tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:/blogs/blog-news?p=1
Blog / News
2017-01-15T20:56:52+00:00
©2012-2014 Marcie Mycroft
Latest music and Blog Posts from UK based Pop Singer/Songwriter Marcie Mycroft
Marcie Mycroft
Marcie Mycroft
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Marcie Mycroft
marcie@marciemycroft.com
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/4324783
2016-08-14T22:21:04+01:00
2016-08-14T22:23:50+01:00
NEW ALBUM NEWS : 'When We Were Raw'
I've just scheduled my new album 'When We Were Raw' for digital release on December 5, because I have some big personal tragic stuff to deal with at the moment so I'm taking every day at a time and living with prayers and hope. I plan on making some videos and shoot a bunch of new photos once my mascara stops permanently running. I think this album is my best work in spite of 18 months of total emotional exhaustion, losing half a stone and gaining life lessons. I got to play everything pop, country, jazz, indie, reggae and some Rn'B but they all sound like me (Marcie) so I'm happy. Thanks for keeping the faith, I'll be back better and stronger soon! :)<br><br>Track Listing is:<br><br>1. When We Were Raw<br>2. Anything Country<br>3. That’s Not Rock And Roll<br>4. 2008 (Twenty o’ Eight)<br>5. That's What Hurt Me The Most<br>6. Feel Like I’m 21<br>7. More than one way to love<br>8. Keep Ups<br>9. Eff U<br>10. Blindside
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/4082382
2016-03-10T20:55:52+00:00
2017-01-15T20:56:52+00:00
Hands Clean
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/93278/2433cb5e5b8917c011ee77bd5a396ae9062596c2/medium/marcie.jpg?0" class="size_m justify_left border_" />As a big Alanis fan I loved 'Hands Clean' and as I have neglected my fans on social media for a long time (but not in my heart and mind) I thought it was time I explained.<br><br>Recording my 'Bed ' album last year and the writing leading up to it was my way of throwing myself into my work after coming out of a friendship and feeling very broken. I won't say 'relationship' because it was one sided and meant much more to me than it deserved to, I just didn't realise for a long time, but nevertheless it took me a year to get over it all. So for most of last year I was hiding from standing still too long and moping forever so I and threw myself into anything and everything, and then went months in the opposite direction and became a social recluse even to my friends. I hated social media and the whole digital lifestyle, and still prefer real people and a human face and touch to digit dancing anyway. Nevertheless it's a good way to reach you all but I did I blame social media for ruining my life, but I'm over it now.<br><br>Two months ago I met someone else and decided to trust again, but the fun I had and finding I'm capable of sharing my real thoughts more than I had for ages, meant that I was distracted from writing and recording again for 'Anything Country'. Also I had to find myself additional day work to live and eat so that has meant even less time to do what I love.<br><br>Still with me so far? What i'm saying is I'm a real person with highly emotional feelings, so I do my best work when I put myself first and can focus on letting out what's in my heart. Whenever I was too happy it was always harder to write my best songs, I mean like nobody wants to hear "I'm so happy, I have the perfect lover and everything I want I get" as much as "You did me wrong, my heart is in pieces and now you're gone". Now my latest relationship didn't work out I'm kind of not even mad or sad or angry but I feel like I'm full of ideas again and ready to write with a smile and not through tears like when I was working on 'Bed'. I just wrote a rocking punk song in 5 minutes called 'That's what hurt me the most" but it's reflective not sad or angry and I was smiling when I just sang a guide track recording on my recording deck.<br><br>I'm saying thanks for your support and patience in waiting for my next album which I'm still breaking myself into pieces trying to get out in June. I have just about 10 songs, of which only four are recorded so far and I have a block of three days next week to try and finish three more to get back on course. I'm human and I keep a lot to myself but now I'm sharing the reasons for my roller coaster fall from social media with you, because some of you are probably like me and will get that. A brave face never won any prizes but taking time out to come back a bit wiser will hopefully put a new shine on my music. I no longer need anyone's approval but my own. I'm excited about this album and I can't wait to sing the vocals and let you hear it. I don't need to impress a future partner or friend anymore, i approve and that's all that matters and my hands are clean again.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/3870825
2015-09-27T15:22:14+01:00
2015-09-27T15:27:00+01:00
My big 'Bed' debut show
Last night I played my first show, at Gun Factory Studios in London, after three years since I set out as a solo artist. I decided to do an online streamed concert as an experiment, not only with technology but also because I wanted to reach as many of my fans and followers in the music markets of the world. Additionally I'm pseudo American in many ways and realise my sound lends itself to the sounds and genre of country too so it decided to play as late at night as I could in the UK allowing for studio time and rules, so my show went out at 10pm from London. I wanted to play at 1am so may another time if I can arrange to have the help. The show also gave me the chance to put myself up there under pressure doing something I love so I hope that came through in what you were watching, because I felt so free and relaxed and on the biggest high for ages. Now I know I'm a 'proper' performer and nothing will ever faze me. I'm my biggest critic and will work even harder now to be good value and bring smiles and fun to what I do and share my heart with you in my songs.<br><br>I arrived at 5pm and we had lots of technical issues with the streaming and my laptop wasn't working so I was thankful to Kevin Jacobs from Live Nation for being there and managing the entire output for me.<br>The show itself went well and I learned so much about how important it is to pace myself and my voice, but only because I ended up shouting a bit at the end after lots of rehearsing earlier. Next time I will just sing a few lines of each song in rehearsal, but most importantly I want to have some singing lessons personal to me so I can improve my range and save my voice! I will be looking around for the right teacher soon and am already having piano lessons every week so my life is totally consumed with my work as a musician now, and I have even more absolute belief in my songs and direction.<br><br>When I have the show footage I'm planning to make some highlights videos and want to book some live shows at festivals next year. Much as I enjoyed playing the pub and night club circuit in past bands I want to reach out to different audiences this time. It's taken three years to shape my sound and I know exactly what I want to do next and my next album will contain similar 'Marcie' sound songs that I want people to relate to and hopefully get me I'm the process. I hope to get to your city soon to play live and my dream is to come back to New York and visit the Upper East and West sides I loved when I was living there....gossip girl... xoxo
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/3665808
2015-04-19T14:03:24+01:00
2015-04-19T14:35:09+01:00
Four months of finding the right shoes, two of walking in them
I can't believe it's been 6 months since I last blogged! Well yes I can because I know I have grown so much as a musician and indeed a person in that time that it has taken all my energy just to get through it a difficult phase in my life. My new album 'Bed' is scheduled for release on May 25th, and for the first time since I started out on my career in October 2012, I feel as if I've found my sound and style and to me it is the perfect collection I always wanted to make.<br><br>I played my earlier tracks recently and I can see that it was more in an Indie and guitar rock style than Pop and I was veering into 80's and 90's 'Blondie' type territory with songs like 'Scratch, 'Brag' and 'Reputation Points', which isn't a bad thing but I always felt there was something missing in my own interpretation and I was never that angry or looking to stand on a pop punk soapbox anyway. The missing ingredient was a beat I couldn't put my finger on until now. I've also had piano lessons and always felt my songs needed more piano, synth and strings to help them flow and also have width, and although I'm still learning I'm able to hear the finished product before I've played a note. It was only when I tried things on the track 'Crave' that I started to be drawn back to my roots, which are more pure bubblegum pop with, a sometimes dance rhythm. I love(d) acts like The Sundays , Paramore, Pink, Regina Spector, Vanessa Carlton and tracks like 'Kiss Me' by Sixpence None the Richer and 'Primadonna' (Marina and the Diamonds), and of course Madonna, Gaga, and Britney. Melodies are the single most important thing that make me do any of this and when a tune comes to me out of nowhere it's as if somebody up there wants me to use it because I never sit down with a guitar and set out to write songs, they just come to me and I work backwards from there and then add the chords.<br><br>I've listened to music since I was born and I grew up on US artists so my sound will always tend towards an occasional tendency to go to the country and I have a track on 'Bed' called 'Your Cake' that, to me, adds variation and gives me a chance to strum again :) I was at a friend's house the other day and found myself singing a John Martyn song 'May you Never' which has a very country feel to it but I immediately changed a few chords to make it fit how I felt the song should be coming from me. I feel fortunate in that when I attempt or choose to do a cover of a well-known song I'm not thinking of the original so I don't find myself trying to impersonate the singer and use the same nuances and ad libs they did. A song is a song, melody and lyrics, and that's the beauty and freedom of being able to interpret it how I feel it. If I can't feel a song then my heart won’t be in it and if that's the case then it will show. I doubt I could become a manufactured artist told to sing something I honestly can't engage with, unless I was given freedom to strip it back and make it mine even if it meant changing a few words here and there without detracting from the message.<br><br>Phew, I'm getting all philosophical and preachy to myself which is not my style OMG, but anyway I hope you will give 'Bed' a good listen and let me know if you get what I was trying to put across. Most of all, I hope you're humming the tunes and want to download them and share them with your friends :) I've spent four months recording and making 10 music videos (one for each track on 'Bed') so this time around you will get to see me interpreting the songs as they seem to me, and I guess somewhere in there you will also see an actress who chose music just because she doesn't have the hours in a day to do both...but in her heart the love of acting will stay and come around again I hope.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/3239677
2014-10-19T15:12:40+01:00
2020-06-30T21:08:27+01:00
Staying on my marks as a trolley dolly
Music took a back seat the past couple of weeks to deal with a lot of emotional personal relationship stuff but now I am back and ready to go again. Despite the angst I have with my esteem and self image I guess I'm lucky I can channel that through my songs, but I realise not everyone has that outlet, so if I come across as needy and self analytical in my songs sometimes then it is actually part of my healing process that you get to share . Last week was busy with regular Jane daytime stuff and I was partying yesterday and it is good to have so much manic variety in my life right now. I have some great new tunes in line to be recorded and am actually listening to Radio 1 again which helps me keep current, but I'm back in Live Set mode now for a while and will be in touch with some festivals again for next year.<br><br>I still want to record maybe four more music videos for 'Crave' songs so I will be discussing that with my team this week and hopefully we can do this before the weather changes. I knew I had to record the 'Crave' and 'Autograph' music videos in the sun because I visualised halycon days and a taste of the country when I was singing them. The remaining songs can be shot in the studio so I'm looking for sets where I have enough space to give me the same freedom...and annoy my videographer and AP by not telling them when I'm going to leap out of shot!..although I am getting better at staying on my marks now. Some film sets are good for tight camera work, but not so good for long shot or moving 'dolly' type motion shots so this time I need to think about what I MIGHT do in the videos, although I will always be an improviser since I trained in it :) Of course with a mega budget and Sony studios to manage my entire choreography I could put myself anywhere and play any scene, but we are small fry right now and I have an amazing team that make brilliant stuff and work so well with me, so if I ever did get a big budget then I would keep the same team to manage it we can all all learn by doing.<br><br>I'm really grateful my fan base is growing but I still dream that somebody somewhere may accidentally share my songs to a Mr Big music mogul who has a zillion Facebook followers and I can at least get it heard by the size of audience I need to reach. I don't have the money to do it myself or the know-how so every little bit of help you, my friends, can give me to share my music with your friends is one step closer to my dream. My dream was never fame or X Factor, my dream was always affirmation in my music and acceptance of myself. I would love my words to make a difference to lots of people and my melodies to become songs people will want to sing in their smallest room too, so any name dropping with 'Marcie' in it would be welcomed.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/3146883
2014-08-20T22:34:22+01:00
2014-08-20T22:53:18+01:00
Loving the hate but doing it for the love
I was out an about last week shooting videos for tracks on the 'Crave' album and learned even more about photography and video editing. I had additional help this time, but ended up doing an extra unplanned outdoor shoot for 'Cry it Out' the day before the scheduled studio shoot on Friday.<br><br>On Thursday afternoon we went out to look at a future location and found a wonderful picturesque backdrop by the river with some boats moored. My helper, who is fast becoming like my manager too, only had an older camera in the car with him but we decided to use it to see how we would work together. The location was so good and the weather so bright and sunny that we found ourselves there for over an hour, so we shot the video there and then. The quality is low resolution but good enough to view at smaller screen resolution 640 pixels (for media buff techy fans!), so I uploaded it to You Tube as I was pleased with the scene and what I did with the song completely improvised. I only chose 'Cry it Out' that day on the spot because it has the line "I won't let myself sink" and as we were out on the water it was sink or swim! I didn't consider it one of my strongest tracks when I wrote it and made the album, but the feedback I've had has been positive and I like it more now, so it was a fortuitous choice after all as my first would-be 'single' from 'Crave'.<br><br>I did get one odd 'hater' comment about my singing, but I know I am unique and have a weird voice anyway so please don’t compare me with ‘The Voice’ or X Factor ‘proper’ singers. I'm not a fan of You Tube 'likes' and 'dislikes', because it encourages trolls and anyone who does not personally like me or is intent on trying to bring me down, assuming they think as an unsigned pauper new artist I am 'up there' in some way... so I take that as a compliment :D. Rihanna's song 'Dem Haters' sums it up well, and one of my true fans said "If you have haters you're doing good", so that made me smile with gratitude, what a fabulous line to believe in! My simple view is to ignore haters because they don't matter or affect me, so it's all for nothing.<br><br>The following day we were in the studio shooting videos for 'Dignity in a Shell', 'One of Those' and 'Brag' so I can't wait to see them finished soon. I'm practising piano every day and rehearsing the 'Crave' songs that will be in my live show, once I am ready (and get some chances set up), and there is a lot of marketing to do so I am always trying to be the best I can be at this to stay ready to perform as an artist. That's all I can ask of myself and the rest is out of my hands.<br><br>I am very happy though I stuck with finishing 'Crave' when I wanted to die some days. Now there is no stopping me and I'm here to stay. I'm already writing for my next album next year, and may release a few 'singles' of new songs I write that can't wait until they find their way on the album! Thank you for believing in me and supporting me, it means a lot and I owe you all a personal hug one day :D
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/3091040
2014-07-22T16:08:37+01:00
2014-07-22T16:09:44+01:00
Living in the moment
My latest album 'Crave' is now available (19 June) for download and/or streaming from Amazon. iTunes, Spotify, Google Play and many more. I will write about the experience and progress in my next post but today I wanted to say this because it resonated with me.
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<br>Just reading Taylor Momsen's Wiki entry (I love her voice and band 'The Pretty Reckless'). I had no idea she has been a Model, Actress and Singer. She says "Music is where I can be me. Acting is easy. I've been doing it for so long and I totally love it. But you're playing a character instead of yourself. Music is more personal because you're writing it and you're involved in every step of it."
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<br>I have been a model, actress and singer too and had to make a choice in October 2012 to do this for the same reason. I haven't achieved anywhere near her standard of experience and great work but my feelings are similar as an unsigned pretty unknown performer.
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<br>Acting is about living your character in the moment through yourself. Singing is about being naked in the moment living only as yourself. Music is also in my hands and I can play every day and indulge myself for hours writing songs and am happy letting out my unique feelings and thoughts. Acting is wonderful when you have a role to work towards and a partner to play to, but lonely when you are talking to yourself as somebody else reading monologues, and however hard you try to create an audience it is still just you and somebody else's words you are saying to the space or walls. You have to imagine the expressions and feedback. With music the feedback is in how my heart feels about what I am singing out loud as myself.
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<br>If I were acting every day I may never have picked up my guitar again, it is hard to do both. I did not make the choice because I had given up on acting or thought I had a go and was not good enough, just that I had the songs in my head and had to get them down and it took me over. I did not know I could confidently sing them either, until I had to as there was nobody to help me and I had started recording by then. Since then I have worked on singing and playing and learning piano so I am doing my best to live in the moment every day now.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/3039001
2014-06-25T12:09:35+01:00
2014-06-25T12:10:19+01:00
It's so positively nourishing to say
....That ....I've just finished putting down all of the music tracks and arrangements for my forthcoming new album 'Crave', after four months or so and many hours of late nights. I've not decided the final track running order listing, but these are the songs:
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<br>1. Brag
<br>2. Demigod
<br>3. Freefall
<br>4. Crave
<br>5. Reputation Points
<br>6. For saying Yes
<br>7. Dignity in a shell
<br>8. Autograph to You (All’s Fair in Love)
<br>9. Do it for the Love
<br>10. Cry it out
<br>11. One of Those
<br>12. Don’t make me Bitch
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<br>I've had lots of mini stresses and strains, and I only realised yesterday that my posture is not good when I'm sitting down playing or leaning over the mixing desk, and that's why I've had all kinds of nervous tension and muscle strains. I had blood tests for anemia and allergies because I have been so tired too but they didn't find anything yet so I think it's just that I've been overdoing things. Also I had extreme hypertension and tingling in my hands from too many hours without a break, and nowhere near enough water so that I've dehydrated. I've stopped drinking too much coffee too because that was making it worse and there have been tons of tears. My sleep pattern has been bad for ages.
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<br>Today I am a bit better and drinking lots of water and lemon to help my voice ready to sing for you! The good news is I have done the hardest part so will be laying down the vocals over the next few weeks and singing my new songs acoustically so I can feel more free when it comes to the ad-libbing :)!
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<br>There are a lot more keyboards on this album and I have tried some new beats, but I think it is very much a progression from 'Valid'. All the songs have my sound and I think fit together as a collection. I will spend an age mixing it this time after learning so much about levels and production so I hope I will get it right first time.
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<br>I EXPECT 'Crave' to be submitted for distribution to the online stores around the beginning of August, so it hits my October target at the latest. Some stores and streaming sites can list it within a few days, others can take 6-8 weeks. I will upload it to my own website as soon as it is ready, which will have samples of every track. I will keep you posted though and upload some samples and full versions in sites such as Reverbnation so you can hear it first!
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<br>Here's a sample lyric line from the title track 'Crave'. I wrote it for a girl I was thinking about, which is very left field and unique for me, but I had to write about it because it's been on my mind a lot.
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<br>"In an ordinary world a lot of gumption gets the girl
<br>But it’s so positively nourishing to say….that I ....
<br>
<br>Crave for you
<br>I wanted to stay with you
<br>I made a mistake with you
<br>I crave for you"
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<br>Enjoy the sun!
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/2986382
2014-06-02T09:16:05+01:00
2014-06-02T09:26:11+01:00
It's Crave!
It's official, my new album will be called 'Crave' and most of the songs have been agreed now, plus I managed to do the artwork and agree on the best image after some great feedback from you my lovely friends and fans! I have taken an age to record the title track and it has changed from a ballad to being a semi-dance rhythm. I am more influenced by dance and hip hop on this album and there are a lot more keyboards than on 'Valid'. <br><br>Speaking of which I am having piano lessons and really loving the new perspective it gives me to my songwriting. I have to be careful though because the finger numbering is different to guitar and I find myself forgetting that my thumb is Number 1, and not T as it is in guitar notation!<br><br>I also had a message from a Hip Hop Instrumentalist who wanted to use some of my vocals in a collabartion (ala a '.feat Marcie Mycroft' type thing), and I was up last night recording 7 tracks/samples for him to use. I chose song ideas that may not be on 'Crave', although one or two of them sounded better when I sang them so I may put them on the album, nothing is decided until the last moment with me! I wrote one melody in the car yesterday, but it is so strong as a chorus I am thinking about going straight in and recording it today above others I have in line for the album. That is how I worked on 'Valid' but I found that if I had such a strong vibe about a song and was humming it all day then it just had to be included.<br><br>I am itching to put something out there for you but have decided to wait until the whole album project is complete and I have 14 or 15 songs to choose from so I have thought it through fully. I have recorded 7 songs so far but not the vocals, I am doing all the vocals together in the final week. I will then spend at least a week on mixing because that was a big lesson I learned from recording 'Valid', to play the album to death on all kinds of equipment until it sounds as perfect technically as I can get it with my low cost simple means! :) Things like reverb and compression can make a big difference to the quality, particularly on vocals, and I wish I knew more about panning left and right channels, but that's why sound engineers are so brilliant. It's a real art and I have spent weeks on it and learned a lot through trial and error but I still know I would prefer some professional help too as the late nights kill me. I want to get back to a normal persons sleep pattern soon and enjoy the summer, and I need energy so I can walk miles again, sitting in a chair mixing music at 2am is not good! Listen out for some new stuff soon and thanks for following me and sticking with me on this, I promise myself (and you) that 'Crave' will be worth the scars!
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/2851139
2014-04-07T19:57:20+01:00
2020-06-30T21:08:06+01:00
Unravelling Like a Diva
Yes I'm "Unravelling like a Diva" at the moment, which is a line from my song 'Autograph to You' I was working on today. It's funny how things look different a few months on. I recorded this song on 28th September last year (2013). I wasn't happy with it being good enough for my 'Valid' album so I left it out; it was too busy and messy. It's a pop song with a bit of a country rock feel but I've found myself singing it ever since and it's grown on me. I went back to it over the weekend and added some bass and a remix, and I'm doing the vocals again late tonight, but much better. Since I had some lessons I can hear the difference in my voice from the first 'Autograph' version in September :) I think it's going on the new album. It's hard to know if it really is up to my fussy standard or I just got used to it, but it's catchy enough so I hope you will like it too...assuming I don't change my mind again. The new album should be ready around October but I may take longer if I'm not happy with it then. I'm looking around for a good mastering studio in the meantime.<br><br>I've also finished recording all the music for Demigod and mixed it on the way so I just have the vocals to do this week hopefully, then that's two songs in the new album can. I may have 14 or 15 songs on the next album because I have that many sketched out that I'm singing every day and liking, so I may include extras as 'Bonus' tracks.<br><br>I am waiting on confirmation that I will be appearing at a UK open air festival in the summer and I was very excited to get a reply from them with their initial interest. I love playing outdoors and there is a top name band on the bill (OMG I am dying to say!), so I hope that if I get a slot I will be on the same day as them.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/2711866
2014-03-08T16:49:46+00:00
2014-03-08T16:50:04+00:00
New songs and my Writing style
I have a lot of new songs partially written for my next album and just finished 'Cry it Out' today and have laid down the drum track. Next up is to work on the music next week so I am back in the studio on Monday. The next album is not out until late this year and I have time to record it but I would rather record when I feel like it and have the ideas strong in my head so I can do my best work. It must be hard for artists when they have the mega-buck record deal (that I want too of course!) and have to make albums to order. I know I will always have at least 12 of my best songs a year ready to put on an album but I never know exactly when. Sometimes I have a jewel of an idea in my sleep, or three together, and then nothing for weeks. I cannot easily write to order, they come to me when I am not expecting them and the other day when I sat down with my guitar to work on an idea I had I found myself drifting back into trying to write, rather than just letting melodies come to me wherever I am and then grabbing my voice recorder to hum them down, which is what happened on every track on 'Valid'. Trying to write songs with the guitar again did not work and I found myself brain tired and falling asleep on my bed from it, it is no longer the right way for me to write and I know that now. I also found I was writing melodies to follow the chords I wanted to play, rather than having the tune and then finding the chords afterwards on the piano. I have learned so much in the past two years and know I am doing my best work ever and my songs are improving all the time. I am my biggest critic and you would have to have heard an early punk song I wrote with my brother years ago called ‘Santa Clause and the Hindu Servant’ to know how much I have improved!<br><br>I found some great singing and vocal warms ups online so I am working on my voice every day a lot more now and think I will be singing better on my next album. I have a deep voice so as I said before I will never be falsetto-ing or doing the 'soul' warble X-factor voice (which I love from those who still have an original voice, not the Beyonce/Diva imitators). Amy Winehouse was unique, there will be few others like her and I like the fact she didn't care what people thought about her unique voice and was true to what she felt. It was a big lesson to me to stick to what I have and not care that a lot of people may hate me and think I am weird doing any of this.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/2711865
2014-03-08T16:47:11+00:00
2014-03-09T09:55:21+00:00
My Debut in Print
I've had a busy few weeks writing new songs and still practicing most days. Unfortunately I have no news or feedback from any of my gig or band search adverts or applications yet, but it was good to be featured in Love Music Magazine's March issue. I am actually pretty used to doing interviews including face to face ones and films from my former experiences as a model and actress, but answering questions about music is closer to my heart. I could have given the usual standard answers about being influenced only by a vision from God and born through hardship to play music in order to follow my “dreams” but I decided I would just be myself. I’ve pretty much blogged for years and written in forum and network media posts I had done. I think being professionally qualified in Marketing and having years of experience helps too, but nevertheless I will never fake my answers or try to make them more attractive just to be popular. It was hard for me to write about having a bad lisp and looking back on having to have speech therapy and voice lessons but it was my interview and what I thought was something personal from me that the readers may have wanted to know. I also remember my first day in Drama school there were a group of disruptive guys who took the place over and mocked my speech in front of all the other students. I wanted to leave but I stayed, they left, and I went on to finish what I started, I am no quitter ever. Anyway I don’t kid myself I have gotten anywhere at all at this stage of my music career, but all I know is that I have made a small start but far more progress than I ever imagined as a solo singer. I still can’t believe I am out there alone and I can speak better, without hiding behind the singer!<br><br>My Facebook fan following and YouTube views are rising and my ranking in the Reverbnation charts has taken me up to #7 for all genres in Cambridge, but these are small steps that will at least mean a few more people are hearing what I do.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/2543686
2014-02-08T09:53:22+00:00
2014-02-08T10:11:40+00:00
A Princess for one day
Since I last blogged on January 16 I have been really busy. After seeking some festival gigs and finding out that some of them won't allow me to use backing tapes, I have advertised for a band. Having been in a few bands I know it is not going to be easy finding musicians to work on the 'Marcie' project and material rather than just wanting to be musicians in their own band. Of course I will credit and reward everybody who ever performs with me as much as I can but I know from my own experience it was always about being in a 'band'. This is a band though, Marcie Mycroft, and so long as they buy into my music (and I am open to songwriting collaboration too) and it maintains my style and sound then I am happy. I will just keep a tight reign on 20 minute drum solos and glory seeking guitar riff gods who want to solo over my singing too much! Good musicians don't do that and it's about a team effort and the final product, but I have auditioned and jammed with those types before so I am ready to meet all types. I love innovation and really need some boys in my band to help now, this is exhausting!<br><br>On Tuesday I was shooting two videos for 'Fine' and 'Valid' and it was wonderful. I have been asked to do an interview in a magazine in March about it so I won't steal that thunder, suffice to say it was great to do some acting again and to be a Princess for one day. All of the clothes in the films are my own by the way so I hope they fitted the story lines and me :)<br><br>I am glad to have over 700 Facebook followers now and that my music is very slowly getting heard. I was thrilled with Kevin Mann's review of my 'Valid' album in his column in 'Love Music Magazine (Issue 8)' and that although I have a deep and dark unusual voice, he saw some good in my songs I think. I wish I was squeaky, shrilling and warbled but I can only sing as I feel and to fit my own songs and key so that is my USP I guess. I think there are lots of awesome singers (Alanis Morrisette, Bob Dylan, Bowie, Amy Winehouse etc..I love them all) who have characteristic voices that people either love or hate. Alanis is my idol but one of my best friend's says she can't stand her "whiny voice" so I am ready for the haters there too about mine. They are my songs and I sing how I feel and as best I can within my own range and I don't kid myself I'm a 'proper' singer with a three octave range, many of who I know are still also sitting in their bedrooms thinking about having a go at music one day. I know this is never going to be easy and I will get all kind of flak from people who don't know me but will try and spoil my party but I am strong enough now to keep to my music and think to myself "...and you are?" so that I hope it will never get to me. If people don't like my husky voice and weirdness then there will be no apologies anymore nor will I be having any feelings of inadequacy, and my answer would be "go and listen to the Bombay Bicycle Club instead then"!!
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/2415088
2014-01-17T00:51:14+00:00
2014-01-17T02:11:15+00:00
Is that the time?
It's past midnight and I'm still working on emails, ordering band gear and writing to all manner of radio presenters, promoters and venues to get my show on the road. I have no idea how I ever managed 9-5 when I was playing in bands part-time too a few years ago, because it really is much more than a regular full time job being a professional now. However this time I am a solo singer and have had to do everything that a band would usually divvy up between them. I soooo would love a manager right now!<br><br>I was lucky enough to have my song 'Bet on Me' played on DJ Kevin Mann's Sunday Spread shows at Total Radio UK, and wrfn1025.com, and being sandwiched around Pink and Maroon 5 was fantastic, I am a fan of them both. <br><br>'Valid' the album is on sale at Amazon and Google Play and a few others and i-tunes (I'm told) should be adding it soon too so I am thrilled my music is gradually being heard more<br><br>Being heard is the bit that really matters to me and from then on all I can do is to carry on improving and writing new songs. I have three of four gems (by my standard) already sketched out for my next album but that won't be until very late this year or early next. The rest of this year is about getting out there on stage wherever I get a chance. I have tried festivals too so hope to hear back so I can book my summer holidays :)<br><br>I was out on Monday with a great photographer friend who is going to be shooting four new music videos for me plus a lot of stills. I am planning on doing 'Scratch', 'Fine', 'Valid' and 'At Seventeen' (cover version) so I can add them to YouTube and reach more new fans. We looked at a great studio in deepest Cambridgeshire and I have seen pictures of another fantastic couple of venues so we are waiting for dates now so I can get a shoot schedule planned. <br><br>Phew!! I'm so tired but just to say I am so pleased you are sticking with me and continuing to support me in Facebook, Twitter and beyond. <br>We are all #Valid in our own sweet way :)!<br><br>Marcie x
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/2282567
2013-12-24T12:10:28+00:00
2013-12-24T13:53:08+00:00
From little acorns to big ears
So my song 'Scratch' is at #1 in NumberOne Music's Pop chart in the UK and #6 for all Genres in the UK? I am very grateful people are playing my songs because this chart is based on number of plays (not sales). I'm still amazed that from my bit of fun writing a few songs in my bedroom last year it's now finding it's way into lots of people's ears :)! <br><br><br>Have a wonderful Christmas and happy new year everyone and thanks so much for your love, support and well wishing that has kept me going this year through some difficult times emotionally. I am now very happy and can't wait until next year to get my show on the road! <br><br>Much love, Marcie x
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/2242022
2013-11-27T12:00:17+00:00
2013-12-20T14:27:40+00:00
Me and the boys..I mean toys
I am sooo pleased, I finally finished my next 'album' or collection as I prefer to call it whilst I am unsigned and doing all this music making including mixing, tears and tantrums) on my own :) <br><br>The final song 'Valid' took me 6 days and even now I am not happy with parts of the vocal but it will do as a demo, It was longer than I wanted (6 minutes) but it didn't seem that way and I didn't know what to leave out without spoiling the tone and emotion I had for it. <br><br>Yesterday I agreed my 'live' set, 10 songs plus I need to add two cover version songs which I will have to record backing tracks for so they are my own version. I will be getting an amplifier and stage microphone soon but for the next 2-3 months I will be practicing like crazy to get my show together. I can play all of them acoustically right now but playing along with fuller my backing tracks means I will learn a lot about what to play and what to leave to 'the band', because ideally I want to concentrate on my singing like many singer songwriters I admire (Alanis, Avril, Taylor). I will play as many of the kooky riffs I played on the album as I feel comfortable doing without distracting me from my voice work so I hope it will still all sound like my own work by the end. It IS all my own work, but when you play live on stage people don't know that and I have always been in a band before. They may think (as somebody did who emailed me) that I had session musicians playing on my album, rather than doing every single scrap of it alone. I know I'm limited as a guitarist and certainly as a keyboard player, sound engineer and drum programme, but I did my best to at least get my songs sounding like I hear them as a songwriter.Until my dreams of grandeur are realised and it's me and the boys, it will just be me and my toys!
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/1573968
2013-09-09T05:48:08+01:00
2014-03-03T21:04:57+00:00
The Fame Game
I was asked this today in an email from a fan: <br><br>"Do you ever wonder why you're not famous already???"<br><br>This was my reply:<br><br>"I only started on this trail last October and since then have gradually been writing and rehearsing my songs to totally get my act together, so to speak. Fame? I don't chase fame, I chase my passion and I love my music regardless, because it means something to me. People can spend $millions on promoting themselves and still not achieve 'fame'. When I am totally ready I will likely send out to A&R companies and try and set up some live dates and after that it is all out of my hands. I am not an X-Factor or Big Brother wannabe, so 'fame' is not my game, but my objective is to get my music heard and liked by as many people as I can and if that = fame, then so be it :) If you can help me with that by sharing my music and 'liking' me in Facebook etc and telling all your friends then that is a small and very welcomed help and start for me."<br><br>I hope that answers anybody else's questions too or those who may think this is a passing phase for me or I'm totally off my trolley! It may have started out as a project, but in my own mind I loved my songs and knew I was falling in love again with my music and finding my real centre again. Since then I am improving my work and it's all coming back to me now.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/1566435
2013-09-07T13:54:34+01:00
2013-09-07T13:54:34+01:00
Dungaree Man at Midnight
I had to sing 'Dungaree Man' last night at around midnight, because it was pin drop quiet and I turned the lights off and sang it in the dark with my eyes closed a lot and really felt it more. My songs matter to me. This one is about anybody who realises there is more to life than ambition, greed or competition and wants to give that all up for a simple life. I guess I did that by moving to the country in some ways. It's about retiring and running away too, so a 'Dungaree Man' is my way of finding a simple uncomplicated person who does not need material things to be happy, or has retired and now enjoys the quiet life. It's not so much about me, I like being busy and no way want to retire I would be bored to death! <br><br>Some of my songs are semi personal and what I may have wished for sometimes or dreamt for but a lot just comes to me from somewhere else, so I write them to fit something I can relate to mildly. It's like in Method Acting where we draw upon an emotional situation we have lived and superimpose that into the scene or onto the character opposite us, so if we cry we are crying for real and not acting. I do that with the ideas I have so I really feel the words and situation more. It took me an hour to come down afterwards, I was hyper and emotional...but happy, I love what I do and know my songs are improving now. Next stop, I want to have some professional singing lessons and get my songs re-mastered and mixed professionally too to see how they can sound :)<br><br>'Dungaree Man' may not be online for a few weeks and I'm off to Australia soon for a holiday but the video will be out there online when my camcorder is repaired. I may even shoot it in Australia :)
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/1558592
2013-09-06T07:17:48+01:00
2013-09-06T07:17:48+01:00
On getting my claws out
I've just finished the lead vocal for my next song 'Scratch' and I have been really fussy about everything, fussier than ever. I work on my diction a lot and never realised it matters until I heard some recent stuff on the radio the other day and couldn't make out a word of what it was all about. Why write meaningful lyrics if they are going to be mumbled or drowned out in the mix?<br><br>From when I was little I had a bad lisp and only in the past few years I had speech therapy and worked hard in my acting classes to try and improve it. I'm very self conscious and still feel I have it there but to me it sounds better than it did and improving my diction has helped...Shakespeare monologues have really helped a lot and a brilliant few tips I had from a teacher at Drama School, thanks Ann.<br><br>My video camera is broken so I won't have it back for a few weeks. I can't wait to upload 'Scratch' but I want to do the video at the same time as it will help when I promote it, so I am going to hold off my excitement in uploading it.<br>I was told today by a close friend who gets to hear it first that it's my best song so far, I think so too. It has me getting a bit heaver musically and I had to push out the vocal a lot more and totally got off on it :)<br><br>My next song came to me yesterday when I was driving.It's called 'Dungaree Man' and will be either track #7 or the final track on my next album project. I call them 'album's' because despite being unsigned and not having any help with this I like to think I'm a record buying member of the public too and as I've heard a zillion albums I think I have a good idea of the running order of my songs. I also had five songs I was originally going to put on the album but wrote four better ones and immediately had to put them in. Sometimes you just know and 'Dungaree Man' is another one. I haven't written the middle 8 yet but can hear the arrangement in my head like it's finished and I'm going to keep it simple and soft in places. <br>I see companies online that offer professional mastering services so I may try that and see if my songs can me remixed a little better too. I would love just to sing and write and not have to worry so much about setting cameras up and hours and hours of mixing, but from little acorns to getting my claws out I suppose :) <br><br>
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/1471053
2013-08-24T06:56:55+01:00
2013-08-24T06:56:55+01:00
On not warbling like a Diva
Wow it's been a busy time since I last blogged. I decided to push on making videos for my songs so I can get them on You Tube. In my experience most people like to see something visually to better appreciate the songs so I am planning a video for every new songs I do, plus I will probably do two or three more from my first project.<br><br>I practice every day now and yesterday I was making the 'I Grew Up today' video which took from 3pm-6pm and then 7.30-3am, so all in all it took the usual 10 hours or so. I'm planning on recording one or two new songs in the next two weeks plus I now have 10 songs I am trying to get together for a live set. It keeps evolving because as I record a new song I'm challenged to play it live if I think it's the same level as my others and good enough to go in my set. Of course it's what my fans think that counts but I'm a fan too so I hope I have a good feel for knowing what my best songs are, although please tell me yourselves, I would love some feedback :)<br><br><br>I'm really fussy too because I wasn't happy with my intonation in one of my songs so I re-did it this morning. After singing 'I Grew Up today' a zillion times yesterday for the video shoot I found I was hitting everything much better with my range and although I would love to have professional lessons I try and do as much as I can myself with breathing exercises I learned as an actress. I know I will never be a three octave Diva like lots I admire so I try and keep with my own comfortable range. My songs mean more there than if I were to try and be a 'real' or 'proper' singer as I call them. I'm happy with me and that's the best place I've been in for ages.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/1253286
2013-07-24T12:15:01+01:00
2013-07-24T12:15:01+01:00
The Overnighters
I said in my last blog post I would concentrate on rehearsing my set but I lied! I started humming a tune on Monday morning in the kitchen, and within an hour or so I had it down complete on my voice recorder. It felt so meaningful to me that I had to record it, so I was up until 2am recording it ('And Lost') that day! Yesterday I heard it again in the morning and had the video idea in my head too, so I spend 10 hours filming and producing it and getting it online. Most times I write a song and leave it for a while and slowly add bits and plan it in to record for my next project/album. But sometimes these things just happen, and when they do I go with my heart because these are the moments I will probably write my best songs. 'My Sweet Armageddon' and 'Bet on Me' were the same, so the first three tracks on my next album are all overnighters.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/1115452
2013-07-12T07:29:33+01:00
2013-07-12T07:29:33+01:00
An epiphany: Finding my groove...I just did!
Over the past two days I've inadvertently been drawn back to working on half-finished songs for my next album. After recording the first two new songs ('Bet on Me' and 'My Sweet Armageddon') I've found my own style. On my first album I had a lot of ideas that now sound to me as a listener like I was dabbling between 80's pop, country rock, blues/jazz and very current indie-pop in terms of identity. I was finding my style and own sound so it was all a big experiment of sorts and I was just euphoric about actually making it and playing music again after so long away.<br><br>Everything I do now is more choosey and I have just scrapped a few songs I was writing because they don't fit my sound, or I am not inspired by them. However, I started writing a song yesterday called 'Scratch' which was completely out of the blue when I was cooking in the kitchen, but it is totally a 'Marcie' song and is definitely going to be on the album. I grabbed my voice recorder and hummed down the melody and sketchy words and couldn't tear myself away from it for an hour afterwards so dinner had to wait!<br><br>Today I went back to working on a ballad called 'I Grew up today' but it now has my own style and I sang it differently to how I did when I first thought of it three months ago. I have 8 songs now for the 10 song album and am months ahead of schedule so that's progress and I feel I'm making some in my work now.<br><br>I am concious of practising my live set though so after I've finished recording 'Collateral Damage' this weekend (which I am not putting online until my album is ready early next year), next week I am going to practice every day on the set again and limit the time I drag myself away to work on my new songs. The problem I am having is that my new songs are all sounding better than my old ones and I want to immediately record them all so I can add them to my live set with a backing track! It's great being spoilt for choice by my own standards but I'm conscious of making sure I don't spend too long looking for perfection too early on and to just get out there playing, which I will when I know I am gig ready myself :)
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/948917
2013-06-15T19:38:42+01:00
2013-06-15T19:38:42+01:00
Bet on Me Video
I did a video for 'Bet on Me' today, It will be featured in my live set along with other tracks in my next album. I did an acoustic version of Bet on me too and will upload that later maybe :) M x
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/863697
2013-06-03T06:26:39+01:00
2013-06-03T06:26:39+01:00
My writing dilemma
I have seven songs for my next 'album' in progress and being written simultaneously. I tend to flit around and add words and melodies as they come to me when I'm walking around the house, or out in the car or in town, and I hum them into my voice recorder. Come quarter 4 of this year I will virtually have them ready to record.I'm actually writing 'Fighting for us both' with my guitar on my knee as I type this :)!<br><br>However, I have a dilemma today in that I really need to focus on my live set too but I'm being distracted by the fact my new songs are better than my others so I want to write them and record them and include them too!<br>What to do?!
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/829433
2013-05-28T10:27:33+01:00
2013-05-28T10:27:33+01:00
Singing vs Acting
It's official..I love acting but I've always loved playing music better. It gives me something far more personal and I can make up my own words and say them any which way I want to..probably why I enjoy Improvisational acting most too. <br><br>I am trying my hardest to spend time with both of my loves but I get depressed rehearsing lines alone when there are no parts for me right now to work on. Singing my songs and practising my set I can do alone and be happy playing them a zillion times, and creating ideas from scratch and playing guitar is a high I don't need approval for...but of course I hope you like my songs and want to see me :)!
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/739155
2013-05-14T12:17:55+01:00
2013-05-14T12:17:55+01:00
Bet on me...is coming soon
I am recording the final music tracks for 'Bet on Me', but am releasing it online on Friday now as my vocal session is delayed until late tonight and I want this to be my best song so far technically. Right now it sounds just like I heard it in my head and I am happy with it musically too, aside from the obvious need for me to record it in a major recording studio with a professional engineer but that can wait until I get more known :) It will be a featured track on my next album and in my live set.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/631788
2013-04-29T13:43:32+01:00
2013-04-29T13:43:32+01:00
The Live set is in progress
Back from Atlantic City holiday/party break and ran through live set today. 6 songs from PEB plus I will add 4 brand new songs and maybe two or three covers. I think 13 will be enough for now. then I go gig hunting . <br><br>Trophy Wife, Won't be back in a hurry<br>Vanilla Lives, Girl next to the Girl Next Door, Little Pieces, The Big One<br><br>plus my new songs (recording soon): <br>Bet on Me, Collateral Damage, Model Myself of you and one more I will write!
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/523786
2013-04-13T16:27:43+01:00
2013-04-13T16:27:43+01:00
New songs - already started work on the next album!
I've had a great couple of days and song ideas are swimming in my head again. I have 6 new songs and all are far better than my last ones. I have melodies, choruses and verses already recorded in rough form so may include some in my live set, they feel that good by my standards and are more definitive in style..
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/457929
2013-04-02T19:24:54+01:00
2022-05-11T20:07:44+01:00
Nobody said it was easy
I practised my songs today and although I spent hours working on my album over the past few months, playing the songs live is going to be more painful than I remembered! I haven't rehearsed with a band or played live on stage for a few years so today I felt the pain of standing up and strumming barre chords again. I'm giving myself at least two months to be ready to perform so by then I will be totally fine, but my first day back today was like doing a workout after two years of slobbing in front of a TV and my wrist aches like topsy and my back needs a massage! I will be playing every day so in a few days the pain will soon go and I can increase the time until eventually I can play for 4 hours easily like I use to. I'm loving the challenge and am already thinking of how best to adapt the live parts I play to the backing tracks I will use. Of course I can't afford to hire my own touring session musicians just yet lol but I hope to put on a good show that I'm happy with. In a couple of months I will be in touch with some local venues to start with to see if there is a small slot for a partially estranged babygirl with callouses on her fingers again and a warm willing heart :)<br>Appropriate Song playing in my head right now is "The Scientist" by Coldplay (who I love) ...."Nobody said it was easy, No one ever said it would be this hard. Oh, take me back to the start"
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/408461
2013-03-25T18:57:34+00:00
2022-05-11T20:06:42+01:00
A clear direction
I have decided my music career is here to stay and I can run it quite happily with my career as an actress. There is no law to say I have to choose between two things I love and will never give up on, and if anyone is so shallow to suggest I am not 'focused' then they don't know my capacity and desire to express myself via mediums that make me grow and feel free. At the moment things are pretty quiet but If I find music or acting is taking me in a direction where I have big opportunity I will decide then and that will take over for as long as it lasts, but I will still always leave all of my doors open to cameo in and out. I love songwriting and the expression it allows me is the same to playing a character and making her come alive through my inner monologue and own feelings, so having two outlets and using both can only help me get better as both an actress and singer/songwriter. I remember once when I was studying for my Marketing Diploma we were told that a film maker, when asked what business he was in replied "making movies". It was suggested that in order to grow he should really define his industry as "Entertainment". So I am happy to be an entertainer and what I do next could be anything...enough said :)
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/404273
2013-03-25T07:14:11+00:00
2013-03-25T07:14:11+00:00
The past midnight oil
I was up til 3am last night tweaking remixes on my album as I played it in my car and there were some minor changes I had to make. I also needed to design a CD cover so that got me back into Photoshop, which I have used for years in 9 to 5 careers :) .<br><br>My website is now officially online!!<br>www.marciemycroft.com and my CD is available to buy in my store or download online. I am just thrilled to hear my songs streaming and sounding something like the tunes I had in my head last October when I wrote them. Back to working on my live performance set tomorrow and my fingers may burn but my heart is warmer :) Much love xxx
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/398581
2013-03-23T07:00:40+00:00
2022-05-11T20:04:47+01:00
All my own work
Somebody asked me today if I played guitar on my album as he liked it?<br>For the record I have added this to my Bio:<br><br>'Partially Estranged Babygirl' album - All Songs written by Marcie Mycroft,<br>Lead and Backing Vocals: Marcie Mycroft. Marcie plays Ibanez and Ovation Guitars, Roland and Yamaha Keyboards, Bass Guitar and all Drum programming. Produced and Mixed by Marcie Mycroft . Copyright reserved 2013.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/398582
2013-03-23T05:38:30+00:00
2013-03-23T05:38:30+00:00
Learning my own songs from the record!
Practiced my songs on my guitar last night as I need to learn them now so I can play them live :)!! That's the way I work, I write on guitar, scribble chords down and develop on the guitar until the songs are finished, add other instruments during recording and then go back to them on the guitar so I can add in any bits I created during recording. I am adding some covers to my live set too.
Marcie Mycroft
tag:marciemycroft.com,2005:Post/398583
2013-03-22T15:23:14+00:00
2013-03-22T15:23:14+00:00
Doing my best
Hiya<br>I started off with a few songs and before I knew it had an album with the help of Reverb Nation got into letting people other than good friends hear it, as I was a little scared being at the front for the first time as a solo singer! Hope you like my songs at least. I was born into melodies and try and do the best I can with what I have :) xx
Marcie Mycroft