Portraiture
Feb 10, 2012 Latest News
Another outlet for my creative/artistic side has recently re-emerged and I have enjoyed drawing portraits for my friends over the past few months. It’s become my Violon d’Ingres. I decided to make some as Christmas presents since I had no money to buy gifts and it kind of took off from there. Here are a selection of my drawings so far.
If you are interested in exchanging money for a commissioned piece of work please email me@ryaninglis.com. A hand drawn portrait makes a great unique present for your loved ones
Online Diary (Jan 2012)
Feb 6, 2012 Latest News
27/01/12
Firstly I’d like to share another drawing I have done. This is of Kate Lee (KLEE Photography) who is responsible for most of the really good promo shots and photos of my face.
Gonna spend the next couple of days purely on STP, recording, mixing et al. Also I have been asked to write a song for a young musician called Ollie Garland so getting stuck into that. I have also been collaborating with Joe Brady & Bigz Artiste on one of their tracks called ‘The Bridge‘ working on an acoustic version which should be available to check out in a month or so all being well. After teaching today I will be meeting up with Hobden to get Feel Any Feeling FINISHED!! I need to get a video underway for it as a single release and still struggling to think of a great concept… therefore I need to look for a helping hand. Hopefully Dan from STP can point me in the right direction.
Two rehearsals are booked and then studio on March 10th in Oxford with Kris Burton who engineered us at Abbey Road. I think it’s important to keep consistency and to be honest I’m really happy to be working with him.Great guy and very talented. A catch up with Karl G is on the cards too as Lost & Starlight will need his magic touch too.
In other news my TAX is all up to date in the nick of time, I have cleared 100% of all debt I was in by early next month and I’m working so much I should have some money saved by the beginning of March to have, dare I say it, a short holiday which I so sorely need. I think some sun on my face will shake the cobwebs off and help get me back on track with the album. If you are reading this and you are an investor I can only assure you that I am working as quickly as I can without compromising quality. One of the main things I need to keep building on is a strong fanbase. I would rather, and I think it makes more sense, to release the album once a LOT more people are inclined to buy it. Better for all of us. I should also reitterate that working totally independant without a manager/label etc… makes things a little trickier but I KNOW it can be done with your continued support. If you have any questions please email me at me@ryaninglis.com. I do my best to reply as soon as I can but it take a little time to work through it all. May you have a fantastic weekend whatever you do 
Cheers
24/01/12
Finally… rehearsals and studio time booked to get cracking on the next 4 album tracks. Feel Any Feeling almost finished too. Need to find someone to help with the music video as I am now thinking it would be a good idea to spend more money on a great video than make a cheap useless one. Lots to think about though. Will be chatting to Dan at STP when I can get some time free to do so and I have all the questions I need answers to in my head ready. I could use some guidance as I feel a little overwhelmed with all the things currently on my plate.
I have started drawing for money which will help keep the bills paid and so if you would like to comission a piece please get in touch. Here is the latest self portrait I started and completed on Saturday night at my mums house.
Got to update my gig diary at some point but in the meantime you can find all my gigs listed on Facebook with the following links
JAN/FEB GIGS: https://www.facebook.com/events/326920720663113
MARCH/APRIL GIGS: https://www.facebook.com/events/222722101148535
20/01/12
Been getting some gigs via Foxy Music Agency based in Bath since my performance at Bath Rugby Ground on New Years Day which has really taken the load off contacting venues. I want to aim to get further afield this year and already have some work in Plymouth, Swindon and Cornwall. Gotta keep plugging away and hope I get spotted one day
Thinking of ideas for the next music video for Feel Any Feeling – I really want to make something thought provoking and relevant to the lyrics as well as keeping the costs down. If I can come up with something so good it spreads like wildfire I will be very happy. Most likely gonna let the song go for free using an iTunes code that I can print on a load of cards to hand out at gigs and online links. The main focus at the moment is increasing the fanbase as there is little point releasing an album without having a wider reach for increased sales. I will hopefully be recording a few new songs acoustically (out of my own money) to finalize some of the newer songs before taking them to the band for further production.
Footage and Pictures from our time at Abbey Road will need to be edited soon to make a little promotinal video so you can see what happened while we worked and just how cool the studio really was.
Off to school now for teaching and then getting my tax return done. Will update with more news later today once that is complete. A weekend full of gigs too so as always, busy busy.
Just finished a drawing which I’m pretty proud of. It’s of a friend of mine called Sarah. Very much enjoying the process at the moment
14/01/12
Just had an interesting afternoon with Joe Brooks (Superman) at the studio as he is currently working with the same producer as I am. He said a few things that helped with a little perspective and offered help and advice as and when I need it which was very cool. One thing he said which was a reassuring thing to hear was “the longer it takes you to get into this business the longer it takes to get out” This has made me feel better about my concerns about not having any label or management interest so far. I have learned and am still learning a lot about what it takes to keep my head above water in a career that is aguably one of the hardest to sustain. Having steadily grown mentally and professionally stronger over the past 5/6 years I am pleased that I am still hanging on in there with no intentions of giving up. I don’t care if it takes another 10 years for a taste of ‘fame’ or large scale recognition; things are great and I am very happy to be where I am anyway… but still room for more work
Feel Any Feeling looks to be the next single release and to be honest I think it will be a case of giving the track away for free to encourage fanbase growth. Just need to package it in an interesting way… thinking cap is well and truly on.
In other news here is a self portrait I drew today
08/01/12
DAY SEVEN: MP3 OF TURNING 30 – Written & recorded a week before the big milestone [Ryan Inglis - Turning 30] is a little ditty rounding up the previous three decades in a summarised format. Not likely to be an album track but just a little reminder of times gentle passing…
07/01/12
I will be in the studio today with Tony working further on the mixes so will fill you in on the details later. So looking forward to getting these tracks closer to completetion which ties in nicely with the title of your download for today…
DAY SIX: MP3 of LOOK FWD>> – Recorded way back in about 2005/6 [Ryan Inglis - Look FWD>>] this appeared on the ‘Exposed EP’ and is one of my favourite band recordings from that CD.
Due to financial restraints I recorded the rest of my songs acoustically but now thanks to my investors from STP (Slicethepie) I am now realising some of these songs how I always wanted to hear them. The Exposed EP features 6 tracks 5 of which were recorded with my band line-up at the time (Danny Cox – Drums, Adam Chetland – Lead Guitar, Bill Banwell – Bass) This song is also the only one that I wrote pretty much in one go taking approx 10-15mins in total – something that has eluded me ever since with songs now taking me hours and hours of careful crafting.
Lyrics:
What do you need to tell me?
You’ve been holding it inside for so long
Seems that you are waiting for the answers
To the questions I’ve been asking,
Asking if there’s anything
I don’t know what it is that keeps me going
And I don’t know how I’ve ended up with all I have
All I know is that there’s something more
To look forward to than nothing anymore
Where do you think you’re going?
I think its time that I should know
Does it help you to remember all the suffering?
All those hours that were wasted
Those offers you rejected
I don’t know what it is that keeps me going
And I don’t know how I’ve ended up with all I have
All I know is that there’s something more
To look forward to than nothing anymore
Cause I’ve tried so hard to be
Someone who my mother & father expected from me
But I’m not so sure …. anymore
06/01/12
DAY FIVE: MP3 of 1 + 2 (Ram’s Pocket Radio Cover) – Recorded shortly after seeing the band on BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury 2011 [Ryan Inglis - 1 + 2 (Ram's Pocket Radio)] I don’t tend to record many covers unless it’s live but this song, I think, was worth fiddling with Pro Tools for a few hours at home.
05/01/12
DAY FOUR: MP3 of ‘WONDERKID’ – Recorded Nov 2010 [Ryan Inglis - Wonderkid] this song was the first to be written and recorded since 7 Blank Tiles and the death of my friend Max Shillinglaw. I had massive writers block for about a year and a half and couldn’t bear to play this live or work on it for any length of time. But finally it was recorded, I still feel it is a demo but it is here for you to have for free. Hope you like.
Lyrics:
The shock absorbs – emotions congregate
canceling each other out as a failed expression compensates
For the true reflection – of minds true form
A sudden change in the way you state your views upon
The time it takes – to call back home
And declare the love – ‘cause they need to know
That you’re there for them – as they’re there for you
And the ties that bind – will last through and through
It should be known – that there’s a hand to hold
When the grip slips and the scale tips below
A level at which – you become incapable
To fix the part of the soul – that means YOU’RE in control so…
Be a wonder kid,
a true believer in himself
Be a wonder kid,
Accept the cards you’re offered as the deals are dealt
Be a wonder kid,
Remember that no matter where you are, you’ll be missed.
The clock distorts, this notion’s hard to take
I never thought it would be so hard, god rest your soul for heavens sake
With real affection I write this song
Just to let you know that your memory will still live on
As sometimes we make – less time for those
Who need it the most – and never tell lest boast
Of the number of times – life’s grabbed their throats
And shook ‘em around – wrecking dreams once hoped
04/01/12
DAY THREE: Demo of ‘The Bigger Picture’ – Recorded shortly after my skydive [Ryan Inglis - The Bigger Picture] with Zoe Williams.
Written on piano this is the first song I’ve ever fully finished and recorded without using a guitar. I intend to record it again, fully produced, for the forthcoming album (possibly as a secret track at the end)
Lyrics:
They say to those who wait
Good things are on the way
And never was a word so true
Expressed in such a simple way
[But] each tick could cause a wave
Sense of time begins to play
A melody so dark
It almost takes the light away
But the bigger pictures in my mind, in my mind to stay
Patience, some have said
Is a virtue but I’m afraid
To say that waiting here is
Testing me instead
As a mind has room to dwell
In its own little prison cell
Plays a melody so dark
It almost takes the light away
Bridge x2
Despite the terror and the tears
This rollercoaster ride’s designed to help you realise just what is real
The lull it disappears
You’re supposed to hide inside your mind but really what you need is how this feels
And as I am flying > I forget the sweat and blood it took to get me here x2
03/01/12
DAY TWO: MP3 of ‘FOCUSED’ - Recorded in 2008 [Ryan Inglis - Focused] (right click and ‘save link as…’)
this track was due to appear on the 7 Blank Tiles acoustic album but got pulled at the eleventh hour. I had very recently written and recorded Footprint & Destiny so decided to put them on the tracklist instead. Using a host of minor & maj7th chords it’s got a jazzy feel and a load of layered harmonies in the chorus.
Lyrics:
It’s unusual to see
Just how focused things can be
But I’m looking around
And the things that seemed so far
Are so much clearer now
Where do we draw the line between?
Doing what is wrong or amorality
But I’m pleased to see
That most of us can accept ourselves unconditionally
Even if your world seems in place,
No demons left to face
And no weight upon your shoulders
Take all that you need
From every opportunity by
Focusing your energy
How can you trust what you perceive?
When the only information you get is
The information you choose to receive
So you stay unaware
And the next thing you know there’s
No place you can go without feeling scared
Even if your world seems in place,
No bitterness to taste
And no weight upon your shoulders
Take all that you need
From every opportunity by
Focussing your energy
Here are some pictures taken at The Fleece, Bristol on 21/12/11 by Francis at www.fwsphotography.com
02/01/12
Right then, back to doing regular updates hopefully. Just gotta kick some butts to get some work done around here and my schedule is blah blah… you don’t want excuses… time to get the tracks mixed then onto recording the rest of the album, release another single and get some help somewhere down the line with increasing the fanbase. Got to think outside the box though as I know something viral would work wonders. mmmm
Anyway, a quick recap of what I have been up to over last couple of months: If you read the last entries you’ll be aware I have a day job now teaching in schools as well as gigging in the evenings and the other stuff in life. I have been gigging extensively in 2011 (about 190 live performances) and work on the album has been slow due to people I need to do the work being very busy themselves. I have been working on a few new songs too and I’m gonna be doing a FREE download per day this week to intice some new visitors. I have recorded some demos from home and have some old recordings I would very much like to share so each day will be a little surprise for you to help yourself to.
DAY ONE: MP3 of ‘DESTINY‘ – Recorded with full band back in 2009 [Ryan Inglis - Destiny] (right click and ‘save link as…’) This is probably still one of my favourite band recordings but as it’s heavily leaning towards rock it would not really fit too comfortably with other songs on the forthcoming album unless it was produced slightly differently – but I like it the way it is This song scored something like 7.56 on slicethepie in 2009 which I was told was one of the highest average scores up to that point. If you like it, let a friend have a copy too.
**Rob Whelan (Drums) Bill Banwell (Bass) Adam Chetland (Lead Guitar) Myself (Vox & Acoustic Guitar) Tony Hobden (Producer)**
When I had finished writing this song I was convinced it would be my favourite original for ages but people didn’t seem to warm to it and I lost interest in playing it live sadly. The lyrics in this song are some of my favourite from the whole ‘7 Blank Tiles’ acoustic album (which you can still purchase from iTunes for £7.99) you can find the lyrics HERE
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I seem to have fallen back into artwork for the first time in over 10 years; I did art A level and used to love drawing and painting but lost interest after college. Here are the pictures I have been working on, all portraits. I’m much more intersted in art with just a pencil and someones face
There are still physical copies of SECRET available which you can order from the HOME PAGE for £3 including P&P. If you have a BEER MAT please be sure to get yourself in a picture with it and send it to me@ryaninglis.com for a chance to have your glorious face appear in the forthcoming album sleeve alongside Brian McGukin’s beauty of a picture>> You can see the entries so far in COMPETITION#2
Only thing left to say for now is happy 2012 and I hope this year beats the shit out of all your previous ones and makes you content somehow also, if you are happy to help increase members to the facebook group/page then the links are below and inviting just one friend you think would be interested in listening would be amazing. Thanks. See you tomo for a 2nd FREE thing.
GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ryaninglismusic/
PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/ryanaoinglismusic