|  | Hello BBC Tyne
It's just after 9pm, Monday 8th September, I've had a long day in the studio with top class producer Alan Glass. I've just caught the tube back to Kings Cross and stuffed my face with a Macky D's! Anyways, I'm sat in an internet cafe, its gonna close soon so I'd better get a move on...
Last time I spoke to you, I was looking forward to a v. busy week with producers, songwriters, meetings with management etc and hell, that's what I got!
It's been brilliant, I had a meeting with the head of SAFE managment Chris Herbet and we discussed where we saw me going.
It was really cool cos we seemed to be in agreement with everything, there was no like, "mmmmm what about, and ohhhh I don't know" it was more like, "yeah, your right" "definitely"! So I was chuffed.
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We're gonna hold off on the gigs front for a while, although I reckon I'll be putting some local gigs on when I'm home.
Actually, not local I know, but John McLaughlin has arranged for me to do a gig for a radio station up in Scotland, I think Barry's gonna do it as well, be good to see good old Bazza!
John was talking about getting a band to back me which would be wicked. As I was speaking to Chris I said, "so really it's a simple formula, get writing the songs, get the band together, rehearse, then! gig".
And that is basically what I'm going to do. It's all about the music, writing good songs, finding good musicians, I can't wait until it all kicks off for good.
In a way it already has, like I said today I was recording a song called 'To the Otherside', it's quite funky but keeping with the rock n roll vibe. I wrote it with Alan Glass, respected songwriter and producer.
He's worked with the likes of Liberty X recently, and dates back to Aretha Franklin days. He's got gold and platinum discs all over his walls.
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I actually knew Alan before Fame Academy, and was hoping to travel over to Germany to record with a band he knows over there.
They're called Brunch and the main guy in it made a backing track for one of my songs. On Friday, I recorded it at Alan's place but we changed the chorus cos Alan had a better idea for it - it's turned out really well.
With John, I wrote a really uplifting up tempo rock song called 'Here Comes the Sun', bit ambitious with the title I know, but it wasn't my idea! God bless you George Harrison.
I played all the guitars on the demo, electric and acoustic, I'm due in David James' studio again on Friday this week to finish it up. It was a brilliant day, I was a bit nervous having to write a song with such a genius but I just got into it and he's a really lovely guy, made me feel right at home. Can't wait to get it finished.
So overall, I 've managed to write and record three pretty damn good songs this week. This is what I'll be doing over the next few weeks I reckon, then eventually we'll pick out the best ones and put them onto a three or four track demo which will be heard by record company executives.
That's when I'll cross my fingers, pray to god and cry if they like it! Until then, its work, work, work. I'm loving it.
Speak soon
Gary
xx. |
Gary Phelan will be writing regularly about his adventures for BBC Tyne. If you have a question for the Fame Academy star, email us at tyne@bbc.co.uk
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