April 16th

Thank you Ireland!!

Hey people,

We returned from Ireland late on Monday night after a fantastic weekend. Thanks so much to everyone who came down to the Dublin and Belfast shows, we were truly blown away by the response. Can't wait to come over again for some more dates. Sorry we didn't play the new stuff but we'll sort out the technical nightmare as soon as we can for next time round!!

Man, our hotel was surreal. It was the Irish TV Awards on Saturday or something and the casts of Hollyoaks, Coronation St, Eastenders etc were all staying in the same hotel as us. Me and Doc shared a moment in a lift with Jack and Vera. It was a truly special experience which will stay with me forever.

Then we got very drunk.

In summary: it was a top weekend. Thanks to all the friendly guys that spoke to us and the glow stick gang of Belfast. Also, to one girl who came all the way from New York to see us- much love to you.

Anyway, there'll be a new Video Diary coming soon! I think I could be the next Stanley Kubrick. No, really.

Keep calm and carry on.

James xx

April 3rd

Goldfrapp April date,Video Diary #3

Hey there,

Sorry for the silence, I’ve been a busy boy of late making loads of progress on my second album.

I’ve just found out that I’m going to be supporting Goldfrapp at the Royal Festival Hall a week on Friday (the 18th), do come along if you can get a ticket!!!

I’m also good to let you know that I’ve now completed 8 new tracks and am well on my way to finishing the follow up to ‘We Can Create’. In addition to the world premiere – sounds a bit pretentious I know – of ‘Paper Cuts’ on here, I’ve recently added a new track via my video diary 3 for your listening pleasure. It’s called ‘Love Will Come’. I’d describe it as a bit mad and psychedelic. I’ve been listening to quite a bit of techno and it seems to have rubbed off on me. I’m really pleased with how it turned out and hope you like it too.

As well as the Goldfrapp show, it’s really exciting that our Irish dates are getting closer – me and the band are especially pleased that we’re going to be playing in Ireland this month, as we tried and tried to fit Ireland into our tour dates last year but it didn’t manage to happen unfortunately. We’ve never played in either Dublin or Belfast before, so do see below for the details and look forward to meeting our Irish Maps fans for the first time next week! We’re going to try and mark the occasion by playing some new material out for the first time in Ireland as well – woo!!

You’ve probably heard about the collaboration between me and M83 by now, a remix single is out this week on the venerable Sonic Cathedral, as a limited edition 7”. I was honoured to remix M83’s ‘We Own The Sky’ and in return Anthony remixed ‘To The Sky’ – nice theme there! I’m also djing for Sonic Cathedral at the end of the month, more details at the bottom of this message.

Maps dates for your diary:

April
12th Dublin Bud Rising@ The Button Factory (formerly the Temple Bar Music Centre)

13th Belfast Spring and Airbrake

18th London Royal Festival Hall (supporting Goldfrapp)

30th London The Social (Airiel + Autumn Chorus + Ulrich Schnauss DJ set + Maps DJ set)

Cheers,

James Xx

PS – you can also watch these awesome clips that various talented people have made in response to my music. As you’ll see these are excellent pieces of film making and animation - thanks very much guys for doing this, I’m really touched:

Joe Brenner’s ‘To The Sky’

Cory Godbey's 'Liquid Sugar'

March 18th

Ireland dates

We're going to be playing 2 one-off gigs (should that be two-offs?) in Ireland very soon which we're all excited about. On the 12th April we're at the Bud Rising Festival in Dublin and on the 13th at The Spring & Airbrake in Belfast. This will be our first time in Ireland and we're hoping to try out one of the new songs we've been working on. Hope to see some of you there!

Pip x

March 18th

N.I.K.A this Thursday!!

Hey friends,

Just a reminder that myself and Pip will be DJing at The Ginglik in Shepherds Bush this Thursday 20th. Should be a great night. I've just finished a new track and I'm thinking of playing a few 'world exclusives' on the decks (man, that sounded really pretentious!). Hope you can make it down- it's always a brilliant, packed night with a great vibe. I'm gonna be playing some electro, minimal, techno, hip-hop and whatever sounds good to send the right signals to the brain.

AND it's bank holiday the next day!! Absolutely no excuses for absences I'm afraid.

See you there and come and say hello!

James xx

March 6th

7" SINGLE RELEASED APRIL 7th!!

Hey people,

On April 7th we're releasing a split 7" single with M83. M83 have remixed Maps' 'To the Sky' and I remixed their song 'We Own The Sky'. It's gonna be available on Sonic Cathedral Records (see the link down below if you wanna pre-order your copy). Hope you like it!

www.soniccathedral.co.uk/shop.html

On a much sadder note, it seems that the sculpture that was to be built in Northampton (which was to have Maps lyrics in braille on it, and was to be the 2nd tallest sculpture in the U.K.) has been the victim of 'public outrage' and is not being allowed to be built. I'm so sad and fucking angry! What is the problem with having something slightly artistically credible and forward-looking tied into the culture of Northampton? I really don't understand it at all. They'll probably replace it with a sculpture of a big shoe or something equally un-interesting and un-artistic! Sorry to rant but I know how much time and effort was put into this project by the artist and to have it stopped by a few people who have nothing better to do with their time than write angry letters to local newspapers is tragic.

Ho-hum.

I hope you're o.k. anyway. Speak to you soon- keep an eye out for the next video installment coming your way soon!

James xx

February 25th

So....

....strange things are happening right now. I'm in the middle of writing one of the most euphoric songs I've ever written but feeling pretty low (don't ask). It's a weird feeling but I am really excited about this song. It sounds like De La Soul. In a way. I've been listening to quite a bit of hip-hop lately, that new Lupe Fiasco record is good methinks. And MGMT- who are fucking incredible (but, er, not hip-hop). Check them out if you can. We started working on one of the new songs in practice the other day which was a great feeling- can't wait to play these new ones when we hit the road again. Can't think of anything else to write right now. But I'll be back soon.

I hope you're o.k. Speak soon.

James xx

February 22nd

Video Diary #2

February 22nd

DJing at NIKA, March 20th

Hey there,

I'm gonna be DJing with Pip in Shepherd's Bush at the night 'Not In Kansas Anymore' on March 20th. It's at The Ginglik, I've been down before and it's a superb night out- 3 great bands are playing (see below). Come on down if you can!

James xx

February 15th

Astoria show - Thanks!!

Just wanted to say a huge thanks to anyone who managed to make it down to the show on Tuesday. We had a great time and were really pleased by the crowd response! Cheers to Mr Hawley for having us as well- his set was ace. It's our last gig for a while but we shall return with new material in a few months!

Thanks again and keep happy.

James xx

February 5th

What's going on....

So I'm busy writing at the moment- got 3 tracks I'm pleased with so far which is cool. I'm in the middle of the 4th one right now and I'm really vibing off it. Think it's gonna be a euphoric one (relating to a girl and the workings of the mind. No doubt the next song will be a depressing break up ballad)- I'm gonna lay down some vocals this afternoon so I'll see where that takes it....

Hey check these guys out. www.maps.org. Really interesting stuff. Makes a lot of sense to me. They sent me a free t-shirt so I love em!

Really looking forward to the show next Tuesday- hope you can come down, come and say hi if you do! It's gonna be our only show for a while, probably til the Summer. Gonna be working on the new songs to play live between now and then.

Saw No Country For Old Men the other day. It's awesome. But bleak. I think it could be one of my favourite Coens' movies. Not a lot of talking but that's a good thing I reckon.

Hope you liked the first video diary! There'll be another one coming your way real soon. Might get my hair cut first though.

Hope you're doing o.k. Keep calm and carry on.

James xx