Album Launch Party

Woohooo we have lift off! Our debut album is called SWEETBOX and is going to be released on November 17th 2008.

SWEETBOX, recorded entirely with the cajon, retains all the live raw energy whilst pushing the Elova to a new sonic level. The record, described as “a multicoloured explosion of funky pop” has influences ranging from 1940′s Tom and Jerry cartoon music and 1970′s funk to the current UK indie scene. Catchy vocals are driven through with tough grooves from the box and gritty guitars. At turns feisty, as on the White Stripes influenced ‘Walk’, while other times delicate and yearning as on ‘Breathe’
We’re having a big launch party on November 7th at the Luminaire London. Its gonna be an awesome party featuring Elova, MC Xander, DJ John Hendicott, Oompa Loompas and much more. Details at Sweetbox Website

International Airport gigs, Squid and 5 hours sleep

Just got home from playing the delightful Stoke Newington International Airport (bet you didn’t know there was one!), thanks to Greg and Leila! There I met lots of lovely people, including a composer thats working with a physicist and a 25-piece orchestra whose music is determined by the electronic neuron messages from a bunch of squid’s brains. Every time they think something a note or a beat is played! Ruuuude bwoi! Check they got an album dropping on Non Classical…

I’ve had about 8 hours sleep in 2 days but I’m buzzing from a week bursting with fruitful writing. This Jazz Cafe show with One Taste is looking like it will knock the socks off our last, ridiculous collabs all over the joint..we’ve been writing with the gorgeous Jamie Woon, insightful Inua Ellams and wondrous MC Xander…and kicking out the toughest riddims in the newly formed B for Beats samba band! The 12ths gonna be off the hook – end of. 10am rehearsal in New Cross…i have to get some sleep…so happy! laters potaters, Tx

Recharging the batteries in the Brizzle

Its been waaaay too long. This blog nearly packed its bags and went in search of a family that’d really love it…like a real boy…A bowl of Butterscotch Angel Delight soon put that right…So last word was on the album being wrapped up. At which there was a whole heap of celebrating in Camp Elova. Followed by a mad dash to get it off to be ‘mastered’. Still not entirely sure what this magical process entails, but when the album came back from the mastering studio I was bouncing off the walls like a gummi bear. Words don’t touch how it feels to finally have something you’ve made that stands alone and quite frankly kicks it!!!

About the same time our Bristol fam were beckoning we come get rawkus with them. It was the first time we took some of our new album material out which made it even more exciting. The Golden Lion was rammed and all glistening with sweat and anticipation. Had such a ball. After dancing about 2 kilos off we ended up in the Charcoal Grill kebab shop next door, Chris regaling us with stories about his gay dog Muffin. After a McAllister special morning-after brekkie we were back on the road and straight into rehearsals with the One Taste Collective. No rest for the wicked!

Tx

Elova baby is born

Its a hermaphrodite born at 1.45am on Wednesday April 30th 2008, weighing 325lbs OF PURE HEAVY JUICY MEAT!

We’re pleased to announce our hotly anticipated new arrival, proudly delivered by our midwife KK – the Wizard of Winchmore Hill. We’re yet to name our child but expect to do so at some point in the next week when it will be baptised down in the westcountry.

Many thanks to all involved – KK, Dan, Cosworth, Old Greg and all the other lovely people who’ve helped and fed us through our pregnancy.

Nearly there!

Dropped by KK’s place last thursday to hear the tracks for the first time in over a month…. OMG they sounded HeAVVIIieeee!! The poor man has cabin fever up there with the little beasties…but we won’t keep them locked up together much longer. Everyone cross your fingers as if all goes to plan we should have final mixes done this week & and a suitably large hangover!

Next stage is mastering. We’ve found two cool places – one of them on Dartmoor one of them in New York.

Super Audio Mastering is based near Chagford in Devon and the place looks like a tardis full of cool things…funnily enough after our gig in Bristol at the weekend we got asked to play a festival in the same town called “Chagstock”!! It would be very cool to keep the westcountry vibe running through the record so this could be a winner

Sterling sound is based in Chelsea, NYC and is a pretty hip place to get mastering done! Its particularly tempting due to the fact King’s of Leon had their last album mastered there by the legendary Ted Jensen! Also the exchange rate is quite helpful right now!

Anyway, as ever, sadly it’ll probably come down to good ole $$$s!!

Mix it up!

So this week we finally leave the land of recording and enter the kingdom of mixing! had a very exciting moment today (and bear in mind i haven’t heard the album for almost a month right now) when KK sent me this text from his mix room ” Wow. Goosebumps. Children and Poets. Wait til u hear this fuking thing” . I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT!! think there is a real beautiful beast rearing its sexy head somewhere in north london!

Elova gets a new paint-job…

woop woop! good news this way comes

renegade artist-man Spike’s on our album

he be getting lively with a paintbrush and colours some

check out this clip of his mint animation

the twisted belleville rendezvous tip

is spicy like cinnamon and sticks like squid – you gid? Tx

Earth calling t-bird…

yo-leeeeyoyo, sorry for the laxness, not been quite the same after 5 hours on Megabus…Felt an unexpected relief getting back to London, remembered all the reasons why i love it so much …been a bit of a space cadet since though, maybe its the repressurisation

…went to SICK new show by Zoo Nation – the exhilirating Into the Hoods – i can’t recommend enough – go see GO SEE!!! .

Sketchy meanderings took me to this Korean kareoke restaurant-bar-internet caff in town, where I discovered what a winner ‘Toxic’ is (at least Britney will leave us with that) but having to mime (to save voice for recording) is like having a bath with your clothes on.

Hadn’t been away from the studio for long before the bird-phone started ringing and KK ‘s saying ‘Get get back awn it!’..On with my bird-wings and up north london i flew, spent the weekend singing my curls off. Got deep inside every line and character, painting colours with vocal brass blasts..croaking and soaring…flipping and twisting. Feel really lucky to have landed a producer that totally gets where I’m coming from with my voice...

2 more tracks for me to finish…now we have the promo stuff to be getting on with …plus writing new material for collabs with other One Taste artists – watch this space people, another JC show scheduled!…..think theres been developments in the boys camp too – off the record..but I’ll let them fill you in

tata for now lovelies! Tx

Double Fisting

Lord Cosworth, the studio manager of Ape in Little Neston, self confessed tea addict was UNABLE TO COPE with the sheer volume we supplied him with. With half a mug in one hand we would stick another in the other and for a while he’d be caught, Double Fisting.

They do seem keen on Extreme Sports in Neston

Ape Studios day 5: heavy metal

Today has been all about hitting metal….HARD!!! stig laid down cymbals to all the tracks and then some anti-authoritarian drumming came out on Walk…..its getting pretty carnal carnival in here!!

i think the video pretty well says it all! Tomorrow is “File” day so may not be so exciting!