A few moments from the East Coast US tour with Tom Odell.
Still trying to find the balance, but have definitely noticed small improvements in very small areas in the musical and non-musical side to touring ⚖️
That practice pad is still my friend and is doing a great job in technique maintenance and the pre show warm up 🔥
Still working on that extra independence and brain capacity to use conscious breaths whilst drumming. It defineitly contributes to controlled singing and better chance of pitching 🌬️
The daily breath-work and meditation practice seems to continue to bring out a general sense of peace, positivity and energy. 🧘= ☮️ & ⚡️
Running less frequently as previous years, but enjoying it more and it seems to work better for me that way. finding tress and trails in big cities is not always easy, but worth the effort if possible. Post flight running is often worth the effort, if time allows!
🌲🌳🏃 & ✈️🏃👍😁
Cooling down mucles with ice (post show) is a lovely moment of stillness and calm that really does seem to help keep my arms and neck in check over the course of a tour. 🧊❄️🧊
Slow and steady mindset and expectations in strength training. Shout out to @maxclilverd for all the tips in the gym. 💪
Photo credit : @ciaramcmullanmedia
Some pictures from the last couple of shows with @tompeterodell supporting @billieeilish on her EU tour.
The strongest thought so far has been playing as a band in the round. This subtle stage shift - essentially playing in a circle facing inwards - has dramatically changed the feel and connection of the band and our performance as a whole.
A few personal musical intentions I am trying to practice throughout the show:
- To soften - without compromising intent, energy and force
- bring it back to now and listen
- higher capacity to create more watchful breathing independence to maximise and enhance my singing and energy levels.
- keep focused on tone
- remember to let the mics do the work in a large space.
- support Tom and the lyric
- have fun
Photography by :
@ciaramcmullanmedia
The penultimate and final festival of the Summer with Tom Odell & Band
(Zelt Fest & Castle Park Grammont)
These both genuinely felt as fresh and exciting as the first show of the year.
It is a joy to be able to play truly live with such incredible musicians. There is a lightness and freeness that connects our performance.
The show, set list and songs shift and meander from day to day and the collective energy on and off stage moves through so many different states of emotion. It’s so fascinating to see and feel (from the best seat in the house) how so many subtle and nuanced changes can occur in one space over the course of around 60 to 90 minutes.
I am now looking forward to some rest, reflection and family time after so many shows and places travelled.
🥁☯️🧑🍳🏕️⛺️🧘
✌️
Credits :
Photographer - 📸 @ciaramcmullanmedia
Lighting Design -
🔦 @phosphortech
Tom Odell and Band
Stars in Town
Lights and Sound
Fans in stands
Bold and grand
Bodies crammed
Played unplanned
Drummers banged
Keyboards slammed
Collective Clangs
Freestyle jammed
To waving hands
In Switzerland
02/08/2024
📷 - @ciaramcmullanmedia
🔦 - @phosphortech
Tom Odell, Alexander Palace
19/07/24
It was a very memorable one.
P.S Thanks to all involved for the surprise….you know who you are! 🍻🌶️🏏🔉❤️
📷 @ciaramcmullanmedia
25th Feb 2024
First ever Marathon
Completed in 5:10:40
With around 2,800 ft of elevation gain I knew the Big Mud marathon I signed up for would be a very tough challenge for me, especially my first one. But, that’s the style of course I really enjoy and wanted to know how I would fair and to finally answer the question I’ve had dotting around my mind for so many years.
The Marathon played out pretty much to plan. I managed to pace myself (without a watch or a smart phone in sight) I stayed hydrated and ate enough to maintain my energy levels throughout.
Running a marathon for me and all that comes with it has been awesome, obviously It’s come with it’s fair share of tough testing times. injuries and set backs, but generally I’ve loved the life it has helped to reveal in me.
I recommend that if you are reading this, you try a run that challenges you. What ever the distance.. just as long as it challenges you or it’s just further than perhaps you have ever run before. It may bring up certain characteristics, values, behaviours that surprise you and you may also learn something new about yourself. Not just on the race day, but the many days and months leading up to the ‘the big day’ and in the rest period afterwards too.
Note:
I couldn’t resist recording a voiceover on top of this video. This is a likely version of the voice inside my head on my final few steps to the finish line.
Peace
Pukkel Pop, Belgium 19/08/2023
The main feeling from the show for me was the immediate exchange between the four of us on stage and the huge audience in front of us.
Collaboration and connectivity
The crowd from word go - before we had even reached our instruments - applauded, urged and invited us to perform with freedom and truthfulness.
Feeling this mass of energy towards a musical ensemble (band) truly does allow for time and space to feel more slow, safe and free, which in turn helps each performer to feel at ease with themselves on a personal level, which then helps to create and discover a deeper pocket and closer connection between the band as a whole.
This provides a more meaningful and organic musical moment for the audience.
This then often seems to invite and provide the crowd to delve even deeper in to their individual and collective experience. To open up, connect and let go.
It starts a feedback loop of expression which propels the atmosphere and vibration to a higher plane.
Visceral & volatile
This back and fourth between band and audience ..etc is one of the most fascinating, unique and exciting areas of performing music live.
What a whopper! 🍔
Photo credit : @ciaramcmullanmedia
❤️
Really Small Shorts Volume.3
🩳 OUT TODAY 🩳
@maxgoff and myself truly enjoy the process of making and creating and discovering what these miniature figurines of music turn in to.
Shout outs :
screen printing / Artwork by @amrayney
Vocals on ‘My Footsteps Your Footsteps’ by @lydiaclowes
Guitar on ‘My Footsteps Your Footsteps’ by @bobby.lamont
Guitar on ‘Dog Prison’ by @jonklaemint
Drum Enginner for ‘Essence of Now’ ‘Junk Food’ ‘Eight Pound Lemon’ ‘My Footsteps Your Footsteps’ ‘Mono Bubble’ @woolymamothsounds
Studio dog and vibes @blueytheworkingcocker
24 years ago I was only allowed to walk around the Panathenaic Stadium when on a school trip tour.
Fast forward to Today, I am 38 years and a few months old. I knew in my heart when I woke in my hotel room this morning, that If I went for a run, I would end up running around the Panathenaic Stadium track.
I felt drawn to it.
I followed my nose - fizzing around the small streets below the Acropolis - and after about 5k of twisting and turing I sensed that I was close to my destination. I confidently jogged through a small gate which opened out to a car park with a few buildings around it. I kept going and headed for some steps which led me straight to what I hoped would be the top of the seated area of the stadium. I ended up directly below the Olympic Rings, but on the outside of the perimeter fence.
I couldn’t stop now.
I jumped over the fence (both feet glued together like a gymnast on the horse) and traversed my way down the very steep steps.
I instinctively started running fast (for me) anti-clockwise around the track.
Immediately I was transported back in time, Imagining what it must have been like all those years ago, to be in a race, to be running around this track with the stadium full of people, encouraging and cheering me on. My lungs burning, my legs heavy from the lactic acid. Trying to exceed my limits to possibly run faster than ever before!
The ground under my feet keeping me steady and pulsating me forward just like all those runners before me. I thought of their individual stories of Injury, success, pain. The friends and loved ones looking on with hope and expectation.
Now, I was one of those runners. I had a family and I felt pain. I felt the hot air rushing past my sweaty ears. It was emotional, exhilarating... and exhausting!
I felt a true sense of history within me. I felt like I had learnt so much from than one lap...I’m so glad I did it.
I wish they would have let a fourteen year old me run a lap.
