Silly sample pack and Summer shows!

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Hey there PanPals!

A while back a friend of mine from Polyend (hi Alex!) got in touch about making a sample pack for them. He thought it would be cool to make one with my favourite fun instruments and soundmakers I use for cartoon music. I thought that was a splendid idea so I got to work recording all my silly instruments!

The sample pack is out now, it’s called Toy Box and it’s jam packed with 181 playful, whimsical sounds.

Poster image for Toy Box sample pack. A cartoony image of two big eyes and a red circle for a mouth, with O shaped wonky circles coming out of it as if the sound of singing

I hope you enjoy making music with these samples, send me something you’ve made with it if you do!

New video!

If you’d like to hear some of the sounds in action check out this video. I make some silly music using the sample pack on the Play+ - a super fun music making gizmo by Polyend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrLkPdgUPOc

Finger painting on the Play+ with silly sounds!

Upcoming Gigs!

I’ve got a couple of gigs coming up in August.

Friday 30th August - Kent - Camp Wildfire

This looks like it’s sold out but there’s a waiting list and a ticket exchange marketplace on their site. I’ve not been before but it seems to be a playful summer camp for adults - should be a giggle!

Saturday 31st August - Bristol - Jam Jar Day Party with Seas of Mirth

This one’s gonna be great fun! A day party at the Jam Jar in Bristol with a band called Seas of Mirth - a high-energy genre-bending festival band with an immersive and interactive deep-sea twist. Their live show incorporates UV lights, flamboyant costumes and LED sea creatures on stage and in the crowd! I can’t wait!

Tickets are available here

Poster for Jam Jar Day party, with a dark green backround and pink octopus — Jam Jar Day Party poster

Recommendations!

Here are some summertime music picks I’ve been enjoying in the recent heat…

Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968 - 1981 - highlife is the happy sound of sunshine to me!
Estrela Acesa by Sessa - beautiful laid back songs with lush string arrangements from São Paulo, Brazil
Love & Purpose (Volume One) - a compilation of UK soul from (I think) the 80s to present day artists. Good barbeque tunes I reckon!
Craterellus Tubaeformis by Skinshape - playful psychedelic songs made with warm sounding vintage gear. Lie under a tree and daydream to this if you like that kind of thing.

That’s it for now!

Hope you’re having a nice summer so far. Got anything you’ve enjoyed or made that you’d like to share with me? Just reply to this email!

With EVERY INCH OF MY HEART
Simon
xxx

p.s. I’ve also been enjoying the Olympics. So far the gymnastics and the BMX events have been my fave. Simone Biles, and the men’s BMX finals (iPlayer links) were some of the craziest stuff I’ve ever seen - they can actually fly!

2nd July 2024