And Now – Back to the Music!

08 Nov 2013 2 Comments

by Debra Manskey in Biography, Business, Downloads, Inspiration, Inspiration, Lyrics, Merchandise, Music, Performance, Recording, Singing Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

After a little sojourn into urban farming and environmental concerns, today it’s back to the driving force in my life – music!

At the moment, I’m preparing to finish recording my next project, and it’s something completely foreign to me. After years of writing and playing my own songs, I’m recording an EP of other people’s songs. I started recording a couple of months ago and I now have five songs that I’m pretty pleased with as studio roughs. But I’d like to record one more and then start the mixing process.

Bertha & Blondie, ready for action!

Bertha & Blondie, ready for action

The concept is to record songs that have influenced my own songwriting and/or singing and believe me, the hardest thing has been narrowing it down to just six! In conversation with my musical partner-in-crime and studio whiz, Malcolm Battersby, “The Lucky Six” came up as a title. And I love it!

Also, it’s been my first opportunity to record in Mal’s new facility, The Belfry Studio, and what a delight that has been! The space is lovely and the equipment is excellent but I always love recording with Mal for a multitude of other reasons. We play together in The Fringe Dwellers so musically, we know each other very well. Everytime we get together, whether it’s for rehearsals, gigs or just a cuppa, we have a great time – we both have a similar mad sense of humour – but it’s his professionalism that shines through when I’m recording and he’s engineering.

We have a plan and generally, stick to it. He gives me space in the recording studio to get on with what I’m good at and doesn’t get in my way when I need time to consider my next move. He’ll make suggestions but not demands and knows exactly when to call a tea break. And his recording gear and microphones are good!

I anticipate “The Lucky Six” will be available as a digital download early in 2014. I’ll have links through this blog when we get it finished 😀

Some of the neighbours are a bit too cute but the view and the vibe is relaxed and lovely.

The Next Door Neighbour

The Next Door Neighbour

Personally, I think the Daleks in the control room are what really drives it and makes it perfection 😉

Cheers everyone,

Debra

Daleks keeping Jax in line in the control room

Daleks keeping an eye on Jax in the control room

Jax “These Things” Mini-Album Release

03 Nov 2013 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Inspiration, Merchandise, Music, Recording Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Jax "These Things"

Jax “These Things”

A very quick post about a very exciting thing!

My dear friend (and former student) has finally released her first recording. Entitled “These Things”, it’s available for preview and purchase here

I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of this incredibly talented young woman, who’s fought so hard to follow her dream.

Now, go check it out 😉

Recording – At Last!

17 Aug 2013 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Music, Recording, Singing Tags: , , , , ,

image

It’s the end of winter in Tasmania but there’s a hint of spring in the air – mostly in the blustery wind yesterday! And I’m at Murdunna, sitting in front of a wood fire, contemplating yesterday’s recording and thinking about the work ahead.

I’ve decided (first time ever!) to record an EP of covers plus some separate draft tracks for my next solo album.

Strangely, I find it harder to record other people’s work than my own. Perhaps it’s the recognition factor? I don’t know.

Nevertheless, it’s great to be recording again with Malcolm Battersby engineering.

It’s a special kind of home ♡

Video Saturday

22 Sep 2012 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Merchandise, Music, Performance, Recording Tags: , , ,

The Fringe Dwellers have an album out – “After Time” – and to promote it we’ve decided to make a video of one of my favourite songs from the CD, “Sunstruck”. Yesterday was supposed to be filming day, on my balcony in Hobart in the late morning sunshine.

Typically, the heavens opened and didn’t let up until late last night – though the irony of the situation wasn’t lost on me! 19mm of rain later, we finally got a window of sun this morning……. and I got to use my new toy.

About a month ago, I discovered this amazing little device that literally turns anything into a speaker. It’s very small and great fun to play around with. For the video shoot we needed some playback for me to synch with and groove to and the mini speaker on the wheelie bin was perfect! In the picture below you can see it on top of the bin, being fed signal from the laptop.

Mal with laptop on the plastic chair, powering my tiny speaker on the wheelie bin for playback

There’s a silly video promoting the product here – and I guarantee it sounds awesome on the toilet seat!

Meanwhile, we had a heap of fun. Made the neighbourhood wonder what the hell we were doing and entertained my neighbours and the plumber immensely.

“I don’t like make up”

I’ll be sure to post the final video here when Mal finishes editing. Take care everyone and have a brilliant weekend wherever you are!

The Fringe Dwellers – Sneak Preview

15 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Music, Performance, Recording Tags: , , , , , ,

The Fringe Dwellers are my new band – Mal Battersby (The Bat Band) – guitars & vocals, Oscar Neyland – bass guitar, James Excell – drums and me on vocals & rhythm guitar.

As some of you might be aware, it’s a very long time since I’ve been in a band and this is shaping up to being a very rewarding experience! The music is a broad mix of genres, with songs written by Mal and some by me.

We’re just in the final stages of completing our first full recording “After Time” and it’s sounding excellent!

For those of you in southern Tasmania, we’re playing our first proper pub gig next Friday 22nd June at The Grand Poobah in Liverpool St, Hobart. It’s the end of mid-year exams for all my uni friends, so we’re planning to party! We’d love to see you there 😀

Meanwhile, this is one of my favourite photos of Mal & me, taken by our beautiful photographer friend Saria Phillips…… it kinda sums things up pretty well – we have a lot of fun 😉

The Woman On The Edge Of The World – A Review

14 Jun 2012 1 Comment

by Debra Manskey in Downloads, Merchandise, Music, Recording Tags: , , , , , , , ,

TWOTEOTW Front Cover

Below is a review of my latest album, which I released earlier this year. Reading it still gives me goosebumps – Matt’s review is extraordinarily generous!

If you’re interested in having a listen, “The Woman On The Edge Of The World” is available on my SoundCloud page. Individual tracks as well as the full album are available for purchase.

Sales have been very good but I’m currently looking at potential crowd-funding methods of releasing a physical CD & vinyl version, with posters and possibly art & lyric book.

I welcome your feedback 🙂

March 2012 Sauce Magazine Review

“The Woman on The Edge of The World”

Many would know Deb as the female vocalist from ARIA award winning Wild Pumpkins at Midnight or more recently as one half of the blues/roots Fringe Dwellers. Like her contemporaries, Deb had always enjoyed more recognition inEurope. Angie Hart and Monique Brumby have publicly acknowledged the importance of Manskey’s influence.

I won’t go into why it took 13 years to make this album but in many ways the songs tell so many beautiful stories of sadness and sorrow, perhaps it’s better to let the music tell the story.

This is a stripped back acoustic album, just vocal and guitar. “Drowning On Dry Land” is perhaps the most intense song on this album, far more intimidating than anything PJ Harvey, Sinead O’Connor or Patti Smith have ever committed to tape.
”Sandy Bay” is an un-mistakenly Tasmanian song, capturing feel of the suburb and referencing the landmarks, as John Lennon did when he sang the Rubber Soul era, “In My Life”. But it’s not an entirely miserable experience. “Mr Invincible” is a wonderful up-tempo slice of pop, as is “Beautiful Life”. This album has been a long time in the making, it might be more accurately described as a greatest hits album, no doubt the toughest decision was deciding which of the hundreds of great songs she wrote in its preparation to banish to the orphanage.

Manskey possesses one of the finest voices imaginable and if you buy this album you will discover, she is also one of the finest songwriters.

Matt Sertori

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