BIRD RADIO
One of my favorite galleries in New York City is The Microscope Gallery. It's a gallery that bases itself on time based material. They often have events there and on one of these occasions I sat next to two visitors from London. We began to chat. Little did I know at the time that these two visitors were extraordinary artists; Chiara Ambrosio and Mikey Kirkpatrick. Much to my delight, I discovered Mikey is the possessor of an extraordinary voice and performs under the moniker Bird Radio. https://birdradio.bandcamp.com is his bandcamp page.
I’m also including a link to a Youtube video of Bird Radio performing Fear from his record Oh, Happy England. One thing I find striking is the use of cello and electric bass guitar. At about the midpoint between 01:35 and 01:36 (yes, a fraction of a second) the bass comes in and hits one note establishing the bottom range; stretching the harmonic range that was prior locked in a quiet midrange cage. It's a beautiful moment. And have I mentioned that this guy can sing?
Although there are songs that have singing or recitation, as another principle I have for Zero Times Everything, there is no lead singer. I often feel lead singers carry the identity of a particular band and I did not want that for ZXE. Then the question arises, when you have a song that requires singing who do you ask? It can be tricky because someone's voice, although beautiful, can be wrong for that particular track. This has happened to me before. One time in particular when I really needed a classically trained singer but wound up with more of a pop singer. It was a beautiful, strong voice but wrong for the material. When the band decided to do a blasting, take-no-prisoners rendition of the classic Brian Eno track Third Uncle I only had one voice in my head - Mikey's.
Luckily for me, Chiara and Mikey seem to take a winter pilgrimage to New York City once a year, although obviously not during this pandemic. One of the last times they were in New York I took advantage and invited Mikey to my studio to sing a few songs I was working on; one being Third Uncle. Attached is a clip of Mikey in what I call “spitfire mode” as he blasts through Eno’s lyrics, waving arms and all. Sometimes I imagine this clip on repeat and never ending.
Mikey also hosts his own radio program called Crookit Dreams from London on Friday nights at 10:00pm BST which is 5:00pm in New York City. It's a wonderful eclectic mix of what is inside Mikey's brain. This Friday night, April 2nd, I have been invited for an interview to talk about Sound Of Music and a few other endeavors. Here is the archived radio show:
On a side note, If you recall from my first update missive I said how I know when material I bring to a ZXE rehearsal won't work is when Pietro slowly and defiantly rolls a cigarette, puts down his guitar, leaves the room and smokes it. One of the songs Mikey sang that afternoon is one of those dejected/rejected ZXE songs but a wonderful thing happened because of that rejection. I formed another band called The Heavenly Escape Beauty Corporation - which is a name I took from a hair salon in Queens - and used that material unfit for ZXE along with other material I had and used it for the new band. Touché! I invited Mikey to be a part of the band along with Welsh singer Katy Lewis. Yes, shameless plugs are not beneath me. Our first album Eternal Love Songs For Stranded Lovers In Abandoned Cities will be released in May. Rejection is never an end. I’ve also recently played guitars and synths on Bird Radio's next upcoming release The Wild Lakes which is going to be breathtaking. I am privy to the music. Keep an eye out for that.
Till next time,
Richard