BITS AND, indeed, BOBS

Hey kids! So, yes... I haven't been able to get you a video yet this week. We'll hopefully be filming tomorrow, but it'll depend on how I'm feeling. The plan had been to record a couple today, but I woke up not exactly feeling in the right mood.

In short... the last month or so has taken its toll a bit. I suppose it's cumulative stress, from my parents being in and out of hospital, then needing to be cared for, coupled to trying to make a living and having deadlines that had to be met. 

Then there were various other family issues floating around (my eldest daughter was also in hospital for a few days). And then I woke up this morning feeling stressed and tense, which has been building for a few days, but couldn't put my finger on why. Then Sanya reminded me of how the last six weeks or so have been, and it was like... "Oh... oh yeah... it'll be that then"...!

So, bear with us. I'm hoping there'll be a video this week - I want there to be - but as you all so kindly remind me, family and health and whatnot obviously have to come first. 

In other news... planning for Digi Live is moving forwards tentatively. Sanja and I spoke with the Chunky Fringe boyz last week, and can now confirm that Chunky Fringe will definitely be going ahead on the Saturday (Covid-dependent, obviously). As for whether there'll be anything else going on across the weekend (apart from Digi Live, natch)... watch this space. 

I know a few of you enjoy my music (and it is, literally, a few...!), but I'm also in the latter stages of finishing my album. I kind of consider this my first proper album, as it doesn't use samples, but I'm very, very pleased with it. I've been very ruthless in terms of quality control with it. Partly, that's down to getting the running order right, as I want it to flow. I also invested in some new mastering software, and I'm very pleased with the results. Mastering is a dark art and, I've learned, as much of a language to learn as music. 

I wasn't going to feature any existing songs on the album, but having given a couple of them a new mastering/mix, I changed my mind. Everything else will be brand new, though. Plus, as it stands, because it's almost entirely keyboard-based, it'll just be me 'playing' it all. Though I'm actually thinking of releasing it under a different name, just because it feels like a real step forward. And Mr Biffo comes with a certain degree of baggage...

Sinking myself into Logic Pro has been a real life-saver this past year. I kind of wish I'd discovered making music much earlier in life, as I get totally lost in it. As I've said many times, I'm just doing it for the love of doing it, and if others enjoy it... that's a lovely bonus. I'll let you know when I have some idea of when it might be out. 

Lastly, if you do want your Paul and Sanja fix... I do recommend our podcast, Between You And Me. I think there's enough of us being us in there that it's entertaining for those who aren't just Marillion fans. The next few weeks we're cringing about a bit, because we end up talking about how we met... and we both feel horribly exposed by it! I mean, I'll probably just bottle it, and end up editing it out. Aaaaaanyway...

That's it for now. Hope you're all doing okay.

P.