smudie tag:www.smudie.com,2007-07-29://1 2008-06-04T09:31:06Z A Scot, a lyricist, living in Paris Movable Type Publishing Platform 4.0-rc1 It's Never Too Late tag:www.smudie.com,2008://1.38 2008-06-04T07:53:15Z 2008-06-04T09:31:06Z Sometimes, I like to think that a good song can be sung by anyone. A fine example of this can be found in the Nouvelle Vague project, which saw new bossa nova life being breathed into such new wave classics... smudie Sometimes, I like to think that a good song can be sung by anyone.

A fine example of this can be found in the Nouvelle Vague project, which saw new bossa nova life being breathed into such new wave classics as I Just Can't Get Enough and Guns of Brixton (and whose leader Marc Collin has recently turned his sights on 80s film music with Hollywood, Mon Amour).

When I'm writing lyrics, however, I often find myself writing with a particular voice, a particular personality, in mind. The thing is, you can never be sure that the song in question will appeal to the person you're writing for - or that he or she will be able to do anything with it, even if it does.

That's why some songs (such as A Dollar You Found In The Street) end up in limbo, waiting, gathering dust.

Still, like any parent, you never give up hope that your song-children will find a place in the world.

Last night, for instance, I got a text message from eliotE telling me that she and her band have finally come up with a melody for Crayon.

So, you see, it's never too late.

]]> Songs for Hog Killin' Time tag:www.smudie.com,2008://1.36 2008-05-28T09:57:27Z 2008-05-29T14:22:41Z Hog Killin' Time: le country touch When multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer Baptiste Hottin, the man behind Hog Killin' Time, was introduced to me as a fan of Johnny Cash, I just knew we were fated to work together. Right... smudie hog.jpg

Hog Killin' Time: le country touch

When multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer Baptiste Hottin, the man behind Hog Killin' Time, was introduced to me as a fan of Johnny Cash, I just knew we were fated to work together.

Right now, Baptiste is putting together a collection of songs for an album that will feature a number of guest vocalists, and I'm helping out with the lyrics.

Our first collaboration, on which the vocal duties are handled by the lead singer of Manchester, is Under A Pile of Bricks. It's a song about nostalgia and the passing of time, and I'm sure Marcel Proust (and perhaps even Johnny Cash) would have loved it.

]]> This One Goes Out To The One I Love tag:www.smudie.com,2008://1.34 2008-05-20T19:43:26Z 2008-05-20T19:52:23Z On Sunday, eliotE & the Ritournelles played a "brunch concert" to a packed-out Bellevilloise... and, much to the delight of the little lady in question, eliotE dedicated a rollicking version of "Pour Les Enfants Qui Ont Peur de l'Orage"... smudie On Sunday, eliotE & the Ritournelles played a "brunch concert" to a packed-out Bellevilloise... and, much to the delight of the little lady in question, eliotE dedicated a rollicking version of "Pour Les Enfants Qui Ont Peur de l'Orage" to my five-year-old daughter, who spent most of the concert dancing away right in front of the stage.

It was certainly enough to warm the cockles of my little heart.

]]> Three euros and couscous tag:www.smudie.com,2008://1.33 2008-04-30T15:12:13Z 2008-04-30T15:16:30Z Eliote & the Ritournelles l'Eclipse Café 13, avenue de Saint Ouen 75017 Paris Friday, May 2nd from 8.30pm... smudie

Eliote & the Ritournelles
l'Eclipse Café
13, avenue de Saint Ouen
75017 Paris

Friday, May 2nd from 8.30pm

]]> Mojitos, and A Slap In The Face tag:www.smudie.com,2008://1.31 2008-04-01T11:47:45Z 2008-05-29T15:36:00Z We had a party at our place on Saturday - one of those up-until-three-in-the-morning, twenty-or-so-people-squeezed-in-a-room parties we like to have from time to time - and among the many highlights of the evening were the wonderful mojitos prepared by none... smudie We had a party at our place on Saturday - one of those up-until-three-in-the-morning, twenty-or-so-people-squeezed-in-a-room parties we like to have from time to time - and among the many highlights of the evening were the wonderful mojitos prepared by none other than OrangeColumbo... which is a good excuse to mention a new song we've written together, A Slap In The Face.

]]> Deux textes superbes tag:www.smudie.com,2007://1.28 2007-11-28T16:14:05Z 2007-12-05T16:43:38Z Nadj and her band are in the studio putting the finishing touches to their second album, which - as she announces (in French) on her blog - will feature "two tracks in English, Jesus Freak and Cactus, with superb lyrics... smudie Nadj and her band are in the studio putting the finishing touches to their second album, which - as she announces (in French) on her blog - will feature "two tracks in English, Jesus Freak and Cactus, with superb lyrics written by the latest ally of our sound: Scottish lyricist Stuart Mudie".

So there you go. It's official!

]]> Crayon tag:www.smudie.com,2007://1.27 2007-11-09T08:57:02Z 2007-11-09T08:59:38Z As I write, eliotE is hard at work on the music to accompany my latest text Crayon.... smudie eliotE is hard at work on the music to accompany my latest text Crayon. ]]> Nadj and me tag:www.smudie.com,2007://1.25 2007-11-08T23:51:34Z 2008-05-13T13:38:54Z Last week, while back in Scotland for my brother's wedding (where I and several others managed look resplendent in our kilts despite the dreich October day), I was sent a rough demo of the first of several tracks I've been... smudie Nadj, a singer I met for the first time a couple of months ago whose MySpace page claims her repertoire is "marked with her rough temper and gnarly guitars" and who is by far the rockingest French musician I have ever heard.

The track in question sounds absolutely fantastic, and I can't wait for her to make it available for public comsumption. It's called Jesus Freak. I guess you could say it's a love song of sorts.

]]> Live at the Pop In... eliotE & the Ritournelles tag:www.smudie.com,2007://1.24 2007-10-08T18:55:07Z 2007-10-10T12:15:26Z smudie eliotE & the Ritournelles are supporting Rivkah at Le Pop In (105 rue Amelot, 75011 Paris).

I'll be there - and it will be the first time I've ever heard any of my lyrics sung live.
]]> Jen H. Ka to sing with Electric Factory tag:www.smudie.com,2007://1.23 2007-09-11T09:26:34Z 2007-11-25T22:13:47Z Electric Factory have found a new guest singer to perform on their upcoming album - Jen H. Ka.This is exciting news for me, as I saw Jen in concert a few years ago at what I believe was one of... smudie Electric Factory have found a new guest singer to perform on their upcoming album - Jen H. Ka.

This is exciting news for me, as I saw Jen in concert a few years ago at what I believe was one of the first gigs I attended here in Paris, and I'm a real fan of her voice.

At the moment, it's looking like Jen will be performing on at least Outer Space Boy, and potentially some other tracks as well.

I can't wait to hear the result.

]]> Artist or artisan? tag:www.smudie.com,2007://1.19 2007-09-04T10:05:04Z 2007-11-09T00:02:54Z I had a quick drink down by Canal St Martin last night with someone with whom, if all goes well, I may soon be writing some lyrics for her upcoming album.What I appreciate most about her proposed working method is... smudie
What I appreciate most about her proposed working method is that, although a talented lyricist herself - her recent album featured a great line about turning down the guitar and drums because, after all, "this is France, for fuck's sake" - she didn't seem to want to tell me what to write.

Sure, she gave me some vague ideas about the style of lyrics she appreciates, and she mentioned the kind of topics she's interested in singing about, but I've worked with people in the past who've been much more specific in their demands. More than once I've been given a verse-by-verse breakdown of exactly what I should say, turning me in effect from an artist performing a genuinely creative act into a simple artisan, polishing the singer's rough ideas into verse. Now, I understand that whoever sings my words needs to feel some kind of emotional attachment to the ideas they express, but you can imagine which of the two methods is more satisfying for me as a writer - and, most importantly, which one gives the best results!

I'm certain anything I write for this person will be tossed back and forth between us both so many times that she'll end up feeling just as much ownership over it as I do, but it's still heartening to feel that she is at least willing to let me take the first steps on my own.

I can trace the outline, and we can colour it in together.

In any case, I'm really excited about seeing what we can come up with, not least because I saw her perform at the Flèche d'Or earlier this year and, as I wrote on her MySpace page just afterwards, I've never been so blown away by the sheer force of music. This could be something really special.
]]> On the Blogothèque tag:www.smudie.com,2007://1.22 2007-08-27T12:36:56Z 2007-10-10T12:21:58Z The Blogothèque is, at least in France, the first port of call on the web for anyone who cares about discovering new music. They are also the people behind the Takeaway Shows project, which has seen groups such as Arcade... smudie The Blogothèque is, at least in France, the first port of call on the web for anyone who cares about discovering new music. They are also the people behind the Takeaway Shows project, which has seen groups such as Arcade Fire and Herman Düne play live in some (extremely) unusual locations.

How exciting, then, to discover an article there on eliotE and the Ritournelles! Great things are surely just around the corner.

]]> Rock en Seine tag:www.smudie.com,2007://1.21 2007-08-23T09:13:35Z 2007-08-23T09:16:55Z Arcade Fire, Bjork, CSS, The Jesus and Mary Chain... see you there!... smudie there! ]]> Beirut... well, Zach Condon (and friends) tag:www.smudie.com,2007://1.17 2007-08-02T18:13:32Z 2007-08-27T12:41:38Z Earlier this week, I attended the first "Soirée à emporter". Arriving at the ungodly hour of half past eight, I thought I would have been in plenty of time, but as it turned out the queue was already halfway round... smudie Earlier this week, I attended the first "Soirée à emporter".

Arriving at the ungodly hour of half past eight, I thought I would have been in plenty of time, but as it turned out the queue was already halfway round the block and I didn't make it through the doors of the Flèche d'Or until just before midnight.

Once inside, I said hello to EliotE, I drank a beer, and then ...

And then...

For once, words fail me. Take a look for yourself at why it might have been worth queuing for three hours to see first Zach Condon, the man behind Beruit, and then the brassy Balkan brilliance that followed.

]]> Songs in search of a singer tag:www.smudie.com,2007://1.10 2007-07-29T14:30:37Z 2007-07-30T09:48:57Z Here are some new songs, waiting for someone to sing them. Could it be you? The music for Ashtray was written by Cyril Martin of Electric Factory, but we both agreed that this particular song didn't seem to fit in... smudie Here are some new songs, waiting for someone to sing them. Could it be you?

The music for Ashtray was written by Cyril Martin of Electric Factory, but we both agreed that this particular song didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the Electric Factory project and would be better off living a life of its own.

Cat Lover is just some words and a melody for now.

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