Little extra discoveries.

St. Vincent (Annie) and David Byrne have been collaborating inspired by the lovely intimate little show they saw with Dirty Projectors and Bjork, the video of which I saw a wee while back and loved.

St.Vincent has/have been on my radar for a little while now, and I have to say, I very much enjoyed this video of her/their tour I've just watched. Better get her the next time she's over this way.

Polar Music Prize Drawings continued.

Little Children played a short set at Restaurant Riche where there was an aftershow party. Beautiful decor inside, a lot of plaster of paris moulding around huge arched mirrors, lots of reflections, lovely setting, cool place. Lots of characters in there too.

Little Children played about 4 or 5 songs of Ennio Morricone/Western styled music. Really well done. This drawing was done on the iPad. Very useful little device that! You can check their myspace out at http://www.myspace.com/littlechildrenmusik

Robyn was excellent. It's hard to perform a cover of such a seminal piece by such an identifiable voice and formidable presence as Bjork, but she rose to the challenge commendably. Bjork released her first album at age 11, Robyn at age 12, interestingly enough.

I've decided to add in this picture even though I'm going to 'doctor' the face to make it look more like Robyn. But this is mostly what I drew on the night (legs added later), and I'll add the later 'updated' version. I like the image though, and the way the words have turned out beside it.

Robyn drawing edited.

Don't think Human Nature could be performed by a better musical pairing. A great take on Bjork's song, and I'm sure very intimidating to be doing so in front of the great lady herself. The singer definitely got into it and obviously enjoyed herself. Backed by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, there was fantastic build up and beautifully composed 'quiet'. Terrific.

http://www.myspace.com/wildbirdsandpeacedrums

All Is Full Of Love - Bjork

In one of the intervals they showed this amazing video (also one of my favourite songs too), which is (to me) a futuristic take on the creation of geisha. Although to be honest, it's probably more just about creating companions. It really is beautiful. I drew most of this on the night but added a bit more detail from the actual video.

The Polar Music Prize

Ennio Morricone's 'Deborah's Theme' performed by Barbara Hendricks. Incredible.

What a powerful and beautiful ceremony to be a part of. Captivating and inspirational, the music fills your senses aurally, visually and emotionally. Discovering more about the person behind the amazing compositions, and witnessing their humanity, will be unforgettable. Björk being pretty much my all time favourite musician/artist, and my ability to get swept away by Ennio's music made this particular pairing for the prize a monumentally auspicious event.

It was also a real joy to witness - with drawing - Björk's talk with The New Yorker's Sasha Frere-Jones. Although my flight and late connecting bus meant I had to creep in upstairs at the back, along with my short-sightedness, it wasn't the most dynamic of drawings, but I do like how the text has taken on a music like pattern, dominating the 'reportage' with floating rhythms. This picture to come, along with sketch of Wildbirds & Peacedrums. Ane Brun gave my favourite tribute to Bjork, her voice very unique in itself, although Robyn and Wildbirds & Peacedrums were excellent too.

All in all an amazing night, though I think a different seating/drawing arrangement is necessary - bit tricky balancing a paint pallette, water, brushes, pencils, board and paper, while needing to let Mr Tuxedo and Miss Ballgown get to their seat, never mind the constant standing/ovations for the Royal Family and prize winners ;).

Here's one of the videos of the performance where you get to spot me!

http://www.polarmusicprize.org/prize-ceremony/2010-2/

Check me out at 07.08 minutes right after the documentary on Ennio Morricone (and yes, I've been greeting a bit), and then again drawing Barbara Hendricks - I'm a little hard to spot the second time - Dark grey clothing, light blue scarf between two men in tuxedos. Third row, right of the middle - there's a woman in the front with a pink dress. I'll try and find the exact time for that one. There might be more sightings but I haven't had time to look yet.

Marie Ledin, the daughter of Abba's manager Stig Andersson who started the Polar Prize emailed me today to thank me for my Barbara Hendricks picture and is looking forward to the other ones.

Cool huh? :D

Confirmed - Lights, Camera, Action!

By Ms Charlotte Rodenstedt of http://www.bloodyhoney.co.uk/

That's right folks, this little expo is gonna be a darned sight more exciting than previously thought: Updated details below!

A Multimedia Event indeed!! Great music by RM Hubbert, Opening by Alan Bissett, both are being drawn during their performances with the images projected nearby, all the while being surrounded by a very select collection of drawings of some of the most exciting and memorable gigs and musicians Jenny's experienced, including:
Bjork, David Byrne, Crystal Castles, Arab Strap, Jeff Lewis & The Junkyard, Edwyn Collins' Come Back Gig, Mogwai, Melt Banana w. Dananananaykroyd - ooh! ooh! ooh! and there's a fair bit more! VJ-ing and animatory magic by Mr Garry Whitton.

It's all in conjunction with Hinterland Festival where Jenny will be 'resident drawer' at a few carefully chosen gigs. Sponsored by Hinterland and Red Bull. Nice one!!

And if you're feeling flush, support the artist by buying a very nice print/greetings card/artist book/catalogue - massive discount for one night only!!! Entertainment plus bargains in one night - Good Golly!!!

Details You Might Need To Know:

Host: Jenny Soep, Mono, and Hinterland
Type: Music/arts - Exhibit
Start Time: 29 April 2009 at 18:00
End Time: 29 May 2009 at 20:00
Location: Mono
Street: 10 King St
Town/City: Glasgow, United Kingdom
Phone: 01415532400
Email: info@jennysoep.com

Make Model, A Review of My Show, and Bjork

A scan of the Bjork picture I am selling as a limited edition print, the original which is currently on show at the fabulous Roastit Bubbly Jocks restaurant, 450 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, for a limited time only - the owner has very kindly loaned it for the exhibition which is scheduled to finish at the end of June. The prints I am selling of this Bjork are minus the 'paper' which is the dull white colour around the drawing - I've made it a much cleaner final image - so if you're interested people...

http://www.glasgowwestend.co.uk/eating/eatingdrinking.php
Above is the link to an article written about my exhibition at Roastit's. Tis very complimentary.

Make Model - The lead singer Lewis Gale has left which has left them in a hollow state as he provided a lot of the writing if not all. But they sound stalwart and forward thinking. They've cancelled their Glastonbury and T in the Park gigs which must be pretty gutting. I've just read an article here - http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2203080,00.html which was written back in November 2007 which is full of hope and ideas. So why has Lewis left??

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, it's Go North in Dundee this weekend which is free and full of hopefuls, hopefully good music and industry delegates. http://www.gonorth.biz/ Looks like a fun filled informative weekend. There is also RockNess, http://www.rockness.co.uk/which is not free, further away, but has a fantastic line up. Wonder what I'll do...where I'll stay...

Festival time now, really need to buy a tent - can't rely on the folks' one anymore; I'm a big girl now...However, I really do fancy spending my nights during at least one festival in a yurt/teepee/podpad - they just sound so quirky, fun and ready made!! Luxury! That will of course happen as much as the chance of my ambition to travel first class on a sleeper...

The Invasion of the Connect Festival Pics Begins

At last I am fairly pleased with the following pictures especially this one - I got the lasers, the improvised movement, the costumes, the musicians in the back - just wondering whether to accentuate the hanging banners in the back which I've drawn in green felt tip. It's possible they are getting mixed up with the lasers, but it seemed justified at the time, so I might colour in the negative spaces with a contrasting colour. Then again, I may just leave it...
Bjork as Empress!!
Detail of the spectacular.

A different assimilation of scenes - This was the pic that had red wine artfully flung and now is encorporated for ever - I actually put more red in the stains since they just dried in grey.
And the detail...

Wowsers this was a very cool show - quite chuffing stuff to be allowed to draw while everyone else got cleared out the way!!!

By the way, more details!

Very impressed with the magical aounds and entertainment of this lovely 'all girl' group from Brighton. Stunning little songs, full of elements and emotions.
Sad, but apparently not as tragically sad as the QMU gig their official last one in Glasgow,the mother city of contemporary music. Amazing gig, and still tragic. This shows detail of the main singer chap - can you spot him crouched while mid flow during the last ever song of Aereogramme. I really hope these guys continue to follow their music, whether with each other or not.

Bjork Madness

Oh bugger. I just wiped off my humerous little observations; how to be as factual and witty in this next edition...

Suffice to say Bjork has been irritating me all afternoon - 3 hours to hum, haw and accentuate one of the pics I did of her - the other had mud and red wine oh so artfully placed by random members in the audience. Quite intrigued to see how these tangible souvenirs can be made into assets rather than faults regarding composition.

LCD Soundsytem is a much clearer picture, and I wonder if perhaps trying to draw all the many ingredients to Bjork's performance was necessary. At this moment in time I think it was, as to not have included them would have seemed an injustice to 'drawing the experience'.

As it is I most definitely need to refine my 'festival drawings' approach; Firstly, I might need a bit of cover from any rain. My picture of Modest Mouse was washed away infront of my eyes due to the incessant drizzle (a few looks from bewildered people as to what I was trying to do) - I didn't want my brother to hold a brolly as it would have blocked people's view. I may try to add colour/detail from memory, or just recycle it. Hopefully next year, my fellow animator Garry Whitton and I will be able to strut our stuff in a more sheltered set-up. I have plans people, oh yes, I have plans!!! You can check Garry's animations and time lapse of my drawings here at http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&ChannelID=224541549

Then there was the misplaced judgement of the pre-Bjork act M.I.A in offering free reign to the audience to come up on stage, trampling with complete disregard as to where their clumpy mud encrusted footwear was placed (stationary audience members' headspace, my brushes, canvases!) - twas an onslaught of mooning drunk folk and joyful fame chasers - meanwhile MIA was given the red card by the unprepared security folk!!! I have to say though, it was amusing having a bit of unplanned excitement at Inverary Castle's first 'boutique festival' - though a few disgruntled and dishevelled Bjork fans would probably disagree.

Anyway, time is ticking away while I blether on. Will update soon.

LCD Soundsystem and Connect Festival

What an amazing weekend. Full of amazing music, acts, performances, food, people. Yep, there was mud, rain, and theft - people - don't be carrying valuables or big wads of cash or leaving them in your tent at festivals - most people are lovely and peace loving folk, but some people go with a mission to rob you blind. Don't be a numpty. But apart from all that, it was a brilliant first festival in a stunning setting (especially when the sun shone!)

Anyway, here's the first installment from the festival. I've deliberately chosen not to delete the 'paper' out of the picture just as an experiment though I'm still undecided on the presentation. More later.