#techmusicschool

[declan-gilbey-blog]

Demo, End of 2014.

Wrote this little piece over the last 2 days. Happy to say that I am really proud of myself, and everything I've done this year, even if that does make me sound a bit of an egomaniac.  Sometimes you need to take step back and look at where you've come from and where you have arrived to prove to yourself you're on the right track. Looking forward to tech next term and finally releasing my potential and putting out loads of stuff!

I cant wait to start writing with some extremely talented young musicians.

You can follow me on;

Twitter- DeclanGilbey https://twitter.com/DeclanGilbey Instagram-Dec_YDG http://instagram.com/dec_ydg Facebook- Declan Gilbey https://www.facebook.com/declan.gilbey Follow my Tumblr blog too! http://declan-gilbey-blog.tumblr.com/

TAKE IT EASY! Dec

[samuel-a-r]

Shauna doing her homework 👸 But omg her little face when she finishes she's so proud of herself lmao 🙊 #bestie #friend #bestfriend #singing #warmup #techmusicschool #london #lol (at Earl's Court)

[declan-gilbey-blog]

IM BACK!

IM BACK!! Im back from the summer break now and am back studying at tech music school. A few things have changed this year, Im living with two awesome new flat mates, Liam Kehoe (@Liamkeyo) a great vocalists and song writer, and guitarist and producer Casey Dawkins (@caseydr3w) Im really enjoying living with these two, we get along really well and constantly give each other inspiring and new ideas.

Im really focused on being the best I can be this year, physically and mentally, which Is why I've started running and playing football each monday and tuesday night, as-well as including daily drills that will help me stay sharp for my studies.

My playing has really started to develop now, Ive just finished recording an R&B inspired chord progression and I've never been more happy to hear myself back. Having said that though, there is still allot of things that I need to improve on and what to study. I got to kick things of back at tech by going to the boat party freshers event and I even got the opportunity to drive the boat!

I've got a few busy weeks ahead of me again until half term, but Im still going to regularly update this page.

You can follow me on; 

Twitter- DeclanGilbey https://twitter.com/DeclanGilbey Instagram-Dec_YDG http://instagram.com/dec_ydg  Facebook- Declan Gilbey https://www.facebook.com/declan.gilbey

As always,

TAKE IT EASY!  

[declan-gilbey-blog]

My current vocal inspirations

I've been focusing recently so much on my vocals, and developing a great tone to my voice, I thought i'd share with those of you that are interested who my most inspirational vocalists are. John Mayer Mayer has a pretty simple voice to me, but he has really subtle souly and bluesy phrases that he drops sometimes, and this song probably shows what I'm on about. Great solo aswell!

Dallas Green (City and Color) To me, dallas has amazing projection and control. He seamlessly passes from chest, through to mixed and straight into a lovely soft sounding falsetto. Great song writer too, a little bit on the sad side though! Really though, check out 4:40 onwards. Amazing vocals!

Stevie Wonder I think it's safe to assume everybody has heard this guy's awesome voice! Perfect example that he definitely still has it down! Live at the white house, My favorite song of his! Super souly and just a incredible voice.

Dave Hollister Not many people have heard of this guy, I hadn't either until someone showed me him, But his voice is exactly what I want to try and achieve. Effortless runs and a full tone.

Take it easy!

[declan-gilbey-blog]

Feeling stuff out

[declan-gilbey-blog]

The beat goes on!

Yo guys! So this is just a quick update of what I've been up too in the past couple days! To begin, I clocked this band called Knuckle Puck. Now Im not normally into alternative punkish music, but something about this track had a throwback vibe about it. To me, reminds me of proper old school 90's punk and for some reason I love it. The first 4 bars of the song caught me straight away. There's a really simple, but super nice bass part in this song too! Check them out and tell them I sent you!

Other than that, Im in London on my own for a bit until two knew lads move in shortly. Kinda sucks being on your own for as long as I have, BUT there also benefits.

I have had loads of time to get WAY back into shape again! For a long while I had let myself slip, and due to practice, rehearsals and living that tech music school life, I had put on a little bit of weight. I'm running everyday now, playing looooaads of football again and just watching my diet allot better now. I might do a selfie pic soon of my results and let you guys know! It's all from a mens health book I bought and its fantastic One thing I miss loads is playing TENNIS. I got so good at it a couple months back whilst studying, but my tennis partner, she had to go back home. Just hope I still have my serve technique! Im doing stupid amount's of practice as well. I've been super obsessed with 80's funk/disco sorta stuff for the past month and I think I almost have all that stuff down. raking through the strings, getting a groove, Hitting those sexy as 16th fills. Yeaaa man. This is the song that started the obsession almost 3 weeks ago now. My Itunes has some very interesting mix's of genre's now!

I have my first pretty big audition coming up too. It's for an artist similar to CCane who I played for a fair few months back now at kings cross. The brief was pretty much the exact same for this audition so Im confident, But Im really pushing myself to nail this one!

I'f you've actually read to this far, tweet me saying READ IT and i'll give you a really big thank you and maybe some money......

Not really, but I will say thank you! That wasn't even funny.

You can follow me on; 

Twitter- DeclanGilbey https://twitter.com/DeclanGilbey Instagram-Dec_YDG http://instagram.com/dec_ydg  Facebook- Declan Gilbey https://www.facebook.com/declan.gilbey

TAKE IT EASY!  

[declan-gilbey-blog]

Vlog Update!

Hey guys! So here's just a quick vlog update!

Thanks for all of the support so far! It means the world to me. Putting out a new cover also on sunday. Take it easy.

[declan-gilbey-blog]

Back from Croatia!

So I arrived back in the UK on tuesday. I had a incredible time out there and made a few international friends, That really inspired me to try a few things and I am definitely going to stay in contact with them. My time in Croatia was mostly spent for self reflection, I have really thought about a few things that I need to do to make myself happy. I also received my results from my first year at Tech. Some of the feedback and the marks I actually got at the end I am extremely proud of.

I have a video im gonna put together with some clips that Im gonna get sent soon hopefully, some go pro action! Here a a few pictures of my time in Croatia!

Once im back in London, and settled again, I'll put out a new video! Thanks! TAKE IT EASY!

You can follow me on; 

Twitter- DeclanGilbey https://twitter.com/DeclanGilbey Instagram-Dec_YDG http://instagram.com/dec_ydg  Facebook- Declan Gilbey https://www.facebook.com/declan.gilbey

[declan-gilbey-blog]

First year of Uni, Done!

As the title suggests, my first year of Uni at Tech music school is over! It has been a mental year, actually going out into central London and meeting event's managers and up and coming artists like CCane and Sam Tompkins really opened my eyes! 

Im staying in London for the majority of the summer and have a few plans that should gel together nicely. Before that however, Im going to take a well needed rest over in an island just off Croatia for 2 weeks with some books, some beer, THE WORLD CUP and some friends.

I've recently been having one on one meetings with Andy Evans, a specialist in performance psychology and have learnt so much about myself, and others. 

We mostly talk about the 'Bullshitters' who feel the need to tell everyone how successful they are, when in reality it is the complete opposite and how to deal with THOSE types of people.Even though these sessions have been brutally honest, they have really helped my psyche. I feel that in this year I have been put down by the ego's of others and with the help of Andy, I feel ready to show a little bit of what Im about, without having the concern of others. 

I have got great marks from this first year too and also feel that musically I have come such a long way! The amount of practice I've done and what I have achieved is something that I am proud of, even writing and making this blog, Im proud of it! BUT, there is still allot more that I want to achieve and the bar has raised again.

Some of my friends that I have made at tech have been really influential too and have also help give me the inspiration and push that a performer needs. All of my tutors have been outstanding as well. Les Davidson in particular has really helped me have the determination and drive to become a great musician. Thanks Les!

All in all it has been a fantastic year, and it's not even over! I will keep everyone updated more often now too, I think i've got myself more organised now that my exams are out of the way. There's also going to be a few covers featuring some people I've met at tech going up on my channel over the summer too.

I'l finish the post by just saying thanks to everyone who pays any attention and leave a few pictures of my first year at tech music school.

You can follow me on; 

Twitter- DeclanGilbey https://twitter.com/DeclanGilbey Instagram-Dec_YDG http://instagram.com/dec_ydg  Facebook- Declan Gilbey https://www.facebook.com/declan.gilbey

Thanks Guys! Take It Easy!

[declan-gilbey-blog]

Don Broco 'Actors' New video!

Hey guys! Sorry for the lack of updates, im nearly done with uni for the year, so expect more updates and all the good stuff! Cheers!

[declan-gilbey-blog]

'Piano' Style Acoustic Guitar and Dallas Green.

Guitarists often get confused when the term 'piano' and 'guitar' are used in the same context of style, but all it literally means is you literally choose inversions that would be played on a piano, and instead of strumming the strings, separately, you pluck them all at the same time, just like a pianist would play a chord. It makes a lovely sound!! One of the best examples in popular music at the moment is an artist called Dallas Green (City and Colour). he constantly incorporates this when playing solo, acoustic guitar a-compliments.  Here is a great song which demonstrates this technique

This is a aspect of my playing that I have really neglected and im gonna spend a few weeks didcated to getting it down, just because I think it's a really powerful emotive tool that can move an audeience allot more than just shredding it up!'

My Youtube channel is going good, and Im just in a good place with everything at the moment. I did a solo cover in my latest video, which I tweeted the band who originally recorded the track and I got some good feedback from the band and some praise too, which is always a big confidence boost and gives me the feeling that Im really improving now.

You can follow me on; 

Twitter- DeclanGilbey https://twitter.com/DeclanGilbey Instagram-Dec_YDG http://instagram.com/dec_ydg Facebook- Declan Gilbey https://www.facebook.com/declan.gilbey

Please feel free to tweet me with idea's, any feedback and if you just wanna chat about music! Hope everyones had a good week! TAKE IT EASY.

[declan-gilbey-blog]

InMe Single of The Weak.

So I think I've finally figured out how to EQ and set up my distorted sound for recording. allot of tinkering in guitar rig, but at this point, Im happy with it! Enjoyyyyyyyyyy

[declan-gilbey-blog]

So my photo shoot came out great! Finally have some really good photo's to use for promo stuff!

[declan-gilbey-blog]

Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters.

I don't normally praise many rock bands, because in my opinion I actually think allot of them sound quite similar and it's just not really my taste anymore. Perhaps when I was an angry 16 year old, but it just doesnt do it for me anymore, except for the Foo's.

This band and it's front man, Dave Grohl have so much unique energy it really does still effect me, and as I've said before, good music should move you emotionally more than anything.It's surprising because for a rock band, they actually have very pretty melodies and ideas. The best example of what I mean are the guitar lines found in Best of You. Perfect example of how simple octaves and melodic lines can really capture an emotion and portray different energy levels to an audience.

The song Pretender is also a high octane, punching and kicking song. There's something about the clever guitar intro to the driving guitar line and stabs that follow after, a total mood changer in contrast to the intro bars. The fact that the song is just about someone who has just had enough and has hit that breaking point too. How hard do you think he hits those strings live in those stabs? I bet he hits them pretty hard!

Thats the main appeal of dave's playing however, not the fact that he is playing super fast, technical guitar lines, but the fact that he plays with such attitude that very few players can replicate. I wouldn't be surprised to if for live scenarios he didn't actually use that much gain, but the fact the signal gets distorted is just because how hard he's playing!

If you've not heard his key note speech either, then check it out ASAP. As a aspiring musician it really made me think, and totally changed and inspired my outlook on a few things. Music, at the end of the day, should not be down to sales, production or how 'good' someone is. It should just be about plugging and and just cranking it up sometimes. Dave's key note speech

Hope everyone had a nice easter! TAKE IT EASY.

[declan-gilbey-blog]

My Gospel Influences and Kerry Marshall

So, I probably haven't explained it to people who take the time to read this little online journal of mine, But I must confess something. I have a very unhealthy obsession with gospel and old school R&B. Speaking as guitarist, I feel that this makes me very unique and allot of people would say how can you not like the Slash's, Jimi page's and Dimebag stuff, and say you take guitar seriously? To those people I would respond with one guitarist, who although very modern and young, I think has perfected this approach to the guitar and will be a teacher in this style for years to come; Kerry Marshall. Kerry Marshall is a gospel/ R&B guitarist who has already influenced my playing beyond repair, no matter what happens whenever I pick up my acoustic or electric, his idea's just start to appear in my playing and I cant stop it, and I dont want too. Just take a listen to one of his studio sessions. Such unique and beautiful style!

I also love the overuse of the whammy bar to create a vocal/organ style clash!! Il just put a few video's of this guy up here and you can judge for yourself. So interesting to here nice melodic lines played in a mature, gospel way, rather than (not that I dont love) crunched and distorted solo's from hell.

'

Some of my favourite gospel artist's at the movement too, Dave Hollister. Absolutely love the arrangement and the runs in his voice, which In this style, Is appropriate to try and emulate these vocal runs on guitar. I think this is where Kerry get's allot of his idea's from. 

Marvin Sapp is another great gospel based artist, although allot of his songs are praise, I still really love this style!

Im

Gonna put up a little video of me playing in this style shortly, I have so much work to do with uni and a few artist's im hopefully going to be playing live with AND I want to dedicate time to practice, as-well as lead a somewhat interesting social life and not become a recluse... With the beard I have coming that Could be a sure fire sign.

Follow me on;

Twitter; @declangilbey Youtube Channel; https://www.youtube.com/user/declandeangilbey

Instagram; Dec_YDG

Facebook; Declan Gilbey

TAKE IT EASY.