Paul Schiernecker

Author: Paul

The Birthday EP.

My new EP is now available to download for free through BandCamp.
Click here.
Select Buy Now.

I know I’m probably never going to make a lot of money making music. That’s not why I do it. That’s not why I recorded this EP. All I want is for people to listen to what I’m doing. That’s why it is up for free. Just listen to it and let me know what you think.
If you like it then pass it on to your friends.

It’s the first completely acoustic EP I think I have ever released. I know there are certain people who will dispute that comment but the 10D Demos don’t really count as a release Jocasta.
I just wanted the whole thing to sound very natural so headed to the excellent Broom Cupboard recording studio. Rees knew exactly what I was after and set up a number of microphones to capture live performances of the seven songs that make up the EP.
At least three of them are first takes as well. I hate having to go back over anything I have done so what you get is what I was aiming for when I first sat down.

I wanted to thank the people who have provided feedback so far. Kate. Terri. Lottie. Sam. You’re awesome.

If you head over to my Bandcamp page you’ll also find my previous two EPs; Get Me To Marrakech and Karma Before The Storm. These are also free to download. GMTM was recorded in September 2012 at home and KBTS was recorded with Rees at the Broom Cupboard.

THE BIRTHDAY EP
Track listing
1. I Wish.
2. House Of Cards.
3. Broken Record Love Song.
4. The Devil.
5. Let’s Go Back.
6. Coming Down.
7. Tell Me Your Secrets.

February 22, 2013
Brit Awards 2013.

Last night I tried to avoid the Brit Awards. I did so on principle. There’s no justice in it. I’ve discovered people have no taste. People got Cameron in power. People question the almighty power of the Peanut Butter KitKat. People are idiots.
Last night I was trying to do some freelance work but stay pithy on Twitter and I had to resort to Brits chat. The Brit Awards haven’t been important to me since 1997 when I bought the Brit Awards ’97 compilation album. I believe Chumbawumba were on it.
I couldn’t help but be drawn into it all again. There were so many sparkly things and people thanking ‘god’ I was pulled like a moth to a flame.
The important thing to remember about the Brit Award is none of it matters we are all going to die.

Looking at the compiled winners list it wasn’t too terrible. There’s always been a lack of authenticity to The Brits. Didn’t 5ive once perform We Will Rock You at The Brits?
Ben Howard is a well deserved winner. To do what he does and pull in a large enough league of supporters to topple the pop-heavy nominees is a feat in itself. I was reminded of when Bon Iver won two Grammy awards in 2011 (or possibly ’12) for their brilliant second album and nobody seemed to know who they were. I believe Who IsBonnie Bear was trending on Twitter.

As much as people gripe about Mumford & Sons you can guarantee they’ll be dragging their friends through the dirt at festival season, spilling Tuborg down themselves and screaming the words to Little Lion Man in stranger’s ears so why shouldn’t they win best British group? The fact they aren’t the best British group has little to do with anything at The Brits.

Coldplay’s innovative use of flashing wristbands has caused a bigger stir than it did during the ‘new rave’ summer of ’07 seemingly, because they won best live band.
To be able to carry on making music when everyone claims they hate you is something to be admired in a way. Until the people topple the brass statue of Chris Martin in West London and start pelting it with sandals and hummus I think we will have to put up with the fact they exist.

Adele deserves best British single for Skyfall. I can’t even think of another single. How can you have a best single without Woolworths selling them? I smell a conspiracy!

War Child winning Special Recognition is right and true. The work they do is absolutely incredible and the support they have from artists and the public is heartwarming.

Last night on Twitter I heard people griping about One Direction winning Best Global Success. I can’t understand why. They appear to have taken America (and Taylor Swift’s hymen) by storm.
The key here is they are doing very well.
Will they be about in a decade?
Yes, but as talking heads on another series of The Big Reunion.
The important thing to remember is while they are in America, they aren’t here. They sure as hell can’t Apparate. Muggles.

Lana Del Ray won International Female Solo Artist based on the fact she’s not British and is technically a female. Well done Lana. Back to the cave.

Black Keys won best International band?!
Wow.
Well done public. You have done something right. I forgive you for the KitKat thing.

Frank Ocean (not the son of Billy or Atlantic) for International Male. Yeah. Good call again Britain. Put the kettle on you little sod.

Emeli Sandé with best album….
…
Nope.
I tried.
I have no jokes for this.

That’s it. That was The Brit awards. There’s a massive build up and then we are left sobbing, wiping ourselves down with a Kleenex and wondering if we are going to hell.

February 21, 2013
Running on empty.

This is one of those rare mornings where there is absolutely nothing pending, nothing sat on my mind ready to spill out. Ironically just two days ago I was telling someone who wants to write how writing a blog is an excellent start. It opens you up to the idea it doesn’t matter what you write as long as you are writing. It’s an exercise. The stories will come later.

I need a decent night’s sleep to recharge my batteries. It isn’t any one thing in particular, just the last week. I haven’t eaten a home cooked meal in two weeks. I’ve just been surviving on the mushrooms in my hair.
(Black Book joke there for the fans).

I’ll be better tomorrow, I promise.

February 20, 2013
Lucky boy.

Last night I went to a screening at the new Warner Bros screening room in Holborn. I can’t say anything about the film because I signed a contract in my own blood with Umbridge’s special quill.
The important thing is it is *wolfwhistles* swaaaaanky! They have an actual bar. A fully functioning bar with beer and wine and stuff. A fucking bar! As a member of the freeloading international press I felt obliged to indulge before we were called in for the showing. The problem then was protocol. There’s a massive difference between having a tipple before a press screening and getting beer bonged and gang raped in a frat house.
I had to hold back. I just sat awkwardly nursing my beer, not making eye contact and trying to pretend I wasn’t taking a picture of my pass.

February 19, 2013
When We Were Very Young… Now We Are 26.

As I’ve already said enough times it was my birthday at the weekend.
It has dawned on me this morning.
I’m not looking forward to filling in my next form. I’m pretty sure it will be ’26-30′. That kind of stuff bothers me. I don’t want to be lumped in with adults.
When I was very little I thought 21 was old. I have an elder cousin, or at least I should say she is my Mum’s cousin and she was the coolest person in the world (aside from Dave Brown who lived next door and would break dance in our lounge). She was 21. That was my point. She seemed so much wiser than I could ever imagine being. She went to University and her bedroom was covered in pictures of bands.
I’m five years beyond that now.
I wonder what the little version of me would make of me now. I’m not so bothered about what teenage Paul would make of 26 Paul because teenage Paul needs to have a good long hard look in the mirror before he starts talking about anyone else’s appearance but what would I make of me?

I don’t feel any different. That’s what surprises me every year. I assume I’ll rise into consciousness and be a wholly different person, an adult maybe but with each year that passes I realise this is becoming increasingly unlikely. I’m just me. It makes the whole pass a lot easier.
Age really has nothing to do with anything.

February 18, 2013
Going live.

I’ve been stuck on the idea of having my blog/website in my own name. Last night I finally took the plunge.
Welcome to PaulSchiernecker.com

February 18, 2013
You’re a wizard Paulie.

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to experience the Making Of Harry Potter tour at Warner Bros Studios. It took me back to how I first discovered the books, and how important they became to me. When Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone (book) was released in 1997 I was ten years old. I was prime Harry Potter audience. I didn’t discover the books until two years later when Prisoner Of Azkaban was released and my parents bought me the books as a trilogy boxset. It was the first set of books to grab me since the likes of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien had done years earlier. In the space of our two week holiday in France that year I read all three books, and started again on Azkaban which still holds dominion as being my favourite.   I was amazed you could have a literary hero who was a geeky teenager in glasses. That’s the role I filled in my family, and there was a tiny bit of me that awaited my Hogwarts letter upon our return home to England. It never arrived and I slowly grew up alongside the books. I went to a midnight opening to get a copy of Deathly Hallows. Since then Harry Potter got sidelined by any number of other pursuits. I had almost forgotten how important the books had been to my teenage years, and the subconscious effect they had on me as a fledgling writer. Luckily for me, there was time to rediscover.  On Friday it was my birthday. I turned 26. As part of the league of presents I received my wonderful Gryffindor girlfriend got us tickets for the studio tour. Knowing I was going beforehand (because she can’t keep secrets) we had spent the last couple of weekends watching the films with her brother and his girlfriend Stacy who is the go to girl for all things Potter in my eyes. I also started re-reading the books.   This meant by the time we got to Leavesden I was about as giddy as I had been the previous Summer when we went to Disneyland Paris. As soon as you get inside they start the music and the whole experience is absolutely magical. It’s so well constructed and so well organised, and it makes you realise the efforts that went into some of the most important family films of the last twenty years.   I won’t say too much else, I just hope the pictures do justice to the marvellous experience.  

On the way out you naturally have to walk through the gift shop. I was ready to claim I wasn’t going to buy into the capitalisation of my beloved childhood book series, that I didn’t need any of the branded merchandise they were offering and there was no way I would be fooled.  Then I found myself walking out with a t-shirt, a replica wand and a notebook for Kate.  It’s an awesome experience for anyone who has been absorbed by the Harry Potter series in the last ten/fifteen years.  It’s a fantastic opportunity to geek out and celebrate the wizarding world.

“Mischief managed”.

February 17, 2013
A message from James.

Happy birthday mutherfucker lady plucker thumb sucker cum chucker blood sucker in the gutter gay trucker cheese cutter young putter dumb and dummer!! Xx

http://www.nme.com/news/the-cribs/68734
Paul is 26 I bet he enjoys bday bjs and dicks, he has music to play and inject aids, he is going to get munch in the form of man lunch, a munch bunch meat trunch lunch

February 17, 2013
Happy birthday to me.

Today I am 26. I wish it was some kind of recognised milestone but as my brother was very clear to point out I’m “basically thirty”.
I’ve spent most of today shut in the dark, recording my new EP. Rees (my buddy and studio tech) is working his magic now to make it sound good. He’s a master at that. I’m just sat enjoying my own dulcet tones.
I’ve already had so many awesome presents. Kate got me two Dylan records and some Hemingway and Wilde books. She’s also taking me to the Harry Potter Studio Tour tomorrow which I’m excited about.

I’m looking forward to spending this evening with my family and tomorrow night with my friends. I’m very lucky and very blessed.

February 15, 2013
Dating a dude.

Last night I went out for drinks with another guy. For some reason the very prospect of such a venture made me more awkward than my usual state of ‘tensed up and ready to drop dead’.

The reason for this is no fault of my own. Society makes it difficult. This dude (A) and I got chatting at a Christmas party and realised we had loads of stuff in common. We talked about music and university experiences and books. The next time we saw each other, much more sober, it was as if the whole thing had never happened.
I consulted my brother who can often be the Tom Cruise to my Dustin Hoffman.
“Just ask him out man, it’s not gay. You get on. Why are you being weird about it?” – Cracking advice there bro. The problem being I hadn’t asked anyone out in over two years.

Eventually I plucked up the courage and asked A out for a beer. I can expressly remember telling him there was nothing gay about it as though this might convince him my intentions were honourable.
It worked. We went out, had some beers, talked about a multitude of things and those first date nerves are out of the way and everything is fine.

So don’t let anyone tell you there is something wrong with a bit of man on man time (for want of a better phrase).

February 14, 2013