Hear it here! We are so proud and happy to share it!
You can buy it directly from Bandcamp (don’t forget about the cool bundles we mentioned here) or from i-tines https://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/astrakan-project-b/id932864892?ls=1
It should be also soon anywhere else like Deezer or Amazon.
Ha!!!! We did it!!!
Our album is right now being manufactured, it’s a big achievement already! We still have a lot to do, but we can be more relax since the first big deadline is over (and we made it! 🙂 ) And since we were so busy last week, here’s a sneak-pick on how we created the album cover.
Our music too is pretty much also about “sacrificing” ancient (and beautiful) a-capela songs to turn them into new pieces. Sometimes we barely dare to. For some tunes, including some on next album, we waited for years before we dared to. Not by fear really. But because it’s sometimes hard to transform a song into a new tune that will at least compete with the original version.
§ Simone
Although we could have been tempted by this method :
… we went back to the one we used for our first album instead !
The way we organised tracks is something we pay a lot of attention to, we discuss it, we write it down, imagine it… And so far we are happy with what we came up with.
I‘m not pretending there was no other possibility, but in our minds, it all comes down to perception. A song will be heard and felt in a different way if it comes as the opening of the album, or after another track, and it also depends on which track.
We like to think about an album as a travel to our world. In the opening, what we want to do is to welcome the listener, almost take him by the hand. Then the journey can begin! We like to imagine and believe that an album can also be heard as a whole piece, not only track by track, but that when you listen to it, the story you hear is different.
You may now be wondering, how will next travel be? Maybe darker than the first one, maybe more powerful, but still as joyful as we are!
§ Simone
Yes, it’s in Portuguese… What do I say? That basically I’m always happy to sing in Portugal, my family’s country, and that it makes it very special! But Yann said the best part, when he explains why he plays Turkish instruments… “because they are really attractive”! Really great and so true!
Enjoy this moment with us,
§ Simone
6 days in the UK and 4 gigs, a great time for us! We played in East Anglia (Colchester, Norwich and Ipswich) and then in London, and above all we discovered other ways of touring and organising as a band. In France, we like things to be really organised, planned ahead, whereas in the UK, at least when it comes to organise concerts, people are so much more relaxed! We have to confess… it really fest good! It really felt good to be taken seriously as self-produced band, it really felt good to be able to organise things with short notice, it really felt good to be welcomed and supported by lovely people (including the members of the lovely band Kiss The Mistress).
It was all good!
For the first time…
And if you want even more of this ambiance, our friend Ginette did this short video {enjoy!}
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6D3QF4MPzk
Meeting and performing with Helen was a very powerful experience, a treasure that we’ll keep among our nicest memories.
Did you guess what I’m already busy with? Of course, putting together another UK tour! (and dear reader, if you have any suggestion, a place you know, a venue, a festival, please, let us know, after all we are making it happen together, right?)
§ Simone
It’s no secret that we both love British Pop! Wonderwall from Oasis is among this sound we love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEIzdL7IfAI
We’ve finished packing, we’re leaving Greece today, to get to Belgium on Friday right on time for our concert on Saturday night, and then head to Dunkerque and board to UK.
If you want to stay tuned, check out http://facebook.com/astrakanproject which is the easiest place for us to share while on the road – and yes, of course, be prepared for loads of road-trip videos & pictures!
§ Simone
Yann found a new way to tune his violin lower (one tone bellow indeed), and surprisingly it sounds like it’s more in tune with the inner way the violin resonates… interesting, isn’t it?
We’re glad we keep on investigating for shows in the UK… so far our contacts there have really been friendly and creative and respectful. And believe it or not Yann is almost ready to give up on coffee – well, for the week we’ll be there!
Who would say being a musician isn’t a job? 😉 Yes, we’re still getting ready to go to the UK (concerts on the 13-14th of June)
First episode was >here<
We’ll be playing in London next month for the first time (and actually for the first time in the UK), so… we’re getting ready !
. astrakan project . 