Taking a long break….

Just to let you know that I’m taking a break from the remixing for a while….I’m not sure when or if I’ll ever go back to doing them again but the last three years have been an absolute blast. Millions of highs and a few lows along the way but always interesting and lots of fun.

I just wanted to say a massive thank you to anyone who’s enjoyed any of my mixes….and also to all the DJs, promoters, industry people who’ve helped me along the way. Couldn’t have done it without y’all

You guys rock!!!

Cheers, Neil T

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Apparently Nothin’ Regroove – reviewed by SoulCuts

My good mate, mentor and all round top bloke, Mr Steve Ripley just made me aware of a nice review for my remix of Bev Knight’s ‘Apparently Nothin’ on the SoulCuts blog:

http://www.soulcuts.org/2011/08/this-new-beverly-knight-remix-is-definitely-something/

 

Wonder Woman (Neil Thompson Regrooved Mix) – Kopatechnic

Going back a couple of months when I did this mix. I’m now pleased to hear from the Kopatechnic guys that it will be available to buy on iTunes & Amazon in a few weeks – here’s a link to a sample of it on their website:

http://kopatechnic.com/2011/06/11/wonder-woman-neil-thompson-regrooved-mix/

 

Its On Tonight (Neil Thompson’s Latin Regroove) – LeNora Jaye

A brand new official Regroove from me for the fantastically talented LeNora Jaye – I enjoyed every single second working on this one and I’ve had some amazing feedback so far…

What a fantastic voice LeNora has and what a fabuolous lady!!! This mix will be available to purchase in the usual places in the next few weeks…It would be really helpful if you could leave a comment on the SoundCloud please…thanks, Neil

 

Aint That Peculiar (Neil Thompson & SoulP Summer Madness Mix) – Marvin Gaye meets Kool & The Gang

This just came up by random on my iPod today so i thought I’d share it on here. For anyone who aint heard this yet: from a couple of years ago, Marvin Gaye meets Kool & The Gang , SoulP and me on the mix….

And if you like this mix, I’d be very grateful if you could leave a comment on the Soundcloud please – it really helps me for when labels/artists are thinking about using me for remixes if they can see plenty of comments on the Soundcloud…thanks, Neil T

 

Apparantly Nuthin’ (Neil Thompson Regrooved Mix) – Beverley Knight – available to buy 29th August…

In the first of some official Regrooves coming your way in the next few weeks, on 29th August, available to buy will be my official remix of the fabulous Beverley Knight’s take on the classic that is Apparantly Nuthin’…..here’s a snippet:

 

An amazing few weeks and the curse of the remixer!!

The last few weeks have been a fantastic time for me. As well as finishing a very busy work period, I’ve also been asked to do some remixes for a couple of major artists – which was very exciting and also slightly daunting at first but once I got my teeth into them, the nerves disappeared and I’m enjoying every second. When I think back only three or four years ago, I would have sold my sister (If I had one) to even just get my stuff played out at a gig so to be asked to work on official remixes for well known artists is mind blowing for me. More news soon….

The remixes are going well – I’m really happy with how they are coming along but its so hard to escape from the dreaded remixer’s curse – by that I mean, no matter how well a certain mix is going and I might have laid down some nice keys or a funky bassline but somehow you can’t stop thinking that you could do it better or find a nicer sound to use! I think anyone who’s ever had a go at remixing will understand exactly where I’m coming from. Its truly a nightmare and somewhere along the line I have to have a word with myself and convince myself that what I’ve already done is good….you should hear the neiltomo ‘hidden’ files…there’s probably a gem or two in there somewhere…haha!

Anyway, more news coming soon….thanks for all the support and apologies for the radio silence over the last few weeks.

Cheers, Neil

 

Listening to music differently

I just thought I’d share with you a little insight into how music is for me these days. Switch off now if you think this might send you to sleep or keep reading if your an insomniac…

Since I started creating my own music, I now listen to music completely differently and constantly find myself analysing other people’s tracks with an almost obsession like persistence. Whether its thinking about how an artist got a particular kick drum to sound like that or working out how the strings are arranged, I just can’t help it…..I think this thirst for musical knowledge has taken over my life!

As I’m not a ‘proper’ musician (although I’m learning more every day), the most difficult part to write and to lay down properly for me is the bassline. I might write a track (without a bassline) and then start to hum a workable bass riff in with it, but when you try and play that into the track – it somehow is very difficult to get across the energy or feel that you want. For this side of things I can see myself having to collaborate to get the feel that I want. And the thing is, the bass is so key to all the music that I want to create. Without a nice bassline to underpin it all, its easy for a track to not hit the heights it could do…which is why I really listen to other people’s basslines, to see what they did and how they did it….I urge you to try it yourself, as the bassline is an essential part of any modern soul track. Trust me…

My fave part of the listening and creative process is the keys and the percussion, which give me hours of fun and creativity. That feeling when a chord progression or a lead synth line hits the spot is amazing. Soulful house tracks in particular focus on this aspect and when they get it right, its amazing – think ‘Superman’ by Black Coffee – just listen to the keys – they’re amazing.

When I’m working on my own stuff, the rest of the track is shaped around those two components….be it a string harmony or a nice warm pad unpinning the verses – for me, it all needs to stem from the chords/keys and the percussion.

So, what I’m trying to say is, go out there and really listen to a track. Put your headphones on to get the full effect and hear how the producer has separated the hi-hats from the shakers or how the strings have a nice panning effect on them….honestly, you’ll appreciate the music that little bit more…

OK, is everyone fast asleep now? haha! Good night, God bless…

 

Original tracks….progress update

Well it’s been a while since my last post and you might have noticed that I’ve not been posting as many new and old mixes up lately. Its for two reasons really – firstly I’ve been so busy with my day job – at the last count, since the end of April I’ve managed 10 separate events, visited 6 different countries and been an usher at a wedding!

The second and probably more concious reason is because of my step towards creating my own material, which as I’m sure you can probably understand is quite demanding and requires a lot of focus.

As way of an update, I’m currently waiting for a couple of fantastic singer / songrwriters to write and record vocals to two of the tracks I’ve created – so that is very exciting. I’m sure once I’ve got their input, the tracks may take a slightly different route to their current state, but they will be developed to totally fit the vocals that they lay down for me…..I’m hoping to be able to bring you more news on this in a couple of weeks.

At my last count I think I’ve got 5 other decent grooves going on just waiting to be developed by vocalists but I’m waiting on these first two and then I will take those others to the next stage.

Also, whilst all this is going on, I’ve got to do some boring stuff like register for PRS and MCPS so that I can get paid properly if my stuff ever gets out there and is bought on iTunes, played on radio, etc. Believe me, its a complicated business!!! Luckily, I’ve got some fantastic people around me – thanks Jim Jackson, Shaun Gallagher, Jamie Taylor, Geoff Allman, Mark Goddard, Colin Curtis, Terl Bryant & Dee Majek (and anyone I’ve forgotten to mention) – to give me some great advice not only on the tracks I’m developing but also on the business side too…

Couldn’t do it without you guys 🙂

Neil T

 

Finally, I’ve started writing my own material…..(gulp)

People have been saying it to me for a few years that I should start writing my own material – well, a month or so ago I started having a go and surprisingly to me, I’ve really enjoyed the process and it seems to be all I want to do at the moment. Hence the radio silence on here for a bit…

To date, I’ve got 7 or 8 tracks on the go – some much better than others and although I think a couple of them are really strong now, I’ve no doubt they will evolve as the vocals come in…

Speaking of which, I’ve got a couple of fantastic singer / songwriters that I’m working with to provide the vocals – I’m really excited and want to tell you all about them but I’ve just got to keep a lid on it for a bit longer.

Anyway, the proof will be in the pudding (as they say) so I don’t want to talk about it too much in case they don’t quite hit the spot….but feedback that I’ve had so far has been very positive so I’ll keep my head down and keep working hard at them.

Watch this space…or shouldn’t that be ‘Listen’ to this space????