The Blue Rose...

Wiki says that historically the Blue Rose has the following significance:
"In some cultures, blue roses traditionally signify a mystery, or attaining the impossible, or never-ending quest for the impossible... Blue roses also convey inner feelings of love at first sight, being enchanted by something or someone... In Chinese folklore, the blue rose signifies hope against unattainable love.[8]"

How fitting lool!
#shadesacoming

 @sh.x

The Shades of Blue Crew...

(2 DAYS to go)!!  Producing Shades in Dam was an epic personal achievement for me...but this post is dedicated to my uber-talented CREW...and all of the people/companies that helped make Shades of Blue happen!  When you finally watch the video...I want you to keep every single one of these guys in mind because it couldn't of happened without them!!
The Crew:

NEIL RAJA - Camerman/Photographer (timelapse) - Neil Raja Studios

CHARLIE MILLER - Cameraman/DOP - formerly of Drum'n'Bass Areana

JACK MCGLOUGHLIN - Cameraman/Editor - Neil Raja Studios (and formerly Drum'n'Bass Arena)

PRISCA HOFER - Hair/Make Up/Continuity

NIRJA RAAM - Photographer/ PAP PAP

MARLON ZENDON - Location Scout/Guide/'Bad Guy'

JONATHON HOCKLEY - Navigation/Kit Monger/Producer of Shades of Blue

Locations:

SECOND LIFE MUSIC Record Store

Shades HQ - STAY OKAY (Zeeburg)

Costume:

MILLICENT ASHELY - Fashion Designer /Co-designer & Maker of Shoe Dress

ANNA DEVI NAGTALON - Designer/Maker of Button Chest-Piece and top

And there we have it !  Thanx soooooo much ya'll!  I can't wait to show the world what we achieved on no money and BARE heart!  Also want to say a massive thanx to Editor Leigh Brookes @ Fire Belly Films, Chris @ Second Life Music, Stefany Rietkerk @ Artcore, Rob @ Budgetcam and Marlon Zendon for putting Prisca and I up!!

GO TEAM SHADES!

#shadesacoming

@sh.x

Shades-a-Coming 251211...

So as the countdown to 251211 continues in the next few posts I figured I'd let you guys in on a few behind the scene secrets from the Shades of Blue journey...including a few taster stills we took while we were on it!

When asked why I chose to take a team to Amsterdam for my 1st video instead of shooting in London (which would have been much easier/cheaper lol), the short answer would be that I couldn't help myself! But the truth lies much deeper than that...and it has nothing to do with my ganja-holic tendancies lol.

First off Amsterdam is such a photogenic city...beautiful canals, interesting architecture, amazing street art...it's a location scouts dream! Secondly, it was the first place I landed when I ventured into Europe solo for the 1st time! This trip turned out to be almost like my passage into adulthood, a time of learning and healing wounds that I'd been ignoring for the longest time!

Shades of Blue was inevitably written on this trip...a song about betrayl, and love-loss...conflict, making peace and moving on! Everyone we love will leave a trace of themselves on our emotions, everyone we love will leave a shade of blue on our heart...some darker than others, but all help to define the way we relate to people around us.

All Photographs by Neil Raja

 Shades of Blue is a song about embracing those shades as part of who you are. It's tough, but only by accepting them can we 'free' ourselves from the people who put them there in the first place!
How many Shades of Blue are you?

#shadesacoming

@sh.x

S.o.B with 1Take.TV...

Shades of Blue music video is approaching the finish line *phew* Now that the edit's done, I've managed to rope in a couple of pros to give it those all important finishing touches! A release date has been set in stone (#ifitkillsme) and lets just say it's gona get very Shadey before the year's out!!

Over the next few blogposts I'll take you through the nitty gritty...but in the meantime massive thanx to Elliot Bradley, Jonah James and Beatrice Black at 1Take.TV.  Because of them I'm able to bring you a beautifully shot acoustic version of SoB to tide you over!

 
Had a great time shooting this taster with 1Take in their uber-cool basement studio, though I think my guitarist Gibbi Bettini would agree that next time we work with these guys there's a certain record we're going to break!! :P

Shades a-coming.....
@sh.x

A Taste of BLUE...

WhOA!! Shades of Blue people...where do I start?? This track was produced by Riffioso last year! My brief to him: 'can I please have a track that...soouuunds like me' lol! Most producers would be like WTF! but Jon embraced it and shortly afterwards I received an instrumental called 'Purple Fruit'! Some time later... It was Xmas 2009 and after a rocky year I decided that I'd had enough of London and the people in it, so I booked a train ticket to Europe and didn't look back! Amsterdam for Xmas (WilD), Berlin for 1night (Reflective), finishing up in Prague/Czech Republic for New Yrs (Messy lol)! Travelling alone, by train gave me ample time to write! And with 'Purple Fruit' pumping in my headphones, and picturesque landscapes gliding past my window seat it was inevitable for Shades of Blue to be born. Later still... I re-visited Amsterdam in March 2011 - but this time it wasn't to party :P! I took a team of 6 with me - to shoot a music video for...you guessed it...Shades of Blue lol! Jon 'Riffioso' Hockley, Prisca Hofer, Jack McLoughlin, Charlie Miller, Neil Raja and Nirja Raam jumped on a coach over there...with all our kit (the funniest thing if u see the size of Charlie and Jack :o). And with a budget as big as my back pocket :/ we did something spectacular!! 

  

Here's a little taster of what we achieved...the full video SOON COME :D
@sh.x