News

A Weekly... What?

Well, I totally fell off the schedule with A Weekly Song, didn’t I? What I didn’t foresee was that the second half of 2019 would be taken up with various jobs and expeditions that I had to travel for and the further development of a still top-secret project that I’m hoping I can announce sometime soon. In circumstances like those, it’s difficult to change gear and maintain a weekly blog post, especially with the kinds of in-depth essays I like to write. I had the ideas and I had the notes, but not always the energy to cohere and finalise them. So, apologies to all those readers who enjoyed and supported the weekly music show from the first half of this year. It will return and I will complete my list of 52 tracks and the memories they spark, even if it’s at a somewhat more erratic pace. Maybe I need to rethink the title, but anyway, watch this space.

Publishing News (or Not)

In other news... well, there is news, but it seems I can’t talk about it until I have confirmation of certain developments. I’ll keep schtumm until there’s something definite I can say.

For anyone who follows me on social media and who may be reading this in the hope of Doctor Who news and that 10th Doctor / 12th Doctor crossover Titan mini-series that would conclude mine and Giorgia Sposito’s run on the 10th Doctor comics, I’m afraid I have none. I don’t know if or when it’ll ever be published and, while you should never say never, as far as I can see, there’ll be no further Doctor Who comics from me in the near future.

Another indefinite postponement: the exhibition of my art that was announced earlier this year. Possibly that’ll go head next year; I don’t know yet. See here for updated details.  

Laika and Beyond 

Today of course is the 62nd anniversary of the launch of Sputnik II and Laika’s death. Just in case you don’t know, I wrote and drew a book about Laika’s life and that of the people who surrounded her. It was a labour of deep research and love but what I just couldn’t foresee when I made that graphic novel was the continuing impact it would have. It’s been in print for twelve years now and has a life all of its own. 

Recently, David Harper wrote an extensive essay on the book, the first part of which you can read for free here. (SKTCHD is a subscription site but I can say with hand on heart that it’s a very good one and if you’re interested in the making of graphic novels and analysis of the language of comics, I encourage you to check it out more fully.) 

Laika was issued in Brazil last year and the book was greeted with a very positive reaction. One of the loveliest of these was from a group of musicians who formed a band called Laika Não Morreu! (Laika Lives) and this title track is only the first result of the fruits of their labours. Yeah, that video is loosely based on my art style, but the creativity is all theirs. If you like the song, please support them, even if it’s just a follow on their Instagram or Twitter feeds (and other social media and music vendors). Spread the word - every little bit helps and we independent artists can only exist with the interest of our supporters and fans!  

A final word on music: recently my wife and I saw Massive Attack, Joe Hisaishi and Max Richter in concert. All three gigs were astonishing in entirely different ways, and by way of an apology for falling off the Weeklies, I’ll just say this. If you don’t know their music, a world of beautiful discovery awaits your ears. 

If you want to see what I’m up to in something approaching real time, check out my Twitter and Instagram feeds.