Hollie Sheard's Musiblog

For the last three months I have been mostly...

2012-01-31T12:04:00.000Z

Looking after new kitty Belle, who is a gorgeous little thing and likes to bite me
Starting a new business in handmade gifts
Feeling a pain in my stomach
Running a little local shop called "Homespun Gifts" to sell said handmade gifts
Feeling an extreme pain in my stomach
Staying in hospital

Long story short, the pain was due to Crohn's Disease, which is not life-threatening but it means my life will be different from now on. Due to the extended stay in hospital and the chronic nature of Crohn's, I lost my little shop. It was only open for about a month before the illness really knocked me down and I couldn't manage to go there.
Not to be beaten, I'm planning on rebuilding my business as an online shop. So I'm working hard at coding HTML and editing pictures as well as creating new handmade gifts. I'm going to turn my summer house into a little workshop so I can have a distraction-free place to work in the nicer weather.
On the music front, I'm going to continue to write meditation and relaxation music so I can sell some CDs through the Homespun Gifts website.
Luck has been in short supply for me lately so please wish me some.

Baby Belle

2011-10-31T12:00:00.000Z

The new kitten has arrived!!

Her name is Belle, so her nickname is now Baby Belle. She arrived late Thursday evening in a very sleepy state, and quickly settled down for the night. Friday she spent the day with her Grandma, Saturday she got to know Brian and I a little better, and Sunday she and Dusty were properly introduced. I'm startled at how well Dusty is taking it. I expected nerves, aggression, jealousy, etc. But no, every time she sees Belle she trills and runs off, inviting Belle to chase her. It's lovely.

Here's a few pics of Belle:

Baby Belle on her first evening with us, playing with toys

Love this one - she's actually yawning but looks like she's laughing

The clearest pic from Day 1

She looks a bit scared - poor Belle!

Just before we got Belle she had a last snuggle & feed with mummy cat.

Cuddles with me

Playing with Uncle Craig

Belle is VERY young - only 5 weeks - and needs a lot of attention. So over the next few weeks, I can't promise to deliver a blog post every weekday like I have been doing.

To gig or not to gig?

2011-10-28T12:00:00.001+01:00

These days, major recording artists make the bulk of their money from gigging.
It's even more important for us wannabes, because to catch the attention of the record companies we're supposed to make a name for ourselves first - to prove we have that special "something" that draws listeners in. And to prove that we know how to work hard.
But I've always been a bit of a hermit when it comes to gigging. When I think about why that might be, it occurs to me that I've always been a bit of a hermit when it comes to going out at all. It just isn't my thing. I prefer to meet friends at my house or theirs, drink a little, watch a film, have a meal, maybe play a little Trivial Pursuit. I think people that enjoy my type of music prefer that way of doing things too.
So maybe I need to work out what the "Trivial Pursuit" version of gigging is. Perhaps it's daytime gigs - something on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Perhaps it's intimate gigs in lower capacity venues. It's something to think about.
www.holliesheard.co.uk

Meditation music

2011-10-27T12:00:00.000+01:00

I've been writing relaxing/soothing/meditation music lately. Got about half an hour done so far - nearly an album. It's quite an enjoyable little side-project, but... I've probably only been doing it to avoid the dreadful commercial cut-downs that I should really be working on.

I suppose I'm avoiding it because it sort of feels like an admin task rather than actual creation. After all, the compositions are already composed; I'm just chopping them up and trying to force them to make sense in their new, shorter forms.
Really, I ought to just get it over with, and if I want to, I can work on other projects when I've finished.

*slaps own wrist*
www.holliesheard.co.uk

Six birthdays in one week

2011-10-26T12:00:00.000+01:00

My husband has exactly three family members (close ones, anyway), and all of them have birthdays in early November. As does our mate Craig, as do I, and as does my Grandad.

No, I'm not that old.

That's six birthdays all within one week, and I have a feeling my bank balance will have something to say about that. Last few months, I don't know where all the money's going. I think everything's just more expensive and it's taking its toll. If it weren't for my bits of theatre work here and there, we'd have gone under. I don't even want to think about that awful thing that happens at the end of December. Let's celebrate "managing to scrape by".

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Getting a kitty

2011-10-25T12:00:00.000+01:00

Isn't she gorgeous?

We thought it was time Dusty got herself a playmate. Hope they get along! Just have to wait till baby cat's old enough to leave mummy cat.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Moving comment on YouTube

2011-10-24T12:00:00.000+01:00

I was really pleased to see this comment recently on my YouTube video for the song "All Here", which is about my personal experiences with bipolar disorder.

I am a Bipolar Disorder sufferer - an ex. professional keyboard player. I have listened to this very well written & produced song several times. In relation to the content, the song touched me so much to the brink of bringing me to tears.
You are one very, very. talented writer & musician and your backing band is utterly exeptional !!!
Many greetings, congratulations & prosperity from Peter in Adelaide South Australia

It's good to know that by speaking out and having the courage to say what this song is really about, I've reached out to at least one person.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

The Law of Attraction (Friday's missing post)

2011-10-21T12:00:00.000+01:00

A relative keeps mentioning this Law of Attraction thing and appears to be having some success with it.
While I'm not sure I believe, I'm all for the idea that I could attract happiness, success, and money into my life just by thinking about it. Wouldn't we all like to do that?

So here are my Positive Affirmations, which I'm going to look at everyday until I become a blissfully happy millionaire composer. Hey, it could work!

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Commercial cut-downs

2011-10-20T12:00:00.000+01:00

I mentioned in a previous post that Brian has advised me to start making cut-down versions of my compositions, to make them more usable for media.

I've begun this process and it's HARD. Typically I have to cut each piece down to these specific versions:

60-second version that loops
60-second version
30-second version ("outro", or "intro")
20-second version ("intro", or "outro")
10-second version, and
3-5-second version ("sting")

But anything that might vaguely be suitable for adverts apparently has to be 19, 29, and 59 seconds because UK adverts have half a second of silence at the beginning and again at the end. I haven't tackled this at all yet.

I'm having the most trouble with the 20 second versions, as by that point you've cut out all your repetitions, and it's become so condensed that it sounds a bit ridiculous and some major chunk of the music has to go. Once you've made that choice, though, the 10-second version and "sting" tend to come fairly easily.

The loops are difficult too, as I'm working with both audio and MIDI so can't just change the tempo a bit (and I wouldn't want to anyway; it would feel like cheating). So to get exactly the right length, I have to play with bars of different lengths, adding or dropping a beat here and there.

The first time I tried to do these commercial cut-downs it took me all day to cut one piece down, but thankfully I'm managing to speed up the process quite a lot as I get more used to it.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Wind Turbines

2011-10-19T12:00:00.001+01:00

These have suddenly appeared about 3 miles from my house. The photos can't possibly convey the sheer size and majesty of these things. I think they're stunning.
As soon as I saw them, I asked Brian if we could drive right up to them to have a better look. We took pictures amid several other people who'd had the same idea. The last turbine (picture 1) was still being contructed.
I remember local people protesting when the plans for these turbines were first being considered. People knocking on my door, pushing flyers through my letterbox. One caught me while I was hanging out my clothes on the washing line. "They're really big", she told me. "I know", I said, smiling. She obviously realised I was a lost cause, and climbed back into her 4x4 and drove off.
I'm so glad her protest didn't succeed.
www.holliesheard.co.uk

Extreme beauty

2011-10-18T11:13:00.000+01:00

Recently we had a rare bit of October sunshine, and as I passed a tree I noticed how the strong sunlight reflected off the leaves and made the whole tree look spectacularly beautiful. A natural thing, lit by natural light.

Later in the day, as dusk fell, I noticed that the world can look equally alluring on the brink of darkness - a different kind of beauty, mysterious and brooding.

It made me realise that true beauty is on the verge of the extremes in life - blinding light and pitch black; whistle-high and drone-low; faint hint and powerful proof. It is not in the middle ground; the cloudy daylight; the normality; the mediocre. So artistically we should always be pushing against the boundaries of what has been done before. We should aim not to imitate, but to boldly redefine the edges of the possible.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Lennox and the kitty

2011-10-17T12:00:00.000+01:00

We'll start with the kitty. Now, I know this is the second cat video I've offered you in as many weeks, but trust me. This rocks even harder than the last one. Be sure to watch it with the sound turned up.

On a more serious note, let's move on to Lennox.

Meet Lennox. He's a gentle, adoring dog from Belfast with a loving family. He's never done anything wrong. And he's been sentenced to death. Why? Because he looks like a pit bull.

He was forcibly taken from his home by Belfast City Dog Wardens in May 2010 and has been held in captivity ever since. Under Northern Ireland's dog control laws, a judge has ruled that he should die simply because he resembles a breed of dog associated with aggression - despite the fact that he is neither aggressive nor a pit bull.

Please join the petition to save Lennox at www.savelennoxpetition.co.uk.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Song endings

2011-10-14T13:00:00.000+01:00

As I write more and more instrumental music, the question ofhow to end a piece appropriately keeps coming up. I don’t know why I’m havingsuch trouble with it, as I never really had this problem with songs (or nevernoticed it if I did!). Anyway, it got me to reminiscing about my favouritetypes of song endings – the ones I would use over and over.

The “Lazy OldFade” (example: Beautiful)

Needs no explanation. It’s what we do when we can’t thinkof a proper ending – or we’re just plain lazy.

The “Singing in theCar” ending (example: All Here)

Just like when you’re singing along in the car and thenthe song abruptly ends, the vocals keep going for a bit after the song hasended. Usually the vocals will restate the main hook, as in “If You Wannabe MyLover”.

The “Fallen offthe Edge of a Cliff” ending (example: Walking Round With Eyes Closed)

This ending puts emphasis on the last three chords, withthe final one falling on the first beat of the bar and being held for at leasta bar’s length. Yes, it’s a bit boring, butyou can dress it up with fills so that it sounds different every time.

The “Stopped atthe Edge of the Cliff” ending (example: Moving On)

As above, but it slows down for the antepenultimate andpenultimate chords.

The “Dribbles to aHalt” ending (example: “Journey to Nowhere”)

The lead guitar and/or vocal does a bit of what I like tocall “noodling”, just messing about, improvising a little line and having thefinal say.

The “One MoreRiff” ending

The song restates an instrumental riff which has alreadyappeared at several points throughout the song. I know I've used this ending somewhere, but can't find a recording.

The “Jazz Hands”ending (example: Eva Cassidy - Cheek to Cheek)

Can only be done with a live band. Everyone goes mad andtries to outdo each other. Sadly, I don’t have any recordings of this, but myold band “Hollie Sheard & Friends” used to do some really stonking “jazzhands” endings.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Maru

2011-10-13T13:00:00.001+01:00

Just because I feel like it and because it rocks, here's a video of a cat running into boxes:

P.S. - A very happy birthday to Bobble

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Progress Report

2011-10-12T13:00:00.000+01:00

Wii Fit - Have lasted just over a week so far, and have lost a little weight. Didn't do any exercises yesterday and probably won't today, since I'm busily working at the theatre. But just travelling to work involves a fair bit of walking, so I reckon that's okay.

Composing for Creative Commons - Getting close to reaching my goal of a 45-minute total, so I decided it was time for some feedback. If only I knew a senior lecturer in music production...oh wait! There's one on my sofa.

He thinks the Creative Commons thing is an admirable sentiment, but I might be depriving myself of the opportunity to make some money from the music I've written. There are some production issues, he says, which can be easily sorted out, and then I need to make shorter "cut-downs" of the music to make it usable for TV programmes. Once I've done this, I should send it out to Library Music companies and only then, if I'm rejected by these companies, should I consider "gifting" it to the creative community. So, Creative Commons is out of the window for now. I have defenestrated it.

New website design - The "beta" version is now up at http://www.holliesheard.co.uk/dev/index.html and will soon be replacing the site at the main URL (www.holliesheard.co.uk).

Songwriter's block

2011-10-11T13:00:00.000+01:00

Creative block is a thing of the past for me. This book got rid of it. I can heartily recommend it to all songwriters and composers.

In a nutshell, it advocates spending an entire day trying to write as many songs or compositions as possible (you shoot for 20, but it's understood that you won't manage that many). Because speed is of the essence, you have no choice but to write whatever comes into your head, with as little self-editing as possible.

There's more info about this method at Wikipedia but to fully understand it, you need to read Karl Coryat and Nicholas Dobson's The Frustrated Songwriter's Handbook. I used this method to write my second album "By Hook Or By Crook" and to write about 40% of my instrumental work so far.

The book advocates getting together with other songwriters and comparing notes at the end of your mammoth songwriting session. I've never done this, but if any songwriters local to Yorkshire would like to give it a try, let me know.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

ReverbNation is the new Myspace

2011-10-10T13:00:00.000+01:00

It surprises me how few of my musician friends know about or make use of ReverbNation. It seems to be a big thing in the US, but here it's largely ignored.

I wonder how many musos here would join if they knew they could do all this stuff for free:

Upload images and MP3s
Keep a schedule of their gigs
Link to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Myspace, pulling in statistics from all of them
Update your status on social networks all from one place
Connect with other musicians and bands, listen to their music and leave comments
Get "widgets" to embed into websites and blogs - just like embedding a YouTube video - which can play music, gather email addresses, display your gig schedule, etc
Build up a mailing list and send out HTML emails - plus track statistics on readership
Open a "store" where you can sell T-shirts, music downloads, and even CDs (much like CafePress)
Premium services available too, like digital distribution on iTunes, virtual "press kits", etc

Hopefully England will catch on soon.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Is the Kindle worth it?

2011-10-07T13:00:00.000+01:00

Kindle Keyboard

Since my husband surprised me with a Kindle a few months ago, people have been asking me one question - "Is it worth it"?

In my humble opinion, yes...and no. One big advantage is that I can carry around thousands of books in my handbag without, er, having to buy a bigger handbag.

Another great advantage is that you can get hundreds of free books. All of the old classics are free, and many new books are free too because publishers are trying to promote new authors this way. It's also a good thing for independent authors, as you can clearly see from the whole raft of them that have popped up on Kindle's "Top 100 Free" list. Whilst there are many gems amongst these writers that are "doing it for themselves", there are some mediocre efforts mixed in, and most of them can't spell for toffee. I never knew until I got a Kindle that an author can love language and have the ability to craft a spellbinding story, but that doesn't necessarily mean they can actually spell. Back to the point, though, I'm reading all sorts of things that I never would have considered before. My previously steady diet of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert, and Michael Crichton just got a lot more flavourful.

That takes care of the "yes". Now for the "no". Kindle is not intuitive. You get used to it, but it just isn't user-friendly. And in this day and age, you would expect a device like this to have a touch-screen. It's like clinging to a Nokia when everyone else has iPhones and Androids. Which brings me to my main point. If you ARE still clinging to your Nokia (like me), the Kindle is worth its weight in gold. If you have one of these new-fangled smart-phone thingies, download the free Kindle App instead. End of.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Will I last longer than a week?

2011-10-06T13:00:00.000+01:00

Yoga on Wii Fit

In my latest attempt to get fit, I've been hitting the Wii Fit, along with my Mum, who intends to come over once a week for a Wii session. But I looked over the statistics the console gives you access to, and in the couple of years since I've owned it, it seems I've never stuck at Wii Fit for longer than a week. Each time I've gone on there every day for four or five consecutive days, then missed a day or two, then gone on again once or twice, and then given up.

One measly week! I can't believe it.
I simply must do better this time. I'll aim for two weeks, then see where I go from there. Wish me luck, or rather, willpower.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Working on a new website

2011-10-05T13:00:00.000+01:00

I've decided my website is a bit too colourful for someone who (a) purports to write serious music for grown-ups and (b) is knocking on a bit now at the grand old age of almost 27.

The new site will specifically be about my own work as a singer, songwriter, and composer, rather than about the "Hollie Sheard & Friends" band since we haven't rehearsed for some time now.

So here comes my new "timeless" website, based on a template kindly provided by Andreas Viklund.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Composing music for creative commons

2011-10-04T13:00:00.000+01:00

I've been working on some instrumental music lately, building up a portfolio to send around in the hope that companies might want to use my music for TV, games, or other media.

To do this, it would be good to get a name for myself and actually get my music used on some things first before trying to work as a paid composer.

So, I've been thinking along the lines of releasing some music under a creative commons license, which would freely allow people to use my music for their personal or commercial projects without having to get permission or pay royalties.

Could this approach work, or is it the daftest idea I've had yet?

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Tom's induction

2011-10-03T13:00:00.000+01:00

Went to an event at my church yesterday. The new minister, Rev Tom McCready, was being formally welcomed to the church by all the congregation plus ministers and visitors from other Unitarian churches.

It was a good service (with only two hymns, so Brian was happy) and Tom looked pleased as punch when the congregation presented him with a shiny blue stole bearing a dove on one side and the Unitarian candle-in-a-chalice on the other.

Unitarians are very proud of their ability to put on a good spread, and this time was no exception. Us veggies even got to go first. As a visiting minister with a pony-tail remarked, "I knew there was a good reason I became veggie". Whilst "mingling" Brian and I realised that, even though we've been attending (on and off) for a year now, we hardly know anyone's names yet except for Tom. There's one chap we talk to almost every time and we don't even know his name. So, the mission for the next few months is to learn some names.

Sadly we couldn't stay to hear the folk duo that was playing after the buffet, as we had to put next door's chickens to bed before it got dark.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

Speaking out about mental health

2011-10-02T13:26:00.000+01:00

In the spirit of the Time To Change campaign, I'm openly revealing that my song "All Here" is about my own experiences of bipolar disorder. If we don't speak out about these things, then they will remain a taboo forever. Let's try to change that.

www.holliesheard.co.uk

And the award goes to...

2010-06-01T18:14:00.007+01:00

It's results time again for the UK Songwriting Contest!
Last year I entered two of my songs and both were awarded Semi-Finalist status. I vowed that this time I would try my hardest to win that coveted "Finalist" award. And I did!

Not only did I get Finalist status but my song, "Call This a Draw", went one higher and was named Runner-up in the Jazz/Blues category! Of course, my song was up against more than 5,000 other entries worldwide and there are tons of brilliant songs entered every year. I've been featured in newspapers in the past just for making the semi-finals, so being runner-up this time will hopefully open some doors and get more people listening to my band's music.

More than anything I'm hoping this will encourage people to come along to the Album Launch Party on the 3rd July. It's going to be a blast and a truly noteworthy moment in my band's history.
Here's the runner-up song, Call This a Draw:

60 miles off track

2010-05-18T22:04:00.011+01:00

During my schooldays - and some of my college days - I had a tendency to be "bang on late". Once I started working, of course, I had to cure this. So I went completely the other way, and now I go everywhere early. I actually start twitching if I'm not at least an hour early for work.

Sometimes, when I find myself killing time in cafes or waiting in the cold, I wonder if this militant, compulsive earlyness is really worth it. Then something happens to remind me why I do what I do.

Yesterday just such a thing happened. I hopped on a train from Doncaster to Sheffield for my half-six shift at the theatre...then as it pulled out the tannoy announced the destination. Why do they do this? Why do they wait till the doors are closed and you're starting to move? Why, why, why must they make you watch in horror as your train carries you away from the place you suddenly so desperately want to go back to? Anyway, as you'll have gathered, the train wasn't going to Sheffield. It was going to Newcastle. We've all done it eh? The first stop was York - over 60 miles from my intended destination.

Two hours, one surly conductor, one nice information desk lady, and a jolly conductor in a bright pink tie later, and I'd been called a silly billy and put on a train back to Doncaster, caught another train to Sheffield, and got to work.
On time.

OUCH

2010-05-14T08:31:00.007+01:00

A little catch-up.

Wednesday. Send out a load of letters, bus it to Doncaster for shopping and errands, then to Sheffield for a shift at the theatre. Liftage = back pain.

Thursday. Back pain goes on a little journey and becomes leg pain. Hobble around Leeds with my mother the milliner (she's hobbling too) putting up posters for my next gig, which is the album launch on 3rd July. We hit the music shops, charity shops, and universities. Leeds Uni say they have a "rivalry" with the The Library where the launch is being held (how does a university end up having a rivalry with a pub??) so they won't put an official stamp on my poster to say it's allowed. What a campus, though! If you got lost you could spend days just trying to find the way out. Leeds Met are much more generous with their noticeboard space so maybe there'll be students at my launch yet.

Friday (today). Ibuprofen for breakfast. Mocha, a Buffy, and then I need to spend the day doing a favour for a friend. It involves singing and trying very hard not to sound like I'm in pain. Wish me luck.

An old new quote

2010-05-02T02:44:00.002+01:00

"Hollie Sheard & Friends: Easy on the ear, easy listening for Radio 2, easy like Sunday morning, quite easily the best demo so far" Vibrations magazine

Old because it was printed in 2008; new because I've only just found it on their website (I don't live in Leeds, so I never saw it in print). Yes...it's poking fun just a little, but I suppose my music is undeniably "easy listening"; still a great old new quote to have under my belt.

Thanks Vibrations!

It's time to reveal all...

2010-04-29T13:54:00.012+01:00

After many months of hard work, I can finally announce that the new album "By Hook Or By Crook" is finished and will be released on the 3rd July!

It will be available to download on iTunes, or if you prefer a proper CD you can get it through the official band website (http://www.holliesheard.co.uk/shop.html) and at gigs.

Speaking of gigs!

To celebrate the album's launch we are having, well, an album launch! You won't want to miss this event - we'll be pulling out all the stops to bring you a great live show with songs from the new album, songs from the first album, and a support set from the talented singer/songwriter Sebastian John.

Why not come along on Saturday 3rd July to The Library on Woodhouse Lane in Leeds. Tickets are £6 on the door, but you can get them cheaper if you buy them in advance from our secure online shop. Save a quid if you buy one ticket...save three quid if you buy two tickets...save eight quid if you buy four!

Hope to see you there!

Hollie x

From stamping books to singing on stage

2010-02-19T14:31:00.002Z

My story: I quit my job as a librarian, swapping the stacks for the stage to follow my dream. Read the article here, which appeared as a full-page article in the Doncaster Star on Monday 15th February.

The new songs from the upcoming album "By Hook Or By Crook" are getting attention around the country and even the world with airplay on the Electric Soul Show on Ipswich Community Radio, inclusion in this week's This Reality Podcast in Oxfordshire, Internet radio streaming on Mixposure Radio in America, and a showcase on the drum loop supplier website Drums on Demand.

And one more thing - we're now on Twitter! Come follow us: @holliesheard

Thanks for listening! x

New single out, and a feature on Mixposure Radio!

2010-01-31T01:14:00.009Z

Our news always seems to be in twos lately, doesn't it?

So the new single, "All Here" is out today. As well as "All Here" you also get "Moving On" from the upcoming album as a B-side, and a live song that was recorded under a railway bridge. It's available to buy on our website at http://www.holliesheard.co.uk/ for only £2 plus postage. Or you can stream the full song "All Here" on Myspace for free - but then you won't get your B-side, extra live track, 20% discount coupon code for the upcoming album, glossy photo and personally autographed CD! Head to our online shop to buy now!

In other news, the above mentioned extra live track from the single is going to be featured on the Jiminy Jazz Hour on an American radio station called Mixposure Radio. It will air today, Sunday 31st January, at 8pm GMT (3pm EST). To listen, head to http://www.mixposure.com/. To get the full experience, you can also join the chat room at the same time. I'll be there, as well as the host and many of the online listeners. Hope to see you there!

New single out on Sunday!

2010-01-29T04:53:00.007Z

We're releasing a new single on Sunday called "All Here", which is from the upcoming album "By Hook Or By Crook". The single will contain the A-side "All Here", the B-side "Moving On", and a bonus live track that was recorded underneath a railway arch in 2009. It's lovingly packaged with a glossy photographic front cover, an autographed CD, and liner notes - and is available for just £2 plus postage at our new online shop, integrated into our website.

Visit our website http://www.holliesheard.co.uk/ to get your hands on a copy! Not only will you be getting hold of some lovely music, but you'll also be helping a starving artist to raise funds to manufacture their second studio album. Why wait? Buy it now!

Our song on BBC Radio...and a very special review

2010-01-23T22:52:00.013Z

Crikey, we made it onto BBC Radio!!! "All Here" from the upcoming album By Hook Or By Crook was broadcast on BBC Radio Sheffield during the Raw Talent show on 21/01/10.

Until Wednesday 27th January 2010, you can listen to the show here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d7w7

And we've had a very special review, sent after listening to our new album material:

"Great voice and band"
Christopher Holland
Yes, that's Christopher Holland from the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra!! He's also a songwriter and singer about to release his 5th studio album - take a look at his site.

Take the tour!

2010-01-17T21:11:00.008Z

Take the video tour of my recording studio. Learn the secrets of how I write and record songs from my tiny country studio:

Like this? Subscribe to my Youtube Channel.

Get a sneak preview!

2010-01-13T23:03:00.007Z

Our upcoming album By Hook Or By Crook is brewing at the 'mo and will be ready by summer 2010. But you won't wait until then! Head over to the album Previews page where you can listen to six of the new songs. You can even vote for your favourite!

Note added later: The previews page is no longer active. Please visit http://www.holliesheard.co.uk/ to listen to tracks from the album.

Music videos

2009-11-01T18:40:00.007Z

Hello all,

A teensy blog to mention a few things...

1.) I've started making videos to go with some of my songs from the Truth or Dare album. Find them on my website or on Youtube by searching for "Hollie Sheard".

2.) The website (http://www.holliesheard.co.uk/) has had a bit of a facial. The navigation has been improved and you can listen to the songs in a larger player with a full track listing.

3.) More music! You can now listen to pretty much the entire Truth or Dare album on the website.

4.) The acoustic version of Work With Me (performed live on the air on Phoenix Radio) is now available for free on Myspace - visit www.myspace.com/holliesmusic to listen.

I'm still busy working on my second album (By Hook or By Crook), which is shaping up nicely and exploring new territory. Don't forget to listen out for it in the new year.

Thanks for reading and listening,

Hollie x

Award winning songs

2009-09-15T18:11:00.006+01:00

Yep, we've done it again - award-winning songwriting according to the UK Songwriting Contest 2009. We won two semi-finalist awards, one in the Pop category for Work With Me, and one in the adult contemporary category for Truth or Dare.

Lasy year, when we collected our semi-finalist awards for Untouchable and Is This Real, we pledged to do better in 2009. Well, in a way we did, because the judges scores for our 2008 entires were 6, and this year we went up to a 7, which apparently means we almost made it to the finals. In 2010 we're going to try for Finalist - though it's a hard slog, as we're up against thousands of fantastic songwriters, not only from the UK but from all over the world.

In other news, the album is now progressing nicely with most of the drums done, half of the bass tracks now laid down and the other half scheduled to be recorded in a couple of weeks' time, after which work can begin on the guitar, keyboards and vocals. We're still on track for our tentative completion deadline which is New Year 2010. A new year, a new album!

It's been a dry season for gigs (probably just as well since we're hard at work with the album) but maybe Autumn will bring out the jazz and soul lovers. We'll keep you posted!

Hollie x

www.holliesheard.co.uk
www.myspace.com/holliesmusic

We're back!

2009-08-12T12:19:00.004+01:00

So where have we been? Why, writing songs and beginning recording for our brand new album. We haven't got a budget, a pro studio, or a sound engineer, but we're going to do it somehow, "By Hook or By Crook".

"I don't know when, I don't know how, but I know something's starting right now..."
(The Little Mermaid)

Hollie x

Podcast - Phoenix Radio Interview

2009-06-21T11:29:00.007+01:00

We visited Phoenix Radio in Halifax on 19/06/2009 for a live interview. Here's a podcast of the interview in full, including our live acoustic performance of Work With Me and a track from our album, "Fleeting":

Interview with Hollie Sheard and Friends on Phoenix Radio

Many thanks to Mike Sharman, the presenter and the organiser of the Luddenden Music Festival that we played at the day after the interview (on 20/06/2009). Thanks also to folk star and fellow Luddfest performer Jonathan Taylor, who re-broadcasted the interview on his own folk radio show and provided us with the recording for this podcast.

We'll be updating our Flickr page soon with photos from the Luddfest gig and from the radio station visit, so check back later to see those. You can access all of this, including this very blog feed, plus streaming and downloads of our music, at our website: http://www.holliesheard.co.uk/ - so if you're reading this on Blogger, why not pay us a visit.

Don't forget to sign up to the mailing list to get Hollie Sheard & Friends news, exclusive song downloads, and gig dates straight to your inbox.

See you soon,
Hollie x

Radio interview and performance

2009-06-19T14:27:00.001+01:00

Hello, hello, hello.

We were interviewed and gave a live acoustic performance today on Phoenix Radio, Calderdale. It went pretty well for our first radio spot! Took us ages to find the place, and we rolled up ten minutes late and very stressed out. DON'T TRUST MAPS! That's all I have to say.

But they didn't seem to mind, it was all very chilled out. There were four of us there (me, Brian, Lee, and Daniel, bless their cotton socks). We chatted a bit about our music, played a version of "Work With Me" with just acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, and vocals, chatted some more, and then they played a track (Fleeting) from our album! Whoop!

It was broadcast live but hopefully we'll be getting a recording so we can podcast it on www.holliesheard.co.uk , and I've no doubt they will do the same on their website: www.phoenixfm.co.uk .

Now we just have the Luddenden gig tomorrow to worry about! If you're in the Halifax/Hebden Bridge area, come on down. It's in the village of Luddenden (aka Luddendenfoot) at the Lord Nelson (Main Stage), and we're on at 3.30pm. We'd love to see you there.

Bye for now!
Hollie xxxx

A festival performance, a radio interview, and goodies!

2009-06-09T19:25:00.006+01:00

Hello all! We have news.

We're playing at the Luddenden Music Festival on Saturday 20th June 2009. This is an all-day festival featuring scores of bands and artists, held in Luddenden Foot (half way between Halifax and Hebden Bridge). The Luddenden Music Festival is the first and only British version of the Paris-based Fete de la Musique, and in keeping with this tradition, it's completely free and showcases new and interesting local talent. The festival starts at 11am, and we're playing at 3.30pm on the main stage.

We'll be appearing on Phoenix radio the day before that (Friday 20th June) in the morning with an interview and live acoustic performance. Listen locally (Calderdale) at 96.7 FM or online at http://www.phoenixfm.co.uk/.

There's more!

We're launching an newsletter which will be sent out once every two months. To get info about what we're up to straight to your inbox, please sign up to the mailing list (over to the right a bit, you might need to scroll...)

By signing up to the newsletter you will also get access to exclusive downloadable tracks that you can't listen to anywhere else online. Check out our "Fan area" page for more details. [Later comment - this page is no longer available. To sign up to the Newsletter please visit www.holliesheard.co.uk and click on "Join the mailing list"]

Keep listening! xx

New LIVE version of our signature song...Truth or Dare

2009-05-07T08:16:00.001+01:00

We're all excited to announce that the new LIVE version of Truth or Dare is available for your listening pleasure on myspace and at www.holliesheard.co.uk.

Truth or Dare is, of course, our signature song and has been around from the very start...but this is not only the first time it's been recorded live, but the first time it's been recorded by this band at all! (The version on the album was a combination of samples, MIDI instruments, and tracks recorded yonks ago with a different band during a sound recording class).

So for the first time, sit back and enjoy Truth or Dare the way it was always meant to sound. And many thanks to Rob Ashbridge for making it happen.

Hollie x

To Groovy Funksters And Back

2009-04-28T13:34:00.003+01:00

We've been dipping our toes into the "function band" (ish) world over the last few months. A load of new funk and soul covers, a function name (the Groovy Funksters), and even band t-shirts. It gets wearing after a while though; I don't know how other bands do it. You spend weeks telling everyone about it so hopefully they'll come along and you'll have an audience, then on the night you pack an enormous amount of equipment into the car, you make sure everyone else turns up, you run around carrying stuff and setting things up and trying to get reverb, you do the gig, and if you get paid at all you get paid less than you've already spent on petrol and drinks. And what for? So you might get another gig doing the same thing, just bleating other people's songs.

No more.

We're going back to Hollie Sheard & Friends, we're doing our own songs all the time, we're going to write new stuff and record it by hook or by crook, and if we do low paid/free gigs then we're doing them for charity, for the community, or for a chance to shine at the right people. I'm seeing this as an opportunity to take the band to a new level.

Are you with me?

Hollie x

Debut album finished!

2009-02-06T08:19:00.000Z

It's taken around two years to get from concept to finished product, and three months from recording the first note to having a mixed and finished copy printed onto the delectable vinyl-look CDs we found on the internet and couldn't resist using! The brand new debut album contains thirteen original tracks, written mostly by lead singer Hollie Sheard, with some also co-written by Brian Morrell and Daniel Green.It couldn't have been done without the band's honourary sixth member Mark Smith, who lent us his fab studio and engineering skills to lay down our funky tracks as well as our chilled ones.You can listen to and download the full versions of "Fleeting", "People On This Planet", and "No Wonder" on this website, and you can also hear edited "taster" versions of some other tracks - for the real thing, get your hands on a copy! They're available to buy at gigs or by contacting Hollsinger [at] yahoo.co.uk.

Double Semi-Finalists in the UK Songwriting Contest 2008

2009-02-06T08:12:00.000Z

The band submitted two of their songs, "Untouchable" and "Is This Real", to a UK-based international songwriting competition, and reached the semi-finals with both songs. The results were published on Monday 1st September 2008.

The band are extremely pleased to have done so well, and intend to do even better in next year's contest!

The recent success has led to coverage in the Pontefract & Castleford Express (the area where Hollie grew up) and on various websites.

http://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/life-leisure/Top-prize-for-songwriter.4547287.jp