Mixing pop and politics, ask me what the use is.

It’s not long now until the Independence Referendum and it’s no secret that I’m a Yes voter. Aside from banging on about it fairly regularly (not too much, I hope) on my Twitter (and down the pub) I’ve played a good few events now in support of the Yes campaign. Most recently I appeared at the Festival of the Common Weal, as part of the National Collective showcase and I’m performing at the opening of the Yes Pollok base this Friday the 11th of July. It was an absolute honour to be involved in the Festival of the Common Weal, and inspiring to see so many people positively engaging with the independence debate.

I know a lot of people are scared about what independence would mean for Scotland but I honestly believe it will allow our country to become a better, safer, and fairer place to live. In fact, I have trouble writing about it sometimes because it feels so obvious to me that independence is the next step for us. Talking about why we should be an independent country feels like talking about why we should be nice to each other or why people should be able to marry who they want. I imagine writing down the reasons and people saying, “well, aye, obviously”. At a basic level I believe that as a nation we should be shaping our own future and making our own choices. We have a rare chance to create a better future for our country and I believe that we have to take it.
I know that isn’t the case for everyone though. I know not everyone feels that way. If you feel differently to me, feel free to talk to me about it, and ask me why I’m voting Yes. I promise I won’t just direct you to a list of my #indyref tweets. I’ve got Twitter, Facebook, and of course you can e-mail me at shamblesmiller@gmail.com. I even have one of those daft anonymous Tumblr things. You can also just get in touch to tell me that I suck, or to ask me if my hair is really as thick and lustrous as it looks, or to ask for free stuff. I promise I’ll (almost) always reply. Bob Hoskins, may he rest in peace, was right: it’s good to talk.

In other news, I’ve got some gigs coming up. As well as my performance at the opening of the Yes Pollok base on Friday, I’ll be playing a wee gig at the Roxy 171 on the 29th of July. Keep your eyes peeled for news about my headline show at the 13th Note on the 17th of August though. I’ve got some special plans for that one. Hope to see you guys at some of these shows, and keep your ear to the ground (or the Internet) for more news!

So to recap: I’m voting Yes, feel free to give me your chat, I’m playing some gigs, keep your eyes peeled, and keep your ear to the ground. But most importantly, you have a nice day. You deserve it.

I’m away up a tree to see if I’m there.

Til next time,

love Shambles

x

 

Another year of trying to think up titles for these things…

I got this t-shirt for my birthday. Uncanny, isn’t it?

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday (to me)! Now that I’ve sobered up from last weekend, it’s time to get myself back into gear for the new year. I played my first gig of 2014 in the 13th Note last night, with some brilliant support from Chrissy Barnacle, TigerHoney, and Josephine Sillars. I had a blast and I already can’t wait for my next gig, which sees me heading back to Inverness on the 25th of January to play at the Market Bar. I canny stay away from that place!

In other news, I’ve got a new music video in the works, and if you keep an eye on my Twitter over the next few days, you could get your face in my new video! All will be revealed shortly…

In the meantime, I recently uploaded the full video of my performance of Confessions that I did for Occupy Sound last year. If you’ve always wanted to hear a break-up song featuring a David Bowie impression performed in a tunnel then this is the video for you.

 

Towards the end of 2013 I was lucky enough to be featured in a few end-of-year lists and podcasts, including my old pal Scottish Fiction’s top 25 EPs/Singles of the year, the Edinburgh Man end of year podcast, and the Fried Gold Music podcast! There’s lots of great music to be found there, so I recommend wrapping your ears round that lot if you haven’t already.

Thanks for reading, I’m looking forward to seeing your lovely faces in 2014. Perhaps I’ll see some of you at Brew at the Bog this year?

Til next time,

love Shambles

x

Mo’ news is good news

I’ve been up a hill.

You know the saying “no news is good news”? Well, when it comes to this blog, that’s usually the case. If I haven’t updated the site in a while, it’s often because I’ve been cray-cray busy (Neil taught me that phrase, cray-cray. Did I do it right?) and that’s almost always a good thing. While I try to keep people updated with Twitter and Facebook, apparently there’s been some sort of news event dominating the media recently, so some of my news might have slipped through the cracks. Even handsome bastards have been getting it on the act. With this in mind, here’s a wee roundup of stuff you might have missed.

Linn Records

Last week I announced that I recently signed a distribution deal with Glasgow-based record company Linn Records! You might know the name from their world-famous range of audio equipment but as a record company they specialise in studio quality master downloads. What this means is that when I release a new record it will also be distributed on Linn’s website where you’ll have the option to purchase and download high fidelity studio masters. That’s as opposed to what you might normally get from iTunes for example. For more information on Linn’s vision and why mp3s might not be the best way to listen to music, check out this interview with Gilad Tiefenbrun, the boss of Linn Records. Of course, my music will still be able to download through Bandcamp, so fear not if you prefer the personal touch (or the good night’s sleep that comes from knowing you’re paying an artist directly. Or if you just like getting something in the mail).
It feels great to have the support of a record company like Linn, and I really do encourage you to check them out. Apart from anything else, they’re just lovely people. Check out my artist profile and releases on Linn at this lovely link.

BBC 6 Music

Someone else’s support who I’m really lucky to have is BBC DJ and singer/songwriter, Tom Robinson. Tom’s played my stuff a few times over the past year or two and this week he featured my latest single Deadpool on his BBC Introducing Mixtape. Most flattering of all is this review that Tom wrote about my work:

“For me, the wry, laconic lofi-fi acoustic pop of Glasgow-based songwriter Shambles Miller – in fact his whole musical persona – is completely irresistible. Be clear, this is not music made with an eye either on the Top 40 or fame in the blogosphere. But it 100% fulfils Steve Lamacq’s criterion that any artist worth their salt sounds like they need to make this particular music or they would explode. Shambles embodies the wonderfully dry Scots truthfulness to be found in the work of Aidan Moffat, King Creosote and even our friends on this same mixtape Drunk Mule. Deadpool is certainly a fine track, but frankly I’d recommend downloading everything you can get your hands on and immersing yourself in the unique – sometimes funny, sometimes angry, always unfailingly honest – world of Shambles Miller.”

The assertion that I need to be doing this or I would explode is the most accurate description of why I do this that I’ve ever heard and I’m incredibly flattered by Tom’s words. You can listen to the show at some of the links above, or you can download it here.

Gigsgigsgigs

Passengers on the night bus to Leith were unfazed.

As always I’ve been busy gigging and I’ve got more coming up. If you’re not from Glasgow and want to catch me nearer your neck of the woods, I’ll be heading to Gourock, Ayr, and Doune the Rabbit Hole over the next month or so. For a list of gig dates/venues/times, check out Songkick, Bandcamp, or Tumblr. This past week I also played a wee gig in Edinburgh and I must say, it’s definitely the first time I’ve played a gig on a double decker bus in a pub’s courtyard. I’ve also never had to stoop quite so much during a set as I did during this one. To get an idea of what I got up to, there’s this Vine and the best “I’m driving a bus” selfie you’ve ever seen.

Safety Selfie First

I also got the chance to catch a great set by James Mackenzie, who I recommend listening to with your ears at your earliest convenience. Click all my stuff first though, eh? Man’s got to eat.

Have I been up to anything else? Well lets see…I set “Rapey” Robin Thicke straight about something, had a beer up Ben A’an, hung out with a wee tortoise pal, and got the affirmation I was seeking from the Sultan of Selfie himself(ie).

Like I say, I’ve been dain stuff. Thanks for reading folks!

Til next time,

love Shambles

x

Quick! Go! Stuff! Now!

(Note: This post will work a lot better if you read it in the slightly frantic, hurried tone I’m writing it in. In my head. Enjoy!!)

Hi folks! You look great, I look like a fancy hobo, you know the drill. This is going to be kind of a “remember those things I mentioned?” post, by the way. LET’S GO!

Remember that review in Pornography for Cowards that I mentioned? Here it is!

Braw. I was right pleased with that. Even quoted the lyric I’m simulateously most proud/ashamed of. One more than the other. I’ll let you guess. Sorry for the image quality by the way, my scanner hates me, but I’m still on good terms with my phone camera.

Remember those gigs I mentioned? Here’s what I’ve got on the horizon in Glasgow at the moment:

• Wednesday 23rd Feb – The Shape of Folk to Come at Slouch with Shooting Stansfield and Wull Swales. Free!
• Thursday 10th March – Get Folked with the Free Candy Sessions at the Liquid Ship, with The Ballad of Alex K and The Miss’s. Free!
• Sunday 3rd April – Supporting Beans on Toast at the 13th Note, with Dave Hughes and Daniel Versus the World. £4/5

I’m also going to be playing a couple of shows with Dave Arcari in June, along with Jim Byrne. Exciting!  They are:

• Wednesday 22nd June – Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh. £5.
• Thursday 23rd June – Captain’s Rest, Glasgow. Not sure about price yet.

Aces!

Remember I mentioned something about a podcast? Well, on twitter anyway. And, y’know, in life? It exists now! Dude on it sounds like me and has a name that sounds like mine. Weird. Check it out here!

Lastly, remember that FUCKING HUGE CUPCAKE I never mentioned before? The one a certain lovely lady made for me? Remember I mentioned it in my head? Here it is!

Wow.

That’s all for now folks, gotta go, take care!

love Shambles

x!

http://www.13thnote.co.uk/