Here is my first film clip. I was lucky enough to work with Peter Murtagh from www.able2.com.au who filmed, directed and edited the clip.
We chose ‘Waiting For The Moon’ as the track to work on because there were some good ideas of how to tell a story about a girl who’s waiting for love (the moon). With fire, candles, beach side, and the magical moon, I hope you enjoy!

There is so much news to tell you all, but this blog is not a regular one. This is a short story about how we can touch each other’s lives for the better….

a dedication to my dear friend ‘Big Al’ xxx

Big Al, Me and Omer on coffee break at The Sonic Kitchen Studios inPoole, UK.

For those of us who are involved in music as a writer, singer, musician, producer, we all know deep down that there is something to do with heart and soul. Music has the power to touch something deep within us. It moves us. And when we work with other people who undertsnad this, amazing things can happen.

I was lucky enough to meet such a man who understood this. Mr Alan ‘Big Al’ Hill. He became my producer in 2008 and for one of the first times in my life I felt like someone really ‘got’ me and my music. Through VOID sponsorship we were able to record my first EP ‘Better In The Sunshine’.

We had a great time in The Sonic Kitchen Studio, so many laughs in between vocal takes and coffee breaks. He put me at ease in the studio. We would joke about the future 10 albums we’d do together. He always said how much he loved my music and for someone of his callibre (Jack DeJonnette, John Surman, Shirley Bassey, Abbey Road Studios) that meant the world to me. He loved it so much that he became the incredible bass player in my band which saw us tour throughout the UK, and arrange songs for the album!

Myself, Big Al, and Matt Tarling playing at The Troubadour in London.

Darren Shaw, Myself and Big Al playing The Troubadour, London.

The Album

Before I was due to return to the UK last year to start work on the album with Al, he had a stroke. It scared everybody. He lost speech and movement temporarily (a musicians nightmare) but sure enough he fully recovered and according to him “Playing better than ever!”. So in May 2009 we started work on ‘Earth On An Axis’, my debut album.

Al would often say “Andrea, this album is running on pure heart and soul.” I belived him and he believed in me.

He brought so much colour to my music and he also invited some of his friends including Dan baker, James PInnock, and Omer Makessa who brought their brilliance to the tracks.

Don’t get me wrong! Sometimes we would argue about the direction a song was taking, or about getting an even better take. But he always respected me and made me feel like my music was important , and that in some way we could make a difference. Al worked night and day on this album and 5 months or so later… Voila! Mix down complete.

It was time for me to head back home to Australia again. I went down to say goodbye to Al. We made a plan that he would come out to Oz and we were going to gig, get cracking on 2nd album at my uncle’s studio ‘Love Street’, and also show him a good time in the sunshine. I had no idea that that day, September last year was to be the last time I would see Big Al, my soul brother, my producer, one of my best friends.

Sadly he passed away two weeks ago.

Al never complained much about his health problems, and I truly believe music was his medicine that got him through life, through the hard times and the good, the ups and downs.

Words cannot express how much I will miss this incredibly talented, soulful, charismatic larger than life guy that we all know as Big Al. He will be deeply missed by many who knew him. Big Al’s soul will live on forever in the brilliant music he created in his lifetime and I was lucky enough to work with him, and for him to play bass, electric & acoustic guitar, hammond organ, and piano on the recordings we did.

If I have just caught a glimpse of what life is about, Al has taught me to come from my soul, to sing my heart out, to reach out to people and to always appreciate every moment with the people I love.

He has left a true legacy for me to look up to. I will never forget this man, because he touched my heart and changed my life forever.

Love you Big man xxx

Please visit The Sonic Kitchen FB page

If you want to hear some the tunes from the EP or album please visit www.andreasoler.com

I will also be posting up an interview with Big Al soon.

Feel free to pass this on.

Behind the Scenes of North Coast Music Industry Awards:

In it’s 19th year running, there were 336 entries in 22 Categories,

and the number of finalists reaching 76 in number.

The next category I had entered was Female Vocals of the Year.  This was a tough category which included amazing finalists: Hussy Hicks. I was again blown away, when they called my name for this award. I had won the Female Vocals for 2010!

Just a little note to all those budding musicians and artists out there…

When you do actually win an award, make sure you have a bit of a speech prepared! It took me a while to gather words together once up on stage, which started out as ” Wow I haven’t won anything since Kindergarten!”. I think I saved myself in the end by saying how blessed I am to live in a thriving, creative community in northern NSW, and I can’t wait to be involved in more community projects such as The Mullumbimby Music Festival in November this year!

Yes indeed Sarah Howells on Roots and All gave me a little airtime loving a few months back.

Would you like to let Triple J know how much you’d love to hear me on the airwaves again? The only way I’ll get heard is if all you guys can text  19757555 and let ‘em know!

I am also on JJJ Unearthed and you can vote for me on here by rating my music on this link:

http://www.triplejunearthed.com

Please feel free to contact your local radio station too, and ask them to play a track from Earth On An Axis.

Thanks again for all the support from ABC Coast FM, and Bay FM in Byron Bay.

Upcoming Gigs

Saturday 18th September- The Clarendon, Katoomba ‘ Women of  The Mountains’ .

Saturday 23rd October- Toorongo  River Sanctuary, Nugee, VIC

Sunday 24th October- The Empress, Melbourne, VIC. Feat. Sally Dastey & Emma Wall.

Saturday 5th November- The Illawarra Folk Club, Illawarra.

Saturday 26th November- Mullumbimby Music Festival, Mullumbimby

And one last thing…If you haven’t heard the album yet, you can come and have a listen on here to some of the tunes.