music and mayhem in the bohemian triangle

It’s a small world

‘eh up!

The time has come, once again, for the ultimate week of fun in a field. The SMALL WORLD FESTIVAL! Great music, good green, bohemians all over the scene. What dare i say? We were there last year and it really rolled so i’m really excited to say that Vedina Mosé will be back at small world again with smiles, helping hands, dancing feet and a few songs for your nerve ;-)

http://www.smallworldsolarstage.org/smallworld/

Bring your children, bring your uncle, bring a hoola hoop! Click on the link for info on ticket prices and location.

oNe LoVe

xx

soundcloud.com/vedina-mose

Guten tag gators!

My inbox has been heaving with requests to hear new music from me for a while. The last official recording I put out was this, made several years ago with August, a band I featured as guest singer with:

Since leaving the band I have been experimenting sounds, styles, tones and a completely different outlook to my craft and profession. Details of which can be found in another post…. one day…..

 …. and yeah, I know, It’s taking a while to finish the new album. However, Good things come to those who _____!

I have a final list of songs and if I’m not too lazy and don’t spend too much time out in the woods should have them out by this summer :-). 

To tide us all over I am putting out out a whole bunch of my demo’s and work in progress tunes that i have accumulated over the past few years. I write soooo much i can not keep up with it most times so i’m clearing out lots of old tunes. you can find them on my soundcloud page:

https://soundcloud.com/vedina-mose

Leave a comment if you like. If a tune inspires you, nab it! If you have an idea for something better let me know or better yet, make a version and stick it on your own soundcloud!!  

Some “music industry” purists might think putting unfinished things out is an awful thing to do. Long term followers of my musical mayhem will know i don’t give a shit. Music isn’t about preening and perfection, it’s about sharing, love and feeling (and other things of course!!). I abandoned the inhumane industrial model of music long ago and gained so much in the process I will never look back.

So friends and fans, check my soundcloud page on a regular. I have hundreds of songs I may put on there in the next few weeks. Most good, some bad, a few ugly and some very very beautiful indeed. All made with love

peace

PGO

PGO is my new motto. I think most musician’s should adopt it. What is PGO?

Paid Gigs Only.

My father has been a musician all his life. He has no concept of an unpaid gig. I was fed and clothed by money he made from music. He’s an old timer though and these days it seems to be acceptable for musician’s to work for nothing (unless they are famous). In London PTP (pay to play) gigs are worryingly commonplace.

When I first started doing gigs when I was age 14, I played for free. I needed the experience and I couldn’t have charged if I wanted to! I was a beginner and had a lot to learn. However by the time I was 16 I was doing paid gigs. I spent a lot of time practicing and rehearsing and I was good at what I did (hence why I got called to do gigs all the time). I was good at what I did because I put a lot of time and energy into it.

I’m in my 20’s now and already feeling like an old hand in the industry! I do paid gigs mainly but every now and again I do an unpaid thing, usually for a friend or a good cause (like my gig at Oxjam next week where apparently I am raising money that will be sent to Afrika… we’ll see…) or when I need to test out new material.

However I have decided now that I am going to wave the PGO flag exclusively ever more.

A few days ago I did an unpaid gig for a friend, and although it was lots of fun at times it was not worth my while. Why? Here is the breakdown:

• I dropped of my 2 girls at 4pm with a friend who looks after them sometimes.
• I went to pick up a few last minute bits at the shop
• I went home to warm up- guitar excercises, vocal exercises, stretching, meditation, run through set, confering with musicians, answering emails and texts from those planning to attend.
• Leave my house at 6.30 to get train. Get stuck on train for 25 minutes due to powercut.
• Get lost finding venue so have to get taxi
• Despite all this I arrive on time
• However, I play 3 hours after my scheduled time
• My set is only 20 minutes long
• Despite playing for free I must purchase my own drinks(£1.50 for water!)
• Arrive home at 1.30

So nine hours for one gig and i got NADA! AND on top of that, it cost me money. No more. Friends, as much as I love you, It’s PGO all the way from now on. I’m going to leave all the gig bookings to agents henceforth.

Laters gators

X

Bob Marley

I’ve been a fan of “uncle Bob”, as he is known in my home, for many years. Recently I watched “MARLEY”, the new documentary made about his life story. It was incredible to watch. Emotional, insightful, exciting, inspiring. I learned things about him I had not known before. For example, he was able to bring peace during a time of serious political tensions in Jamaica such was his popularity and influence. He endlessly strove for peace, love and unity amongst all people. He was able to bring two opposing political leaders on stage during a concert and get them to hold hands as a symbol of peace. I could go on and on but I’ll let you watch the documentary instead!

Of course, he is only human and was not perfect. I have yet to meet someone who is. He had a wife but had a mistress on the side. Sometimes he wasn’t always the most present and loving father (sounds like a lot of men I know!).

Well, the next day i was speaking to an acquaintance about the movie. I said I felt Bob Marley’s life story was incredibly fascinating. His contribution to humankind was so huge and important that his life story should be taught in schools. I should mention now that this acquaintance was white.

“NAh” she said in a backwater nasal tone ” He was sexist weren’t he?”

I gasped. She could see my shock.

“Mind you” she said, quickly trying to redeem herself “They teach kids about Martin luther King and he was sexist too, so maybe…”

Somehow I managed to collect my thoughts and form a coherent sentence despite my rage.

“Well” I said ” In school you learn all about Henry viii, who, judging from the fate of his 8 (or was it 7 wives) was no suffragette. Sir Francis Bacon, Christoper Columbus, Winston Churchill, Napoleon, Hitler, Mussolini etc etc, all these men were no doubt sexist. And on top of that they were racist and imperialist too, so why do we learn about them in school? What good deeds have they done?”

She had no words. She fumbled some kind of justifiction for her remark but we both knew it was in vain.

And so, steady as we go, the struggle is not over

BUT, to Bob Marley, Martin Luther King and all the other visionaries who have come before:

We will get there

ONE LOVE

xx