You wind me up like the spring in a clock

Just because we haven’t been shouting about it doesn’t mean Dan and I haven’t been working hard like two diligent little ants. We have been dealing with changes of scenery, tedious business planning and lots of new to-do’s, so time has not exactly been to spare. One of the most exciting fruits of the labour will – eventually – be the Ever Anew album. 

We are taking our sweet time with this one, and we are nowhere close to a release date. Sorry. However, I can tell you that there’s some very cool sounds coming out of the HandsDown studio these days, and there are so many ideas I can’t wait to share! The one track we have already put out there did get some sweet feedback, and I can only hope you will like the next ones as much.

My favourite track off the album right now is called Clockwork. It’s a working title, but I’m starting to think it’s a keeper. I love the instrumental. Like anything out of the HandsDown studio it has a real vibe, a special little something. It even has Dan playing the violin! I honestly don’t think there’s an instrument that boy can’t teach himself. The bastard.

(Dan himself would insist on pointing out that he isn’t a violinist just yet. But I say it’s just a matter of time, so I won’t bother.)

After spending a few weeks getting to know the track, the lyrics came tumbling over the last couple of days – just in time for a weekend of vocal demoing before returning to Norway. And just so I’ve explained myself here too: I am off working as a music teacher at my old high school in Jevnaker for a few months, and this little pearl of beauty is where I’m calling home these days. A big ol’ house in the woods to myself, built by my grandad, right between two pairs of aunts and uncles and a waterfall. Not too shabby for Audrey.

Anyway, Clockwork. The sound is different – ever anew – and still a bit of a throwback to the past. I rap on this one. The subject however points to a less fun corner of the past. It describes the frustration of being stuck in a circle, waiting for something to shake you out of your misery. Clinging to dreams that are starting to feel like the wrong fit, with no plans other than the blueprints for a ridiculous castle on a cloud. Realising you aren’t getting anywhere and that there’s a choice to be made: either find out what you actually want and go get it, or settle in that random thing you happened to stumble into after dropping out of college four years ago. Luckily in my case, I stumbled again and ended up in Liverpool.

Although I am really enjoying good old Norway with all the exciting new stuff (including teaching a bunch of 14 year olds about alternative music and lunching with my old maths teacher), coming back to Liverpool for Easter has been a real inspiration. Taking a step back from all the sudden changes of late was nice (and needed), and for a precious little week I have retreated to the only “normal” I’ve known for years· There’s been long, creative nights, lazy days, rendezvous’s with nears and dears and basking in Liverpool sun. It’s been nice.

Although the abundance of awesome food I am within walking distance of right now does make me grin stupidly, the best part of this Holiday is still that this time I get to take Dan with me when I go. For a while. We’re setting up a mini studio in the quiet little house in the woods, so we can keep working on the album. I am sure the surroundings will inspire.

…What with the trolls and all.

<—–  Say no more…

Further down the line, who knows. It’s like the map in Baldur’s Gate, where the path keeps revealing itself as you move along. The immediate plans are many. Dan will be producing a few different artists, and keep writing for Screen Robot. I will keep teaching One Direction-fans about real music for another couple of month, then go on to teach songwriting and “artistery” to the young and promising over the summer. The eventual goal is still Amsterdam. I know some think that is just another castle in the sky, but stranger things have happened.

We’ll see.

Have a good Easter!

Audrey
_________________

Links:

Hands Down Music Production
Ever Anew on Twitter
Soundcloud: Flashes (free download)
Peter Guy (The Liverpool Echo) about ‘Flashes’
Screen Robot: ‘The ten greatest movie hedonists’ by Dan Drumm

How You Suck Me In…

After a couple of months just spent “landing,” after a long year of hard work and many challenges, we decided it was time to get back to Liverpool and back to work. To celebrate being back and kick off a new era for Ever Anew, we want to share with you the video that we did with Lars Helgeland a while ago. I hope you like it!

About the song

The song is called How You Suck Me In, and is Ever Anew’s little quickie. Written by Audrey on acoustic guitar, further developed by Dan and later seasoned with Kristian’s pianeering (…) it’s a fairly simple little thing; but touches upon some less simple subjects. The harsh message in the lyrics always seams to catch people off guard, and it has been great to see the live audiences’ response to the song over the last few months. Now we are hoping to get some response from the interwebs as well – please let us know what you think of the video, and share it with anyone you think might enjoy it. We appreciate all the help we can get spreading the word! 

Download the song for free on Soundcloud

How You Suck Me In. I could tell you to go. I could tell you to leave me the hell alone. I could let you know how it messed with my head when you said I was better in bed than her. But I would never do that. Cause I’m afraid you might listen. And I wouldn’t want that. Cause I know I would miss it. So I’ll strap on a smile and my armour, and let you fuck me up again… And let you fuck me up again, boy. I never thought I’d be her. She’s a horrible bitch I have hated before. It’s so unfair how you suck me in, I can’t win when you force your way under my skin…! I try to wash you off, but somehow I’m not getting clean. Until I’m under a new, I’ll feel your weight on me. So here I am, faking with some fool… Cause you done fucked me up again. Cause you done fucked me up again, boy. I could tell you to go…

© EVER ANEW 2013

Live Photos 2013

Over the last six months we have been easing our way into the Liverpool live scene, and I would like to share the pictures from some of the gigs we have done so far. Thank you so much to Dave Forbes (Zanzibar 8/3), Harry Armytage (LIPA, 9/3) and Dolly Williams (Camp and Furnace, 8/6) for some great shots!

A bit of newsies:

We are currently working on writing new material and planning some exciting new releases for you guys, and we can’t wait to get back on stage in October. But before then there’s a tasty little video coming; made by noone else than Lars Helgeland who among other great things has made this video for Secret Sebastian (which has had a crazy 12 000 views by now!!). It is called How You Suck Me In and will be up in just a few long, warm, Norwegian Summer days. So keep your eyes open.

Speaking of long, warm, Norwegian Summer days; today Dan and I had a nice chat in the sun with John Erik from Hadeland, one of the local newspapers over here that are doing an article on us next week. We took some fun pictures outside my old school, appropriate enough as that is where I first went to music kindergarten when I was 4. It’s nice to look back while thinking ahead, and I am really enjoying being home right now. Soon enough, next week to be exact, we will be going back to Liverpool; to the studio, to the city that birthed us, to Graduation and whatever new things life has in store for Ever Anew. But for another few days, I’m home. For barbecues, singing in the sun and swimming in the fjord. 

Please have a great summer! I hope you like the pictures enough to be excited about the video!

xx, Audrey

Happy Valentine’s Day – with a song. <3

It’s a big day for us this – and I’m not referring to roses or heart shaped chocolates or anything like that, I am of course referring to the latest addition to the Ever Anew family. Hide For Cupid has finally hatched, and I am proud and exited to finally be able to show you guys what’s been brewing in Wapping over the last few months.

We decided it was only appropriate for a love story like Hide For Cupid to be released into the world on Valentine’s Day. I’ve come to think of it kinda like a musical Valentine’s card to everyone I’ve ever shared a laugh with; and yeah, that probably means most of you guys. So take a minute to download a free copy and let me accompany you on your iPods for a little while!

Well… Without further due then, here she is: Hide For Cupid. I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed writing it!

Hide For Cupid 

First, there was laughter 
Then something in his eyes 
She knew that he was different 
Not like them other ties 
He stripped her of her masks 
She let him take them off 
It’s almost like he knew 
Her so-called perfect life made no sense until now 
What’s a girl to do? 

They couldn’t hide, for Cupid and his arrows were too sharp 
Now they swim for their lives and for love in a sea of broken hearts 
They couldn’t hide, for Cupid and his arrows were too sharp 

She is just a woman 
And he is just a man 
They didn’t mean to fall in love 
No, that wasn’t the plan 

They couldn’t hide, for Cupid and his arrows were too sharp 
Now they swim for their lives and for love in a sea of broken hearts 
They couldn’t hide, for Cupid and his arrows were too sharp 

Stupid girl for trading all you’ve built for your own happiness 

© Copyright Ever Anew 2012

credits

Written by Audrey Wilhelmsen and Dan Drumm 
Produced and recorded by Dan Drumm 
Mixed by Caesar Edmunds 

❤

download Hide For Cupid for free

Bandcamp

Soundcloud

Last.fm

Urørt

*************************

xx Audrey xx

Live Time – finally!

After months of rehearsing, writing new songs and working hard on the beautiful circus that is Ever Anew, it is time.

We’ve got a few gigs lined up and more being organised as we speak (keep an eye on the Live section), so we do hope to see some familiar faces when we finally step on to those stages. First up is THE BRINK in one week today, which is a bit special since that’s where we did the EP launch in May. I love the place, and the atmosphere and the people are lovely. Plus it’s a dry bar, so people actually listen to the performances, which is a nice change. And of course you can’t go wrong with a nice cup of tea! The food is great as well, check out their drink and food menus for a better impression than I can give you!

Good times with amazing people at The Brink in 2012. The NEW Ever Anew is back at The Brink 19/02, for our first gig of 2013!

We will be playing last, after Aurora, Tom Crofts and Matthew McGurty. Show starts 8 and finishes at 10:45. See you there…?

Ready for a teaser…? aka TWO DAYS LEEEEFT!!!

Yup yup yuuuup, Hide For Cupid is only 2 days away from being out there for you all to hear, and here’s a little teaser I made for you. So go on. Let me tease you a little bit.

4 days left, guys!

We are so excited to finally share one of the new tracks with you, and I hope you are all planning on getting a FREE download for your iPods on Thursday! Links will be posted, well, everywhere, so keep an eye out will you?

SMOOOOCH!!

Getting ready!

February 2013:

We are so freakin’ excited about stepping onto the stages of Liverpool after what feels like a fun forever of preparations, and that’s not even the only cool thing happening these days. Our new single “Hide For Cupid” will be released as a free download on Valentine’s Day (February 14th) 2013, and “One Addiction” (featured in this video) will follow shortly after. Yay!

Confirmed Liverpool dates:
Feb. 19th: The Brink
March 9th: Zanzibar
March 14th: The Paul McCartney Auditorium, LIPA

Make sure you subscribe to our videos, Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and spread the love, people!!

See you soon!

Audrey.

Video:
All Film & Photos are shot by the beautiful Dolly Williams and edited by me. 🙂

Presenting: The new Ever Anew!

Finally!

The whole band is finally in place, and I can’t wait to start playing live with these awesome awesome guys! We were lucky enough to get to keep Kristian from the EP Launch (WUHU!!), but the rest of the players are brand spankin’ new to the table. Ready? Embrace the boys! ❤

Kristian Barli
Kristian is the only other Norwegian in the bunch, and he is a wizard on keys. He’s a busy boy, and has a lot of different balls in the air – bands and musicals and you name it – and we are lucky to have him. I’m looking forward to having his flair sprinkled all over the (Ever A)new songs!

Kobi Pham
Kobi first contacted me about playing at the release gig, but Will Rogers was already on the job then. Since Will is busy doing his own stuff this year I emailed Kobi when the time came to re-group, and he jumped straight on it. He is so great, he is passionate about the music and has lots of good ideas. Before I even asked him to join he had bought the EP off iTunes and learned two of the songs just because he liked them…! He also found the rest of the bunch for us, so YAY Kobi!

Wana Shibemba
Awesome guy, loves the music, comes prepared and knows his shit. Just look at him. Fierce! Haha, but seriously, he is one funky mofo.

Elliot Chapman
Elliot was the last piece of the puzzle, and we had one hell of a first rehearsal on Wednesday. He is going to bring some electronic kit-bits in very soon, so we can play around with awesome sounds. Way cool.

Daniel Drumm
And of course you know Dan. He has been coming up with some fantastic song ideas lately, and we are pretty much writing every day now. We’re totally on the same page with the sound, and I am loving the new songs. Which you will hear soon enough by the way. 😉

We’ve only had one rehearsal all together, but it was a great rehearsal. It is so fantastic to play with a band where everyone is involved, enthusiastic, likes the music and puts the work in between rehearsals! Yes!! We got through Hide Away and Any Day Now last week, and I’m already looking forward to playing Nothing I Could Do and Free on Wednesday. And then, on to the new stuff!

We might try some covers eventually as well – there’s so many amazing bands out there at the minute!! Such as, you say, and I won’t disappoint. The bands I can’t live without right now are Active Child, Everything Everything, Alt-J and Dear Pariah, to name a few. And if you like music, which you do because you’re human, you should seriously check them out.

It’s good to be back, and you will see a lot more of me in the weeks to come. I hope you already follow us on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram (everaudrey) and wherever else we live!

Lots of love,
One Happy Audrey.

Dear Pariah

There’s this girl, right. Her name is Charlie, and we go way back.

See? Way back.

Sometimes her hair is brown, sometimes it’s blond.

See? Blondie.

Sometimes she is smiling, sometimes her hair is red and she sulks like a toddler.

See? What a couple of sulky bitches.

None of this really matters. The point is that Charlie has a voice to die for, one that, once you get blown away by it once, you’d recognise anywhere. She also writes heart wrenching lyrics, and has an amazing musicality, vision and sense for harmony. Her music has feeling. And after a bunch of changes in name, sound and crew (sounds familiar), she has now finally released her very first EP, under the name “dear pariah“.

I hope I have made you curious enough to go check this ridiculously talented chick out – I guarantee you’ll be happy you did. I ordered a copy of the EP as soon as it was out, and within 48 hours it was in my mailbox.

See? Super service! ❤

There’s a lot you can do without spending the £5 on an actual copy as well (but come on, £5 is not a lot to support such great music) – you can listen to the songs in full, see a bunch of really cool and artistic videos, and get to know the absolute darling that is Charlie Hinchcliff. Just go here. Knock yourself out.

Now that my work here is done, I’m gonna go back to listening to dear pariah – again and again and again (are you getting the stalker vibes yet Charlie?)…

Enjoy, peeps!

Audrey.