Tim De Graaw – PRESHOW RITUALS [Music Video PREMIERE for “Ivory”]

This is a special preshow rituals segment. Why? Because not only do you get to find out what Tim De Graaw does before taking the stage, but it’s also the premiere of his music video for his song, Ivory. You can check out the feature and the music video premiere, after the break.

Me and pre-show nerves have never got on, so I have various rituals to help me get through. Here are a few examples!

Doing Stuff:
I wouldn’t recommend it but I do like to turn up last minute before a set. I really hate hanging around backstage so it’s good way for me to overcome my nerves and switch off before I get on stage. I was playing a gig in Camden and before my show, I went to a bookstore to scout out some of my favorite poetry to hang with my friends Dylan and Bukowski. I just skimmed through some poems then walked back two minutes before playing and I felt super present. It was cool get-away before playing and it got my mind of the idea that I was performing that night. I sometimes take playing live too seriously, and when I think like that on stage the crowd will just tighten up. This is why I never like to scout the audience before I play, it always makes me feel like I’m on some reality pop show!

Another ritual I have is to work on my new songs backstage, it’s like deep meditation, I’m always hunting for words, I’m a true rhyme junky. I also enjoy writing stupid drawings and doodles on a beer receipts or sketch the green room. Staying productive with anything creative keeps me on my toes and gets me ready to play.

Meditating & Vocal Warm Ups:
Sometimes you play the serious shows, the ones where someone whispers ‘tonight is a big deal go, kill it’. If I’m nervous, I sit backstage, close my eyes and just breathe, it doesn’t sound like rock ’n roll but in 2017 I guess it is. Back when I was living in Boston, one of my music vocal teachers taught me about meditating whilst doing vocal warm-ups. The whole idea is to be aware of your physical self while running scales, making sure you forget about when you last did your laundry. To be honest, this takes years to master until I have my personal backstage yoga suite, but hey, I ain’t in the charts just yet. However, the vocal warm ups, keep my voice in shape and I am lucky to have been told to take care of my voice from an early age.

Just Have A Drink:
I performed a show last year where I had some friends and fellow musicians come out to watch my band! It was a nervous experience, cause I didn’t feel prepared and my band had only rehearsed a week pre-show. I’m a perfectionist and when it comes down to the performance, it needs to sit tight in the pocket. It was one of those weird days and we weren’t feeling the vibe that night. Our band had the worst sound engineer, who must have arrived from planet Tatooine from a galaxy, I’m guessing too far from the stage cause we only got about fifteen minutes of soundcheck for a five-piece, it just didn’t make much sense. On top of that, there was negative energy lurking in-between the band. It all got too much for me so I just said to myself ‘screw it’, who cares about tonight, a gig is a gig. Sometimes you just have to let it go and stop caring. I went to the bar ordered a couple of doubles on the rocks and downed them before the show. Ironically that was one of the best shows I had. I’m not trying to promote drinking but it definitely got the musical engine flowing. P.S. I never saw the video footage of that night (I don’t wanna be disappointed)!

Life Is A Ritual:
The truth is, you can never predict whether the show is gonna run smooth. I’m not gonna predetermine some angelic god has to fall from the sky during my set, to make everyone in the crowd feel the mojo! My ritual is preparation, practice, and mindfulness, and always being present. Right now I’m tuning my guitar, I got one minute before I’m playing….the gig will end soon and tomorrow there will be another, or maybe the death star will shoot me down before playing the 02. Who knows? Anything is possible. At the end of the day, life is one big pre-show ritual.

Here’s more info about Tim De Graaw:
After cutting his teeth in the LA music scene, singer/songwriter Tim De Graaw returns to London and announces his debut EP and opening track taken from it. Recorded at Westpoint Studios (UK) and mixed at the legendary Muscle Shoals (USA), ‘Ivory’ is the first track taken from the EP ‘Three Black Roses’ out March 1st 2017, and on pre-order now.

This one man musical powerhouse has drawn comparisons with John Mayer and The Black Keys due to his knack of blending beautifully constructed vocal melodies with blues-tinged guitar licks. Describing his sound he says: “I wanted to combine my guitar blues influence with my own songwriting style. With lyrics that are truthful, honest and poetic about my fight with depression, struggles in music, and the pitfalls of love”.

‘Ivory’ showcases Tim’s trademark poetic vocals and emotive guitar style all wrapped up in rock solid production from Antwerp based producer Jamie Evans (Reigning Days, Wildwood Kin) who has also recently worked at both Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals and Arlen Studios, Austin. Jamie adds: “The energy and feel he puts into his music is undeniable. His new material is a sure indication that his music is destined to fill the hole in many a record collection.”

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa (half Dutch and raised in the UK), there is definitely an international flavour to Tim’s music. After making his mark on the LA music scene in recent years, Tim now resides back in his spiritual and musical home in London. It was that period in LA where he cut his teeth both as a session guitarist and songwriter, finding major sync success with several TV placements on the hit comedy show Modern Family. Tim has previously co- written with upcoming artists and songwriters such Sarah Walk (Still Frames), Adam Friedman, Charlie Puth, Yori Swart, Pam Sheyne and Rich Jacques. Describing writing on his travels, Tim says: “I am always writing with an honest intention, wherever I go, to capture the moment and time I’m in. It reminds me of who I am and keeps me grounded”.

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