Erasure • Features • Behind The Scenes
'Nightbird' Studio Diary
Today Andy arrived 24hrs late as per. He was fingerprinted and irised but was not categorized a criminal. Yeah!
We celebrated with a cup of tea and tour of the house. Andy bestowed gifts of pal dvds that we can't play (typical).
We went to eat at Bar Tabac (where you can't smoke!) Had to layer up with thermals. It was 10 below!!!
Early night. Studio in the AM.
2:30 call time.
Immediately began singing. Sounded much better when we turned the microphone on.
Andy was humming so we forced him into the shower!
Studio hosts Jill and Steve were great hosts as far as hosting is concerned.
Andy sang 3 songs, in the meantime, Vince contemplated buying a super duper auto tuner to sort out the bum notes. Andy blamed it on jet lag (typical).
Ended the evening with a curry.
Early start up at dawn's crack.
More singing whilst Vince programmed. Tracks start taking shape.
Andy buys massage machine for dodgy pins.
Andy goes out with Kiki minus Herb and boyfriend, Sammy.
MIA for 24 hours!(the things Vince has to put up with! Search: professionalism!)
Andy wakes up!
Write 2 new songs all about breathing and the moon. Inspired by the lost Mars Rover.
Andy slept.
Vince worked.
Andy up early!
This makes front page news of the New York Post.
Writes lyrics to the first new song inspired by taking Vince and Tracy a morning cup of tea in bed (AWWWW)
Vince makes pizza. Ingredients are as follows:
1 pepperoni
2 oregano
3 jalapenos
4 tomatoes
5 mozzerella
YUM!
Andy has a haircut and nails done. Vince is growing sideburns for the next video. Tracy gets a brazilian wax (OUCH!)
PS: We worked in the studio for 4 hours
It's been snowing in New York, so Vince and Andy trudge to work in Wellington boots.
The studio is only 4 blocks away in the basement of a Brooklyn, back house.
It is small and intimate and full of guitars man
Andy goes AWOL…
Returns from Pieces in one piece…Whewwww
In bed all day. Vince watches 'Stargate' all day.
Vince still waiting for Andy to wake.
Checks every hour for signs of life(Zzzzzzzz)
Vince makes Sunday roast. Andy gets up to feed…THE MONSTER LIVES!
Everyday, before recording, Andy does vocal excercises for 1/2 hour with 'Sam West' and Jill (Steve's wife, who is also a vocalist)
Review work.
4 tracks sounded okay, the rest need work ie. dodgy.
Steve comping madly. Thank God for auto tune (listen out for Cher effect)
Wrote 2 more tunes. Very romantic!
Vince attempts to rip off himself.
More singing and programming.
Andy went to see Steve's gig at NY's famed Bitter End.
Andy's review: Up-tempo, folksy, sushi, jazzy David Gray-ish with better voice.
FACT:WE USE GENUINE NEUMAN MICROPHONES with pop socks to stop p's from popping.
Andy went to YuYa's for spa pedicure/manicure for a bargain basement price of $90.
Goes crazy and splashes out on both legs at the same time.
8:00am studio! Work through 'til 10:00pm (honest).
Try one song in 6 different keys. Settle on Elvis baritone. Words aren't quite right.
Andy wakes up and cancels flight home.
Stay tuned!
Super Bowl Sunday!
Vince made spicy buffalo wings & hot dogs. Saw Janet Jackson's white boobs and were shocked and outraged!
Vince lost 10 bucks on game.
Early night. It's still snowing
Wrote 2 more songs. 'Disco' and 'Found You' (working titles... 'Disco' is a disco song and 'Found You' is a song about loosing?)
Extra! Extra! ANDY SINGS HIS HEART OUT ALL DAY!
Vince and Tracy go to the movies to see 'Touching the Void' - very inspiring. 2 thumbs up!
Andy went clothes shopping and bought leg massager (hip distention narrow).
Andy gets his first taste of "The Cock". Comes home at 4am with bright red dyed hair.
Wakes up the house 'cos he lost his keys
Andy gets scalped by Brooklyn barber.
Vince finds keys outside of local gym.
Andy stays at Kiki's house.
Loses gloves. Will be returned when Scissor Sisters play UK.
Polished songs. All sounding pretty good (you'll be surprised).
The Last supper celebrated with surf and turf (Andy's been gagging for it), dirty martinis and loads of photos.
Go to Queer Eye for the Straight Guy party. Saw back of Graham Norton's head and Kylie Minogues feet. She announces that it took her 17 years to get here to NY, sings one song and then goes home.
Final pub crawl. Steve and Jill get really drunk.
Last cup of tea together in Brooklyn.
One suitcase is never enough. We all have a good cry. Snow melted.
But never fear! Festivities will resume next week in UK! Stay tuned!
Vince arrives in the UK - dishevelled and disgruntled.
Fridge is empty.
Cycles to Sainsbury's and stocks up on fruit and veg.
Leave house at 10am - works through till 11pm (honest)… in studio 2 of Mute Records.
We are working with J.C. - also known as Jon Collyer or the groove-master.
We're reviewing, replacing, rejuvenating, recycling and refurbishing the tracks, ready for the mix, next week.
Andy arrives at 3pm - we are all honoured! Pay suitable homage etc.
Andy has slept for a week after arriving back from New York city (in tears).
The local restaurants around Mute Records aren't up to scratch, so Vince brings in his own sandwiches. Today was salad with 4 1/2 small prawns (very posh).
Andy declines the offer of miniature corn on the cob and hummus. Opts for cream cheese and bean sprouts sandwich from Somerfield. Very good value.
Working on 10 tracks.
Programming and recording.
We are using all software synths, including:
Oddity
Waldorf Attack
Reactor 4
Audio Logic ES2… etc etc
The backing tracks are programmed into Audio Logic.
The computer is continually crashing 'cos it can't handle all the information at once. We put Andy's vocals in and it just dies…weird?
Daniel Miller pops in to say "hello" and pops out again.
Work all day alone with J.C. from 11 till 11 - waiting for Andy.
Feeling very despondent - think about splitting up.
Andy phones in, and we re-form immediately.
Vince microwaves potato and baked beans for dinner - terrible flatulence all the way home.
We met Tom Elmhirst who is mixing the album - looks surprisingly like Tom Baker (Dr. Who) see picture.
Daniel pops in to say "hello" again and "where's the record!! How many hits are on it?!".
Throbbing Gristle are in studio 1 - very excited.
Andy goes to physio for his legs - his hip dissention is very narrow after wearing high heeled shoes for so many years and doing the can-can. His girth is getting broader. Is learning how to walk again - but should be fine by November.
Because it is Friday we buy some champagne - Greg (rather conveniently) joins us at this point to say "hello" and finishes most of the bottle.
Have done more writing this time than we have done for ages and very much looking forward to the record coming out.
We'll be doing some gigs later in the year.
We'll be here until Sunday, and then will start mixing somewhere else.
Stay Tuned