"The exploration and expression of the human spirit, with whatever techniques are necessary, are the over-riding priorities." - Charles Thomson. (Crude Art Manifesto)
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." - Marie Curie
Uke Stanza and his alter ego, Colin Shaddick can be compared to the two sides of a coin: they’re quite different, and you never really know which one of them will turn up.
Uke Stanza is the playful singer/songwriter and Colin Shaddick, the rude rhymester and recitalist. The two hardly ever agree, but did manage to hold a ceasefire long enough to create the following manifesto.
‘If you discover yourself in a lake of sewage the only appealing storyline is how to climb out, not how sick you can make yourself by swallowing it.’ *
‘No process, direction or technology should be out of bounds to the entertainer.’ *
1. Challenge the status quo
2. Respect limitations
3. Any space is sufficient
4. Nod to cliché
5. Be international in approach
6. Embrace the ego
7. Slick is sticky
8. Enthusiasm over polish
9. Conformity is addictive. Just say ‘no’
10. We’re here in order to leave
I don't always require rigidity and conservatism in music!
Uke Stanza’s fleeting encounter with the UK music charts:
Reached No.24 in the Dandelion Radio, John Peel ‘Festive Fifty Chart’ in 2007, with the song, ‘The Picket Line’. Taken from his album: The Very Thin Line.
Reached No.50 in the Dandelion Radio, John Peel ‘Festive Fifty Chart’ in 2006, with the song, ‘You Will With Ivor Cutler’. Taken from his album: Pheasants Will Cross The Road.
"Colin's harmonica playing was smokin'." David Amram: composer-performer and friend of author Jack Kerouac.
12 Bar Club, London. Gig listing:
"Uke Stanza - English eccentric Uke Stanza specialises in preserving the 'child energy'. Very active in poetry, art and songwriting in his home-county of Devon, Uke got involved in antifolk in 2006 after becoming attracted to its genuine oddballs and appreciation of difference. His latest album, The Very Thin Line, is a snapshot of life seen through very different eyes."
Spinmaster Plantpot reviews my CD: 'The Very Thin Line':
"Uke Stanza - a wry, irreverent Leonard Cohen from the West Country. On the fringes of the UK antifolk scene. Unpredictable and surprising. Some of the falsetto vocals made me spill my Earl Grey. Uke's your bad influence uncle who'll get you on the cider and then get his guitar out to corrupt you even more. Refreshing."
'Uke' tracks on MySpace: www.myspace.com/colinshaddick
'Uke' at the 12 Bar Club: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5Lv-HYZtww
* With many thanks to the co-founders of the Stuckist Painters for allowing me to dip into their manifesto for inspiration.