Max - one:day:life

Honesty

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:18:53 PST

Honesty by onedaylife

This is our new song, "Honesty" which I am really happy with - I did the production on this and really wanted to get a kind of epic feel at the end with all the strings and everything.

Not sure if the player will work if you're reading this on a blog reader, or Facebook etc so you can go here to listen: www.soundcloud.com/onedaylife/honesty

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:27:53 PST

I really hope you all had a great 2009, mine has been pretty cool, some great stuff, and only a few lows. If anything, it's actually been a pretty quiet year when it comes to work and music, I just wanted to get so much set up this year that it took ages to get it all going.

I set up my home studio which is one of my favourite things in the world, with loads of help from the Sound On Sound forums and my good friend Andrew Maunder. I also learned loads about tracking, engineering and mixing...not as much as I hope to learn in 2010 though. Now that I have my studio 99% as I want it, I intend to make more music than ever this year.

I will be spending my New Years Eve in Norwich, but whatever you end up doing, have fun and I hope 2010 turns out great for you.

Max.

Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:14:57 PST

I am pretty sure that I've mentioned this on here before, but its been so long since I posted that I can't really remember, but I post way more on Twitter than I do anywhere else, I am at www.twitter.com/maxshelley

My photos go up on my Facebook, so add me on there if you know me in real life.

Max x

Been gone too long.

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:33:39 PST

Not posted for ages. In December last year I started to look into setting up a company, that idea has pretty much been gaining momentum since then and in the past few weeks and months I've been working flat out to get the company launched, including designing products, logo, websites and all the other stuff that comes with running a business. Been so busy working that my blog output has disappeared. I got a new touchscreen phone a couple of days ago and need to practice typing so I figured it'd be a great way to get back into it.

So that's what I've been up to. Haven't disappeared, although I have been leaving the house less often, become poorer than I've ever been in my life and seen less of my friends than I'd like, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

The band hasn't been silent either. We have a brand new song called "Get It On" on iTunes in the next few weeks and we are tracking four new songs. We've been playing live a lot recently for a whole bunch of reasons, mainly financial and practical. Rehearsing, recording, demoing etc means that we weren't finding time to book the very best shows, so we are taking a little time to make the new recordings the very best quality that we can.

Anyway, will try and get back into the routine of posting up a little more often, but no promises. Hope you are all doing ok, if I haven't seen you in a while, then I probably miss you.

Max x

Why have we cancelled some shows?

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:29:47 PDT

No blog posts for a while, mainly due to the fact that I now use Twitter every day. I know that a lot of people aren't into it, but I like it - being limited to 140 characters is perfect for someone like me. Blog posts can't be too long, replies can't be over-thought, just put what you can fit. I am at www.twitter.com/maxshelley if you are on there.

So the purpose of this blog post is to tell you a little but about why we have cancelled our trip to Scotland for our shows up there, and moved some other shows around. Basically, it all comes down to two things that seem to run most people's lives - time and money. Last week, we played a show in Staines, which we recorded for a live album. We weren't paid for the show, and had to pay for the recording costs, petrol for the van etc. Our van required some repairs and a new MOT and we had to buy road tax for it. I'll break down the numbers. The show in Staines cost us roughly £75 for diesel and recording costs, road tax was £190 and the repairs and MOT was roughly £320. This means in one week we had to pay out around £585. We are very, very lucky as band to be able to even HAVE a van and be able to tour etc, let alone be able to pay for all of that. We basically don't have the spare cash to be able to afford to go to Scotland and get all the equipment we need to keep functioning.

Most of our shows are booked on a financial knife-edge. One merch sale is often the difference between profit and loss for us. When one of the shows pulled out from our mini-tour in Scotland, it basically took away the chance of us breaking even from the trip. It also meant that we would have had 24 hours of dead time in Scotland, which would have been fun but we all have a bunch of stuff going on with the band and our lives that mean we can't let whole days go without stuff happening.

There are the arguments that "unsigned bands always run at a loss, it's an investment" or "you shouldn't think about the money, it's the shows that are the most important thing." We also know that we'll be letting people down, both those planning to attend and the people that had arranged the shows and took time to help us. We don't make these kind of decisions lightly, we have had bands let us down and we hate it.

We can't afford to pay for the band ourselves, we just don't earn enough money. The band pays for itself and we have to make decisions like this in order to keep it going. Any money we make goes straight back into the band, which is how we afford the van, the petrol etc in the first place.

So basically, one show pulling out on us means we can't realistically afford to go and play the other shows we have booked. Say what you want, but that's the reality of it.

We have decided that we are going to use the time to get a new song recorded and mixed ahead of schedule, which means that we will have a new single out on iTunes very soon, pretty much straight after "The Girl Who Stole The World" which is now up on our website as well as our MySpace and Facebook pages. You'd think that we would make a bunch of money from that to be able to afford more tour dates? Well I don't know if you've been following the music industry recently, but it doesn't quite pan out that way.

Sorry to pull out of shows, but looking forward to recording new stuff for you to hear.

Max x

.p.s. The band that we were due to play alongside are called A Day Overdue, please go and check them out at www.myspace.com/adayoverdue - I am gutted not to see them, they were really cool to us. We WILL sort some other shows with them in the future.

Photo Test

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:02:16 PDT

Just testing to see if I update this thing from my phone if it'll let me attach photos.

Quick update from my phone..

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:20:20 PDT

Been really busy recently, with both band stuff and a bunch of other stuff. I want to post up some information about the stuff we did recently with vodafone, but I think that's too much to type on my phone, even if I am addicted to this little keyboard. I will write about it when I make it back to a computer.

Today has been rehearsal for the two shows we have this Friday (one schools show during the day, then a private party at night which is why it's not on the website), then back to my little mixing room to work. It's sooooo good to finally get round to mixing in there after spending so long working on it. I am working on a song called "The Girl Who Stole The World", but I think it'll get renamed before being released. It's actually turning out to be one of the hardest things I've attempted to mix so far. It's a super-fast rhythm in the verse's, along with quite a sparse guitar part (it's not playing much at all) and it then has to end up in a massive sounding chorus with a totally different feel. My new room means I am pushing to make it sound better than our last mixes, but it's so hard when you are learning by trial and error. Gonna keep going and hopefully it'll end up awesome.

I'll post up more when I can, or when I get five minutes on my phone. By the way, if you are on Twitter please follow us at www.twitter.com/onedaylife

Max x

NSPCC Show, This Saturday (June 27th), The Royal Oak, Ipswich.

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:42:01 PDT

This is a reminder for everyone that forgets I am in a band, or just reads this blog so that you have something to talk to me about when the room goes quiet. We are playing in support of the NSPCC this Saturday at The Royal Oak, Ipswich. We are on stage at 9pm, there is a map for the venue here.

As part of some work we are doing with Vodafone, they are bringing a film crew to the show. They will be filming our set, and interviewing a few people in the crowd. Make sure you come along and get your face in front of the camera.

A link to the Facebook event here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=89798226075

Battlefield

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:56:40 PDT

I have no idea why, but I am pretty addicted to this song. I've liked a lot of the Ryan Tedder stuff I've heard, but never really fell for any of it and the intro of this didn't grab me initially, but by the time the "better get your armour" lyric kicked in I was sold.

You can go to the YouTube page and click on the HQ button to get better quality audio, but you can check it out here too:

Facebook/RSS Readers go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTjgKLRg5p4

I Do Not Hook Up

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 08:47:02 PDT

Is it just me, or does the backing singer look a little awkward with the guitar...like she got told to dress up to be a backing singer and then Dave the guitarist didn't turn up and everyone was like.."oh, hey, don't even worry about it...janine the backing singer can do it, here you go love, chuck this on...this is a blues riff in B, watch us for the changes and try to keep up...."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpvOa57iLhU

Terminator, Band Meetings and Regina Spektor...all good things.

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:50:39 PDT

Woke up late this morning after going to a late-night showing of the new Terminator movie with Dan and his gf, Maz. Holy shit that film was dark, bleak, violent and brilliant. It has none of the slight tongue-in-cheek, bank-handed humour that the second and third films had. There is no lull, no slow parts where the story lumbers along, it just beats you in the face with the oppressive post-apocalyptic violence of the Terminator world, and that's exactly what I wanted. I scarcely believed that my fully heterosexual man-crush on Christian Bale could get any bigger, but it's reaching new levels. I mean, I've loved the Terminator films and Batman since I was a kid (I watched T2 on a tiny little TV at my grandparents house very late at night when I should have been sleeping and remember being blown away with the liquid metal effects...yeah, I was a geek as a kid too, what a shock).

So yesterday we got back to band business with our first meeting for a while. Band meetings remind me of Flight Of The Conchords, but you gotta keep your shit together and you can't talk business too much at rehearsal/writing sessions as it gets in the way.

Anyway, if you don't know already, we are working on a project with Vodafone at the moment, they are coming in to talk to us about how our band works, how we use technology, how we record - just general stuff that bands do really. We are looking for some people to come and get involved with this project with us, and talk to Vodafone about being a fan of music. If you are interested in getting involved it's on Monday, 29th June 2009 near Ipswich (Vodafone/ODL will cover your travel expenses to get there, within reason) and all you gotta do is come and talk about the band, and they may well be filming you talk too.

Vodafone will also be filming at our show at The Royal Oak, Ipswich on Saturday 27th June - as well as filming the show, they will be interviewing people on camera afterwards, so if you want to get your face on camera, then get yourself down there.

In geeky studio news (I know you're all on the edge of your seats about that), I have just ordered some new microphones, stands, pop-shields and cables which makes me very happy. I started mixing properly in the new studio at the weekend and am fighting to find time to mix and write in there at the moment. If there's one thing I'm learning to do this year, it's manage my time better. I say no to a lot more things, and try and be a bit more realistic about how long things take. I seem to be doing ok at the moment, I am waiting for this to fall apart at any moment.

OK, time to go and do things. I know you only read this for the links to cool music videos, so here is Regina Spektors video for "Laughing With". Facebook/RSS readers can go to http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=58073111

Ego (Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:16:04 PDT

Seeing as my last post was Kanye West related, I figured I'd post up this remix of Beyonce's "Ego". I prefer the remix, but there is a link to the original on the youtube page if you want it. Not sure about the hundres of photos of Jay-Z and Beyonce in the video , but if you can forget about that, then it's a good tune and I love the lyrics ;)

As usual, Facebook/RSS Readers can go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ_P0IY2jEo

Mr Hudson, Kanye West, Supernova and my ability to spot a great song.

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:42:54 PDT

Can I pick a hit or what? The other day I posted up a video by a band called Mr Hudson & The Library. I heard the song as one of those "recommended tracks" on iTunes Genius. I must have listened to 50 or more track samples that day, most of which I ignored, but that one was different so I got the album and posted up the video here.

Later that day, I'm listening to the radio and totally by coincidence Ben from Mr Hudson is on Trevor Nelson's show, apparently Kanye West liked the stuff he'd done and invited him to work on some other projects in Hawaii, and appears on his new single, which is of course awesome. Glad to know that I have as good an ear as Kanye ;)

Here's the song. Not sure how long it'll stay up as there's a download link in the description, but search for it if it's not here. Facebook/RSS readers can go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb0FTXLGADQ

Something to show for yourself.

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Fri, 29 May 2009 06:44:18 PDT

I just got off the phone with Dan and we were chatting about what we'd been doing for the past few weeks. Despite working really hard, I seem to have very little to show for myself. It's time like this that you have to just believe in what you're doing, and that all the seemingly endless preparation, research and testing things out pay off and you have the stamina and patience to see everything out to the end.

I still have nothing to show you, so once again I will fall back on someone else's work for everyone to see. This song is called "Picture Of You" by Mr Hudson & The Library. I know nothing about the band, but I picked up the album recently and it's great - a really laid back listen for summer. The album is called "A Tale Of Two Cities", please go and check it out.

Link here for Facebook/RSS Readers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUGpGJNtVpM

Max x

p.s. I saw these on Mark Hoppus' blog the other day and I'm totally jealous. I spoke to the people at Ultimate Ears when I had my earpieces made, but I just couldn't afford them. This is the dream people:

His blog is here: http://www.pickrset.com/markhoppus/ and it always has loads of cool photos and stuff about Blink 182 so go take a look at it.

You say you love me, but if you love me, where have you been?

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:59:54 PDT

Hey, i've been taking a bit of a break from the social areas of the internet for a little while (other than my facebook page obviously, i'm as addicted to that stuff just like everyone else), and the reasons for that are all long and boring, but everything's fine, i'm just a little bit behind and now with all this bank-holiday rubbish all over with, it's back to work (and by work i mean posting blog posts for you to read while you avoid whatever it is your supposed to be doing.)

Anyway, I will post back with some actual information about stuff we've been working on in the next few days, but in the meantime here is the video for a song that i've been banging on about for ages...it still doesn't come out for a long time, but i can't stop listening to it. hope the rest of the album is this good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29zumqpqFLM

Ipswich show this Saturday... (2nd May 09)

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:33:44 PDT

We are playing a show at a brand new venue in Ipswich, this Saturday 2nd May 2009. The venue is called QJam - it used to be called The Pool Club which is where me and a bunch of my friends played our first shows when we were young. They have stripped it out and rebuilt it as a custom-built music venue. Please come along and check it out and support new music venues.

Check out the facebook event here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=96345831549&ref=mf

I have been pretty much offline for a little while because of the room conversion I was babbling on about before. You can see some photos here if you're interested:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=240619&id=580125617&l=6e35a44edc (you don't need to have a facebook account to see the photos.

You guys all watch House obsessively like I do right? Then you'll like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxho8ZDlECw

Did You Know

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:22:45 PDT

Hey, no post for a little while as I have been really busy. I am setting up a new mixing room for us to be able to work on new recordings every day, something we've never been able to do before as we've had to rehearse, write etc in the same place. I have had to take a step back from everything else in order to fit that in along with some new work stuff I am doing. My spare time recently has been spent going out with friends and getting messed up.

I really have nothing new to report. Things are good, the weather is getting better every day, which makes me feel great about everything. New stuff is coming, slowly but surely.

In the meantime, someone showed me this video and I like little facts like this so check it out:

Facebook/RSS people click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIDLIwlzkgY

Today

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 07:37:21 PDT

The dawn chorus had already begun when I went to sleep last night. I woke up and went straight to a production meeting for a project I've been working on since just before Christmas that is going to be one of the coolest things I've worked on outside of music. I got back and had a lengthy discussion about the acoustics in the new control/mixing room I am putting together at my house. The new room will solve the problem we have that our studio is out of use a lot of the time due to rehearsals and shows etc.

There is very little about my life that I am not passionate about, and little that I do not enjoy. I count myself lucky for this and do not take it for granted. I hope you can say the same, and if not are willing to work to make it happen.

Max x

On The Edge Of A Cliff

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:59:36 PDT

This is probably my favourite song from the last Streets album...

Link here if you can't see the vid..

Too Many Emails, Video and Twitter.

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:32:28 PDT

Gonna post here because my inbox looks a little intimidating right now. There are 39 emails that need me to file, reply, delete or do something. Not many I know, but I'm not in the mood right now.

We played a really last-minute show in Ipswich at the weekend and played a song that is waiting to have the vocal tracks recorded. Here's a video of the show:

As usual, the people on facebook and RSS won't be able to see that, so you guys have to click here.

By the way, we are on Twitter now - if you have twitter then follow us at http://twitter.com/onedaylife

James Taylor: One Man Band

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 05:45:04 PDT

If you live in the UK, you can check out this show on the iPlayer. The link is:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00b41h2/James_Taylor_One_Man_Band

It expires on Friday night I think.

It's a total slice of Americana, and I know it's not cool to like James Taylor, but f*ck it, those are some good tunes, and has a sound that's like being hugged by an acoustic guitar with big furry arms. Also, check out the music-box style drum kit/machine they have...very cool.

Something to listen to...

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:45:50 PDT

This is one of those songs that just seems to be speaking specifically to me. You ever find that? When you're pretty convinced that the person writing it was inside your head for just long enough to put you down on paper. If you like this, please go and check out the whole album here.

For anyone reading this on RSS/Facebook etc. the audio/video won't show, so the URL is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6ZFYmzqcB8

Paloma Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:21:28 PDT

Head over to www.myspace.com/palomafaith and check out "Stone Cold Sober". It's just a sample up there at the moment, but when it's released I will post back up here and remind you to DL it. The rest of the tracks are pretty much Duffy/Lily Allen/Amy Winehouse/Corinne Bailey Rae all over again, but that track has something special.

T-Shirt

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:49:12 PDT

They don't make this t-shirt any more, but I want one (minus the star in the middle, and 'loves' instead of 'likes'). I am seriously considering having our t-shirt manufacturer make me one....I clearly have way too much spare time on my hands.

You and Your Gorgeous Behaviour

noreply@blogger.com (Max - one:day:life) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:27:03 PDT

I am scared to find out my capacity for self-destruction. I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a tidal wave, an all-encompassing tsunami that could swallow me whole with disregard and contempt for whoever I believed I was before. It is only through sheer luck that my life has been lacking in any kind of catalyst to trigger any of this inside me, but sometimes with just the slightest of actions, I see the person that I could become.

You ever find yourself doing something and think, "hmmm, so this is who I am..?"

Don't worry, we're all going to be fine.

Max x