Film nerds and Apathy - JJ#3

As I write this, it is currently 5.55am on Friday morning and I feel ill. I've got a really sore throat and my whole body is aching for absolutely no reason. My stomach hurts and I feel like death.

However, the show must go on, so let's get this post out the way. (I love doing these, it's never a chore)

Visiting Brumland

Last week, I went to go visit my friend Caleb in Birmingham, which isn't too far from where I am in Nottingham. We were supposed to meet the week before, but he was busy getting ready to move in to his new university accommodation, so we rescheduled.

It was lovely to see him. Caleb, his new roommate Sammy, and I took a little wonder round the city and had a lengthy browse in a music shop. All three of us are avid musicians; Caleb is a bassist and Sammy is a drummer, and both are starting at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire this year.

We then decided to walk back to their flat to hang out there, and on the way we actually stopped at the conservatoire and went in. I got to have a little mini-tour, and it was empty because most uni students hadn't even moved in by this point. We went in this massive concert hall and there was such a grand atmosphere to it.

Big fat room with piano in it.

There was a girl sat at the piano doing a bit of practice (what an amazing place to practice!) and we spoke to her for a little bit. She was going into her 4th year at the conservatoire, so she was talking to Sammy and Caleb about the whole place and what kind of things they have to look forward to. She seemed kinda confused when I told her I'm in year 13 and not planning on going to university at all, that I was literally getting this little tour of the conservatoire out of pure curiosity... just something to do init.

The rest of the day was spent playing mini basketball in their flat and just sitting listening to music with another friend of Caleb's called Collin, a pianist. I have to tell you - I can't tell you how enjoyable it is to sit and listen to music with other musicians. When I listen to music, because I obviously make it a lot, I'm always picking out little bits and bobs that most people wouldn't know how to separate from the main thing itself. But other musicians, they get it. When the song changes and plays that one chord, or the drums subvert your expectations and play that one fill, or the singer has their voice layered in that one way.

When you're sitting on a sofa with 3 other people miming their respective instruments along to 'What A Fool Believes' by the Doobie Brothers, it's incredibly hard to think of anything else other than "these are my people."

Caleb with his 5-string bass.

Universe City

As you'll remember from about a minute ago, I said I wasn't really interested in going to university. And I'm not. But. After having such great time with those lot the other week, I can't help but feel like it'd be an amazing way to meet more like-minded people. The whole social aspect of going to uni is definitely very appealing. It's almost like a shortcut, saying "here, here's a shit ton of people who like the same things as you, enjoy!"

But then again, I want to be free of any academic studies as soon as I can. If I did go, the only thing I would study is music production, but I don't know if I'd want to take my art in an academic direction. I'm think I'm a bit rebellious, so I think going to uni and telling them to shove it while I "do it my way" would be an expensive waste of time.

Whatever happens, I'm going to take a gap year after I finish college this summer anyway, that's definitely happening. As it stands, my plan is to take that year away from anything academic, work more and save up some money, go travelling, and then I'll see if I feel that going to uni would be the wisest use of my precious time.

Live music vs being gay?

Every Monday evening, this music venue in Nottingham called Rescue Rooms holds an open mic night, they call it Acoustic Rooms. It's a nice vibe, a bunch of local musicians coming together and sharing their songs. I only found out about it over the summer; Alfie and I tried to play there but the list was full up til 10.30 and we weren't about to wait 2 hours.

Anyway, on the Monday evening earlier this week I went to go meet my friend Ol, who was planning on playing a couple songs that evening. He did just that, and it went down quite well! Currently, he's started doing these open mic nights as a way to build his confidence performing live for people, and I really respect that. If anyone reading this is thinking of getting into their local music scene, or trying to build their confidence performing, then genuinely go find an open mic night in your town! And if there isn't one... then start one!

Ol Bailey performing at Acoustic Rooms in Nottingham.

A lot of people (like, quite a lot) have been asking me when MY next live performance is... to that, I answer "I don't know."

It's not a confidence problem, it's more on the side of apathy. There are some musicians who live and breathe to perform, but it just doesn't do anything for me. It's the equivalent of a gay guy kissing a girl. You see, for me, recording music is what I live and breathe for, it's what excites me the most. Creating a recording is my idea of performing, and I love it with all my heart.

This isn't to say I'm never going to perform in public ever again... I will. I'm just genuinely not in any serious rush to do it. As you guys know, my focus right now is fixated on the whole Jamaraz Music Universe thing, which is a very intricate recording project, and it is the definition of "right up my street".

This all being said, I'm almost certain my outlook on performing music will change. A year ago, I was completely against collaborating with people in music. Not for any moral reason... I just lacked the ability to be vulnerable as a musician in front of someone. I had tried it a couple times, I felt nothing, so I didn't do it again. But this year, I co-wrote half an album (and co-produced the whole thing) with my mate Alfie (more on that later), which I never would've dreamt of doing a year ago.

I'm not stupid enough to think that my outlook on things right now is how I'll see things forever, because I know everything gradually changes. Maybe one day this gay guy can learn to close his eyes and pretend he's kissing a guy. Or something.

Next Section

Welcome back to the segment of the blog where I review shit I've watched, listened to or read.

First off, haven't really read anything apart from a Sound On Sound article about how reverb chambers were built in 1950s recording studios. (I'm not a book guy and the day you read a book review by me is the day the sky falls in)

In terms of films, I watched Promising Young Woman the other day. We're currently studying it in film at college. It's a fairly recent film, came out in 2020, and it's basically a film that follows a woman's journey as she avenges her friend, who was SA'd in college and later took her life because of it. It's incredibly dark, but I think it's brilliantly executed. I'll stick the trailer underneath here (hopefully it works)

I genuinely thought it was an amazing film, however so many people in my class said they didn't like it, said that Carey Mulligan (the main woman) was miscast, and said the plot didn't make sense... To that, I say "?????"

One person went so far as to say it was borderline misogynistic, which I have to assume was surely some sort of contrarian remark made to establish dominance in the intellectual warzone that is my film studies classroom. Honestly, I'm out of my depth most of the time. I'm no film nerd, I'm not pretentious enough.

(I'm joking) (Kind of)

So, what have I been listening to recently? Nothing radically new. I think I mentioned it before, but Neon Indian (an electronic music project led by Alan Palomo) has been the star of the show for me for a couple months now. Something about his music is so addictive, and it's been a massive inspiration for the music I've been making myself recently, a JMU artist called 'King Hertzie' which I spoke about in the last issue.

Now that I realise I can embed YouTube videos on here, I'm going to share this one song I love called '6669 (I Don't Know If You Know)'. It's a pretty weird sounding song but I love it. The video is pretty weird too but it has a cool vibe.

Return To One

In just over 2 weeks, my album Return To Zero is going to turn 1 year old. And on the same day, I'm turning 18. It feels so weird to think that. I still feel like I'm 16 sometimes...

Anyway, to celebrate the 1st anniversary of RTZ, I was going to do a few special things. First of all, I'm currently working on a little documentary about the process of recording the album, including all the behind the scenes footage I recorded. That will be a video I'll upload to YouTube on the day (October 5th).

I know, documentaries are meant to made about you not by you, but I'm on a deadline and I don't think anyone will make a documentary about me any time soon.

Graphic for the original RTZ Behind The Scenes short video series.

As well as the doc, I'm going to do a livestream the day before, and basically play the whole album just with me and an acoustic guitar. Return To Zero: Unplugged!

I also have one more thing up my sleeve, but I won't reveal it just yet. I'll be announcing all of this stuff properly on an Instagram post this Sunday, but this is me just giving you a bit of a heads up!

The End

And with that, we'll call it a day.

WAIT!!!!

Last thing: Tomorrow (Saturday 20th) Knutmo Five (the band I'm in with Alfie) is releasing our first single for the album we recorded over the summer. It's called No Golf, No Motorcycling. I'll update this tomorrow and put the link to the song here!

Edit: listen to the song here!

Single cover art for No Golf, No Motorcycling by Knutmo Five

Okay, now we'll call it a day.

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed, and see you in the next one! RJ