Friday 10 December 2010

Initial Questionnaire: Getting to know the band...

When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
Ben: We didn't really "form" GLITTERKNIGHT... We started recording a little over 2 years ago in my bedroom with garageband and a really bad microphone! Our inspiration was probably our similar taste and appreciation for a good melody and lyrics. It just went from there!
Kira: What brought us together was our broad interest in music and the fact we just got on really well! I think it was just natural for us to start recording and making music!

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
B: At the moment, we're focusing on covers though we do write both separately and together. I don't think there's a theme to my songwriting, I just write whatever I'm thinking about at the time without worrying if it fits a topic or set of other songs.
K: I'm exactly the same, writing music about relationships, people, situations... there really isn't much of a theme! I think eventually, the songs we do decide to bring through and produce will have a loose subject but right now, we're just writing about what's important to us whether that's a breakup or social issues! It's a really broad thing for us.

What's your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
B: The ultimate direction... I'd have to say it's just being able to perform and for people to hear our music. Obviously the direction we're taking right now is writing our own material, having done covers for so long.
K: No! (laughs) We're doing it because it's fun and it's just something we want to do - fame and fortune would be an awful reason to get into music! It's our last priority (Though it would be nice)!

So, guys, what does your lead song Lights off the album mean to you?
B: Well Lights is a really fun song, it's a mix of genres with a good pace to it. Lyrically, the song is multifaceted with, with the melodies, is a really nice touch.
K: Exactly! The lyrics represent that feeling of not really being in control and loosing touch with life. The 'lights' represent the memories maybe, a person or... anything really that reminds you it's all okay really and that when you're feeling a bit alone, you just have to stop overthinking it and be yourself.
B: It's quite an empowering song - it means a lot to us. We love it.

Describe yourselves in 3 words- Go!
B: Creative, broad-minded and... quite individualistic really!
K: Ahh... I am... A diva! Ha.. No really, I'm very driven, fun-loving and don't take life too seriously. Too many words, sorry!

[Example interview/Questionnaire written by Ben Halliday (Myself)]

Tuesday 7 December 2010

'Lights' by GLITTERKNIGHT (Audio)


'Lights' by Ben Halliday & Kira Knight (GLITTERKNIGHT)
Originially by Ellie Goulding.
Hosted by SoundCloud

Saturday 4 December 2010

Recording the song 'Lights'

Video composed by myself, Ben Halliday

Here's just a short video that I filmed while my group (Kira and myself) were recording our cover of 'Lights' for our Pop Promotion Package using Apple's Logic Studio with a MicroKorg XL/Samson Q1U microphone in my bedroom.

Thursday 2 December 2010

Pitching Our Idea To An Audience: A Visual Representation


Displayed above is our presentation/pitch, showing our thoughts and ideas for the promotional package.

During the presentation, Kira and myself pitched the idea to a group of media students, like ourselves, and talked them through our ideas. First, we played the song we would be using which you can hear above by following the URL in the presentation.

Showing them the visual representations featured in the presentation, we explained to them our ideas about sound, editing and cinematography, how we were going to execute them and why. We made it clear that we wanted to represent ourselves and the song in quite an abnormal, surrealist manner. I thought it was best to talk these images through with the group rather than type out explainations for them to read as the inner synesthetic in me heard the song quite visually and I wanted to fully elaborate the ideas I had.

The pitch went well and after a lot of explanation, the direction we were heading in was received extremely positively.

Wednesday 1 December 2010

About the band

The band I'm promoting consists of Kira Knight and I (Ben Halliday) and as I'm sure you're aware, we'll be focusing solely on "Lights" to express our look and feel.

Meet the band:

Kira Knight

Kira Knight is an 18 year old student currently studying A Levels at Suffolk New College. At the age of 14, Knight discovered her vocal talents and jumped straight into vocal lessons to develop her unique voice. Since then, her musical taste and style has developed into what it is today. Influenced heavily by Paramore, The Cure and legends such as Madonna, her creativity has stemmed from the best in a variety of genres. Fascinated by the 50's, her style is a unique hybrid of pin-up with an rock edge.



Ben Halliday has been a music enthusiast for as long as he can remember. Now synth player/vocalist, Halliday started vocal lessons in 2005 and has since taught himself how to play the synthesizer and music production. Musically influenced by Frankmusik, Depeche Mode and La Roux, electronic music has been key to his growth as a developing artist. 18 years of age, Ben also studies at Suffolk New College with Kira, the other half of the pop duo.