Hope is a Waking Dream

Hello! I've been so lazy with posting lately, I feel really bad. I just started a new college course and I love it. Here's a photo project I've been working on. Thanks to my beautiful sister, Grace. x

Leaflog at HWCH

Hi everyone!

As I'm sure you know, Hard Working Class Heroes is happening again all around Dublin on 6/7/8th of October. There are many exciting Irish acts playing this year including Owensie, Squarehead, Toby Kaar and We are Losers. Top of my list to see this year are Tralee lads, Leaflog. I posted about Leaflog before and I'm really excited that they're coming back to Dublin.

 

Leaflog are an ambient instrumental band taking influence from Godspeed, Sigur Ros and Mogwai. These guys are really something, they remind me of one of my favourite bands, Unwed Sailor. They've only been around a short while but they've had some really exciting stuff happen for them recently. The title track from their EP 'Mayday' was chosen for The Irish Blood Transfusion's Board campaign for World Blood Donor Day and they were commissioned to compose the score for Bill Morrison's experimental film 'Decasia', which they also performed live at the 2010 Kerry Film Festival.

They're playing Saturday, 10:15pm, 8th October in the Grand Social, Lower Liffey Street. I can't wait and I'm going to drag all my friends along with me!

See you there!

 

x

Help Sí fund her album

Hello!
Ten Past Seven's fundit.ie campaign was very exciting.. right down to the last minute! So happy to see them succesfully reach their target. I was genuinely moved by the surge of online support for the project. They didn't waste any time in getting the recording done either, they're already back from their stint at Black Box Studios in France. Phew! You can view some pictures of their recording sessions and shenigans here.

So, now on to the next worthy fundit.ie cause. I've already posted about Sí a few times on the blog. She's a very talented lady and has been working on her debut album for the last 2 years. She recorded at Fergal Lawlor's studio (The Cranberries) and now she just needs the final financial push to fund the duplication, artwork and packaging to get her album all out there She's aiming to raise €1,800 in total and with 5 days to go she's at the 62% mark, with €1,125.. fingers crossed!

I was honoured when Si asked me to design an accompanying booklet for the CD. This is going to consist of a painting of the lovely lady, hand-written lyrics and some extra doodles. I'm really excited about this project and I'm working hard on getting it finished at the moment. I'll post it up as soon as it's done. In the meantime if you have anything to spare for this project, please contribute. €20 will get you a digital download of the album, the CD and an art/lyric booklets designed by me! You can also opt for smaller or larger amounts on the site with various rewards. Please help out if you can!

Fund it HERE!
x

Dorothy and Toto

 

Here's another painting I finished recently. This is for my cousin's daughter, Niamh. She loves the Wizard of Oz so I painted my version of Dorothy and Toto, complete with poppies. The original is going to Niamh, but a few people have asked about this one so I've decided to make prints of this too. I'm in the process of setting up my etsy shop, I'll post here when it's live! Oh, I also set up a tumblr for my art. It's mainly scribbles right now but I'll post my paintings on it when I have them scanned properly. Here's the link, http://jenconnell.tumblr.com/ and I've placed a permanent link in the sidebar too. x

Letter From Belgium EP- Free Download

The new Letter From Belgium EP, LFB003 is available to download for FREE  from mediafire here, or from the bandcamp download link below. The beautiful artwork is by Aoife Barry of Sweet Oblivion and I provide vocals on two of the tracks, 'Still Close' and 'Woodsy'. I'm really excited about this EP, I absolutely love it and I hope you do too. x

New painting

I just finished this new painting today.. I think I'll call her Josephine.

x

I painted this today

I'm really enjoying getting back into painting and illustrating at the moment. Here's a quick snap of a painting I finished today. I'm going to be selling the original and prints of this on etsy very soon. Let me know if you want me to reserve one for you.


Jen x

New Letter from Belgium song: Still Close

Hello!

Here's the new song "Still Close" from Letter from Belgium. Al and I both sang on this one, which was really fun. I haven't recorded vocals on anything in so long. We're both really happy with how it turned out, so we might start a new music project with just the two of us, we'll see! Hope you like it, x

  Still  Close by Letter From Belgium

Ten Past Seven: Help fund their new record

Ten Past Seven want to record new music and hope you will help them out! In case you haven't heard of them, they're an independent experimental/math rock band from Co. Kerry, Ireland. They've been making music for 9 years including, 2 EPs, an album and a split 7 inch. They've toured all over Ireland and the UK and supported bands such as Lightning Bolt, Dj Scotch Egg, Pelican, Deerhoof and Zu.

They're planning to record the new EP this summer at Black Box Studios, France with Spud (Guerrilla Sounds) and Dave Odlum and release it on Outonalimb Records. The target is €5,000 and there's only 32 days left! Really exciting stuff...

Here's their fundit.ie promo video:

Ten Past Seven fundit.ie Promo from ten past seven on Vimeo.

You can contribute on fundit.ie here.

Check out more of their music on their bandcamp, facebook and myspace.

I can't wait to hear the new record, please help them out if you can!

x

Prints and Lockets

I've been working on some drawings lately that I've decided to make into lockets. Here are some quick snaps as a preview. The colour and detail will be a lot more vivid once I scan these properly! The large, round lockets are antique brass with a glass front, where the pictures will be housed. I'm really excited about making these, I'm just waiting on the locket parts to arrive! I'll post pictures as soon as they're finished. I'll also be selling prints, drop me a mail at jennyandthegreenribbon@gmail.com if you're interested and I'll hold one for you. x

'Rosa'

'Ana'

'Gretchen'

'Penny at the Beach'

'Zombie Alice'

'Jenny and the Green Ribbon'

'Layla and the Glow Worms'

'Snow White'

'Sally'

That's all for now,


x

By Now, I can Barely Remember the Sound of Your Voice

 Hey everyone,

Here's the new song from Letter From Belgium in case you haven't heard it yet. It's total loves. x


  By Now, I Can Barely Remember The Sound Of Your Voice by Letter From Belgium

The lovely Squarehead.

I finally moved up to Dublin this week, after what seemed like forever. I've had such an amazing week, moved into a beautiful cottage (with a music room and everything), went to Boojum for the first time, serious NOMS and it was Record Store yesterday too- best day ever! Went to the park, then popped into Tower Records to catch Squarehead for a bit, drank Sangria in the Market Bar and then loitered around outside R.A.G.E. drinking cans and finally went downstairs to see Squarehead play the best I've ever seen them. The loveliest bunch of lads and just in case you haven't seen it yet, here's the sweet video for their new single 'Midnight Enchilada' directed by Rupert from BATS. x


Squarehead 'Midnight Enchilada' from Rupert Morris on Vimeo.

Casey Weldon

Cats, dogs and Bill Murray. Excellent. Discovered Casey Weldon on boooooom recently and I love his stuff, really fun! Prints of most of these are available to buy on his website here. Ill definitely be purchasing the first one, "Murray Time"!

Grace at LFW

Hey! Here's a vid of my sister, Grace walking in the Horace show at LFW a few weeks ago. No big deal, no big deal. ARGH! So proud. Gonna stop gushing now. x


HORACE A/W11 LFW from Philip Grisewood on Vimeo.

Band?

Hello!

I'm dying to start a new band. Sort of a dreamy, surfy 60s garage rock kinda thing, influences would be The Beach Boys, The Vivian Girls, La Sera, Beach House, The Dum Dum Girls, The Belles, The Cramps, The Sonics and any other 60s garage rock bands really.

Yeah, so I'm writing some songs at the moment and I'm going to have 2 vintage organs once I move house so I'll probably be playing those and singing. I have someone who might be playing guitar, but it's not definite. I'd definitely be open to co-writing stuff too so, If anyone in Dublin wants to get involved mail me at the address below. If you can sing too that'd be amazing as harmonies rule.

Mail me at jen.a.connell@gmail.com

Listening to this right now. Gore AND sweet melodies? Awesome.
Jen x

New Letter From Belgium Song

Hello,

Have a listen to the new Letter From Belgium song, 'Travis and Hunter'. It's really, really pretty. It's also up for free download here. Enjoy! x

  Travis & Hunter by Letter From Belgium

I really love this

I've been thinking about buying a Super 8 camera for a while and this makes me want one even more. <3

Baron Shadowcrawler

YES! This is just amazing and I hope I'm not going overboard here, but it's probably the best 'Mooncore' I think I've ever heard. Check out more unbelievable TUNES from Baron Shadowcrawler here.

  Moon King by Baron Shadowcrawler

x

Bacchus

Yo.

Check out the new track, 'Parasite' from Bacchus' forthcoming album which was recorded at The Hive Studios and will be released on Distroy and Contrazt Records. Great live band and the recordings are class. Looking forward to hearing the rest of the album..
Parasite (from forthcoming lp) by bacchus hc

Also, have a listen to their EP, 'Attica'. It's well good, and up for free download along with their side of the 7" split they put out with Burning The Prospect in '09. You can preview the tracks below and click here to download.

Bacchus "attica" ep by bacchus hc

Bacchus 7" tracks: by bacchus hc

Craig Shimala

Here's a video by Craig Shimala. It's like a dream..


It's crazy how a simple mirror filter can transform a video into something else. from Craig Shimala on Vimeo.

Irish Blog Awards 2011

Hello,

Just letting you know that the Irish Blog Awards are now open for nomination. I only started this blog last April and since then, I've been discovering just how many amazing Irish blogs are out there. There's an abundance of categories and many blogs worthy of winning, so get voting! If you need inspiration, check out my bloglist on the bottom right-hand corner for some great blogs. Click here to nominate a blog. Here's the list of categories..

Best Popculture Blog
Best Food/Drink Blog
Best Lifestyle Blog
Best Music Blog
Best Photo Blog
Best Technology Blog/Blogger
Best Sport and Recreation Blog
Best Blog of a Business
Best Arts and Culture Blog
Best Blog from a Journalist
Best News/Current Affairs Blog
Best Group Blog
Best Political Blog
Best Blog of a Politician
Best use of the Irish Language in a Blog
Best Specialist Blog
Best Newcomer
Best Youth Blog
Best Personal Blog
Best Humour Blog
Best Rant/Post
Best Science and Education Blog
Best Outraged Blog Awards Post

Phew! That's a looooong list.


x

Zippora Lux =^ . ^=

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. 

These are purrrrfection.. sorry! Feast your eyes on these fantastic prints from Zippora Lux's 'My Favourite Things' series. I spotted them over on Luke Lucas' blog on Lifelounge and I'm obsessed. Some of the prints are for sale over on Etsy and tshirts of The British Shorthair and The Pelican Nebula are up for sale on Threadless too, will definitely be purchasing these. x

Meljoann

I can't stop listening to Meljoann at the moment! I first came across her music on Nialler9's blog and I absolutely love her tracks. It's completely different to anything coming out of Ireland right now, this girl is seriously talented. Her music is an innovative mish-mash of slick R&B female vocals, electro, digital funk and Skweee. Very cool indeed. Her releases to date are the 'Tour Guide' EP, 'So Academic' single and album 'Squick'. Some really sweet tracks on these. Here's a preview of couple of her tunes, please check out her website here where you can listen to more music and buy her releases.

 Cover of 'Squick' Album. Artwork by Lisa Crowne.

Meljoann has previously collaborated with Herv on his Gang Moulded release and now the pair are working on a new project Gland and Conduit with plans to release the album in the near future. Can't wait to hear that! x

  01 Tour Guide by meljoann

  01 So Academic by meljoann

  Bubbles' Wanders through the Dreamtime by meljoann

Korg MS-20

 

I'm looking to buy a Korg MS20 at the moment. The only ones I've seen for sale on ebay have been from the U.S. and the shipping is too expensive on top of a pretty pricey synth already. I've tried adverts.ie and buyandsell but nothing as of yet. Hoping to find one in Ireland or maybe the UK that doesn't need any work done on it or very little. Please let me know if you hear of anyone thinking of selling one! Also, if anyone is selling any other vintage analog synths of similar calibre I'd be interested in having a look. Thank you! x