All posts by diana Stone

About diana Stone

Diana Stone is a performing composer and musician playing Piano Violin & Guitar. She currently plays with Orchard and The Sonic Boomers. Previously with Rock/Roots band Elephant Shelf and also the Delta Ladies who mixed roots acoustic music and electronica until the death of Vicky Martin who formed the band which was active for 17 years. Diana composes in a variety of styles from pop to rock to Jazz and and classical music. Diana is also expert in multi-media recording and music production.

September The Middle Bit QE2 and afterwards

It’s I have been busy, with 2 rehearsals, sorting and tidying stuff up and so forth so it’s gone quite quickly. since QE2 set sale unexpectedly this week. It’s a very strange atmosphere though.  This hiatus and stilling of  the world. Shortly my car goes in for an MOT and service. Its old now at 16 years so it’s never a done done deal as to how things will work out or not.  Its done a lot of work for me over the years  so I have had my monies worth out of it for sure. So fingers, legs’ and toes crossed it is. If my car is not viable it will be a bit of a stretch to replace it.  I went to pick up some stuff at a store  which is at the interchange retail park. Weird, very aggressive driving in the car park as people were fighting over spaces. I never go to those places on a weekend normally, and now I remember why. I  have had one of those strange mental health days at the time of writing this. A bit of a wobble. I am not sure why, perhaps due to the very strange atmosphere at present but probably just because. This year has for me been for me personally a lot of false starts, plus a very unpleasant bout of Covid which hit just when I was finally getting back on form again. So today I am a bit fragile. Hopefully it will pass ere the dawn? Today I feel my age. It’s about 16C/60F so way cooler than this time last year.  Also I am no less arthritic either. That of course is no surprise 😲 
The turn of the season also has an effect on the old bones too.

Thank You For Being

Diana Stones Glasscage

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I have been churning out recordings (Mine, plus the Delta Ladies and Jon Bickleys and some others stuff) since I got here in 2018 without really trying to rationalise the Music Room/Studio. So for a week or so I am making the effort to try and improve the environment and working space. It’s got a tad chaotic. I have a lot of redundant kit too which I should really start reducing. I did find a couple of gems among unused bits and bobs though. An original Vox phase pedal which sounds ace being one unexpected find. My life is very different now though. I used to do up to 150 gigs a year, but that has long gone now sadly. If only I could still summon that level of energy though is unlikely I think. Fun whilst it lasted though.  But what next. Well a few things are simmering on the stove, but far from cooked yet. Or perhaps a more accurate metaphor would be that there are some promising shoots and budding, but some of the fruit undoubtedly will wither on the vine. 

At the time of writing its QE2 state funeral tomorrow. Whatever one’s views on the British Monarchy it’s quite an event. The Queen is dead. Long live the KIng.

September with Rain

September and its cooler finally.  Here it’s mostly business as usual. Music and more music in various forms. Trying to sort out a few financial concerns and stuff.
Also though I am beginning to wonder about my health and if there is something brewing up that I have not been aware of. So I am thinking maybe I should tie up a few loose ends just in case?  Well you never know what fate might have in store one way or the other.  Luck does not last forever. 

Diana Working Out
Diana Working Out

So hey, remember me this way. And don’t take it all too seriously.

    

Funky Jazzy Music Time

Funky Jazzy Music.

It’s called “We Do It Just LIke This”

Diana Stone Musician and Blogger
Diana Stone Musician and Blogger

Diana Stones Glasscage

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We Do It Just Like This

 
This is not a massive winge, it is rather more about curiosity.

From time to time I submit recordings of tracks for use as library music and radio play and so forth when there are opportunities’ to do so. I make sure I submit a track in the appropriate style/genres that are being requested.What puzzles me is having looked at what has been selected by a certain company after a recent submission to find that the artist they have selected barely even gets their material played? Upon listing to the track they selected its a very bland Craig David/Rap crossover that’s been knocked up with a couple of samples on a laptop, perhaps the criteria is that it should be as un-memorable as possible? For example on one music site where an artist has been selected their tracks have only been played 20 times? It seems odd that they ignore submissions from people with say 12000+ plays? or 88,000… You would expect that they would go first to stuff that’s actually being listened to or is just another music business con perchance where the outcome is already fixed? At my age I should not really be fannying about with stuff but hey… Is it just ageist thing perhaps? Or is it simply that anything which is not “Urban” music is simply ignored?Answers on a postcard please?