Virus

Written 21/09/10 and 22/09/10

For the last few weeks I have been worried about my computer. First the computer began acting weird. It did a system restore for, what seemed to be at the time, no apparent reason. Later it became obvious why this had happened. Then one day I went onto my profile on the external hard drive, and all the music that I listen to and a media folder with all my artwork and videos was completely gone. Thankfully all my own music was there; as was all the recording files of unfinished songs, etc.

I started to feel a little uneasy about the computer and wanted to get some type of anti-virus software. Another day and the computer kept switching itself off for no apparent reason. I was not there for this, it was my wife who was using it. The last time I got to use the computer before I managed to download a free 30 day trial of Norton System 2011, I hooked my ipod up, synced music to it, and left the house. However my ipod wasn't working.

I returned home after a shift at work, I uploaded the 30 day trial, and I am very glad I did. The software detected 5 virus and trojan horse files. I rebooted the computer to delete one of the virus. It started up as normal, I logged into my profile, went into the external hard drive, clicked on 'Wullae' and there was nothing there. Nothing. Just an emptiness where my life had once been. A hollow folder, where all my memories and work over the last five years had been taken away. Everything. I could have got angry, and wanted to, but I was more upset, in disbelief.

I had a folder on my computer called 'songs'. This is where I made all my songs. I had 10s of unfinished songs; I had thousands of wav files on my computer that I used to edit and create my songs. Many works in progress, all gone.

I had all my finished music in a folder entitled 'Wullae Wright', all new and old songs on my computer. From 2005 onwards; now, all gone. I may have actually lost many of my 'In Cloud Cuckooland' songs, and may need to record new versions or, never hear them again.

Today (22nd Sept) I sat on the computer and stared blankly at the empty folder I created. It was 6.45am. I had put different files onto different discs in the past, and began searching through them all. I have been able to reclaim some files and songs from 2005 onwards, but only some.

Now, I have to begin all over again.
Watch this space,
Wullae

www.twitter.com/wullaewright

Biography: Wullae Wright – the Early Years

‘You should read my diary!’ exclaims my wife, as she runs away into another room of the house, and seconds later bounds back in.

I had just let her read parts of my 2009 normal diary that, only consists of the month of January, a little of February, and the odd bit in March. I did well with that diary of course. That has always been my problem. Love the idea of keeping a diary, but just am never able to keep writing.

So I sat with her big bundle of printed sheets, tens of them, and began reading from 2002. She had meticulously kept diaries from then until now. Not everyday was written about, but the diary was there. In the first few entries, there was a small introduction about her. And then I thought about my music diary blog. This blog. And I thought, I haven’t really described myself. I haven’t explained who I am, and why I do this. It made me think a lot, and decide I’d like to tell you more about me.

My background is not musical really. Yes, my mum played the accordion and my grandad played drums in a marching band, but my family were not a musical family. I was not a musical individual in the slightest. It took me a long time to appreciate music. The only time music was a part of my life when I was younger when I’d be in the car going to the caravan on holiday. We’d listen to ‘Fats Domino’ and other Jazz classics. Or we’d listen to ‘Queen’ and impersonate the scene from ‘Wayne’s World’. My brother John built up a CD collection of songs, which I ignored. My brother James began playing the guitar, which I also ignored. One summer however, I began listening to music on the radio. I don’t know why, but I did. I started recording songs off the radio onto cassettes. I started liking odd stuff like ‘Eminem’ and Baz Lurman’s ‘Wear Sunscreen’. I started putting lots of my brother’s CD’s onto cassettes and listening to them on my personal cassette player. But I still didn’t like anything in particular.

One night however, changed all of that. I was listening to the radio. In my room, all alone. A song came on, and I instantly loved it from the intro. This song and this band have made me who I am today. I used to be so quiet, with little confidence; and now I am loud and far more confident. The song was ‘Tsunami’ by the Manic Street Preachers. I would have been about 14 years old at this point, and this song hit me. I instantly ran down to my brother’s room after the song was finished, because I knew he had a Manics album. Turns out, he had the album with ‘Tsunami’ on it. This began the phase of listening to the same song over and over and over again. I must have driven everyone around me mad, but I didn’t care. It felt amazing.

One day I returned home from school, threw my bag off, and sat down and turned the TV on. No one was home, and we had 'Sky' at this point. The TV slowly blurred into view, and I put MTV on. As soon as the channel connected up with the TV, a music video was just starting. This song, and band would have the most profound effect on me musically, and teach me everything I know now. It was the US version of the ‘High and Dry’ video by Radiohead. The start of the song just caught my attention so well; and the video seemed to last forever. I thought Thom Yorke looked cool; I thought the video was very clever, with everyone singing his with his voice; I thought the song sounded amazing; and I thought his voice was incredible. I needed to hear more when the song finished. It was a need. I went into my brother’s room again, and again, right under my nose, was the very album ‘High and Dry’ is on. I took it up to my room, and listened to the song, over and over and over. However, I quickly came to love another Radiohead song, one that became my favourite song for years and still to this day gives me goose bumps when I hear it: ‘Street Spirit (Fade Out)’.

So as my music taste grew, so had my desire to play an instrument. In the summer of 2000, I sat playing tennis games on my Playstation and listening to the Manic Street Preachers. I had got a Millennium DVD of theirs, and some albums, including ‘This is my Truth, Tell me Yours’. I would watch the Manics DVD and impersonate Sean Moore the drummer. I wanted to play the drums. I use to impersonate the drummer all the time when I listened to the songs, and had no desire to play the guitar or sing really. I had asked for drums but I knew full well we couldn’t afford them or wouldn't have enough space for them. Still to this day, I am a bit disappointed about that. I think I’d have made a good drummer.

So during that year, my step-dad at the time had been given an old guitar by someone. They suggested that Andrew (my younger brother) should have it to learn how to play it. This was an adult sized guitar and he was about 8 years old. Not a great idea. So I picked it up and said I would play it. I didn’t have the greatest desire to play it, but I thought I would. Turned out that I learned quickly and began growing a passion for singing and playing the guitar together.

Another band appeared who influenced me greatly; however that I hated originally. It was one of this band's songs that was the first song I ever learned to play on the guitar....

Watch this space for more Biographies,
Wullae

www.myspace.com/wullaewright
www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
www.twitter.com/wullaewright

Art Imitating Reality - Recording session and edit (2)

Recorded and edited on 18/09/10

I finished work today with some time to spare aftering posting letters and tidying the flat. Ithink my computer may have a virus, so I am a bit worried everytime I switch it on, especially cause we don't have virus protection. Anyway, the computer clicked and clunked up and everything was ok.

Didn't know what I wanted to record. A new song maybe? From scratch? And then I listened to 'Art Imitating Reality' and thought that there is still so much I can do to this song. So I opened Audacity, and then opened the folder the song is in entitled 'eerie'. I deleted unnecessary files I didn't need anymore and began working on it.

I got all my leads, and cables and pedals, and hooked it up to my computer and keyboard. Tonight I wanted to record some drums for it. My brother-in-law Michael gave me an idea with the song. He listened to a very early version of it and thought that the song at one point early on (just after first verse) would turn a little more rocky. I have considered this for the song and began trying to get some kind of hard hitting drum beat for the song. ‎​

I used some reverb and began working on a drum beat. When i got something i liked, I recorded it all the way through the song. I listened back and didn't think it fit, for most of the song. So edited it out and only left a part in towards the end. May even take it out completely later if I make something better.

I then edited the song further, taking bits out, and adding effects here and there. I wanted to add something to the section of the song after the first verse, and before the chorus. There is a large space for a good guitar solo. However, I thought about a piano in there, so recorded a simple piano part which sounds excellent. Then was using the keyboard and used a choir synth. Recorded this throughout the whole song and thought it'd be best to start it when the main singing starts. It adds such a deep, eerie quality to the song. Gives it so much depth. I really like it. I put two sets of the choir synth in, slightly different times overlapping. Sounds great.

After tampering with the keyboard, I left it sitting on my desk next to the computer and printer, and moved onto the electric guitar. Wired it up and thought about recording a solo. Then, however I had the idea to have a hard metal rock riff in the background. Drop d-tuned my guitar and started playing a very hard sounding rock riff straight away. Went well with the song. So I recorded this with the length of the song too. Some bits didn't go too well, so I edited them and left two parts: one after the first verse and one right at the end of the song. There was a great guitar piece for the chorus, but even though it sounded great, it just wasn't working right on the recording. So either, may record it again at some point to see if it might work done differently, or save it for live versions of the song.
Recorded a few guitar solos on the recording too, but were none were that good. Also the recording quality wasn't up to scratch, so completely scrapped any attempts. Will without a shadow of a doubt keep adding to this song. There is so much I can do with it. I believe this is the best song I have written in a good while. I will put a uncomplete version on soundcloud for download for all when I can.

Watch this space,
Wullae

www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
www.myspace.com/wullaewright

Mr Brycey (I love you man)

Written 17/09/10

Today was a day of triumph, of elation, of pure musical genius. I invited my very dear acquintance up to my flat, Mr Brycey. He is moving to Australia in a weeks time and I have no idea when I may see him again.

For many years I kept saying to my friend, 'we should definitely jam sometime'. Never had we both had the time to meet and jam; or should I say I found it more difficult to find the time. So, with a week to go before he does not return to Scotland for maybe years, I decided tonight was our chance to jam like we'd always wanted. Turns out, it didn't exactly work out that way, but it was so much fun.

Mr Brycey, myself and my wife all went into the spare room and began writing a classic song. My wife took a motivational role, giving me the finger every now and again. And Mr Brycey did play both the bass and guitar...but not on the recording. So I lept into action, and recorded on first take the guitar, bass, lead guitar and drums, and vocals (if they can be called vocals!); all done in a few hours. Class.

The end result is, I must admit, a beautifully arranged song...with awful singing, and lyrics to match. The lyrics were improvised (if you ever hear this song, you would notice that fact straight away) and sang in a weird high pitched tone. Elegant, and disgusting all rolled into one. However, this was a song for my friend before he goes to the other side of the world and we may never share an experience like it again, so it was a brilliant night. He is, an absolute legend and will be missed greatly by both myself and my wife...and my cats.

So, here are the fantastic lyrics to the unforgettable,
'Mr Brycey (I love you man)':

'That was the best breakfast I've had since Gary Wilmotts wedding',
This is a song for Brycey,
He really likes Magnum PIs mustache and Patrick Stewarts baldy head,
BRYCEY ohhh,
My god,
Brycey is going to Australia,
He likes to eat chips in Australia,
Oh my god,
He is going to live in a house with a garden,
He might buy a dog someday,
Isn't that right Vikki?

She gives me the finger,
But it's ok because Brycey is in my house,
He's a lovely man,
He's like Peter pan,
Except without the green trousers and funny hat,
His name is Mr Bryce, to me and you, it's Brycey,

Ohhh Brycey,
'Can I have that seat?',
'Yah fucking cunt yah!',
Ashleigh is his girlfriend,
She is his bestest friend,
She smiles and he smiles,
They drive for miles and miles,
Giles, and piles of tiles,
Oh Brycey,
He likes rice...eh?

Vikki gave me the finger,
But it doesn't matter because Brycey is in my room,
Zoom zoom zoom,
'Can i have that seat?...how many cats do you have?...you only have two?...I don't have any cats!...i like bridges!...I like Jeff Bridges...I like chicken...Brycey likes chicken, don't you Brycey?...Bryce won't talk but he likes chicken, and chips, and peas, he likes his veg',
'Yah fucking cunt ya!, ...Aristotle once said!',
Brycey is going to Australia, bye bye Brycey, love you Brycey, we all love you Brycey, and your hair and you beard that doesn't exist anymore!,
Ohhhhhh!,
Love you man (said by Brycey!),
Love you too man (said by Wullae).

Written and recorded on 17/09/10 with Mr Brycey and my wife.

I hope he has the best of luck in Australia. This song is too good to be included in 'In Cloud Cuckooland', so I will keep it for another one.

Watch this space, Mr Brycey,
Wullae

www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
www.twitter.com/wullaewright

Pure love you man! Take care. W

Art Imitating Reality - Recording Session and Edit (1)

Today I had a day off. I feel like I haven't had a proper day off in ages. So I thought i'd try and get to work on the music that I had recorded at the same time as 'Verbatim'.

At the begining of the recording session, I thought i'd record the vocals. It was about 11.30am, and i hadn't even got dressed yet. Sat in my boxers and a t-shirt, I had wired up my Zoom pedal and micrcophone and recorded 3 different vocals. The last one I sang quite loudly as I thought it is the middle of the afternoon and most people would be out. The vocals sound excellent and and are recorded well.

So I got to work on a couple of guitar parts after that, but both didn't sound too well. I will try and add one in at a later date. When I have time.

I then started messing about with a bass riff. First I used distortion and echo, but thought it was too much with the delayed guitar riffs. So I only used a tiny bit of reverb, and came up with a quite funky bass riff, that I did not think would work, but really worked well. Finished that.

I then edited the track, cutting up the bass, vocals, and guitar riffs. I began work on some drum beats too at the beginning of the song. However, I ran out of time. I intend to edit the song, with lots of drum beats and maybe even rock some parts up. Just depends.

Will put a version of 'Art Imitating Reality' up on www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright for download. It will be the unfinished version I have recorded. I also have the intention to edit 'Verbatim' and shake it up a bit.

Watch this space,
Wullae

www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
www.myspace.com/wullaewright

Free Downloads at Soundcloud

I have been adding songs for download on www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright. I may take songs off and add new ones on, so please do visit to download for free. Songs available at the moment are:

- Verbatim (First Version)
- Spitting Feathers
- House of Mirrors
- Putting the Monster in the Box
- In a Wilderness
- Trip to Mars
- Building a Nest
- Paranoid Android (Radiohead, Live Cover)
- To Whom this May Concern (Rerecorded First edit)
- Vixen Part 1, 2, 3 & 4 (Live)
- Keep on Smillin'
- Putting the Monster in the Box (Acoustic Version)

Watch this space,
Wullae

www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright

Art Imitating Reality

The day I was recording 'Verbatim', I had been using my Zoom and Echo Machine together to create the background effect that ends the song. As I sat there in the spare room of the flat, I just kept on playing the guitar after I had recorded the guitar part. Sometimes I do that, if it sounds good and feels right. Sometimes I come up with new songs by mistake. Unintentional songs. That is how 'Dark Political Arts' (Track 6 on AFTER. THE. RUSH. HOUR'S. GONE) came about.

So I sat there, in a world of my own, playing away, and a tune started to develop. Very simple, but very beautiful. It is quite dark, repetative, but gentle. It has a reverb, echoing, rusty tone to it. I began recording it in a seperate folder entitled 'eerie'. I recorded the main guitar riff easily. I listened to it after recording it and began constructing two different lead parts, which I recorded over it. After I had finished doing this, I went back to 'Verbatim' and edited it further to have a finished version for www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright/verbatim.

I have a set of lyrics I wrote a while back entitled 'Art Imitating Reality' which I think will go perfectly with this very quiet but dark song - perfect for the idea for the lyrics. The lyrics are about those people who are out in the early or late hours working, and never get to experience life. It is quiet and sad, and quite poetic.

Art Imitating Reality

Before the day begins,
That’s where I’ll be,
Cradled in an air of solace,
Alas, the sun has risen,
And the world begins, all over again,

In a sea of anonymity,
Drains exhale, a harmonious breath,
The vocalisations of this city,
Walls of art, where art imitates reality,
The creator of my fait accompli

The nights beacon elicits to collect,
Streams of orange and black,
Elegance depressed with undue execution,
A poet writes to destroy own happiness,
The onlookers fade, all over again

In a sea of anonymity,
Drains exhale, a harmonious breath,
The vocalisations of this city,
Walls of art, where art imitates reality,
The creator of my fait accompli

Written 27/05/2010 (Lyrics only)

I have full intentions to go back to this song, maybe rerecord it in a simpler, acoustic version, using the lyrics above.

Watch this space,

Wullae

www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright

www.myspace.com/wullaewright