Daryl Markham - The Official Blog

ALBUM RELEASED TODAY!!!!

2010-12-13T08:32:00.004Z

Well today is the day and i cannot believe it!!!!
My DEbut Album TRIBUTE is out and available to buy on cd and also download. What a year it has been and i have learnt so much from so many talented people.
Learning to write songs and put music together has really made an impct on me and now i ask myself why didn't i do it years ago but i guess there is a time and place for everything.
There are 14 songs n the album and i have tried to vary the songs with a different feel to each and every one of them.
Also i can't believe that my Christmas song went to Number 1 in the pre-order chart which was mindblowing andreally made my year as we worked so hard on it. Hopefully we can raise a load of money for BBC CHILDREN IN NEED this year and make christmas a bit more special for children who really need our help.
I really must say a massive thank you to everyone who has helped me put this album together andespecially to Ron Keeley who is such a talented guy who has been responsible for my website and so many things that have made it possible to get my music out around the world.
To my wonderful family who have given me so much support and love i hope i have done you proud!!
I would like to give the biggest thank you to all of you out there who have taken your time to visit my website and listen to my songs and also for your support and king words. They have always lifted me especially when times have been tough and i know it is a cliche but it really does mean everything to me as everyone likes to know when they are being thought of.
I hope that there is something on the album for each and every one of you and i hope you enjoy it as much as i have enjoyed making it.
The future is hopefully bright!!!
Thank you all so much once again
Lots of Love
Daryl
x

Tell me....Why Can't it be Christmas all the Time...?

2010-11-12T01:15:00.005Z

Hi Everybody,

Wow!!! What a few weeks it has been!!! Firstly signing a Worldwide Publishing Deal as a Songwriter the also a worldwide recording deal to distribute my music anywhere on the globe and then shooting an amazing fun video for my Christmas Song "WHY CAN'T IT BE CHRISTMAS ALL THE TIME", which was followed up by more fantastic news which is that it has been granted an Official license by the BBC to use it as a Christmas song for their charity......truly fantastic news as it means that the money raised will go to a great cause!!

The single will be available to download on all Legal download sites around the world from December 6th and I hope it will become a huge hit and raise loads of money for charity!!!

Also more exciting news is that my Debut Album will also be released worldwide from December 13th also available to download via all Legal download sites around the world along with the booklet or on CD format from here on the website with a Limited Edition personally signed copy and message with it.

I have written the majority of the songs on the album myself and there are some very personal tracks on it which have been written from personal experiences that I have had during my life and also aspirations that I hold for the future.

The album will be called "TRIBUTE" and I think the name speaks for itself but I would also like to add that it is also a tribute to all of you who have supported me and sent kind words of encouragement it has been such a huge help and I would like to thank you all so much for every single kind word.
Lots of Love to you all
Daryl
Xxxx

EX X FACTOR FOR XMAS NUMBER 1

2010-10-08T08:03:00.002+01:00

Hi Everybody
Sorry it’s been a while and thank you as always for all of your support. I have had such an amazing past month which started when I got some major financial backing for my album.

I was told that I should write more of my own songs as the ones I had written stood out so much from the other songs that I had recorded which really gave me a lot of inspiration and allowed me to go and record more original material than I had first thought I would be able to.

I have now been able to record 10 of my own songs and hope that they will all make it onto the album now.

Also I was invited to Wembley Stadium by probably the most powerful man in world music to meet record executives and also watch the amazing MUSE.

I was able to give demos of the cd to record company executives and had fantastic feedback from them after they had listened to my songs and was emailed and called personally by them and now the wheels are truly in motion and the cd will definitely be out very, very soon now.

One of the tracks I have written is a Christmas song and I have been overwhelmed by the amazing feedback it has had by everyone who has heard it so far including national radio stations and record companies and from people all over the world.

I have now set up a Facebook page called EX X Factor For Xmas Number 1 and would really like all of your support for this campaign as I have VERY HIGH HOPES for this song and truly believe that it has the potential to be a classic for years to come. It will be released in December and I really believe that it can be a hit all over the world as I have had feedback from people in so many countries. There is a small clip of the song on the page as unfortunately I am not being allowed to put the whole version up on the internet just yet as it could be downloaded illegally.

Also there will be a video for the song called Why Can’t It Be Christmas All The Time which will be posted on youtube in due course.

I am really hopeful that ALL OF YOU will join the facebook page and hopefully help create our own piece of history and make this song a huge hit as there hasn’t been a great feel good Christmas song for such a long time now and it really is due and mine really has a great MOTOWN feel to it and is a great song to sing along and dance to.

I will have more news very soon and hopefully a date for the album release.
Will keep you all updated
Take care all of you
Daryl
xxxxx

2010-08-20T08:27:00.003+01:00

Hi People!!!!
Hope you are all well
Just a quick note to let you know that i have been in the studio all week recording my xmas song and i am really really happy with it so far and can't wait to take on the xmas charts with it this year!!!
The album is nearing completion now and just has a couple of new tracks to be put on as i have been told to concentrate on writing my own songs and not putting lots of covers on as is the norm with new artists so i will bow to their better knowledge and get a move on with recording these last few songs but i promiose you it won't be long!!!!
Also you can hear me sing live tonight online at www.seahavenfm.com between 10-12pm UK TIME
I hope you can tune in and hope you enjoy the songs i have chosen to sing. There will be absolutely NO MIMING!!!!
Thank You for all of your constant support
DARYL
XXXXX

2010-08-13T12:33:00.003+01:00

Hi Everybody!!!
I'd just like you to know that the album is almost there now and we have just had all the artwork back and are now just putting the jigsaw together so hopefully it won't take very long.
I'm so excited as I have had such great feedback from people in the industry about the songs and hopefully you all will think the same when you hear them.
In the meantime I am on the radio tonight and you can listen to my interview live online from 10pm-12 tonight from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!! and as its Friday 13th I am hoping that it all goes ok without any hitches.
The only place you can hear this is on The Matt and Dave show on www.seahavenfm.com and click on the listen now link at the top of the page.
I really hope that as many of you as possible can tune in and ask any questions etc you want as I promise I will be as truthful and honest as possible. I will be playing some of the songs that will be appearing on the forthcoming album and look forward to answering any of your questions.
Wish me luck!!!!
Take care all of you
Daryl

Album Imminent and meeting Peter Green

2010-07-22T13:32:00.006+01:00

Hi Everybody
Sorry its been a while since i last updated you but i can now say that the album is only a few weeks away and all the tracks have been finished and just need to be mastered now which is very exciting yet also very very frightening. It seems like a lifetime ago now that i first started this adventure yet it is still only about 10 months.
There have been many highs and lows in that time and even a few squabbles as well (but only in a creative sense)and for my part i would like to apologise for sometimes being a DIVA i was just trying so hard to get it right!!
One highlight recently was meeting the LEGEND that is Peter Green from the original FLEETWOOD MAC with my good friend and amazing guitarist Jon Lodge. We played him a track of his that we had covered and he loved it and gave us his blessing which was a complete honour, Jon was blown away as he was meeting his idol and in his words "The Greatest Blues Performer Ever To Come Out Of The UK" listening to Peter talk about the old days jamming with people like Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana and Jimi Hendrix was just fantastic and it was just a pleasure to sit and listen to him reminisce.
With the songs on the album i have tried to incorporate something for everybody so there are some ballads, some uplifting songs, a bit of blues,soul,fun,laughter and tears. It has also been great to write some of my own songs and sing them and also getting great feedback from professional musicians and i have also now been offered a worldwide publishing deal with a very successful publishing company which will look after my interests globally , i am so excited about this and was very pleased when i was offered the deal straight away after they had listened to my songs.
It has been a very emotional journey and has really helped me grow into the music and also given me a lot of strength and hopefully some self belief in what i am hoping and want to achieve, and i have also met some truly amazing talented people who have taught me so much about the business.
We are just working on a title for the album now and have narrowed it down to just a few and i hope it doesn't come down to a toss of a coin as to which one we'll choose but it will be something that best describes what the songs say about me and how the whole experience has been so far.
I will be back very soon with concrete release dates for both Cd and downloads.
Thank you all so much for your continued support and love it is truly an honour to have made so many new friends and i consider myself a very lucky guy.
Take Care Everyone
Love Daryl
x

Happy Birthday Gary

2010-05-24T10:32:00.003+01:00

Hi Everybody
Today my brother would have been celebrating his birthday and as he is in another place now the only gift i can give him is this song that i have written for him in his memory. I hope he likes it. God Bless You Gary you are always in our thoughts and we love you so so much.
I hope you all like the song
Love You Bruv
Daryl

Click Here to Listen

Countdown Is Commencing

2010-03-18T18:31:00.003Z

Hi Everybody
Firstly i would like to thank everybody for their constant support and lovely messages, i am truly honoured to have such nice things said about me and i will never tire of reading them over and over again. Since i last updated you all on what has been happening i have been in the studio working on songs for my album which i hope to release in the very near future. I have been in talks with various management and record/cd producers and am now very comfortable with the way things are panning out. The album details will be announced on this site very soon and i would welcome all opinions on songs etc that you would like to hear for the future as i want to make the recording process in the future a more collective process taking into consideration what people like to hear and not just what i want to put out. So many times musicians try things that are different from previous work that people have bought and loved to listen to and although change is a natural progression i will not want to be moving to far away from what i am being told by all of you that you would like to listen to. Please feel free to email the site with any links etc you have to songs that you like and i will take on board all of your suggestions and then hopefully come up with songs that will be enjoyed by everyone as you will all have a part to play in the process. I will continue to write songs that mean so much to me but i really want to take on board ideas from all of you.
Also i am over the moon that my song Get Ready To Roar has had national radio airplay!!!! It is very different in style to the other songs that i have written and i am hoping that with it i can show versatility and that i have a fun loving side to me as well!! It is a real feel good song and i hope that people will be singing it while they cheer on England in the World Cup this summer!!!! Its a song for the whole nation to get behind!!!!
It will hopefully be put before the public soon on Talksport for people to vote for as the anthem that they choose and then will be used by the Station as its signature anthem also for their coverage of the event!!
Thank you all once again for your constant support and i will be updating you VERY SOON as to when the album will be available to pre-order and buy.
Take care of yourselves and please don/t forget to send any links or suggestions
Lots Of Love
Daryl
xxxxx

Happy New Year to you All

2010-01-15T16:44:00.001Z

Hi Everybody
Sorry its been a while since my last update (it won't happen again!!!)
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all and I hope this year brings you all good luck and prosperity in everything you do.
I would also like to thank all the Portuguese speaking people who have viewed my youtube audition giving it over 10 times more hits than any of the other X Factor Auditionees!! 220,000 and counting
I have been writing a lot more songs recently as the snow has stopped me from going out a lot. These include some more Up Tempo tunes as well.
I will be going into the studio again next week to start creating the se with the amazing Simon from Loophole Studios in Brighton "Thank you so much for what you have done already Simon and I look forward to what we will be creating this year!!!!"
I really would like to say a massive thank you to all the lovely comments I get from everybody too!! I know I've said it before but I really can't explain to you all what if feels like to get such lovely comments of support and encouragement from you all, I promise I will always do my best and try my hardest to make great songs and get them out to you first before anyone else.
I would also like to say a huge thank you to Ron my web designer for making such a great website and constantly keeping everything running smoothly, especially as he is constantly having to increase the bandwidth for the site due to so many people visiting it and listening to the song clips, watching videos etc.
I will hopefully have some more songs up on the player in the very near future and am very confident that major things will be happening in the next month or so, so please keep visiting the site for updates and please SPREAD THE WORD!!!!!
Take care of yourselves Each And Everyone Of You
Love
Daryl
xxxxx

VIDEOS AND PHOTOSHOOTS

2009-12-08T05:57:00.002Z

Hi Everyone
Firstly a massive thank you to everybody!!! and for all the kind emails that you are sending me!!!
I am getting emails from all corners of the globe now and therefore we are going to get the website put in different languages so that everybody can read it easier!!
Since my last update i have been recording in the studio and have finished another couple of tracks that will soon be put up on the site for you all to have a quick listen to and i would appreciate any feedback (kind preferably but also if there are things that you don't like please feel free to say!!)
I have also been lucky enough to do a videoshoot for 2 songs and i am hopeful that these will also be able to be seen on here very soon aswell. It was a very cold day and the wind was very strong but it set the perfect mood for one of the songs and although i loved doing it, it was a welcome relief to shoot the second video inside in a theatre.
My world cup song has been handed out to some very influential people and i should hear back soon with hopefully some good news but rest assure it will definitely be out next year come world cup time!!!! That is for sure!!!!
I hope you are all doing well and looking forward to Christmas and i'll keep you all updated on how things are progressing in the next week !!!
Take Care
Daryl
x

2009-11-24T00:02:00.003Z

Hi Everyone
Sorry its been a while since i last updated you on whats been happening.
Its been a mad few weeks with trips up to London seeing various people but i think that very soon things will start to happen and that i will have some positive news for you all soon.
I have had some meetings with some very important people in the business and thats all i can say at the moment but they liked me and liked what i wanted to achieve and we both shared the same ideas of what to do next.
Also the football song seems to be gathering momentum now and i hope that very soon i can also give you some news on what will be happening with it.
I have also managed to fit in some valuable studio time aswell and have recorded another couple of songs that i hope to get up on the site within the next week for you to have a listen to and hopefully give some feedback on as it is really down to you to let me know wether or not you approve.
I have had a lot of positive feedback for the songs so far and am hopeful that i will get more when the are put out for you all to listen to.
I am also hoping to shoot my first video in the next week or so and will see if i am able to put it up on the site!!!!
I hope to give you all some good news very soon and apologise sincerely for being so vague in this update but i don't want to tempt fate just yet.
I'll be letting you all know as soon as i find out anything
Take Care
Daryl
x

2009-11-06T17:45:00.002Z

I was delighted to receive a letter of thanks this week from The Father Ray Foundation in Thailand thanking me for helping them with a donation of toys and gifts that I sent them recently.
Thanks are not needed really as this is a very worthy cause that helps Orphaned children and also children whose lives have been ruined by Aids etc.
The staff there work tirelessly for the benefit of these children and the effect it has on the children can clearly be seen.
I am hoping to travel to Thailand next year to perform at a charity concert in January raising money for Children and Families affected by Aids and am at the moment awaiting confirmation on this.
Also the song that I have written for next year's World Cup is gathering momentum now and has been sent to some very influential people so we'll wait and see the outcome and of course you will all be informed FIRST!!!

2009-10-31T16:39:00.000Z

2009-10-31T14:25:00.003Z

Hello Everyone
I would first like to say a massive thank you to everyone that turned up at The Bridge Newhaven on Thursday night to the Cancer Awareness Fundraiser. I really enjoyed myself and it was a pleasure to be there, i met so many lovely people and would like to give the BIGGEST SHOUT OUT to Sue who is a very brave young woman and has the most fantastic friends who all did a great job in her name, and also another big shout to lovely little Maddison who was very brave in having her pony tail cut off!! WELL DONE!!
I never get tired of doing anything that can raise money and awareness of the horrible word that is CANCER and hope one day that the world will be rid of this dreadful disease. Be Strong Sue!!!! you have the most amazing family and friends and i have no doubt in my mind that you will come through and BEAT IT!!!
As i said if there's anything you ever want me to do please don't hesitate to ask!!
I was also invited by the lovely Carole Stear from Seahaven FM to the opening night of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at The White Rock Theatre in Hastings where i ws invited backstage to meet Joseph Played by Craig Chalmers who was a finalist in the BBC show Any Dream Will Do, he was a really nice guy and had time for everyone that came backstage to see him.
I have sent a letter to Victoria Wing the marketing manager of The FA regarding my song and hopefully will hear back from her early next week.
I'll keep everyone informed with how things go as soon as i hear anything but for now its back to the studio for more recording
Take Care
Daryl
x

2009-10-22T13:02:00.002+01:00

Hello you lot
Just thought I'd keep you updated on what's been happening lately.
I'm So EXCITED!!!!!
I have been in the studio over the past few weeks recording songs and trying to get all of my ideas out of my head.
I have an amazing producer called Simon who runs Loophole Studios in Brighton and without him I feel they would never have come to fruition.
I have believe it or not also thrown my hat into the ring for the World Cup song for England next year and have now managed to finish the song completely and put it on disc. I have copyrighted the song lyrics, chord structure, sheet music etc and have now sent the finished piece personally to some very very influential people in the music industry as well as major record labels.
I guess I will have to wait and see what comes of it but I have very high hopes for this song as I have had nothing but great feedback from every single person I have played it to, this ranging from 6yr old children, policeman local councilors right up to grandmothers who say that they can't get the tune out of their heads. It's not the kind of music that I would normally associate myself with and it all started about 6 months ago while I was cutting out wood for the furniture I made listening to the radio, they were saying who they thought would make the next Official song for the world cup and were throwing ideas around at each other.
I thought to myself I can do that and started playing around with melodies in my head. I went into the studio with just some lyrics on a tatty piece of paper and a tune in my head and although I am slightly bias I think the end result is incredible and can honestly hear people singing it already in my head.
It would be a dream to have it as the Official tune for England and am hoping that people will see that I can be versatile in my songwriting and the range of music that influences me.
I hope that soon I will be able to share it with you all, for now it's back in the studio with my other songs that don't involve football at all, I will keep you all updated on the progress of the footy tune and everything else I am doing and would just like to say once again how privileged I feel to have all your support
Thanks once again
Daryl
X

Letter from Gordon Brown...!

2009-10-16T09:35:00.002+01:00

Hi Everyone Again!!!

I had to tell you all this as it completely took my breath away.

This morning I received a very personal letter from none other than Gordon Brown, the PRIME MINISTER OF GREAT BRITAIN!!!!!

I am truly honoured to receive this from our country's leader as I am sure he is a very busy man.

I had to look twice when the letter dropped as it had Prime Minister on the envelope and Downing Street on the back. But when I opened it I was delighted to see that it was really true.

I sat and thought for a while afterwards and I tell you what "it's one of those once in a lifetime experiences to receive this!!!"

I still can't get my head around all of the wonderful comments that I receive everyday and also unbelievable things that seem to keep happening to me all the time.

I hope that there will be many more surprises around the corner very soon.
Love as always
Daryl
x

Merchandise coming soon!

2009-10-16T09:17:00.002+01:00

Hi All
Hope you are all well.
I am delighted to announce that in the very near future there will be merchandise available on the site and that my art department have done an amazing job of producing some very High Quality detailed pictures of everything that will be available, including T Shirts, Polo Shirts, Baseball Caps, Posters, Pictures, Keyrings and more!

As always I can't thank everyone enough for all your support and will always welcome any ideas of merchandise you would like to see and I will do whatever I can to make it possible.

Furthermore I am also delighted to say that charities that are very close to my heart will benefit with a percentage of every single item that is sold on this site going towards helping people very less fortunate than myself. These being MacMillan who do such an amazing job helping sufferers of that awful word that is Cancer and also The Father Ray Foundation which helps orphaned and disabled children some formally living in appalling conditions in Thailand. I hope together no matter how small we can make a difference in all these peoples lives for the better.
Take Care Everyone.

Lots of love,
Daryl

Studio work...

2009-10-06T12:43:00.005+01:00

Hey Guys...
I hope you are all ok and once again firstly, I'd like to say a massive thank you (even bigger than the last thank you!!!) to everyone who is supporting me and sending kind messages, they really do keep me upbeat about everything that I'm doing.

I've recently been spending a fair bit of time in the studio recording songs that I am hoping will soon be up for you to have a sneaky listen to on the site. The one track I've been asked to record more than any other is obviously "I Don't Want To Talk About It" as that's the one I auditioned with on X Factor. So many people from all over the world have emailed me asking "what was that song you sang?" so I am happy to oblige and there is now a studio version that I'm going to try and get on the site asap!!

I've also been recording another song which is something very special and probably not at all what people would expect me to sing!! It's something I started writing about 6 months ago while I was working at my workshop, I use to spend a lot of time thinking while I was making my furniture.

It's very upbeat and I am hoping it will be a big hit as the people who have heard it say it's unbelievably catchy and can't get the damn thing out of their heads, which is a good sign....right?

I am also in the process of writing songs, which at first I never thought I could do but when I sit back and think of things that have happened to me and those around me, seems surprisingly easier than I thought.

I am going to try and keep everyone updated at least once a week so you don't think that the site is stale and, after all, I owe it to all of you as without you none of this would be happening to me.

Off to the studio tomorrow and Thursday so will keep you updated at the end of the week...hopefully!

Take care everyone.
Lots of Love,
Daryl

X Factor hopeful Daryl's dream dashed - he chats to GMTV

2009-09-28T15:01:00.004+01:00

Daryl Markham Website Launched!

2009-09-22T08:53:00.000+01:00

Daryl Markham's official website now launched www.darylmarkham.org