Photo-clonin’, speed-datin’, single-releasin’

Hello folks! It’s nearly single-launch-party-time so I thought I’d do a wee roundup of what’s been happening recently. First of all, I’ve clearly been cloned. Well, not quite. You might remember I did a wee shoot recently with the talented-and-lovely Ashley Baxter. Well, Ashley took another couple of photos to promote the single launch. She’s got a blog post about it here, and we’d both love to hear which shot is your favourite. Wondering why there’s two of me? Ashley explains that too.

Somehow, amidst all this single launch preparation, I managed to find time to write an article for the Pop Cop. It’s called “Shambles Miller goes speed dating” and although I could explain it here, I recommend heading over to the Pop Cop to read it for yourself!

And of course, I can’t miss out the fact that my single is now available to stream and preorder through Bandcamp! You can check it out at this link, or listen in the player below!

The launch party is tomorrow night in Vespbar. Here’s a link with a wee map in case you’re not sure where you’re going. And to be REALLY specific, it’s on Drury Street, opposite the Horseshoe Bar. It used to be O’Henry’s. And it’s just past the strippers. Bonzo! I really hope you can make it along.

Til next time,

love Shambles

x

Pieces of Nonsense.

I…what? I’m sorry, I just don’t understand what you’re saying.

Hello folks. I’ve been busy preparing for my upcoming single launch of late. You’ve probably heard me going on about it, and it’s the reason for things like this press release and these professional photos of ma face.

Now, it’s not available for human ears just yet but if you’d like to hear the b-side, you can do so by listening to the most recent episode of the Edinburgh Man Podcast. The track is called Pieces. The podcast is full of great music, so it’s a win-win really. Unless you hate me. And music. In which case, I can’t imagine what you’re doing here. Is it like that thing where folk sort of masochistically keep an eye on people they don’t like? I kind of do that with Jessie J, I think. I find her quite annoying a lot of the time, but when I see her crop up on the telly I realise I’m sort of perversely happy about it, as if I enjoy being annoyed by her.

This dysfunctional cheery annoyedness used to be filled by Kate Nash. I found her voice and songs quite annoying, but that one about lemons and crap boyfriends and crack or whatever it was, that had a good tune. So how was I supposed to feel when one of my heroes did a song with her? I mean, if she’s ok with Billy…

…but then I saw that mad song she did recently. I think I’ve seen it summed up best by Claire Lim on Twitter, who said “My “so terrible I’d rather listen to the sound of cats farting” award goes to Kate Nash’s ‘Under-Estimate The Girl’.”

Ach well, it’s always good to try new things I suppose. I should know; after this single release I’m planning to record a bluegrass hip-hop concept album. On the moon.

Just kidding.

I’m recording it INSIDE THE EARTH’S VERY CORE, with an orchestra made up solely of MAGMA PEOPLE.

Sorry. I think that Kate Nash song has discombobulated me. To sum up, if you’d like to hear the b-side from my upcoming single release, head over to this lovely link.

Til next time!

love Shambles

x

Friday the 13th and some EP-launchin’ maverickacious brawtimes.

Hello folks! I know I’ve been a bit lax with my blog updating of late, but as you know I’ve not had proper Internet for the last few months. Until now! Internet party!!! Or in other words, stare at twitter and facebook for an hour then get bored and go outside.

It also means I can inform/remind/prod you lovely lot about upcoming gigs and whatnot. One I’m particularly excited about is supporting Julia and the Doogans at their EP launch show. It’s at the Captains Rest, this Friday. What’s that you say? It’s Friday the 13th? Well I guess anyone who comes to this show will be showing that not only do they have impeccable music taste but that they’re a maverick. A badass. Someone who laughs in the face of FEAR and DANGER and SUPERSTITION and OTHER STUFF LIKE THAT. Are you up to it? I bloody well hope so, because as well as music from me, Julia and the Doogans, and Dougie Greig, there’ll be free cake and lollipops. You can also pick up a copy of the Diamonds EP before its official release on the 16th. Sounds like a deal to me.

If you fancy checking out some of Julia and the Doogans’ music before the gig you can check out their website, their facebook page, or have a wee listen to their first EP below this very sentence.

SO, to recap:

- Go to the Captains Rest, this Friday the 13th of April, £3 entry
- Eat free cake
- Stuff your face/pockets with free lollipops
- Listen to some braw music
- Laugh in the face of danger and superstition
- Pick up a copy of the Diamonds EP, days before anyone else
- Bask in your own maverickacious awesomesaucity

See you there folks!

love Shambles

x

A Bear, Surprisingly.

Hello folks! It’s lovely to see you, I’m afraid I haven’t had much time to update recently. Or rather, I’ve had very little to update on. Recent musical adventures have mostly been mundane and conducted via e-mail, due to the fact that I’m currently in a state of self-encarceration, attempting to finish the Dreaded Dissertation. Under two weeks to go. It’s on now, folks. It’s ON.

Despite being chained to my laptop, I DID manage a brief jailbreak this week to appear on the Define Pop show on Subcity Radio. I played a few songs and talked some pish, as usual. I also used the opportunity to plug my new E.P which should be out sometime in the next month or so. Finishing touches are being applied, so hopefully it won’t be too long a wait. I also have a title for it, FINALLY. That will also be revealed soon. Unfortunately, the ‘listen again’ feature isn’t up yet for tuesday’s show, so in the meantime here’s a wee video of my brief outing to Subcity. [Actually, the stream was uploaded shortly after I published this post. You can listen to the show by clicking this belated but no less charming link]

Hey, I said it was brief.

In other news, a rare wee demo of my song Questions and Chancers has been featured on Kowalskiy‘s free monthly EP! You can download it at this lovely link. The EP features some great bands, including the brilliantly-named Penguins Kill Polar Bears. If you’d like to download Kowalskiy’s other free EPs, you can check out his bandcamp page.

Thanks for reading folks, more musical adventures once I escape the Dissertation of Doom. Wish me luck!

love, Shambles

x

Alice’s Song (featuring Dusty the dog)

Hello folks! I hope you’re having a nice day and enjoying the wintery weather. Remember to wrap up warm!

My friend Alice recently suggested that I should write a song about stale birthday cake. I wasn’t so sure at first, but it turned into something I’m really quite fond of. So far, the folk to whom the song relates have enjoyed it, even my trusty four-legged pal, Dusty Miller. He pops up in my new video, so  take a look. I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks so much to the people who inspired this song, I’m guessing that the ones who weren’t mentioned directly in the credits will still know who they are. And thanks so much to YOU guys for reading my blog, watching my videos and coming to my gigs. I really, really, really appreciate it.

lots of love,

from Shambles xxx

(and Dusty)