Just Bizarre In The Studio ....

(Rachel) Rehearsal No.13– Strummers, 1 Roedean Road, Btn. Tel Ken on: 01273 683011 mob 07973 178769 £7 per hour.

Today we focused on “Sparkledust”. It is a song based around the fragility of the human existence and the strength of spirit.

Stuck in a career as a beauty Queen, “Sparkledust” craves normality. Her image precedes her, and her audience see the portrayal of a beauty Queen not the real person.

In the conclusion she breaks free to be herself. This song examines images, beauty pageants and just being yourself.

(Rachel) Rehearsal No.12– Strummers, 1 Roedean Road, Btn. Tel Ken on: 01273 683011 mob 07973 178769 £7 per hour.

Today we focused on the new songs  'My Heart' from my debut CD “Open Face” and “Sparkledust”, a song I’ve written about Beauty Pageants.

 'My Heart' was written for piano but Kenny and myself decided to rework the song for Guitar and Voice. Kenny plays a poignant heart rendering arrangement to accompany the soulful lyrics.

 'My Heart' was a song I wrote to describe how it feels to be in love so much that you want to burst inside. It calls out to the listener to let go of any restraints and just say whatever they feel, encouraging the idea of letting go and falling for the person of their dreams.

I believe we all sometimes hold back but in the end our hearts always show us the way.

(Kenny) Rehearsal No.11 – Strummers, 1 Roedean Road, Btn. Tel Ken on: 01273 683011 mob 07973 178769 £7 per hour.

Today’s rehearsal began with two new songs, 'Sparkledust' and 'My Heart', both to be included in the set @ The Greys, on 28th April.

The tracks are both Rachel compositions which have a strong heart-felt lyric, and of course made wonderfully accessible by fantastic vocals and melody.

My self-penned song 'Weaving dreams' was up next, a song inspired by my Celtic ancestry, imparts the tale of a historical exodus of people, be it clans or the flight of earls, finding yourself in a new land in search of the good times - living your dream and living it loud!

I came across a quote by Johann Wolfgang that kind of sums up the sentiment behind the song:

“Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it .. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!”

We now have twelve great songs in the set which quite honestly have never sounded better. So, people get ready, Just Bizarre are coming to a venue near you soon!

Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.
--E.Y. Harbug (1898 - 1981)

(Rachel) Rehearsal No.9 – Strummers, 1 Roedean Road, Btn. Tel Ken on: 01273 683011 mob 07973 178769 £7 per hour.

I showcased a new song to Kenny this week. It’s called ‘Washing & Cleaning’. It is a song proclaiming to all housewives everywhere to put down their washing-up gloves and to take a stand!

The music has some angry jazz chords & I hope the song will cause a revolt among bored housewives everywhere!

Three weeks to Greys and I’m so excited!!!!!!!!

(Rachel) Rehearsal No.8 – Strummers, 1 Roedean Road, Btn. Tel Ken on: 01273 683011 mob 07973 178769 £7 per hour.

Our first full gig is just four days away & I’m full of energy and excitement about performing back in Brighton. Performance is the main reason I love to sing .. the electric energy from being on stage & the atmosphere make me alive & poised.

It is great to present not only the songs for my debut album, ‘Open Face’, but also my new material as well.

‘One Man’ - a song about a lonely man whose true love has left & his ponderings as to whether she will return.

'This Feeling' - a gospel style ballad about falling in love & all the crazy thoughts & sensations that accompany it.

‘Summer Sun’ - a beautiful ballad, written by Kenny Moreland, very poignant & haunting.

‘Man Down The Street’ - a poor girl’s fantasy about her next door neighbour.

‘Weaving Dreams’ - another song by Kenny, about hope & uplifting dreams.

'Remember' - a very special song to me. I wrote it in the USA as I recalled a time when I felt down-at-heart and walked Brighton promenade, turning to the ocean for some comfort and inspiration.

(Kenny) Rehearsal No.7 – Strummers, 1 Roedean Road, Btn. Tel Ken on: 01273 683011 mob 07973 178769 £7 per hour.

In the fine tradition of Just Bizarre, Rachel and I arrived buzzing from our debut gig and enthused about Thursday’s forthcoming date @ The Open House.

Having arrived somewhat unconventionally by car, this promised to be another fantastic rehearsal. We began by a run through of our set and delivered an awesome lift to the already stunning repertoire of songs.

Rachel had been working on a rearrangement of 'This Feeling' and having played a few opening bars on the keyboard I knew we were about to embark on something quite wonderful.

‘This Feeling’ has become a sultry blues/jazz number which I have to say beautifully complements the unique and gifted voice of Rachel.

We have a 45 minute set at The Greys on the 28^th April, so we are currently looking to extend the set. The problem here is not the lack of material but which numbers to chose  - and what’s more, they are all good! 

'My Heart' was up next and as love songs go this one's up there with Bryan Adams 'Everything I Do, I Do It For You'. Rachel delivers a breathtaking vocal to a warmly heart-felt lyric.

I'd very recently penned a new song 'Weaving Dreams', a Celtic inspired up-tempo song which is pretty much about what the title offers. It's got a punchy middle 8 - you'll be rocking to this one - watch out cause I may just join ya on the dance floor!

Just had time to finish with 'Remember', which is fast becoming a firm favourite of mine, and as songs go, this one is truly inspired! OK brothers and sisters, until next time, hope ya had a peaceful Easter - One Love!

(Rachel) Rehearsal No.6 – Strummers, 1 Roedean Road, Btn. Tel Ken on: 01273 683011 mob 07973 178769 £7 per hour.

Kenny and myself were blessed with glorious weather, so resulting bike-ride wasn’t too cruel on either the soul or voice.

Arrived @ Strummers Studio and stood anxiously waiting for the arrival of proprietor, ‘Ken’. With things going so well within the band, & these weekly rehearsals, I wanted in!

Kenny Moreland & myself posed for pictures .. Watch this space .. and then it was down to business. With gigs imminent @ The Greys & 12-Bar we needed to be tight & up-to-speed.

Proprietor Ken informed us that someone had recently stolen the ‘house amp’. Shame on them we say, it spoils it for everyone else. So if you’ve got the amp, or know who has, give it back!

The rehearsal itself went really well. Although Kenny and myself were tired, we had a full run-through of the 30-minute set we’re due to deliver on Thursday 4 April @ Open House, 146 Springfield Road, Brighton.

We are ready to gig .. so the sixth rehearsal finished on a happy note!

(Rachel): Rehearsal No.5 – Strummers, 1 Roedean Road, Btn. Tel Ken on: 01273 683011 mob 07973 178769 £7 per hour.

After two horrible weeks of illness & injury .. Kenny Moreland nearly sliced a finger off, me, I caught every voice destroying bug under the sun! .. Just Bizarre convened @ Strummers.

We now, almost unbelievably, have our set together & JB is ready to get out in front of the public. They won’t know what’s hit ‘em!

(Kenny): Rehearsal No.5 – Strummers, 1 Roedean Road, Btn. Tel Ken on: 01273 683011 mob 07973 178769 £7 per hour.

Navigating our way around the raining 'cats and dogs' streets of Brighton, The Kate Bush song ‘Cycling Up The Hill’ came to mind  .. or was it ‘Running’!?

Just Bizarre took to the studio fully refreshed from the previous week’s Metway recording. Today’s session could not have begun any better - Rachel introduced her knew self penned song, 'Man Down The Street', much to the delight of the studio occupants, who rushed to secure tickets for the forthcoming Greys gig - now that’s what I call making an impact. Told ya our Rach has got an amazing and unique voice!

‘Man Down The Street’ was the start of a great rehearsal. I’ve got to tell ya that the music just keeps ascending to new heights, with songs to dance, reflect, smile and anything else you will surely be searching for in songs to make you move inside the pulse of your feel!

There's always that question ' So what do you sound like then ?'

The easiest way for me to describe the sound of Just Bizarre is: that we let the music leap out of the box and fill the space with good vibrations, passion, rousing the very rhythm that keeps songs fresh and alive - if this sounds like a new genre then it probably is! A mix of Celtic, jazz, blues, all fused with stunning passionate vocals .. a small clue to what we're about!

We finished our set with a hypnotic version of ‘Wonder’, which has taken on a life of its own and will compel any listener to fall into complete bliss and calm - a beautiful ending to a stunning session.

Keep it real and let your shine be in full view!

(Rachel) Rehearsal No.4 – A284 Rehearsal Studios, 284 Madeira Drive, Btn. Tel Austin on: 01273 572277.£7 per hour.

I can’t believe this studio exists. It is basically a door into Bohemia. We had to climb a ladder into an unlit attic. Subsequently, I started to get just a little claustrophobic.

Thankfully, Kenny managed to pop open the studio door so we could bask in a little natural light while we plied our trade.

Surprisingly, what followed was probably our best rehearsal to date. We learnt another song, ‘Remember’, for which Kenny had composed a new chorus. As a band we were wonderful. Session finished on a high .. can’t wait for the public reaction!

(Rachel) Rehearsal No.3 – Strummers, 1 Roedean Road, Btn. Tel Ken on: 01273 683011 mob 07973 178769 £7 per hour.

The bike ride to Strummers is long – we must be dedicated! Bring on the limos!! For me to see four years of writing coming together & becoming a reality is a dream come true.

I’ve never rehearsed in an ex-public toilet before! We met the studio’s owner, Ken, and collapsed giggling wondering where the urinal might have been!

One thing I like & respect about Kenny Moreland is he is a brilliant guitar player & has great vision for arranging my songs. Things went well .. next time we may just do a full set run through. 

(Rachel) Rehearsal No.2 – Church Road Studio, Church Road, Hove. Tel Julian on: 01273 327889.

If they could see me now! I hummed as I set off on my Mountain Bike across Dyke Road & down the Upper Drive .. waterproofs flapping in the breeze. I certainly didn’t resemble a sultry singer – that is of course, until I get to the rehearsal studio & shed the waterproofs!

Down to business. Kenny and I began to stretch the set and add new songs. Regrettably the PA didn’t do our sound justice, no matter how much I fiddled with my mic settings. Just wouldn’t balance. Damn!

Nevertheless, we did learn two new songs .. can’t wait to get out and gig!

(Rachel) Rehearsal No.1 – Church Road Studio, Church Road, Hove. Tel Julian on: 01273 327889.

The brewing storm matched my butterfly ridden stomach nicely. My first rehearsal back in the UK .. long anticipated .. I have to keep pinching myself.

I descend the steps @ Church Road Studio with keyboard barely balanced under one arm. I was due to rehearse some tracks with Kenny Moreland, a singer/songwriter, someone I was hoping would fit the bill as guitarist in my soon to be new band, Just Bizarre.

‘Kayco’ sounded like we just might be able to make this duo work! Kenny picked up on the poignant feeling of my acoustic version of ‘Dancing Queen’. Maybe, just maybe, this will work out!?