Hope you guys like this new cover :) and hope everyone has a great Festive Season!
Friday 19 December 2014
Tuesday 16 December 2014
Travelling round the world 101 - On a bus to Cartagena, Colombia
Thursday, 11.45am (Colombian time) Barranquilla, Colombia
We`re driving through crowded streets filled with weary bedraggled looking donkeys pulling carts laden bursting with fruit tassels between their ears, children both young and tall running here, there and everywhere, surprisingly clean new looking modern buses that look as if they have been squashed slightly from both ends, multiple people on dirty old motorbikes, mopeds and vans, street vendors shout their wares that overflow from their stands and booths and into the street mingled with the familiar smell of empanadas (how I have missed them). Stray dogs and the occasional cat weave in and out of legs, wheels, hooves and yellow taxis that zoom which way and every way amongst it all. Horns honk and people call out, dust kicked up. Bienvenido a Colombia!
7pm, Colombia, Cartagena
Arrived safe and sound, all limbs attached etc. I don’t know what everyone was going on about when they said that Colombia was dangerous, I feel far safer here than I would in London or anywhere. Obviously certain parts are dangerous but as long as you stay out of the mountains and have a certain amount of common sense you’re all good :) I love Cartagena I could actually live here. It’s so beautiful, and has a really pretty picturesque old colonial town.
Friday, sometime around 5pm sitting outside our room in Hostel Real, Cartagena.
Feels like I have been away from home for so much longer than 4 days. England seems so far away and a world apart. I have happily slipped back into joyfully speaking Spanish again at every opportune moment, placing toilet paper in the waste paper basket (the plumbing can´t handle it), generally feeling dehydrated, showering from under a pipe (no power shower attachments here), living out of a rucksack. I know that I am still probably jet-lagged but I get very impatient with my body. It feels like rubber that has been stretched too far crossed with lead filled damp cotton wool. Groggy like I have slept for hours but have not awoken feeling refreshed. O well. I am going to drink some water. It’s funny not being able to drink it from the tap. My friend that I’m travelling with says that it feels like having one of your basic human rights taken away.
6pm
The water seems to be helping.
8.27pm
Ahh Cartagena is lovely, we have spent many a happy hour wondering around the beautiful old colonial streets, vines cascading from old wooden balconies. Everyone is so friendly here! So are so many smells and sites to take in I feel like I almost can’t turn my head fast enough.
We`re driving through crowded streets filled with weary bedraggled looking donkeys pulling carts laden bursting with fruit tassels between their ears, children both young and tall running here, there and everywhere, surprisingly clean new looking modern buses that look as if they have been squashed slightly from both ends, multiple people on dirty old motorbikes, mopeds and vans, street vendors shout their wares that overflow from their stands and booths and into the street mingled with the familiar smell of empanadas (how I have missed them). Stray dogs and the occasional cat weave in and out of legs, wheels, hooves and yellow taxis that zoom which way and every way amongst it all. Horns honk and people call out, dust kicked up. Bienvenido a Colombia!
7pm, Colombia, Cartagena
Arrived safe and sound, all limbs attached etc. I don’t know what everyone was going on about when they said that Colombia was dangerous, I feel far safer here than I would in London or anywhere. Obviously certain parts are dangerous but as long as you stay out of the mountains and have a certain amount of common sense you’re all good :) I love Cartagena I could actually live here. It’s so beautiful, and has a really pretty picturesque old colonial town.
Friday, sometime around 5pm sitting outside our room in Hostel Real, Cartagena.
Feels like I have been away from home for so much longer than 4 days. England seems so far away and a world apart. I have happily slipped back into joyfully speaking Spanish again at every opportune moment, placing toilet paper in the waste paper basket (the plumbing can´t handle it), generally feeling dehydrated, showering from under a pipe (no power shower attachments here), living out of a rucksack. I know that I am still probably jet-lagged but I get very impatient with my body. It feels like rubber that has been stretched too far crossed with lead filled damp cotton wool. Groggy like I have slept for hours but have not awoken feeling refreshed. O well. I am going to drink some water. It’s funny not being able to drink it from the tap. My friend that I’m travelling with says that it feels like having one of your basic human rights taken away.
6pm
The water seems to be helping.
8.27pm
Ahh Cartagena is lovely, we have spent many a happy hour wondering around the beautiful old colonial streets, vines cascading from old wooden balconies. Everyone is so friendly here! So are so many smells and sites to take in I feel like I almost can’t turn my head fast enough.
Thursday 11 December 2014
Hello (Schuyler Fisk) - Cover by Melissa Cantello
Facebook.com/melissacantello.
Filmed by Ade Torrent (A Torrent of Videos - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEXxCf6ZG5m6z0G2HVKEbiA)
Hope you like this cover I did recently of Hello by Schuyler Fisk :)
Tuesday 9 December 2014
Travelling round the world 101 - en route to Colombia
Wednesday, 01.16am
Flying over Cuba (I think) or maybe Bahamas. Somewhere over the Caribbean anyway. The sky outside the window is dark with a promise of pale on the horizon line. I don’t think you can beat the feeling of flying 800,000 ft above our pretty blue green planet watching a slice of dawn creep its way over the clouds surface. Feeling like you’re on the brink of the world and the only person awake.
01.26am
Ahh wow we’ve just flown over (and slightly through) a lightning storm. Flown a total of 7667km from Madrid so far. This is incredible! To see the clouds lit up from the inside, pearly blue white. Flashes of light illuminating the centres and tingeing the cloud´s outer edges with a smoky pale blue. Frost has formed on the outside of my window, crystallised mini frost flakes that slowly melt as we plummet towards the next destination - L´Havana, Cuba. The time is now 20.55 Cuban time, 01.55 for me. I´m feeling pretty sleepy : )
Wednesday, 12.31pm (Panamanian time)
We´re gliding along through peaks and troughs of fluffy white cloud mountains. They really do look like candy floss Simpson clouds. Wisps float overhead whilst opaque looking rounded turrets bob majestically past the window. Below faint through a creamy layer of haze I can see Colombian soil. I`ve almost arrived. My ears pop on their own accord as the plant wing dips slightly revealing shallow rolling hills, light brown earthy rock largely covered with dark green deciduous trees. Small towns begin to appear, pale roads snaking through and into the distance. Large expanses of thirsty looking fields dappled by the blobs of cloud floating above them. I pray in faith for a safe arrival.
12.46pm
A new land to explore. I´m longing to feast my eyes on every inch of this land. Touch down. A sudden roar of air through the turbines makes me jump slightly (I am seated just behind the planes wing on an exit row – extra leg room!) we’re taxiing to a stop. The air attendant informs us in fluent coherent Spanish and then rather broken English not to take off our seatbelts… and that it has been a pleasure to have us on board. We pass two men pushing a full-sized helicopter on wheels by hand into a nearby hanger. I love Latin America.
Flying over Cuba (I think) or maybe Bahamas. Somewhere over the Caribbean anyway. The sky outside the window is dark with a promise of pale on the horizon line. I don’t think you can beat the feeling of flying 800,000 ft above our pretty blue green planet watching a slice of dawn creep its way over the clouds surface. Feeling like you’re on the brink of the world and the only person awake.
01.26am
Ahh wow we’ve just flown over (and slightly through) a lightning storm. Flown a total of 7667km from Madrid so far. This is incredible! To see the clouds lit up from the inside, pearly blue white. Flashes of light illuminating the centres and tingeing the cloud´s outer edges with a smoky pale blue. Frost has formed on the outside of my window, crystallised mini frost flakes that slowly melt as we plummet towards the next destination - L´Havana, Cuba. The time is now 20.55 Cuban time, 01.55 for me. I´m feeling pretty sleepy : )
Wednesday, 12.31pm (Panamanian time)
We´re gliding along through peaks and troughs of fluffy white cloud mountains. They really do look like candy floss Simpson clouds. Wisps float overhead whilst opaque looking rounded turrets bob majestically past the window. Below faint through a creamy layer of haze I can see Colombian soil. I`ve almost arrived. My ears pop on their own accord as the plant wing dips slightly revealing shallow rolling hills, light brown earthy rock largely covered with dark green deciduous trees. Small towns begin to appear, pale roads snaking through and into the distance. Large expanses of thirsty looking fields dappled by the blobs of cloud floating above them. I pray in faith for a safe arrival.
12.46pm
A new land to explore. I´m longing to feast my eyes on every inch of this land. Touch down. A sudden roar of air through the turbines makes me jump slightly (I am seated just behind the planes wing on an exit row – extra leg room!) we’re taxiing to a stop. The air attendant informs us in fluent coherent Spanish and then rather broken English not to take off our seatbelts… and that it has been a pleasure to have us on board. We pass two men pushing a full-sized helicopter on wheels by hand into a nearby hanger. I love Latin America.
Monday 1 December 2014
New guitar and amp!!! Faith Natural Series Venus Electro Acoustic Guitar and Fender Passport Mini Amp
I'm really happy with both purchases, the solid wood Faith electro-acoustic has a full bodied warm tone and feels comfortable when I play it. The other contender was an Epiphone Dove Pro (http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Acoustic-Electric/Dove-PRO.aspx), but on sound quality the Faith Venus won hands down - which isn't surprising give the price difference!
The Fender Passport Mini Amp seemed like a good choice given the presets/sound quality and the size and the weight (it is surprisingly light and great for someone like me who relies on public transport!
I'll be posting videos on me playing both soon :)
Here's what Faith say about Faith Natural Guitars
The Natural Series from Faith Guitars feature Solid Mahogany back and sides to give a warm, clean and natural sounding acoustic sound. The design of the guitars is uncluttered and the grain of the wood is nicely on show. Available in 5 body types the Natural range offers a guitar shape/style for all players. If your style is natural, warm, clean sounds then the Faith Natural range is for you. Mahogany and spruce combining to create one of the most beautiful and natural instruments you’ll ever hold.
MORE ABOUT PASSPORT® MINI
Passport® mini offers convenient amplification for any instrument or microphone. It's perfect for performances by street musicians and students, as well as a basic public address system for events and presentations. It goes anywhere thanks to its dual AC- or Battery-powered capabilities. It can even be used as a music media playback system or computer recording interface.
What Good is Love (live) - Schuyler Fisk (Cover by Melissa Cantello)
I sang this with Calum Carlyle a few years ago in Scotland. We really enjoyed playing this :)
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