The title of this post could be mistaken for a guide to playing live music in 2021. Sadly, it is not. It is a question that many musicians are pondering as a second summer of song is silenced.
One of my new decade resolutions was, is, to do more live performances. Being on stage is not my happy place, I prefer the cocoon of the studio. But I am always happy after I’ve done a gig, and it always goes better than I fear. The fears, nebulous, shadowy but menacing, are usually unfounded, unhelpful, and unnecessary. Except for that one time 😱………………..
In Jan 2020, with 30 songs, 3 albums, and a warm, welcoming listener base (that’s you guys!), I decided to go on tour. A mini-tour – a few gigs as a three-piece in the UK and a few with just me and my keyboard in the States. Then the pandemic happened, and I had to shelve it.
To be honest, I was a bit relieved 🤫!
Live streaming – no thank you
During the summer of 2020, I did some online streaming gigs, mainly for charity. Performing from home seemed like nirvana, in theory. The reality was excruciating. Singing to a crowded room can induce anxiety, but it is far preferable to singing to your own reflection, which is what you see if you stream from home. And the sound quality of online live music is painful, assuming your Wi-Fi lets you stream at all. And there are no highs or ‘hi’s after an online performance, it’s sterile.
Come to the Mis(sed) Communication tour!
This summer I’m going to try something different. An experiment. I am going to record a fully live, acoustic, single-take gig of a selection of my songs. Just me and my keyboard. The songs as I first wrote them, but with good quality sound that doesn’t depend on your bandwidth or mine.
The tour will be online but also more live, and more real to you than just being a spectator. To do this we will top-and-tail the recorded concert with a live introduction and an after-gig interview and Q+A, with yours truly, where we can hang out together, and you can ask me about the songs, or songwriting, or anything.
Does this sound attractive?
If so, drop me an email (or reply to this post). And please tell me your time zone.
And I’ll make it happen.
Please spread the word…..
Yours hopefully,
Nazneen xxx
Yours Hopefully is an experiment in living hopefully. With music and musings, from a singer-songwriter-scientist. Why not subscribe and get a post every Sunday in your inbox?
Hi Nazneen, I've been holding on "hopefully" that you would perform a live gig or release some more of your music on video this year so, yes I'm excited for you and would definitely sign up for your online session. My time ⌚ is BST UK. Best wishes. Denis 😊