Feb 2017
New Album Acoustic Hearts Out Now
Nov 2016
over the past year , an album has been in
the works and recording has finally been
completed.The album title is "Acoustic Hearts"
and as the name suggests , it's an album
entirely of acoustic guitar. Not one
electric guitar in site :).
I wanted to take the instrument to its
parameters, stretching the limits of
its capabilities as a textural instrument.
In the past, I did most solos, melodies,
and ornamentation with an electric
which I trust and love.
The acoustic guitar however with only
a microphone in front, is such an honest
instrument. It captures the humanness of
the player with personal nuances,
attack and finger movement.
Three different acoustic guitars were
used for variance, but my trusted
Hummingbird chalked 80 percent of the paths.
While recording, we used two rooms -
a multi-surfaced room and what we call
the echo chamber , a tiled corridor.
Vocals were all done in the first mentioned.
There were close to 40 demos to choose from,
and it WAS challenging, like all artists to
choose your favourite children. That being said,
there's plenty left in the vault !
Songs of love and hope with an underlying
theme throughout, a search for inner peace.
The lyrics are crafted from the heart;
an acoustic heart.
Paul Cartwright was recruited for bass duties
and Damian Lim took care of the drums.
Damian also helped with Production and
technical support.
Stay tuned for the new album coming soon
to your favourite internet platform.
Lots of love and hope,
Savvas
Nov 2014
Full animation/computer graphic video clip to Sick in the guts complete. Design by RMIT graduate , Zozie Brown. A treat for the senses. Youtube clip
April 2014
Sensible Rock! EP released . Find it at Polyester Records,Flinders Lane or on iTunes .It's Rockier, it's Synthier, it's taking things to the limit- but sensibly!
Sept 2013
talk is underway whether to include the track " pure heart " performed with a North Indian orchestral band . Clarinet , synth or other ornamentation is also being considered for other tracks.Work continues on the new EP
Sept 9
Trauma relaunch . After the success of the Sky Chi launch and the response to the Trauma album tracks on the night, a launch of the 2007 album was called for as an official party never took place. Back at Horse Bazaar...
July 3
Sky Chi is launched at Horse Bazaar Little Lonsdale street. Massage tables and henna tattoo artist are there to help celebrate the event .
April - May 2013
tracks are laid down with Nick Cave engineer Anna Laverty, and guitars and vocals rerecorded at the Institute with David Calf. Drums and bass recorded to tape with plentiful basses used particularly tasty being the Wal fretless on Calypso Moon . Guitar tones are delish using a Fender Deville amp and a huge selection of David's toys, notably the ebow. Some filming is done which will be released as a small doco.
Feb - March 2013
rehearsals recommence for the forth coming EP: Garden of Eden,
Calypso Moon, The search for truth, Sick in the guts and Thin as air.
Oct 7
Lantern EP launch at IDGAFF 160 Hoddle street ,Collingwood.
Oct 7th,2012 at 7pm(with special guests)
July 3
Work has commenced with Thom Mann and Paul Cartwright for a forthcoming EP (working title) "Post Japan". 5 songs : Garden of Eden, sick in the guts,search for truth , calypso moon ,thin as air- are being nutted out and a few will be performed live at the Sky Chi launch . A more art rock concept, having more emphasis on rhythm will be featured on Post Japan.
July 2
Sky Chi now available in gatefold full colour cd at Polyester records (Flinders Lane,Brunswick street), Basement Discs(Block place) and Missing Link (Bourke street). Soon to be available on iTunes .
Also available at Red Eye music , York St ,Sydney.
July 1
Sky chi released featuring 10 new original tracks . Drums:Thom Mann (Kate Ceberano) , keyboards:Sam Holloway (Silverchair) , bass: Paul Cartwright (Brewster brothers ex Angels) .
June 25
Sky Chi pressed using artwork by Kana Sasaki . Kana also contributed the artwork for Trauma (2007) . Kana is an experimental artist from Sendai, Japan who incorporates fabrics,crayon and acrylic paint into her vivid pictures
June 20
Lantern press copies of their self-titled EP. The Romanesque antique design care of Ash Woodward (guitars) came up fabulously . Available through iTunes and selected Melbourne independent stores (Polyester) and Red eye music, Sydney.
June 19
Savvas plays a solo warm up show at the Cherry tree, AcDc lane .
June 16
Lantern's YouTube channel recieves 2000 hits and Facebook fans rise in numbers.
April 30
Lantern's Coffee film clip is released lauded for it's Melbourne-themed concept. Shot in Hosier lane and Centre place, it encapsulates the cosmopolitan,urban vibe of the cbd.
April 2
Mastering of Sky Chi is complete. Brian Lucey hands over a number of versions with different tonal parameters;
Savvas opting for the more mid-range, less compressed takes. Lantern's self-titled EP is louder than Sky Chi; nevertheless it was decided that a quieter, more dynamic mix would bring out the best in these tracks .
November 25, 2011
The files for 'Fisherman's song' and 'Sketches' are edited ready for the final mix by Kennie Takahashi .
Fisherman's song is surprisingly difficult to put together and the final has a mix of different bass and vocal takes and a heavily edited piano . A cello line written by Yun Lim is added at the last minute as the piece de resistance ( played by Sharon Draper - Melbourne Symphony). Because of Sketches sparseness being an instrumental ; after the first mix by Kennie Takahashi , it is decided by both parties on both sides of the globe to add a melodic instrument or a vocal to gel the song together . It was originally Matt Ward's ( bass on Lantern's Coffee and 2007's Trauma) to include a vocal in Sketches after hearing the first mix . Determined to be an instrumental , Yun writes a keyboard line; however Key player Sam Holloway is in the UK touring, and Gideon of Husky(Sub pop) is asked to take the reins . Also touring , it is decided to translate the line for cello and Savvas adds some melody to the score and vous la! Sharon nails it in one take.
June 25, 2011
The vocals for Bossa nova, Sparkles and God's confession are re-sung with Davin Pidoto at the production helm . Richer, more heart-felt takes are recorded . The second best vocal session after Lantern's session for Selling compassion and Brother Sam a few months prior.
June 2, 2011
Soo Hyun Kim performs choir vocal with Savvas for Mother Elysian. Den Belmont wrote the score as well as arranging backing vocals for To Kill a sunrise and Coffee.
May 31, 2011
Electric guitar takes recorded by Yun Lim are re-amped through an Orange tiny terror head(14wts) and Marshall 2 x 10 box ( thanks Jamo!) . Rhythms now rock and solos now scream ! Ash comes in to lay down acoustic over dubs for the Lantern EP.
May 25-28 , 2011
Vocals recorded at the Dyte with Justin. Vocals for To Kill a sunrise and Mother Elysian redone.
May 18-22 , 2011
Malvern Pound (Aka Darcy) is heard busking on Flinders Lane from the studio window of the Institute ; it was always Ash's vision to have a saxophone solo in To Kill a sunrise . Sav goes downstairs has a quick chat to Malvern and without so much as a by-your-leave he's up in the studio laying down a soon-to-be indelible solo. Savvas lays down all electric guitars for Lantern.
May 15, 2011
Davin Pidoto engineers vocals for Selling Compassion and Brother Sam ; best vocal session to date.
April 12-13, 2011
Lantern EP recorded and captured on 2 inch tape . Sanjaya films the recording and a documentary is created.Matt Ward (Trauma 2007) comes in on the first day laying down bass for 'coffee'. It's recorded in 2 takes with everything being kept. Matt's melodic bass playing adds a titillating flavor to the EP sitting nicely with Daigo Nakai's Jazz sophistication .
March 20- April 11, 2011
Rehearsals for the lantern EP are underway. Matt Ward comes in for Coffee.
Jan-Feb , 2011
Yun Lim records vocals , guitars and bass at the Dyte (WarranDYTE) in a make-shift studio . The basslines are later re-recorded by Paul Cartwright.
Dec 21-22, 2010
7 of the Sky Chi album tracks are recorded with Davin Pidoto at the engineering helm. Bayview and Bossa will be recorded in May 2011 as a trio with Daigo Nakai and Let me change has already been recorded at SAE with Yun Lim .
December 5 & 14, 2010
Rehearsals between Savvas and Thom are done at the Degraves apartment . Basslines will be added later .