www.chantelmcgregor.com
Chantel McGregor
“LOSE CONTROL”
The New Album
Released Friday 9th October 2015
Guitarist and singer-songwriter Chantel
McGregor will release her highly anticipated
new album, Lose Control, on Friday 9th October
2015 on her independent boutique label Tis
Rock Music, The new album is the follow up to
her critically acclaimed 2011 debut solo album,
Like No Other.
After four years of touring and festival
appearances, Chantel returns with a vengeance
with ten new songs that not only salutes
contemporary rock, but shows her gradual
transition from conventional Blues to a harder,
bigger and bolder rock sound with progressive
influences.
“I’ve always been interested in the dark side of Southern Gothic literature, artwork and media,” says
Chantel. “I wanted to create an album that reflected the imagery and themes of that genre. I drew
inspiration from the TV shows True Detective and True Blood and studied the literary works of Tennessee
Williams, Carson McCullers and Mark Twain.”
“I also surrounded myself with imagery from artists and
photographers such as Walker Evans and Clarence John
Laughlin, all to immerse myself in the sinister, dark world of
depravation, magic and voodoo, writing most of the songs
from the perspective of the disturbed flawed characters.”
Lose Control, sees Chantel channeling her guitar playing and
song-writing into an exciting pantheon of rock crescendos
and riffs, that will not only leave her devout blues rock fan
base in awe, but will also lead them into a sonic journey that
will take them into new musical territory, whilst sticking to
her current obsession with all things Southern Gothic.
“My interpretation of Southern Gothic is the loss of control,
either spiritually, physically (through other people or
substances), or emotionally,” reflects Chantel. “I drew on
this theme a lot throughout the album, hence the title Lose
Control. I wanted the sound and emotion of the album to
reflect the concept, so I juxtaposed heavy, guitar riff-based,
dark tracks with haunting, emotive acoustic tracks, whilst
tying them together with the lyrical themes of desperation and loss so often seen in Southern Gothic
fiction.”
The album was recorded, mixed and mastered at Livingstone Brown’s studio in Brixton over the space of 6
months, interspersing studio time with touring. Livingstone Brown, (Ed Sheeran, Bryan Ferry, Robin Trower),
played the majority of the bass on the album, with Chantel playing small parts, and her touring drummer
Keith McPartling, playing drums for the whole album.
Says Chantel, “I did the vocals, backing vocals, all guitar parts, arrangements and some production. We
brought in two amazing string players, Charlie Brown on the violin and Chris Worsey on the cello. I really
enjoyed the creativity the studio gave me and loved venturing into the production and arrangement sides
of it, which I will definitely be doing more of in the future.”
For the album artwork, Chantel wanted to reflect the darkness of the album whist retaining an eerily
traditional feel. To make this happen, she contacted a friend of hers, Mark Eliades, who created all of the
calligraphy by hand, which Chantel transferred into digital format to design the album cover. In addition to
designing the cover, Chantel also did all the photography and visual effects. The imagery is all Chantel from the voodoo doll, the scratched song lyrics and the gothic old door, all of which tie in into the Southern
Gothic theme, reflecting the dark undercurrents and disturbing concepts of the album.
Album Track Listing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Take The Power
Your Fever
Burn Your Anger
Anaesthetize
Southern Belle
Lose Control
Home
Killing Time
Eternal Dream
Walk On Land
Chantel McGregor - Track By Track
Take The Power
This stemmed from a track that I wrote a couple of years ago that I was never totally satisfied with, so I
revisited it, changed the music slightly and re-wrote all of the lyrics and melody. The lyrical concept of the
song is about religious and social cults, the idea of control (or loss of) from a higher power or person, which
ties in with the title and theme of the album. Musically, I wanted it to be dark and grungy, emphasising the
loss of control. I drew on influences from my youth such as Nirvana, Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots,
who evoke the emotion of performing with passion and losing control.
Your Fever
This was written on a metaphorical level. The initial idea for it being literally written in the garden on a day
when we had a heatwave. It was unbearably hot. That was the literal concept, then I started to be creative
with it, drawing on the Southern Gothic ideas, twisting it into a world of stifling desert heat, creating
imagery of dust, bones, and the feeling of entrapment. I aimed to continue the heavy rock sound, once
again drawing on the grunge influences previously mentioned. It was important for the track to be
melodically interesting, especially with the lead guitar part. I wanted to create a haunting soundscape that
reflected the concept of isolation in a desert amongst the bones of people past.
Burn Your Anger
Continuing the rock sound to the album, this track was very much about creating a chorus that people can
sing along to, backed with lyrical themes that people can identify with. I moved away slightly from the
Southern Gothic concept as I also wanted to keep the album relevant to modern day life, thus the influence
came from reading the book Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Lyrically, it still touches on the overall theme of the
album, centring on desperation and loss, centring on the breakdown of a relationship through infidelity.
Anaesthetize
This is one of the more emotive songs on the album. I wanted to take the listener on a journey throughout
the album through the heavy rock tracks, interspersed with the sensitive acoustic tracks, meanwhile
weaving the concepts and lyrical themes throughout both aspects to tie it all together. With Anaesthetize, I
wanted to explore the feelings of loss, guilt and desperation caused by substance abuse. This was incredibly
hard for me to understand as I have never personally experienced this, so I had to research and attempt to
emotionally connect and empathise with people who had undergone the experience, and try to see the
world through their eyes, whilst remaining sensitive to the subject. I also drew on a character from the TV
show True Detective who had deep rooted emotional problems, and tried to connect to the character in the
song through him.
Southern Belle
Following Anaesthetize, I felt that I needed to bring the mood of the album back to a more rock feel.
Southern Belle was my interpretation of debauchery and indulgence. I wanted to tie in the Southern Gothic
themes of religion and loss of control, and the idea of rebellion seemed the perfect way to do that through
this song. Musically, this is the most ‘bluesy’ track on the album, and probably the most ‘American’
sounding track, this being intentional to the overall theme of the album.
Lose Control
The title track of the album, this is intended to really epitomise the concept of loss of control, through
possession and being ‘out of your own body'. It can be interpreted on two levels, the literal level, a song
about partying and losing yourself to the music, or the spiritual level, being possessed and losing yourself
on a metaphorical level. I wanted the music to reflect the excitement of the subject matter, through guitar
riffs and distorted vocals, and I feel that it encapsulates the concept.
Home
As well as writing songs with a strong theme and concept, I wanted to write a personal song that I could
really reflect on my own life with, whilst using imagery connected to the rest of the album. This song was
written about spending time on the road away from home, growing and evolving as a person, and looking
back on things which I’ve done. It was important for me to perform this song with true emotion, and I used
cellos and violins as well as subtle electric guitar to meander in and around the classical guitar and haunting
vocal lines, to give tenderness and depth. Whilst working with the string players, I drew on influences from
the iconic artist Nick Drake, who used strings to emphasise the emotion of his music.
Killing Time
At the time I wrote this track, I was listening to a lot of contemporary rock bands, such as Royal Blood, Band
of Skulls, Black Keys, who all use heavy rock riffs to punctuate their songs. The concept of the song is about
being a serial killer. It was fitting to make it riff based rock to emphasise the viciousness of the concept.
Eternal Dream
The inspiration for this song was an artist who I have loved for years, Jeff Buckley. I’ve always been
captivated by his music and his story, and I wanted to put that into a song. I used a lot of techniques
evident in his music within the song musically, such as dissonance and falsetto vocals. This is my tribute to
him.
Walk On Land
I have always had a passion for Progressive music, purely down to the fact that I love the
technicality and intricacy of it. I listen to a lot of Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree, and both
heavily influenced this track. I wanted to create something technically interesting to provide a
different angle and texture to the album. Experimenting with different time signatures, interesting
instrumentation and backing vocal arrangements has always been a passion of mine, so this song
is an important part of the album to me. It was also great fun recording the improvised guitar solo
at the end of the track in one take with the drummer, I aimed to capture the excitement and
spontaneity of improvisation within the constraints of a very structured song. The theme behind
the song is an observation of how live moves on and the world keeps turning, yet somethings in
life never evolve or move on. The subject matter reflected the progressive sound of the song.
Chantel McGregor
2015 Tour Dates
Leamington Spa, The Assembly, Zephyr Lounge
Friday 11th September 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £13.00
www.leamingtonassembly.com
2a Spencer Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 3NE
Newark Blues Festival
Saturday 12th September 2015
Tickets: £15.00
www.newarkblues.co.uk
Newark Castle, Castlegate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1BG
London, 100 Club
Thursday 17th September 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £14.00
www.the100club.co.uk
100 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1LL
Whitby, Pavilion Theatre
Sunday 20th September 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £13.00 / £15.00 door
www.whitbypavilion.co.uk
West Cliff, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3EN
Stockton, The Arc
Thursday 24th September 2015
Box Office: 01642 52519 / Tickets: £13.00 adv / £15.00 door
http://arconline.co.uk
Stockton Arts Centre, Dovecot Street, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1LL
Louth Riverhead Theatre
Friday 25th September 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £14.00
www.louthplaygoers.com
Victoria Road, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 0BX
Wrexham, Central Station
Saturday 26th September 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £13.00
www.centralstationvenue.com
15 - 17 Hill Street, Wrexham, LL11 1SN
Birmingham, The Institute, The Temple
Thursday 1st October 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £13.00
www.theinstitutebirmingham.com
78 Digbeth High Street, Birmingham, B5 6DY
Ruislip, The Tropic
Friday 2nd October 2015
Box Office: 020 8707 2256 / Tickets: £14.00 adv / £15.00 door
www.tropicatruislip.co.uk
Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 6JQ
Halifax, Playhouse
Friday 9th October 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £13.00
www.halifaxplayhouse.org.uk
King Cross Street, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 2SH
Southport, The Atkinson Blues Festival
Saturday 10th October 2015
Box Office: 01704 533333 / Tickets: £15.00
www.theatkinson.co.uk
Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB
Doncaster, The Dome
Friday 16th October 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £13.00
www.the-dome.co.uk
Doncaster Lakeside, Bawtry Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN4 7PD
Retford, The Elms
Saturday 17th October 2015
Box Office: 07737 130534 /Tickets: £12.50 adv / £15.00 Door
London Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7DX
Sheffield, Greystones
Wednesday 21st October 2015
Box Office: 0114 266 5599 / Tickets: £13.00
www.mygreystones.co.uk
Greystones Road, Sheffield, S11 7BS
Edinburgh, The Caves
Thursday 22nd October 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £13.00
8-12 Niddry Street South, Edinburgh, EH1 1NS
Glasgow, Nice N Sleazy
Friday 23rd October 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £13.00
www.nicensleazy.com
421 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3LG
Carlisle, The Venue
Saturday 24th October 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £13.00
www.thevenuecarlisle.co.uk
English Gate Plaza, Carlisle, CA1 1RP
Salisbury, Arts Centre
Monday 26th October 2015
Box Office: 01722 321744 / Tickets: £15.50 adv / £18 door
www.salisburyartscentre.co.uk
Bedwin Street, Salisbury, SP1 3UT
Exeter, Phoenix
Tuesday 27th October 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £14.00
www.exeterphoenix.org.uk
Gandy St, Exeter, Devon EX4 3LS
Bridport Arts Centre
Wednesday 28th October 2015
Box Office: 01308 427183 / Tickets: TBA
www.bridport-arts.com
South Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3NR
Brighton, Komedia
Thursday 29th October 2015
Box Office: 0845 293 8480 / Tickets: £14.00
www.komedia.co.uk/brighton
44-47 Gardner Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1UN
Lincoln, Engine Shed
Saturday 31st October 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222 / Tickets: £13.00
www.engineshed.co.uk
University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS
Ripley, Town Hall
Saturday 12th December 2015
Tickets: £15.00
http://ripleylive.com
Ripley Town Hall, Ripley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 3AX
Newcastle, The Cluny
Sunday 13th December 2015
Box Office: 0191 230 4474
Tickets: £13.00
www.thecluny.com
36 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2PQ
Morecambe, The Platform
Monday 14th December 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222
Tickets: £13.00
www.lancaster.gov.uk/platform/
Old Station Buildings, Marine Rd W, Morecambe LA4 4DB
Leeds, The Brudenell
Tuesday 15th December 2015
Box Office: 0113 245 5570
Tickets: £13.00
www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk
33 Queens Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 1NY
Bristol, The Tunnels
Wednesday 16th December 2015
Box Office: 0845 6050255
Tickets: £12.00
www.thetunnelsbristol.co.uk
Arches 31 & 32, Bristol & Exeter Mews, Lower Station Approach Road,
Temple Meads, Bristol, BS1 6QF
Derby, The Flowerpot
Thursday 17th December 2015
Box Office: 01332 834438
Tickets: £13.00
www.rawpromo.co.uk
25, King Street, Derby, DE1 3DZ
Chantel McGregor – Biography
The Blues came calling first, but rock and roll was always waiting around the corner. When Chantel was eight years old, she was the
youngest person in the UK to pass a Rock school exam. At 12, she was jamming in her native Bradford and evolving into a gifted
musician.
A female guitar prodigy, at fourteen Chantel was told by major labels that she had a "great voice, but girls don't play guitar like
that!" Wisely ignoring the comments, she enrolled at the Leeds College of Music and became the first student in the college’s
history, to achieve a 100% pass mark, with 18 distinctions. Chantel left with a First Class Honours degree in Popular Music and a
coveted prize, for outstanding musicianship.
In previous years, Chantel stepped out in the pro-musician world and her stunning live performances demonstrated that she had
the ability to perform rock blues for the new age, played by a musician born with an effortless virtuosity. Since then, she has built a
loyal and growing fan base who follow her every move.
When Chantel released her 2011 debut album, Like No Other, one critic said, “Chantel McGregor deserves to be held up as a
messiah of blues-rock and given her own mountain. She doesn't strum or pick her guitar but almost bends and distorts it, as if she's
channelling the ghost of Hendrix through her fingers"
When asked about performing on stage, Chantel said; “Playing live to great audiences is one of the most wonderful feelings, I feel
lucky to be able to do something that I love, see the world and bring happiness to others through my music."
If you measure an artist’s prospects by the company they keep, then Chantel has been moving in the right direction. Early in her
career, Chantel was invited to perform with Joe Bonamassa, on two of his UK tours.
In 2011, Chantel's debut album, Like No Other, was produced by Livingstone Brown, whose production credits include Ed Sheeran,
Robin Trower, Tina Turner, and Shakira. The end result was a beautifully crafted debut album that showcased Chantel’s versatility
and talent as a singer-songwriter.
On song writing, Chantel says, “I really enjoy creating my own songs, it's a fantastic way of being able to say what I wouldn’t
normally say in everyday life and getting my feelings out, writing for me is very therapeutic"
In 2014, Chantel was voted by the British Blues Awards as Guitarist of the Year for the second consecutive year. Winning five
awards in the last three years (including Young Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year) in competition with highly
regarded peers, is something to be extremely proud of. It was a refreshing change and a justifiable first in the history of the British
Blues Awards that a female artist had been voted Guitarist of the Year.
Chantel was recently nominated again in the Guitarist of the Year category in 2015‘s British Blues Awards. Chantel’s second album,
Lose Control, will be released on Friday October 9, 2015.
www.chantelmcgregor.com
www.facebook.com/chantelmcgregor.co.uk
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For interview opportunities and album review copies, please contact:
Peter Noble at Noble PR Consultancy
Tel: 0207 272 7772, peter@noblepr.co.uk