Some examples of my work

[Alastair Millen]

Hello all,

I have been on this site a while and it is about time that I shared some examples of my work, which have been used by the French post-grunge Power Trio OtO. The following three songs I co-wrote the lyrics with Patcho the bassist & lead vocalist from the band, which were written and expanded into the finished songs with the lyrics being emailed to and fro until we were both happy with the end result of the lyrics. Then the music was composed by the band, with a few more tweaks to the lyrics to make them fit the music used better. I was not a part of the musical composition of these songs, as with over 400 miles between us, not really something that was possible, as I can't afford to jet off to northern France to join in with these sessions. As much as I would have loved to have been able to, not just to be a part of the musical process, but also to meet the band and enjoy the stunning scenery that surrounds them.

OtO are working towards an album with the intent of it being released later this year and have another finished song titled 'Everything Must End (Even Bad)' which Patcho and I worked on together, as well as other lyrics composed by us awaiting music to go with them. These I am looking forward to hearing as finished living breathing songs. I am not sure at the moment how many songs on the planned album will use lyrics that I have worked on, as they are still working on composing the songs for it and the songs need the right feel to jell together to make the album complete.

The first song is titled 'As If..' and this video was captured during a gig on the 23rd of March at Chez Paulette Pub Rock
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2830701130168

The second song is titled 'Trapped' and was also captured at the same gig
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2841439558622

(The video and sound quality isn't the best as it was recorded on a small camera by someone at the gig and given to the band for them to use.)

The third song is titled 'The Bracelet' and is a special recording of the song and doesn't have a video to accompany it
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150180283787062...

These songs are hosted on Patcho's musician's page on facebook, and you do not need to have a facebook account to listen to them all you have to is click the links to (hopefully) enjoy them.

Here is a direct link to his page there: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patcho/112244592061

Here is OtO's MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/otoroots

Here is OtO's first EP on spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/6LHHOvDYP5FEAEhIDeR8h7 (Written and released before I started writing lyrics with them.)

If you have any questions about these songs and my writing process feel free to ask and I'll be more than happy to answer them.

I have also written a set of lyrics for Guy Stoker, and he has been working on composing the music for this piece which is entitled 'The Colour Purple.' This I have heard the 'fist draft' of the song, I think it sounds cool, but I might be slightly biased here and I am looking forward to hearing the final version, which I am sure will appear here when it is finished.

All the best

Alastair