"I understand these projects don't turn a profit so I'm choosing to pay more because I can."
Each disc was hand-cut in real time. This limited release is to recoup some of the costs of making the songs while making something unique and collective for fans to enjoy.
Limited edition 7" vinyl of Under The Velvet Spotlight & Lucy ('72 Version) as the B-side.
Includes:
- 7" vinyl
- High resolution digital download of both songs
- Signed photograph
- Hand-written lyrics
- An audio commentary of the tracks, breaking down each layer and talking through how each was constructed
Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nw5tnP6qyV4
Under The Velvet Spotlight is a sequel to Lucy from Joshua's album Glass Knight. Lucy introduced us to the fictional rock star and Under The Velvet Spotlight takes us to her first show in a new town, where her performance is transformative for one person in the audience.
Inspired by rock from the early 70s, Joshua's latest single stemmed from the idea of a challenge: can you produce a song that sounds believably like it was released in 1972? Only you can be the judge, but here are some of the processes that went into it:
Writing inspired by early Genesis, Deep Purple, Bowie's Ziggy Stardust
Every part had to be recorded on an actual instrument (no samples allowed!)
Where possible, instruments from the 1970s or before were used (including a 1970s Hammond organ!)
Takes had to be recorded in one go (no dropping in - this is how they did it when they recorded on tape)
All parts were recorded through a vintage mixing desk
A 1970s ElectroVoice RE15 microphone was used on as many instruments as possible (this is the same microphone Bowie used for the Ziggy Stardust tour)
The drums were recorded with just 4 microphones in a small acoustically dry room (no echo) as this was a 70s drum recording technique
The track was mixed with as few effects as possible - mainly just turning things up and down like they would have done in the 70s. The only effects used are a plate reverb and a tape delay, both of which were commonly used in the early 70s.
The B-side is a new version of Lucy - the '72 Version - also imagining we're back in 1972 and featuring a choir made up of the York Coracle Singers as well as fans who sent in a vocal part from home as part of the Live At Cropredy crowdfunder. Listen out for Josh trying to channel his inner Wakeman in the style of Hunky Dory.