_ dingdongmerrilyonhigh

So how was your Christmas? Good I hope =]

I now have a bass guitar to record with (hurrah), so keep an ear out for that one! It now means I have to think up bass lines for my songs.......and you didn't even notice there wasn't a bass in there already eh..

Can't wait to get back to recording. Next up should be piano-y. And maybe harpsichord-y? I'll leave you in suspense ;-)



oh, and on a side note, thanks to all the nice people i met at the Queen Camel Acoustic night when I played last Thursday...twas most positive.



Now be off with you, and make a start at that month's supply of turkey you now have!





w.x

_ RED FLAG ON YOUR IPOD?

Would you like to have Red Flag on your mp3 player, phone, computer, car stereo or other multimedia device?

Suggestion:
Head over to my MySpace page and click on the download link next to the song. Guess what? It's free!

Other uses:
- Playing at parties late at night
- Playing to your brother's girlfriend's sister's mum's ex who just happens to own a record company and is looking to sign me
- Showing off to your friends the fact that you now own a song in 7/8 that you can dance along to. Sort of.
- Playing backwards and finding hidden messages



w.x

_ red flag

Today I was in the studio from 11am until 6:50pm, and this is the result. From my head onto the internet in 2 days, not bad!



w.x

_ cosmetics

Some minor cosmetics for A&M, some nip/tuck for MySpace. Hope you like it, it ties in with the *new look*

...went to Bombshelter today, and guess what? No-one was there! Not a soul. So, where I could have made good progress with some songs that need finishing both in general and for my music degree, I instead spent the day watching Google Analytics...and doing some fancy internet redecorating.

I can only hope tomorrow is as productive.


w.x

_ new strings

I think one of the most annoying things someone would have to do is to entirely restring a 12-string guitar. Which is what I did the other day. Fun fun funnn

Also, a fret was broken and so I snapped it off. Strangely satisfying!

Blog worthy? I think so!! ;-)




willIAM.x

_ Lowland Games 2008

Count me in. On stage. Tis official!

_ on yer wireless

There will be a little feature about me tomorrow evening at 8:40pm on all of the radio stations listed on this site.

Tune in to hear The Karma Control on your radio - or, if its easier (which it probably is), listen online at any of the stations on the above link =)

willIAM.x

_ in a field next year

Rumour has it I might be playing at the Lowland Games 2008? Maybe I wasn't that bad after all...



willIAM.x

_ 0010111001110

a low-budget secret for you all...

_ the karma control room

In a room underground...while it rains outside.




www.myspace.com/williamecho






willIAM.x

_ wide eyed & tongue tied

Ok, so it's been ages since I updted A&M, and I didn't really follow through on what was happening with the new song. Truth is, i've been very busy with my degree and other commitments, but all is well with William Echo - and today I went into the studio to record something else, and made really good progress with it. I want to get it done within the next few weeks, and spend my time over it, so there still might not be anything new on the MySpace site for a short while, but when there is, it should be rather good.

No rush.

willIAM.x

_ and so it begins

A new year, new songs. The studio is booked for tomorrow, and I can't wait. For The Company will be the first song to record methinks...I just need a good banjo sound. Or a real banjo would be even better...anyone? No? ok.

The people at the studios say I'm crazy. They say I'm too hard-working. They say I should be at home smoking and watching tv, 'like a normal student'. I'd have to agree (maybe not with the smoking part).......but if you want to get anywhere you have to work for it, and it won't come to me while im watching tv.

So I'll be up at the crack of dawn.

Maybe...9:30.

willIAM.x

_ ambling & meandering across the internet...

...I came across a rather comical, witty and satirical fellow who goes by the name of Riz. Check out his music at www.myspace.com/rizmc

I just thought it was great stuff & needed to share it with y'all.....go check it out. It's not rock. But it's...great.





willIAM.x

_ ...oh dear.

Ok, so there I was, doing the washing up in the kitchen, listening to Radio1, when this awful song comes on the radio. Not only the awful song, but an awful remix of this awful song.

I remembered this YouTube video, and HAD to post it on here. It's an even better version of this song - I feel the altered lyrics carry more meaning. I know it made me laugh. Enjoy.








willIAM.x

_ the morning after the night before

It went great last night, got a good response, albeit from the back of the pub, the other side of the bar, and round the corner...as it were. And thanks to Blue Bullet and Co. for the clapping, singing and general support! It was great. You really feed off the crowd with things like that, so it made the night a lot better than it might have been.

Managed to do 2 slots, so Blue Bullet were kind of sandwiched in between me...but I thought they did fantastically, definitely the Pier Tavern's kind of thing.


So, got home at 2am.....and here I am. Back to bed then....



willIAM.x

_ a trip to the sea-side

I'm playing tonight in Burnham-on-Sea, at the Pier Tavern...by the sea! I shall be supporting Blue Bullet (www.myspace.com/bluebulletrocks) - a very nice classic rock band from Somerset.

It should be an interesting mix of classic stadium rock, and....well, er, me. Doing my thing. Do come along and join in the fun!




willIAM.x

_ all is fair in love and war

So, we didn't win the Lowland Games' Battle of the Bands. Classically.

That is, the judges did not select myself & Andy to play at Glastonbury '08. Which is indeed a shame for all concerned.


However, it seemed that last night I won the public vote. Which, I feel, is far more important. When countless people you have never met before approach you to tell you that the decision made was wrong, that it was an injustice, and that I had been robbed, you can't help but feel a little something inside you that makes you feel you won nonetheless.

Thank you so much to the people who turned up last night and sang, danced and clapped along to William Echo, it made the night perfect, and incredibly memorable. I hope to see you there at the next gig....whenever that might be.



willIAM.x

_ the lowland games + the revolution ep = good times

Yessss we are READY for the Lowland Games this Friday, Thorney Lakes, Somerset. Andy & myself have been practising hard to put on the best damn willIAM show this side of Taunton.
PLUS, and brace yourselves for this....

we will have copies of the brand spanking new REVOLUTION EP to sell on the night! Tracklisting as follows:


01. Revolution 21 [radio edit]
02. Ostrich
03. Grosvenor Square
04. I'll Hear None of This
05. In A Birdcage

It's looking pretty damn professional, if I may say so myself. It's on sale for £3, from the man himself.


Look forward to seeing you Friday night!





willIAM.x

_ lowland practices

Andy & myself have been working hard......and have come up with something astonishing. Which is under wraps. So I shall just have to tease you with it - and you'll have to come along on Friday 27th July to witness it.

Its looking good, I like my chances. Which can only be a good thing, leading to a good performance.

Will be selling CDs on the night too.......The Revolution EP.




First I have to make them. Oh dear.







willIAM.x

_ the lowland games

Yes! Summer is here, along with the rain.......and the festivals. And so it is confirmed that I shall be performing at the Lowland Games at Thorney Farm in Somerset, competing in a Battle of the Bands.

I have asked my good friend Andy Clutterbuck to assist me in this acoustic set, which will feature the both of us on acoustic guitars and vocals. I can't wait.


It has been a very long time since I last posted a blog, but rest assured, with new rehearsals and something to work towards, there will be more info and blogs to come.


Oh, and did I mention that the winner of the Battle gets to play at Glastonbury 2008? That's what we've been promised anyway.

willIAM.x

_ Unkown Rebel's 16 years

BBC

wikipedia




willIAM.x

_ news

clickyclicky

Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'dog-eat-dog'.

_ slow day

did drums today. For.........the FULL version of Unkown Rebel. Expect piano! Mmm =)



willIAM.x

_ been in the Bombshelter...again

...and Revolution 21 is ready to go. Catch it on www.myspace.com/williamecho. As if you didn't already know.



willIAM.x

_ Revolution 21

Back to the Bombshelter bright & early tomorrow morn' for some drums and guitar. Should be good...and soon we can start a revolution. Like the Beatles. Right?




willIAM.x

_ been in the bombshelter

Been recording.....and after 11 hours, over three days, I have In A Birdcage to share with the world. I'll put it up soon.



willIAM.x

_ copycat

Is it flattering or just annoying to feel like someone is copying your ideas? And if there are more people copying you......does that make it more flattering? Or more annoying?? I can't decide. Help me on this one.




willIAM.x

_ long time no post

The trip to Lisbon was fantastic, a very beautiful city indeed. Here are some pictures from the short visit.

On more music related news, I have been working on songs, and will be recording when I get back to uni. It's been too long, and I cant wait for some new material.




willIAM.x

_ a small break

Nice weather eh? At least here in London....but I shall soon be chasing it up in Lisbon too, and am taking a three-week break from recording. But do not fear, I shall still be writing songs, and am working on something new, something that I might record when I get back. Jackinabox. maybe.

I might be posting up Lisbon pictures, I'm quite excited....such history...and architecture...I'm told. we shall see!

In the meantime, enjoy Ostrich, Grosvenor Square and the others while I'm gone.

Cheers



willIAM.x

_ ostrich up and running

After spending a total of 24 hours in the studio since Saturday, Ostrich is now ready and eagerly awaiting to be shared with the world. Check www.myspace.com/williamecho to hear it =]



willIAM.x

_ extensive recording

So I have been in the studio recently...recording Ostrich. It has been very intensive, as this is the last week available to me to record for 3 weeks (one must travel to Lisbon, and then to the north of England, don't you know...). Yesterday I got drums and 12-string down, with the most excellent help from Smudge, although there were some instances of track deletion...but all is well. Today was electric guitar day, and Lord knows I tried to do vocals but its proving difficult. So it must be tomorrow instead.....got to say, it's sounding so good...seriously. Amazing. might better Grosvenor Sq., we'll see when the final mix is up, who knows. But things are exciting =]

_ ostrich in the studio, and others

_ busy day

things are changing...


...something has to happen soon.

_ don't worry,

i'm not dead.


I have been back in the studio...recording something acoustic. And it should be up soon. Plus I will have another go at mixing Burning Money, because, unfortunately, it went horribly wrong last time.

But wish me luck, I need it.......and hopefully there should be something for you all to download =]



willIAM.x

_ in a birdcage

You never want to feel like you've got to do something that you can, even when you choose not to.
No..you can't believe the truth.
Living in a cage is easy to do
when everyone feeds you what you choose to eat...
but you can't
swallow the meat.
And if you have no choice, then doing nothing's so much easier to explain
if you have no voice
then you can't take the blame
for doing nothing.
Sitting on a perch in confidence, caged in metal
caged inside a fence
and yet you still don't want the key.
No-one wants to hear that they've got to do
something that they can even though they don't want to, oh i can't believe
its true.

_ ...

Ooo it's sounding good. Think military. Think winter. Think choir.

Final mix should be coming up soon......watch this space.



Well, watch myspace.




willIAM.x

_ burn your money

Burning Money began to be recorded this evening. 12-string andmany many vocals. Due back in tomorrow too to do some other schtuff with it, more singing, more dramatics.

You know....I'm tired of hearing people come to inconclusive conclusions by slinging inconclusive evidence at eachother, back and forth, back and forth. I was watching the merry-go-round on BBC news 'Have Your Say' this morning, people fighting for their little piece of land, repeating themselves,banging their heads against walls, looking to others for guidance.

Unless you can do the science yourself, you'll never know the truth. We'll never know the truth about CO2, about the stratosphere, about cash for honours or about who's doing what for what real reason.
Until then, until I feel sure about what I hear, all I know is what I can see. And I can see hotter days, more rainfall and more storms. Who knows. Maybe we'll all die next week because of a nuclear attack. Maybe we'll all die in the distant future because of ever increasing heat. Maybe we'll all live forever and find a way to keep mankind going indefinitely. Maybe we'll look back and laugh at ourselves for being sucked into a global hoax. All we know is that we don't know. And until I can do that science myself......well, I guess I'll never know.




willIAM.x

_ smoke publicity

Had my first newspaper review; the Smoke Newspaper, Westminster Uni's own student paper, to be precise.

You can take a look at the article here.



willIAM.x

_ the mixing process

is not going so well.

well thats not fair...it is and it isn't/ there is a 'final' mix out there...but it isn't final. and its not a very good mix. which is annoying because i had hoped to put a new track up there last night, but c'est la vie.

monday maybe. no promises.


willIAM.x

_ the recording process

is going well.

got drums down today.
and guitar.s.

maybe vocals and acoustic tomorrow...then the all imporant strings...etc etc. and bass. if someone is kind enough to lend me one =] as ever


willIAM.x

_ return to the bombshelter

So...after spending 7 hours recording and mixing I'll Hear None of This, i had another little break. an unintentinal break, that is, so sorry for the lack of updates and of new songs (i know the thousandss of people that read this everyday have been on tenterhooks awaiting new material.....right?).

BUT. i am due in the Bombshelter on sunday. for drums. and maybe guitar...to do 'own way home' [working title...possibly], and am quite looking forward to it.

must be off now, things to do, places to go and all that.....hopefully will update on the recording process soon. ok now smudge is urging me to finish writing this. tallyho.


willIAM.x

_ small break, big ideas

After Grosvenor Square, things were a little.....hectic. running to and from studios, getting mixes, getting things wrong, getting things right, sometimes, trying to eat in between. felt like i neededto slow downn so i did for a little bit....but now im getting restless. a little. but im thinking, as opposed to doing, which i think is helping me focus on where the album is going. 'the album?' i hear you cry...yes....that is the long term plan, but, who knows. for now its an album. and there are some big ideas in it, but, guess what? it needs money thrown at it in order to bring it into fruition. As does so much in life. too much. i need signing. who doesnt.

so i think i'll sit here a while longer listening to Sigur Ros and dreaming.......and maybe go back into the studios at the weekend. there's something that needs recording; something nice; something warm. and acoustic. with an organ methinks. i can almost hear it now, and i cant wait. but yes, a rest is good for a while.


willIAM.x

_ studio fatigue

so there's a mix of Grosvenor Square floating about, some people have heard it, and apparently they like it..i swear there were no holdings of gunpoint involved, they did really like it. it has been called 'an improvement' and been described as 'bouncy'. that can only be a good thing, right? but really..i've spent so much time locked in a cave pressingg buttons it might not be good for me. plus i have found new things to do like spend my time watching videos telling me to get a Mac..and..sleeping. and writing new songs..which in turn make me wantto get back in there and record them..but maybe not just yet. give it a couple of hours.
im due in the Bombshelter tonight to finish once and for all my little ditty on the Square. so wish me luck, and there migh be a new song on willIAMsSPace this eve.

willIAM.x

_ grosvenor square

...coming soon to a myspace near you.

_ wind wind wind

Bloody hell, I've just been reading the news...7 people died today because of the freakish weather and high winds across England. This comes after the mass fog that descended upon the Isles, and the weirdly warm autumn. and yet there are still people who deny global warming. I mean, yes, it's possibly cliched, but it's such a serious issue. 2007 is predicted to be the hottest year ever on record, from a combination of the El Nino effect and climate change, and there's going to be even more weather-related deaths and natural disasters, and quite frankly, I'm worried. I'm worried for the world, I'm worried for myself, for those closest to me, my family...worry-wort eh. we'll see.

on a lighter note, I have the majority of Plastic Greed completed, and am in the studios tomorrow morning to (hopefully) record bass and to do the string arrangement...and some final mixing. providing i find a bass, the track should be up over the weekend for your delight and delectation.

have a pleasant evening, stay safe (indoors)

willIAM.x

_ plastic read

Yesterday I managed to do the drums and 12-string, and it's sounding pretty damn good if i may say so myself. No major problems, which makes a nice change, and thanks to Smudge we managed to get things done quite quickly. Today was spent recording wine glasses (studio technicians had not a clue) and vocals...some nice harmonies in there.

Got to get my recordings from a tape - went to Brighton for a couple of days and spent the majority of the trip with a little blue tape recorder getting interesting sounds from the London Underground and from arcades, stations and sea, etc. random shtuff. haha oh and i saw Preston and Chantelle in a little cafe in Brighton....that was entertaining.

Going to carry on this week with bass and electric..should be up on myspace soon.

willIAM.x

_ and so it continues

Went into the studio yesterday to try and remember how to use te damn thing. Turns out I couldn't...and spent hours with a dodgy desk and dodgy inputs. Was fairly annoyed.

BUT..I am due to go in tomorrow, to record drums for Plastic Greed, so wish me luck. Lord knows I need it.


willIAM.x