Summer means that you can go for a walk to the shops and come back with your ice-cream and your can of pop and feel like you’ve really achieved something.
Im ill. But this time its a good thing because it means that I’ve been running myself into the ground with loads of good things. Koko, My album launch party, album release, an in-store at Phonica, and a live appearance on radio all within a week. Proper mental but something I hope Im going to have to get used to. This morning I woke up with the thought that it can’t be long until Ill be getting on my coach to Glastonbury. And then I realised that Ive already been. And then I remembered that it was amazing. And then I felt a bit sad that I only got to go for the day. And then I remembered that that’s what I wanted and some people didn’t get to go at all.
Over the past couple of years Ive been singing in a choir for The Matthew Herbert Big Band album ‘There’s Me and then There’s You’. I got to record the album and then sing with a 70 something bunch of lovely folk at The Royal Festival Hall and The Barbican. This year Matthew Herbert invited 40 of us to go sing with him at Glastonbury, a prospect I was very excited about BUT, rather annoyingly wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to go. (If I hadn’t already told you that I did manage to go I would spend a bit more time building up the suspense, lull you into a false sense of security and then hit you with a clanger, so ill just tell you that I had a shower, sat on my bed crying for a bit and then drove off into the 4am sunrise for an amazing experience. I couldn’t really sing for shit but I tried and at one point I thought I was going to throw up but I didn’t, the sight of many many many people enjoying what you are giving them was enough for me to pull myself together again and enjoy it. It was glorious. The weather was beautiful and soon I found myself hanging out with Blue Daisy and his lovely lady Emily and then sitting back stage with my feet in a paddling pool and my face in the sun with the incredibly lovely Bonobo band taking turns to dip their toes in. I wasn’t moving. It was just too pleasant and it totally made the 6 hour journey home bearable.
Next up is a Flow Motion at Royal Opera House on 17th July and then Secret Garden Party. Really REALLY looking forward to both and hope to see you at one or the other or both!
Stacca x