Dear all
As I write this I am literally dripping… not just with the heat, but with exhaustion. All the good things are happening, all at once!
First of all, The End Times album is finally available!
The full Atmos version is on Apple Music. You can also head over to Bandcamp to get our own binaural mix and your very own custom blackboard. Apple make their own binaural version, so it will sound slightly different than we intended on there. It’s also available on all streaming platforms in the known digital universe.
Thank you so much for all of your support with this release! It has been many years’ work to make this happen. Your kind words about the music have been incredibly moving. I particularly loved this mind bending review for Mass.
Haven’t listened yet and want to make your voice heard? You can join me for a LIVE listening party on Bandcamp next Tuesday the 6th May – sign up here!
And that’s not all! Why, you might ask, did I not jump immediately onto social media and spam the world daily with the release of this album? Why is it that mailouts of our CDs and blackboards are running a couple of weeks late? Many apologies to those of you waiting!
It’s because we had very Big News- from Arts Council England!
We have been lucky enough to receive Project Grant funding for the final stages of development of The End Times live theatrical performance, where the apocalyptic blackboard will be brought to life in all of its glory! We’ll start off in a classroom, then travel to another world where musical games can shape reality.
In these days of scarce public funding, being selected for this support is truly an honour. Many thanks are due to our star producer Sophie Harley, Christina Lake and Laura Mora Knight from Paraorchestra for their help and support with the application process. After so many years of work, it’s such a privilege to get to make this show the way we have dreamed of.
We have had a very tight timescale to get everything organised. The logistical doings have been fiery, fast and fiendishly effective. Our final R&D will be taking place this very weekend at National Opera Studio, cunningly timed to coincide with Star Wars Day.
I’m particularly looking forward to bringing the Tortoise Race to life live…this will be a musical battle for the ages!
We will be working with a total dream team: Harry Bassett on trumpet and organ, Elaine So on xylophone and dulcimer, David Ryder Prangley as narrator and Becky Namgauds as choreographer extraordinaire. We are also delighted to welcome on board Ary Maudit on sound, recently nominated as Breakthrough Engineer of the Year at the Music Producers’ Guild awards, and Nurul Wardani creating our lighting design. I’m also super excited that photographer Paul Blakemore, who took the shot for The End Times artwork, and videographer Rob Irish will be travelling all the way from opposite ends of the country to document the process for us!
So- where can you see The End Times live?
We have performances confirmed for the full line-up at these venues:
Middlesbrough Town Hall on 8th June, tickets available here
National Opera Studio, London on 22nd June at 4pm and 7pm, tickets available here.
Go and grab them while you still can!
Are you a young person in Middlesbrough? If so there will be a chance for you to get hands on with the blackboard on Monday 9th June – more details here.
We are discussing more performance dates across the country as I write. More news to come very soon on this. If you know of a theatre or venue you’d like The End Times to come to, please do drop me a line.
Sending you purrs and hope to see you at a show soon
Liza x
