Well… I guess I’ll jump straight into telling you.

It’s because I’ve been launching an album. Would you like to listen to it? Because you can, here:

Thank you for listening! Honestly, I can’t tell you how much it means, how much I appreciate every listen. To think my music is making its way around the world and into the ears of people is just the most amazing feeling. I’m guessing everyone has Spotify but if not, well it is on all the other streaming platforms so it should be on your favourite, I’m just not entirely sure what any of them are – it’s Spotify for me. There are also some cds (holding your own cd in your hand… now that feels pretty cool, I can recommend it), which I’m sure I can get my head around some sort of distribution type thing eventually involving PayPal and a bit of patience with mailing time. Does anyone even own a CD player anymore? Would anyone be interested in one?

But yeah. Wow. Between finishing radiotherapy and trying desperately to recover and getting two tattoos (I haven’t shown you them have I! Ok, that’ll be the next post) and spending quality time with my parents while they’re here and also keeping up with my friends… Well… I guess there hasn’t been a blog post! But here it is! Hi!

That’s how it goes anyway. We have this idea that we should strive for balance in life but there’s a reason it’s ever elusive, and it’s because it’s not really possible. Life is a product of flux. Sometimes we do some things, some times others. Or maybe I’m just not a consistent blogger. So sue me. (Please don’t). I quite enjoy working on projects in one go anyway – working on one thing intensively until it’s done then moving onto the next thing. But there are things I do want to keep moving along in the background where possible. Like this.

Anyway.

It’s been a whirlwind. But a glorious one. I’ve pulled a lot together over quite a short time and I’ve been very lucky that generous people have helped me along the way too. And on Saturday when it launched, I threw a bit of a party to celebrate. Someone should have warned me that releasing an album, throwing a party and doing a gig all on the same day is a lot. But gosh, was it worth it. Surrounded by a sea of faces of people I love… my parents, my friend Sam and I performed 3 songs from the album, which went so well. Sam and I also did a couple of covers, then my parent’s band ‘Mad Bamboo’ (also including me on keys, and amazingly, we also had the 4th member in the house – our dear friend Ian, who had flown over from Sydney for it – though he also has parents over here who he spent some time visiting.)

But it was so nice to reunite for such an iconic occasion. And in an iconic place – it was in the pub where the photo on the cover of The Kinks’ album ‘The Muswell Hillbillies’ was taken. Yeah, we made sure we played a Kinks song in commemoration.

It was one of the best nights of my life. I didn’t get to spend more than what felt like a few seconds with any one person, but I’m assured that’s what big parties are like for the host. Probably quite similar to a wedding in that respect. But I can’t tell you how magical it was. Some tears were definitely shed that night by most people at some point. Whether it was when Sam and I were singing ‘Darling it’s hard’ (track 9 from the album) or doing our cover of ‘Gimme Sympathy’ by Metric, or during Mum’s amazing speech or while two of my incredible friends were doing a dance to ‘Hold On To Your Nightmares’ (track 4 from the album), or through some heartfelt goodbyes. Tears are as complex as the reasons for them, but they are always welcome in my world.

Either way, whether onstage 30 years ago when I was five and convinced my music teacher to let me play in the Christmas concert, a mere couple of months after I’d started learning, where I moved my violin bow in circles higher than my eyebrows, like taking a breath with the bow at the end of every line… or in front of lots of people I love, in a pub in North London… being onstage is one of my favourite places to be. And it’s even more special when it’s to celebrate the release of my album.

So, recording and finalising an album while going through radiotherapy, then launching it with a huge gig and party while recovering, may not be everyone’s idea of how to proceed, but I guess it is very much mine. And here we are. Thanks all for being here through it!

I was too swept up in it all to take any photos but hopefully they’ll start to come in from people who were there. Here are a few…