Now back to KOM, it was in a pub in Camden when the full band were first introduced to Bing, a fellow Lincoln Uni alumni who has since gone on to become some what of a Youtube celebrity along with  Tom Ska and other such Youtube personalities. Describing himself as a ‘film-maker who spends most of his time making sketch comedy on YouTube’. It was in that dingy pub in Camden when Bing offered to make a video for DL, and naturally we couldn’t refuse. The Video is in production and will in essence be Bing’s take on the tracks feel, quite unusual for us but refreshing at the same time. So what can you expect? Well in all honesty, I cant really say at this precise moment in time but what I can say is that it will inevitably be something you will want to watch again and again! Slomozovo (Bings Channel) have had huge success’ with over 70,000 youtube subscribers, nearly 4 million channel views and numerous appearances on RudeTube Bing has an acute eye for what people will watch online.

We’re all looking forward to seeing what will surface from the depths of his mind but until then you can get your eyes feasting on his extensive back catalogue of works at here:

http://www.smzv.com/

Follow Bing on his Video Mission!

http://www.youtube.com/user/slomozovo?feature=watch

After months of writing new material for the band, I finally returned to the music studio at Berry Street with Luke Billing (Dancing Lotus producer) to work on one of Dancing Lotus’s next single, Kings Of Men. I’ve spent over half a year away from recording, doing a lot of learning and listening to some of the best talents in the industry.

In 2011, I saw the emergence of Ed Sheeran, Tinie Tempah’s continuous success in the UK and then breaking the US market, accidentally stumbled into a Labrinth concert on a night out in Windsor, made ten or more road trips to Lincoln listening to all the albums by Oasis, Adele’s 21, loved up the performance from Coldplay and Beyonce at Glastonbury which was looped on many occasions on my Mac via the BBC IPlayer, understood the art of Lil Wayne through his wordplay, the magic of Mylo Xyloto, and finally, I got the very much anticipated Watch The Throne by Kanye West and wait for it…Jay Z!!

It has been a busy year in terms of listening and observing the music scene. During this process, I’ve written a lot of material on scribbled pads at work, in lectures or randomly on the iPhone’s notes app. I’ve also recorded voice memos and practiced my old lyrics as if I were in a live concert to maintain the form of live performances. It’s all part of keeping sharp and ready for when I’m called to deliver.

On the 6^th of January 2012, it was time to deliver with the producer with an obsession for attention-to-detail. Distance from the microphone, tone, pitch, consistently on levels, enunciation and pronunciation of every word and syllable, Luke Billing of course is a perfectionist in his trade and that for me is one of many reasons I love the work we do. I of course don’t see the effort we put in as ‘work’. It’s the desire and passion to get it right that drives me on.

On cue for my first recording is the catchy ‘Kings of Men’. This is a song with a hook that demands perfection from its verses. Only a few songs have challenged me to think deeply about its contents and this is definitely top of the list. The song represents ‘rebirth’ and ‘breakthrough’ and after several drafts on what would work for this song in terms of content and delivery, I got the old magic from one of my favorite books, The Lost Symbol. It’s a book simply about ancient histories, rebirth and breakthrough. There’s so much more to it but in simple terms, “as above, so below”, the rest is history. Bring on the gigging!

With loads of music in production and some exciting collaborations coming up, festival dates and some new videos, its going to be our biggest year to date!

To get the year off to a bang, BBC introducing Lincolnshire have included DL in their ‘Ones to watch’ list for 2012.

Tune in Live to Tim Johns as he continues to spread the love for lotus, and support New Music!

LISTEN LIVE : BBC INTRODUCING LINCOLNSHIRE

I’ve been gigging my solo set for about four years now. When I started gigging in my hometown of Lincoln, I knew all about Dancing Lotus. They were (and still are) the heavyweights on Lincoln music scene. I remember the first time I was asked to support them and how crazy it felt to be on the same bill as them. We gigged together many times and became close friends and at the end of last year we decided it was finally time to write a track together. Spend Some Time was born. A feel good, folky pop song that mixes the mellower side of Lotus with my sort of acoustic stuff. The track went to number 1 on the iTunes singer/songwriter charts and a follow up collaboration went to number 18. We decided that it was something we’d definitely do again.

In the summer, I filled in as electric guitarist for the guys, as they were looking for someone. I didn’t want to ask if they wanted me full time as I didn’t really know the situation. So I just kept quiet and did my job. My first gig with them was opening Summer Sundae main stage. Deep end? It was amazing. I was so comfortable playing with them.

We started writing a third collaboration, with me playing tappy stuff on electric and booked some studio time to work on it with aim to release it in the new year. Then, at the end of September, the band approached me asking if I’d become a full time band member.

It was an opportunity too good to be true. To play in a band who’s music you already know and love? To write with some of the most talented musicians you know on a regular basis? It was also a very easy decision to make.

The collaboration studio time was moved to coincide with album studio time and we decided that we’d still release ‘Kings of Men’ as a collaboration track, to signify me joining the band full time. I have now recorded all my guitar parts (electric guitar shock horror!) for the album, along with the collab and cannot wait to get out there playing live with the guys in 2012.

Elliott

Just thought I would let you know whats going on this december! Its an exciting month because now all the music for the new years releases are done. Were currently laying down the vocals and then its show time. Weve got a load of exciting stuff happening next year thats slowly coming together.

This month however, I would like to ask you all to help us raise some money for Barnardos! heres the craic, me and luke wrote a track feat Aine Brown, a good friend of ours, and its on iTunes this monday coming!

19 acts. 19 original Christmas songs. Barnardo’s Alternative Christmas.

On 12^th December 2011, Barnardo’s Alternative Christmas launches on iTunes worldwide. All proceeds go to Barnardo’s Children’s Charity.

To find out how the album came to be, let’s wind back a few months. Lincolnshire based Elliott Morris and Essex based Hadleigh Ford were talking at Y Not Festival in the summer, after Elliott’s set on the BBC Introducing stage.

“We made a deal that we’d each release a Christmas song this year, just for fun,” Elliott says. “Our ideas grew and before we knew it we’d dreamt up a plan to put together an album of original tracks”.

“We also decided it should be a charity album,” Hadleigh adds. “It’s a bit of fun and a great way to do something special for people who are less fortunate than us at Christmas.

The two decided that a compilation album was the way to go. Elliott started the ball rolling by asking a number of musician friends to write an original Christmas track and then he asked Hadleigh to do the same within his network of musicians.

Elliott’s artists included acts such as Jack Shaw from Dancing Lotus, B Sydes and Sportsday and among Hadleigh’s were Dave McPherson from rock band InMe, Paul Lambert and C, John Freeborn.

Elliott said “We asked a few of the artists which charities they thought would be good to give to at Christmas and it quickly became apparent that Barnardo’s was the one.”

Suzi Campbell, Barnardo’s Community Fundraiser said: “This is a brilliant idea for a seasonal fundraiser and we are incredibly grateful to Elliott and Hadleigh for such an innovative idea to raise money for disadvantaged children this Christmas.”

As a leading children’s charity, Barnardo’s works directly with over 190,000 children, young people and their families every year. They run more than 800 vital projects countrywide, including counselling for abused children, fostering and adoption services, vocational training and disability inclusion groups.

Every Barnardo’s project is different but each believes in the potential in every child and young person, no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through.

iTunes music hosters Emubands kindly supported the project by contributing towards the iTunes hosting fee and assisted the artists in uploading the tracks.

On 12^th December, Barnardo’s Alternative Christmas goes worldwide on iTunes, with all proceeds to Barnardo’s Children’s Charity.

Track listing

1 Elliott Morris – La La La La La (Christmas Song)

2 Hadleigh Ford – It’s Christmas!

3 Sportsday – Credit Crunch Christmas

4 B Sydes – White Kiss (Let It Snow)

5 Matt Bonner – How It Used To Be

6 Jack, and Gill’s Daughter – Her Against The Sun

7 Daniel Broadhurst – Home Before You Know

8 Andy and the Prostitutes – iSong

9 Dave McPherson – Lonely Christmas

10 Sophie Reynolds – Yeah It’s Christmas Time!

11 Paul Lambert – Daddy’s Doin’ Time for Robbin’ Santa

12 Eileen Ford – Hathaway Christmas

13 Mark Cottrell & Eve Maule-Cole – Spread a Little Love Around (Christmas Time Is Here)

14 Russell and The Wolf Choir – The Compass and the Foal (demo)

15 C John Freeborn – Not On Christmas Day

16 Jakob Deist – I Just Want To Say Merry Christmas

17 James Jezusek – Christmas Time

18 Joe Mac – Santa Payback

19 Jack Shaw  – Midnight feat Aine Brown (Prod. Luke Billing)

Download the whole album if you can! if not then do not fret! Even one single download will be a great contribution.

Have a listen to the track here:

My name is Kamil Kappa, and i’ve been drumming for Dancing Lotus since July 2011.The first thing Jack told me was ‘we don’t rehearse. Ever’. This seemed pretty weird to be honest, as the band gig regularly and record at least once a year.

I was up for the challenge cause it sounded fun. Fun like ‘lets do a gig without doing any rehearsals and see if you screw up’. Luckily, I didn’t. It was the best feeling, and after 5 gigs it’s still the most exciting thing I’ve done on stage.

Anyway, a few months later and i’m told i’ll be recording a new album with them. The guys tell me ‘No rehearsals, we book the studio, you get in and record. Please, don’t screw up’. Now that was one of the most stressful things I’ve done, cause knowing that we’re paying a descent amount of money and not being sure if this is gonna work…well, somebody could get dissed….

The hard thing isn’t recording the album, it’s orchestrating the parts for the songs on the spot, or bringing some ideas, then recording them. If the guys didn’t like the ideas I brought, I had to arrange something on the spot fast. In 3 days I recorded 12 tracks! Luke did the production and it sounds awesome.

I’m really proud I did this; there are songs in this album I believe in as much as anything. Listening to Jack laying down some vox and me having the shivers is the best feeling cause that’s when I think this project is special.

Stay tuned and we’ll keep you updated about the recordings of my first album with Dancing Lotus, which is gonna be called B……. actually…. you’ll have to wait for it.

“Put a little faith in Dancing Lotus”
Designed by Katie Abey

• http://www.wix.com/ktabdesign/graphics

The DL Pack will be smashing out a live set in association with TShirt Store Covent Garden! This is a street style Acoustic mash up of Lotus at its rawest! Come Join in the festivities and start your december off with a bang!

Purchase original gifts for friends, family and loved ones with 20% off at over 120 stores and venues throughout Seven Dials and St Martin’s Courtyard including Albam, Banana Republic, Baracuta, Barbour, Coco De Mer, Diesel, Eileen Fisher, Firetrap, Fred Perry, G-Star, Hoss Intropia, Jaegar London, Kiehl’s, LK Bennett, Mimco, Office, Orion London, Orla Kiely, Miss Sixty, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Poste Mistress, Shu Uemura, Superga, Tatty Devine, Twenty8Twelve and Urban Outfitters.

Also on the night – complimentary drinks served from the St Martin’s Courtyard pop-up bar, free luxury gift wrap service for 100 customers, 100 golden tickets handed out at random for gifts ranging from £5 to £150, free meal to the value of £25 for the first 25 people to arrive with a voucher at Gourmet Mexican restaurant Cantina Laredo from 6pm onwards and carol performances from locals Actor’s Rechoired PLUS a host of in-store activities including DJs, live music and giveaways.

Additionally Terrence Higgins Trust volunteers will be holding a collection as part of their Stand Up Stand Out Campaign to mark World AIDS Day (1st December). All donations will help Terrence Higgins Trust to continue supporting people living with, or at risk of, HIV and poor sexual health.

For more info, to view the full list of participating stores and to register for your exclusive Seven Dials and St Martin’s Courtyard 20% off Christmas Shopping Evening voucher visit www.sevendials.co.uk/standard

So for your chance to catch the guys this side of the new year, you have a few option. For VIP entry you can come and collect a ticket for free from Kamil/Jack on Thursday 3rd Nov at Camden Tube, Or you can quote “Dancing Lotus” on the door. Were aiming to make this a huge party so we look forward to seeing you there.

With Support from The Yes men, LazyTalk and more. DL will be playing from 10pm!

Forward this on to your friends Via the little facebook links below!