Apart from a fan of Liverpool football team from the time of Kenny Dalglish, the name of the Beatles was not enough for one, but dozens of articles and tributes here... Maxi Dunn (who also returns soon with a new album) has accepted with pleasure to talk to us about the 'town' in a really interesting article for Mixgrill.
Liverpool
It is Spring 1988 and a young girl has just taken her oral GCSE exam in front of her English Class! The subject matter being the history of Liverpool music up to the present day! Who would have thought two years later, the same girl would be standing in a dark cold rehearsal room, with her own band, performing her own songs?
It seems like such a long time ago now, but music was the main love of my life back then and still is even today. Well okay, my children have since surpassed the No1 spot, but once the love is there, it is instilled for life.
I lived in a quiet suburb only ten miles from the city. There was very little to do in the area, the City was where it was all happening! I would listen to the local Indie Radio Show “The Noise”, on a nightly basis, Sunday evenings “Streetlife” on BBC Radio Merseyside, along with the Janice Long sessions and John Peel we were rather spoilt for choice back then and they were all great supporters of Liverpool music. I should have been revising for my GCSE exams or doing homework, but Music became so powerful that it became a distraction from the day to day mundanity of home and school life.
I never thought I would be a performer back then. What turned my head, was my love of local music and music in general. I wanted to tell the world about all these wonderful sounds being created from my city. I dreamt of having my own radio show, but by the time I had left school in 1989 times were changing.
The Indie shows were being removed and you would be lucky if you could catch a two hour show each week (which also seems to be the case in the city at the moment on Liverpool’s mainstream radio). A mixture of Careers Officers saying, “You can’t be a DJ”. How about a good old reliable YTS placement in Secretarial skills? Eventually realising that a playlist quite shockingly would have to be adhered to, along with a terrible interview at one of the top local radio stations, I changed my mind.
I never belonged to the “Eric’s” era, as I was far too young (but I read as much as I could from magazines and the like) and I had my parents’ generation to educate me about the 1960s. When I think of The Beatles, I don’t actually think of the band themselves, but of my Dad instead. I can still hear him playing ‘Until There Was You and Michelle’ on his guitar, when we where children.
I was fifteen, when I attended the Royal Court in December 1987. Black had just had huge hits with ‘Wonderful Life and Sweetest Smile’. He wrote a mixture, of bitter-sweet irony which was not unusual for songwriters from the city. He was supported by another popular and very handsome Singer/Songwriter, Thomas Lang, whose Jazz- tinged pop songs and exceptionally wonderful voice could melt any young girls’ heart away. Just being in this environment for the first time was amazing! The big stage, the live sound, the smell and the declining state of the venue, it all added to the first memory of my first big show. Dreaming of being up there as a performer was something I never thought would ever become reality.
The beauty of the Liverpool scene back then and even now is how it can be so diverse! One day you could be watching Jazz Icon Thomas Lang and then the next be rocking it out to ‘The Real People’ at the Krazy house. I had another particular favourite from the City, Brenda and The Beachballs who where Brenda and Gerry Kenny. They wrote really bright, poppy, fun songs. ‘Yummy Ya and D’ya Hear Me’. They became regulars on my turntable (yes remember them). Funnily enough Brenda came into my life for real a few years later when she helped secure my first band ‘Mahalia’ a grant to record our very first demo, which Gerry & Brenda produced.
I am bordering on the unknown of Liverpool here, but aside from all the success stories of Echo and The Bunnymen, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Icicle Works, OMD and my list could go on, I was always drawn to the wonderful and obscure.
Liverpool musicians have always had extreme confidence and should I add an air of arrogance. Four lads set the precedent of displaying this attitude back in the 60’s. Or is it naturally built into us? Who knows maybe it is! If anyone knows anything whatsoever about Liverpool and its people, they have always had to fight for what they believe in. You would be hard stretched to meet a Liverpool musician who doesn’t know and believe they are good! Whether they are is a different matter, but their sheer confidence, dedication and hard work is something to be admired. Maybe it was passed down by ‘Lennon’. Perhaps we get away with the arrogance factor because of our wit and sense of humour! We are not only sure of ourselves but we can actually laugh at ourselves too.
Living in the suburbs, without much going on in the area meant a regular visit to Liverpool on a Saturday! It was small enough to spot a “Muso” wherever you walked! For instance, standing next to Colin Vearncombe from Black in HMV, while witnessing The River City People sneaking round the back of the store for a live performance and CD signing! Being interviewed by Jayne Casey for a voluntary summer job at Arts/Music venue, The Bluecoat or saying hello to Thomas Lang as he walked along Bold Street! Just a few examples of what could happen, while going on with your day to day business.
By the time I had joined my first band in 1990, my concentration turned more to writing my own songs and developing my own career. We worked hard, but we also had day jobs too. Something had to pay the rent! I don’t need to stress how difficult it is to break into the music business. From my day to day routine job, I would promote my band along with rehearsals twice a week getting home at past midnight, same after live shows. It was hard work, but you do it because you want to and you love it!
I am thinking back at the lack of female bands/musicians in the city! I know there were a few. I do recall, ‘Kill Laura, Mulu and The Spirits’ but they where sadly overshadowed by all our male counterparts at the time! The Real People, The La’s, Cast, Space, The Farm and The Lightening Seeds all successful in there own right!!! Female led band’s and singers from Liverpool hitting the charts? I can’t recall. It took The River City People’s, cover of “California Dreaming” to eventually put them on the map. I think more recently Candy Payne may have had a reasonable amount of success, along with the more recent success of ‘Rebecca Ferguson’ on Xfactor, who has a definite voice of an Angel. We may at last be getting somewhere!
I went through the stages of Brit Pop and Trip Hop covering the three bands in my eight year stint as a live and recording artist. Record companies ringing via word of mouth rather than having to ring and chase-they were great and exciting times for the talented artist! But every band has its problems! By the time I was in my last band ‘CS Drift’, we were attracting a lot of attention from the major labels, we were recording our demo’s in one of the best studios in the city ‘The Liverpool Music House’ (which was renamed The Lab later on). Ian Brodie, (Lightning Seeds) had his own studio there at the time and would occasionally pop in and say he liked what he heard! But we got bogged down with drummer problems, every time we found our feet on the live circuit, the drummer would leave and eventually the main instigator of the band decided to also go at the latter end of 1997! We tried to continue on as the band, but my priorities were changing. I was definitely ready for some life changes.
So I dipped out of the scene altogether and joined the world of family life, but was never far from the music as my partner was a producer/writer and sound engineer. I was working full time, training to be an Accountant and embracing the wonderful world of Motherhood with two lovely children. By the time I returned to music in January 2007, the whole world had changed! We suddenly had something called The Internet.
Everything could be done via your armchair, so to speak! Files sent over the net, you could promote your music on Myspace, Facebook, Reverbnation and with an influx of internet based radio stations promoting the independent artist, there was no need (for me) to do the’ live’ thing anymore! This suited me fine, being a real home bird and it was great to meet fellow musicians from all over the world to collaborate with!
Eventually, after further major life changes, (mainly break ups in long term relationships and friendships), which my songs tend to be mainly about, my debut album was released in October 2010! It was all recorded with musicians from all over the world. West Midlands, UK (Peter Hackett & Paul “Tiga” Wright) to (Coke Belda & Roque Esteban) in Spain. I recorded the vocals myself at home and I sent them via the Net! Hurray for the net on this occasion.
Once it was mixed, the album was mastered by a friend in Seattle “Steve Turnidge”. The front cover of the sleeve was an Oil on Canvas painting by friend and wonderful Seascape artist from Wales “Vernon Jones”, and the CD design by my Sister Rachael. It was lovely, friends and family all pulled together to help and make this a wonderful experience at what was a difficult and trying time.
So I guess I dipped out of the scene quite a long time ago, but in this ever changing and advancing world, that is not such a bad thing! I will always be proud of my time as a hardworking musician in the city, although my moment has passed. It will be something I will always embrace and be proud of.
(Maxi Dunn has just released a Christmas Song “You’re All I Need At Christmas (which features the debut appearance of Maxi’s Nine Year old Daughter).” This is available for download at Amazon.com. Amazon.co.uk and Itunes! You can also get hold of her debut album “Welcome To Soonville” as a physical copy from www.maxidunn.info and CD Baby, or download from iTunes and Amazon.com! Maxi also has a new album “The Neglected Gambit” due for release in the Spring, of 2011.
Liverpool
It is Spring 1988 and a young girl has just taken her oral GCSE exam in front of her English Class! The subject matter being the history of Liverpool music up to the present day! Who would have thought two years later, the same girl would be standing in a dark cold rehearsal room, with her own band, performing her own songs?
It seems like such a long time ago now, but music was the main love of my life back then and still is even today. Well okay, my children have since surpassed the No1 spot, but once the love is there, it is instilled for life.
I lived in a quiet suburb only ten miles from the city. There was very little to do in the area, the City was where it was all happening! I would listen to the local Indie Radio Show “The Noise”, on a nightly basis, Sunday evenings “Streetlife” on BBC Radio Merseyside, along with the Janice Long sessions and John Peel we were rather spoilt for choice back then and they were all great supporters of Liverpool music. I should have been revising for my GCSE exams or doing homework, but Music became so powerful that it became a distraction from the day to day mundanity of home and school life.
I never thought I would be a performer back then. What turned my head, was my love of local music and music in general. I wanted to tell the world about all these wonderful sounds being created from my city. I dreamt of having my own radio show, but by the time I had left school in 1989 times were changing.The Indie shows were being removed and you would be lucky if you could catch a two hour show each week (which also seems to be the case in the city at the moment on Liverpool’s mainstream radio). A mixture of Careers Officers saying, “You can’t be a DJ”. How about a good old reliable YTS placement in Secretarial skills? Eventually realising that a playlist quite shockingly would have to be adhered to, along with a terrible interview at one of the top local radio stations, I changed my mind.
I never belonged to the “Eric’s” era, as I was far too young (but I read as much as I could from magazines and the like) and I had my parents’ generation to educate me about the 1960s. When I think of The Beatles, I don’t actually think of the band themselves, but of my Dad instead. I can still hear him playing ‘Until There Was You and Michelle’ on his guitar, when we where children.
I was fifteen, when I attended the Royal Court in December 1987. Black had just had huge hits with ‘Wonderful Life and Sweetest Smile’. He wrote a mixture, of bitter-sweet irony which was not unusual for songwriters from the city. He was supported by another popular and very handsome Singer/Songwriter, Thomas Lang, whose Jazz- tinged pop songs and exceptionally wonderful voice could melt any young girls’ heart away. Just being in this environment for the first time was amazing! The big stage, the live sound, the smell and the declining state of the venue, it all added to the first memory of my first big show. Dreaming of being up there as a performer was something I never thought would ever become reality.
The beauty of the Liverpool scene back then and even now is how it can be so diverse! One day you could be watching Jazz Icon Thomas Lang and then the next be rocking it out to ‘The Real People’ at the Krazy house. I had another particular favourite from the City, Brenda and The Beachballs who where Brenda and Gerry Kenny. They wrote really bright, poppy, fun songs. ‘Yummy Ya and D’ya Hear Me’. They became regulars on my turntable (yes remember them). Funnily enough Brenda came into my life for real a few years later when she helped secure my first band ‘Mahalia’ a grant to record our very first demo, which Gerry & Brenda produced.
I am bordering on the unknown of Liverpool here, but aside from all the success stories of Echo and The Bunnymen, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Icicle Works, OMD and my list could go on, I was always drawn to the wonderful and obscure.
Liverpool musicians have always had extreme confidence and should I add an air of arrogance. Four lads set the precedent of displaying this attitude back in the 60’s. Or is it naturally built into us? Who knows maybe it is! If anyone knows anything whatsoever about Liverpool and its people, they have always had to fight for what they believe in. You would be hard stretched to meet a Liverpool musician who doesn’t know and believe they are good! Whether they are is a different matter, but their sheer confidence, dedication and hard work is something to be admired. Maybe it was passed down by ‘Lennon’. Perhaps we get away with the arrogance factor because of our wit and sense of humour! We are not only sure of ourselves but we can actually laugh at ourselves too.Living in the suburbs, without much going on in the area meant a regular visit to Liverpool on a Saturday! It was small enough to spot a “Muso” wherever you walked! For instance, standing next to Colin Vearncombe from Black in HMV, while witnessing The River City People sneaking round the back of the store for a live performance and CD signing! Being interviewed by Jayne Casey for a voluntary summer job at Arts/Music venue, The Bluecoat or saying hello to Thomas Lang as he walked along Bold Street! Just a few examples of what could happen, while going on with your day to day business.
By the time I had joined my first band in 1990, my concentration turned more to writing my own songs and developing my own career. We worked hard, but we also had day jobs too. Something had to pay the rent! I don’t need to stress how difficult it is to break into the music business. From my day to day routine job, I would promote my band along with rehearsals twice a week getting home at past midnight, same after live shows. It was hard work, but you do it because you want to and you love it!
I am thinking back at the lack of female bands/musicians in the city! I know there were a few. I do recall, ‘Kill Laura, Mulu and The Spirits’ but they where sadly overshadowed by all our male counterparts at the time! The Real People, The La’s, Cast, Space, The Farm and The Lightening Seeds all successful in there own right!!! Female led band’s and singers from Liverpool hitting the charts? I can’t recall. It took The River City People’s, cover of “California Dreaming” to eventually put them on the map. I think more recently Candy Payne may have had a reasonable amount of success, along with the more recent success of ‘Rebecca Ferguson’ on Xfactor, who has a definite voice of an Angel. We may at last be getting somewhere!
I went through the stages of Brit Pop and Trip Hop covering the three bands in my eight year stint as a live and recording artist. Record companies ringing via word of mouth rather than having to ring and chase-they were great and exciting times for the talented artist! But every band has its problems! By the time I was in my last band ‘CS Drift’, we were attracting a lot of attention from the major labels, we were recording our demo’s in one of the best studios in the city ‘The Liverpool Music House’ (which was renamed The Lab later on). Ian Brodie, (Lightning Seeds) had his own studio there at the time and would occasionally pop in and say he liked what he heard! But we got bogged down with drummer problems, every time we found our feet on the live circuit, the drummer would leave and eventually the main instigator of the band decided to also go at the latter end of 1997! We tried to continue on as the band, but my priorities were changing. I was definitely ready for some life changes.So I dipped out of the scene altogether and joined the world of family life, but was never far from the music as my partner was a producer/writer and sound engineer. I was working full time, training to be an Accountant and embracing the wonderful world of Motherhood with two lovely children. By the time I returned to music in January 2007, the whole world had changed! We suddenly had something called The Internet.
Everything could be done via your armchair, so to speak! Files sent over the net, you could promote your music on Myspace, Facebook, Reverbnation and with an influx of internet based radio stations promoting the independent artist, there was no need (for me) to do the’ live’ thing anymore! This suited me fine, being a real home bird and it was great to meet fellow musicians from all over the world to collaborate with!
Eventually, after further major life changes, (mainly break ups in long term relationships and friendships), which my songs tend to be mainly about, my debut album was released in October 2010! It was all recorded with musicians from all over the world. West Midlands, UK (Peter Hackett & Paul “Tiga” Wright) to (Coke Belda & Roque Esteban) in Spain. I recorded the vocals myself at home and I sent them via the Net! Hurray for the net on this occasion.
Once it was mixed, the album was mastered by a friend in Seattle “Steve Turnidge”. The front cover of the sleeve was an Oil on Canvas painting by friend and wonderful Seascape artist from Wales “Vernon Jones”, and the CD design by my Sister Rachael. It was lovely, friends and family all pulled together to help and make this a wonderful experience at what was a difficult and trying time.
So I guess I dipped out of the scene quite a long time ago, but in this ever changing and advancing world, that is not such a bad thing! I will always be proud of my time as a hardworking musician in the city, although my moment has passed. It will be something I will always embrace and be proud of.
(Maxi Dunn has just released a Christmas Song “You’re All I Need At Christmas (which features the debut appearance of Maxi’s Nine Year old Daughter).” This is available for download at Amazon.com. Amazon.co.uk and Itunes! You can also get hold of her debut album “Welcome To Soonville” as a physical copy from www.maxidunn.info and CD Baby, or download from iTunes and Amazon.com! Maxi also has a new album “The Neglected Gambit” due for release in the Spring, of 2011.