Guitar for Beginners Part I

Hello Dear Reader

Have you ever been so busy that when somebody asks you what you’ve been up to, your mind goes blank? Have you ever looked at your diary and glanced at the entries for the days already gone, recognised the names and places, but found yourself utterly incapable of recollecting what actually came to pass?

Reluctant as I am to quote Lenin, the following comes to mind:

‘There are decades when nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.’

In my own little world, the days have been zipping by, crammed with creativity and laundry and school runs; no sooner do I finish one thing than I am on to the next. I have met many deadlines of late, not least delivering my eighth album on July 1st. It was a mix of relief and trepidation to walk into Abbey Road studios last week to master the album with the brilliant Miles Showell. I will be telling you more about it in the coming weeks. For now, here is yet another of my ubiquitous ‘Just Been to Abbey Road’ photographs which I take, oh, approximately every three years or so.

While you wait for the incoming arrival of my latest opus, you will now be able to re-live the very special evening we spent together in April at the Palladium. And if you weren’t there, you can pretend that you were. We did not set out to record or film the show, but unbeknownst to me, The Sound Gentlemen were recording the night and we obtained permission from the venue to share it with you. Currently, it is only available as a high-quality download from my merch store but it is the entire show, including the waffle as individual tracks.

Now I must away, as today is the photo shoot for the new album, and these days I require scaffolding and about three hours in hair and makeup to look even remotely presentable. I will be suffering for my art as you soon shall see.

Another newsletter is in the works, thus this one being titled Part 1. Like Part 1, Part 2 won’t be anything to do with guitars, but then when did I ever do what I say on the tin? That’s not what you come for is it?

Before I go, I hope you are all well, and settling into the new reality of not being horribly embarrassed by the people in charge of our country. (Give it time, however…) I keep wondering if it is all a dream, but dare I say it? I feel hopeful, and whisper it - optimistic.

Perhaps things can only get better after all.

With much love

Nerina xxx

*Live at the Palladium photo courtesy of Raph Pour-Hashemi.