were a good team. And I’m so proud of what we made.
(Type Foundry, day one of recording. They’re Adam’s guitars that I used for the entire record. There’s a Fender Telecaster on the other side of that guitar stand. Beautiful axes, they are.)
(Adam setting up mics and amps. Ringo – his ridiculously cute dog – standing by.)
It’s been ten years since I released my debut album “Soon”. And since then we’ve had “Pendulum” in 2008, “Tides of Time” in 2010 and “Warm In The Darkness” in 2012 . “Live at the Yarra”, recorded live (believe it or not) at Melbourne’s Yarra Hotel, came out in 2014. The algorithm clearly suggests I was due for one this year. As I mention in my Pozible video which you may or may not have watched (I don’t blame you if you didn’t, don’t worry), I’m so grateful to all of my fans and supporters who have helped me along the way since 2006. My crowd is so freakin’ awesome. You’re a respectful, loyal mob, (with excellent taste, might I add *flicks hair*) and I love you very much. Should you decide to jump on board this project I’d be more grateful still, but let me make it clear that I am completely aware of what you’ve already contributed to my career. Respect. Seriously.
The funds from this Pozible campaign are going towards the fundamental things that need to happen to get the album out. With Creative Victoria’s help, I have fully paid for the recording, mixing, mastering and travel costs associated with “All The Bridges”. It’s time now to fund the album artwork, the production of the CD and Vinyl copies and the publicity for the album and its accompanying launch tour. That’s what’s referred to in the industry as a “shitload” of costs.
The cool thing is that you get something for your contribution. Essentially it’s a presale arrangement. You can pre-order and pay for the album in any or all of its forms now and receive your copy/ies at least two weeks before the official release date, which is July 1st. Then you can brag to your mates about how you’ve already got it, and they’ll be all like, “who’s Liz Stringer?”… but still, pretty cool. There’s some other cool stuff too, little extras and one-offs. This is such a nice way for us to connect. I’ve supported a bunch of crowd funding campaigns of my mates’ and it’s a great feeling. Because eventually something fun turns up in the post and you have a warm fuzzy about the fact that something mutually beneficial just went on. It’s nice (look into my eyes, look into my eyes..).
The official release date is Friday, July 1st, as I mentioned. I’ll be in Canada touring at that time (can’t wait to get back!) but I’ll return to Australia in late August to begin an Australian national launch tour. And if we don’t make it to your state in September I’ll make it my life’s mission to get there, with the band, in the ensuing months. The Australian tour dates will be announced soon.
Anyway. I won’t go on. Thanks for reading.
Lots of love to you and I’ll see you along the road somewhere.
Stringwit xx
(View from Type Foundry. Across factories to a highway bridge.)
And now, let’s stroll down Memory Lane, shall we?…
“Like a Roll Of Thunder” the opening track from “Soon” (2006), the debut record my bro Adam May and I made with Harry Williamson at Spring Studio in Prahran, Melbourne. This video was directed by Ash Koek and we shot it on an extremely hot day near Beechworth. On our way to Folk, Rhythm and Life I believe.
“City Colours” from “Tides of Time” (2008). This clip by Ash Koek incudes the actual take of the song that made it onto the record. Simon Bailey, long time friend and collaborator, engineered this one for me in our lovely friends’ converted church house in Yarraville, Melbourne.
“Children (Live)” from “Live at The Yarra” that we recorded and filmed at the Yarra Hotel in Abbotsford, Melbourne. I had so many talented friends work on this, I’m such a lucky idiot, honestly. Nigel Swifte, awesome fella, engineered the live set and then mixed the album. And Tim McCormack led a fantastic film crew, including Agostino Soldati, who directed the music video for “Anyone” and filmed this Pozible vid too, just FYI.
(My manager Cat and me. We don’t ALWAYS drink beer. But sometimes we do. We’re a good team.)