Should you wish to record one of my works or have any enquiries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. 'E-mail Copyright Enquiry’
Bookings
In addition to playing festivals, music venues and clubs, I am happy to play bar/restaurants, soirées and private functions. I provide a compact, attractive and new stereo PA system which is sufficiently powerful for a room with an audience capacity of up to about 200 people, and even some gentle ‘stage’ lighting.
If you may be interested to book me and would like more information, please enquire without obligation through the MySpace link ‘Send Message’ in the contact table above or here: 'E-Mail Booking Enquiry’
This is the supplier for most of my equipment, where I have my guitars set up, and the Recording Studio that I use. Click on the logo to open their web page:
Overview
In the nineties I had a band called Checkmate which presented an effective fusion of rock, contemporary folk and Central European influences. Initially a trio we employed acoustic and electric guitars, violin, percussion and three part vocal harmonies. However, for the latter part we became a duo and I am happy to have uploaded an example of our music, see ‘Stand By Me’ – the last song we recorded! I keep the 'Checkmate' name alive as I may use it again one day with a new band. Since we disbanded I have concentrated on my solo work.
Like many guitarists, I have a passion for the instrument and its associated equipment. Not being a typical 'acoustic' player I find my ‘trusty’ Ovation and new (at Apr/09) Godin Acousticaster suit me very well. In fact, with their differing tones, the two compliment one another perfectly and offer me variety depending on my choice of material! I am particularly interested in the famous German manufacturer, Hofner, of which I have several electrics including a vintage 1959 semi-solid 'Club 60'.
My compositions for the keyboard are currently confined to the studio and not something I would attempt to reproduce live.
Poetry with Photographs
Although most of my words are written in the context of song lyrics, I do also write poetry (or perhaps more accurately, poetic prose) in its own right. My style is often to depict a theme of imagery without necessarily closing the scene. This provides a framework which, to varying degrees, leaves the final interpretation open to the reader.
Accompanying my poems are original photographs which relate in some way to the theme. My poetry may not always be immediately accessible, but I very much hope to create an impression; be it one of emotion, contemplation or simply a passing moment of enjoyment.
Click on Lyrics in the MySpace Player to see information about the song.
The video may be played from the player on this page for convenience or alternatively to view full screen in a new window, click: 'Kilimanjaro Video Here'
In the slide show, mouse over a photo for caption details and click on a photo to open it in a new window.
There are additional photograph albums which may be seen by clicking on 'View My: Pics', just above the contact table.
Stage Credits
Crédits sur Scène
In addition to my native country of England, I have also performed in the USA, Canada and the Czech Republic and I look forward to an opportunity to play in other countries. It has been my great privilege to play opening sets to the following bands, among others:
The Strawbs (acoustic)
Waking the Witch
Amy Wadge
Roy Metté
Be Sharp
The Electric Experience (Pete Orr)
Porter
Fleetwood Bac
Aladdinsane
Pink Fraud
The Beatles Band
Dizzy Lizzy
Festivals:
Leigh Folk Festival
Sutton With Shopland Festival
Rayleigh Arts Festival
Southend Circle of Light
En addition de mon pays natif d’Angleterre, j’ai joué aussi en Etats-Unis, Canada et la République Tchèque et j’attends avec impatience de jouer en autres pays. C’a eu été mon grand privilège de jouer ouverture scènes pour les groupes, parmi autres (au-dessus):
Set List
Liste Assortiment
My main 'concert' set consists of my own original compositions.
However, for my 'entertainment' extended sets I also perform my rearrangements and interpretations of selected popular covers by such artists as:
Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Eric Clapton, Eurythmics, Neil Finn / Crowded House, Steve Harley / Cockney Rebel, Roger Hodgson / Supertramp, Mark Knopfler / Dire Straits, Alan Hull / Lindisfarne, John Lennon / Beatles, Tony McPhee / Groundhogs, Ralph McTell, Van Morrison, Joan Osborne, Tom Petty, etc.
Ma principale « concert » assortiment liste est se composé de mes originale compositions. Pourtant, pour mes « spectacle » scènes prolongé je jeu aussi mes réarrangements et interprétations de choisie populaire couvertures par tel artistes comme (au-dessus):
Etkilendikleri
Bowie, Sting, The Strawbs, Dave Lambert, Dave Cousins, John Lennon, Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits, Paul Weller, Ralph McTell, Eagle Eye Cherry, REM, Fleetwood Mac, Marc Bolan, Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend, Pink Floyd, Philip Glass, Vivaldi, Baroque Classical.
I should also add non-musical influences:
Art, Words, World Cinema, Countryside, Seas, Oceans, Mountains, Nature, Travel and experiencing different cultures, Life Experiences and Motorcycles!
Finally I am in the studio recording some new and different styles of tracks including electric rock. It will take a while, but when I have something to share with you it will be my pleasure to add it here.
I am always on the lookout for new venues to play, both in the UK and abroad. If you like my music and may be interested in my playing for you, please contact me without obligation. See the section at the top of the left hand pane under the heading ‘Bookings’ or use the ‘Send Message’ link in the contact table under my avatar. Thank you.
At the bottom of the section ‘Welcome / Bienvenue’, you will find my ‘banner’ together with the corresponding code if you would like to add it to your page.
You are very welcome to write to me if you would like to. I very much hope that you enjoy your visit and would like to return again soon, you will be warmly welcomed.
Je suis enfin en studio pour enregistrer des nouveaux morceaux de styles différents y compris de « rock » électrique. Ce prendra un peu de temps, mais quand j’ai quelque chose de partager avec vous ce sera mon plaisir de les ajouter ici.
Je recherche toujours des endroits pour me produire. Si vous aimez ma musique et auriez intérêt par me de venir jouer un concert, je vous invite à vous mettre en contact avec moi sans obligation par e-mail. Découvrez le lien « E-Mail Booking Enquiries » qui apparait au sommet de le panneau à gauche sous la rubrique « Bookings », ou par le lien sur ma table de contact sous mon photo. Merci.
En bas de la rubrique « Welcome / Bienvenue » vous découvrirez ma « bannière » avec les codes correspondants si vous souhaitez l’ajouter sur votre page.
Vous êtes très bienvenue de m'écrire si vous le souhaitez et je prendrais le temps de vous répondre en Français. J’espère très beaucoup que vous aimez votre visite et voudrez revenir bientôt, je vous accueillerai chaleureusement.
Amicalement.
Video
Kilimanjaro by Clive Cowan from the CD Live & Solo
[song written by: T. Alexander]
Profile
I am a guitarist, singer / songwriter musician based in the South East of England most usually seen performing solo producing a sound I describe as 'Enhanced Stereo Electro-Acoustic Guitar'. However, I do sometimes include electric guitar in my sets and a backbeat from a drum sequencer.
Originally from the county of Essex (England), I began learning the guitar at an early age with public performances beginning when I frequented a number of folk clubs. However, it was when I subsequently moved to Kent that I learned my initial stage craft as a musician regularly playing at the excellent basement ‘Springfield Club’ in Folkestone. I have since spent several periods living and playing abroad (see the heading ‘Stage Credits’ in the left hand pane).
Musically I have an eclectic taste and I draw from many influences and perform both my own material and my original arrangements and interpretations of selected contemporary 'covers'. All the component elements of a song are very important to me, especially its melody, rhythm and lyrics. A good song should be able to stand many different yet effective arrangements, from solo instrument to full band production or orchestration. It all starts with the composition itself, the notes on the staff - and no amount of studio production technique can change that!
My original compositions range from my roots in folk-rock / acoustic rock to melodic, full-on, electric rock with perhaps an American 'flavour', while at the other end of the spectrum there is a gentle, orchestral 'pastoral piece' composed on the keyboard.
When I arrange a cover version of another songwriter’s / band’s song, I neither want it to be a clone of the original nor a pastiche of its delivery but instead for it to possess something of my own character and feel. To this end I frequently change the musical key, the pace and the structure of the song and perhaps introduce a variation to the introduction, break or ending. This results in the listener having to evaluate the song on its own merits rather than as a direct comparison to how they may remember the original.
Combining my original compositions and interpreted covers in this way allows for a more versatile set list from which I can draw to suit a particular venue or audience. It also affords the listener new to my work a little familiar relief in the form of a song they may know, to effectively refresh attention for the unfamiliar pieces.
Additionally I have composed and orchestrated on the keyboard, although this work is currently confined to the studio rather than live performance. Examples include a synthesiser driven pastoral piece called ‘Evening Mist’ which has touched people around the world inciting enthusiastic comments from Australia to Singapore, the Ukraine through Moscow and mainland Europe to Canada and Argentina!
There are currently two CDs available by mail order. Please email: 'Send Message Here', if you would like more information or to purchase a copy.
Live & Solo was my debut CD and is, as the name suggests, a live recording of a stage performance of solo electro-acoustic guitar and vocals. It includes a live version of Tightrope, the track and video Kilimanjaro, plus seven other tracks which are my rearranged and interpreted covers of well known (or less well known) songs.
Evening Mist (Opus No.1 in C Major) CD is a single, ten minute, instrumental pastoral piece which features the orchestrated voices of choirs, keyboards and strings. Composed as a celebration of ‘Peace, Harmony and in Exaltation of Nature’, one wonderful comment I have received describes it as being, “like a sound of thoughts, when you are up at the big mountain at night... dreamy tune”. It has been necessary to edit the track uploaded here to fade approximately two-thirds through as the full version is too large for the MySpace system to accept. This is a pity as I rather like the emotional, soaring, choral ending.
I compose and play my music (and other art) for myself, because I love to create, to put something back into this world and to share in the hope that it may touch someone, somewhere. I am deeply flattered and encouraged by the comments I have received both publically and privately from so many of you. Thank you so much, because ultimately it is you, the audience, the listener, who must be the judge.
Many thanks for visiting - take care and please do stop by again.
Keep Music Live - and Rock On!
Clive
Would you like to add this banner to your page? - Click in the code window below and then drag top left scrolling down to bottom right to select all the code [or ‘Ctrl’ + ‘A’ followed by ‘Ctrl’ + ‘C’] , then copy and paste to your MySpace profile or other website, please.
Voudriez-vous d’ajouter cette bannière de votre page? - Cliquez dans le panneau de code ci-dessous et puis trainez de haut gauche de rouler à bas droit de sélectionner tous le code [ou « Ctrl » + « A » suivi par « Ctrl » + « C »], puis copiez et collez sur votre profil MySpace ou alternative site, s.v.p.
hey my great friend, its an honor your friendship, i am working in my new CD. thanks again for any kind words and support. best whishes from this side of the world
Glad to meet you, creative man :)! The combination of arts is always a sign of feeling them deeply, cherishing their essence and trying to render it in different forms... Your music is very gratifying, and what you tell about it in your page, is interesting! Keep in touch!
Hello Clive! J' ai vu que tu avais mis un lien pour notre album, merci du fond du coeur! Qu' as tu pensé de "Ten Stones"? Bonne continuation à toi, @ bientot JiBé
Hello, It's always a pleasure to contact my friends, first thanks for your friendship and hope all is well. if you have time, there are some new videos on my page. Life is beautiful. All the best - Pat.
Hi Clive!!! Thanks for the request, I'm very happy to discover your universe...beautiful sound, great songs and melodies, good voice...i enjoy it! Beautiful page and music! Cheers from France, Love and Support
fyi Clive, sometimes when i ask someone/other to take my picture, i want them to take my picture with the beautiful view around me, but the most often things that happened to me were like, they took the zoom picture of me only, or they took the picture of the view without me showed up quite proportional in the photo, i was just like wanted to say, "hello...take the picture of me and the view together...properly???", but then...yeah... Thanks anyway for helping me :))
Thank you very much for stopping by and your kind words. Yeah, I saw some of your new uploaded photos this afternoon, very beautiful photos. Anyway, I don't do photography very well, I don't even know which camera is a good 1. Sometimes I don't know how to operate a camera, I need some time to learn it :)) anyway, I just do it with any kind camera on my hand, I prefer the friendly user type, the easiest 1, heheheheh, since the most important thing to me is the object should be interesting, and just start to push the button, heheheh. It's fun!
Anyway, I've checked out your page and listened to "Evening Mist", very beautiful music composition, it should be a perfect match with the beautiful photos you've taken.
I can't wait to read your blog! My friends keep encouraging me to invest in a good camera. I've had this canon elf less than a year, I do like it but, maybe it's time. Tell me more about yours; it really sounds amazing!
Thank you so much for those kind wishes from your side! I do think positive most of time, so I really do hope my situation will change into better as soon as possible, but I'm able to walk again after long time I couldn't so - step by step, like with everything.
How is your work going? Go some new music project? ;)
Once again - I do appreciate your presence in here and your freindship very, very much. Dziękuję ;) (means thank you in Polish) natalia
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