Co-write on Mason single
/05.08.10

Hi Folks,
I've hung up the vocal chords for a while, to concentrate on a spot of svengaliism (no such word, shame)!
Or to be more accurate, a little dip into the never still waters of co-writing/writing for younger people than myself/
writing for new genres- from out and out Pop with a capital P to progressive house with a capital E.

It's fun and keeps me from going through the neighbours bins.

So....the time has come to announce my new songwriting moniker - Chøppersaurus.
Basically, my good buddy Nick and myself ... oh and some of the best singers around the south coast...for the moment.

 

You Are Not Alone by Mason

Release date: 9th August 2010
Animal Language Records

The Chøppers first bona fide release comes in the form of a writing collaboration with Dutch dance innovators Mason.

Check out the stunning animated video by Bafta award winner filmmaker, Anwyn Beier. It's already notched up over 40,000 views.

You Are Not Alone Video

The single is released on August 9th 2010 and is currently being played by Pete Tong on Radio 1, Tiesto, Chris Lake and Mylo.
The Dutch duo took a trip to the English riviera to record in our Brighton studio. Chøppergirl, Lisa Jane added the vocal icing on this deliciously simple and emotive tune.
We think Mason's trademark melodies and obese analogue production are a real winner, however what drew us to this track was how diverse this is from their dance floor smash Perfect Exceeder.

Warning tenuous link: Those My Life Story fans of yesteryear may remember Zip Zip Undo Me (guitarist Roger More now plays for MLS), who regularly appeared on the bill with us in the late 80's, early 90's.
Lisa Jane is in fact the niece of tigertail thrashing lead singer Mally. Catchaaaooow!

Remixes come from Dutch funky fresh house don Rene Amesz and Canada's rising star, Glenn Morrison. As usual their trademark 'Refurb' throws the original completely off-kilter with re-vocalled ,Rhodes heavy interpretation that sounds like something from the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack.

Buy the track and the video from iTunes now

 

My Life Story Announcement
/14.03.09

PRESS RELEASE

MY LIFE STORY REFORM TO RECREATE THEIR CLASSIC ALBUM ‘MORNINGTON CRESCENT’ - IN MORNINGTON CRESCENT, LONDON.

Fans ticket pre-sale from this site 9am Thursday 19th March.

Britpop legends My Life Story return to perform their classic debut album ‘Greetings From Mornington Crescent’ at London venue, Koko, on Thursday 26th November 2009.

The exclusive London show entitled ‘Return To Mornington Crescent’ will celebrate fifteen years since the album was recorded. The thirteen piece orchestral pop sensation will perform the album in its entirety as well as other hits and favorites from subsequent releases ‘The Golden Mile’ and ‘Joined Up Talking’.

Jake Shillingford, MLS songwriter and frontman says “There have been many requests for another My Life Story show over the last couple of years. However we wanted to come back with something special and meaningful. The plan is to have a ‘Mornington Crescent’ themed evening with guests, reflecting the early days of the Brit Pop movement from its roots in the Camden area. It’s the right time to do this now, fifteen years after the album was conceived.

Shillingford added, “The venue has a lot of memories for me. I wrote the album whilst working on the door, when Koko was called the Camden Palace. We really plan to go all out with this gig. There is a trend at the moment for bands to play classic albums. We want to take it one step further in that grandiose My Life Story style. Expect a big, bold and brash performance, all foxy horns and horny foxes”.

My Life Story enjoyed a string of chart hits in the 90’s and were main players in the Britpop movement. They were a huge favorite on the live circuit with flamboyant shows and a loyal following.

The album, which got to No.2 in the Indie chart was the first to be produced by Giles Martin (son of George) and punk legend Pat Collier, described by the Melody Maker at the time as: “The rebirth of flash, a new dawn of the dandy, it swaggers enormous”

My Life Story returned in 2006 after a six-year hiatus with a ‘best of’ album entitled Sex & Violins. This was followed by Megaphone Theology (B Sides and Rarities). They performed packed out shows in 2006 and 2007 at the Mean Fiddler, The Astoria and Shepherds Bush Empire. This will be their first live performance in two years.

Tickets go on sale from 9am Friday 20th March. There is a fans/Live Nation pre-sale from 9am Thursday 19th March.

For interviews or further information please contact Charlie at Archipelago PR or call 01322 405961

Autumn Tour & Festival Date
/06.08.08

Jake and Toni hit the road again for another acoustic tour, promoting the album Written Large as well as airing some old faves. The Offset Festival date welcomes the return of My Life Story Cellist Oliver Kraus. Jake will also be appearing on stage as a guest with Who Owns Death TV.

Sat 30 August - THE OFFSET FESTIVAL
Hainault Forest
w/ Gang of Four, WIRE, Young Knives, The Maccabees etc.
/BUY NOW

Sat 13 September - MANCHESTER
The Road House
8 Newton Street, Piccadilly, M1 2AN
£6
/BUY NOW

Sun 14 September - SHEFFIELD
The Boardwalk
Snig Hill, Sheffield, S3 8NA
£7
/BUY NOW

Thurs 18 September - OSWESTRY Nr SHREWSBURY
Church Street, Oswestry, SY11 2SP
£TBA
/INFO

Sun 20 September - FARINGDON Nr OXFORD & SWINDON
The Old Crown Inn, Faringdon, Oxfordhire, SN7 7HZ
£5
/BUY NOW

Thurs 25 September - WINCHESTER
3 St Pauls Hill, Winchester, SO22 5AE
£6
/BUY NOW

Written Large on i-Tunes
/30.04.08

Jake's new album Written Large is now available to purchase as an mp3 download from i-Tunes. Physical Cd's can be bought from our /store.

Written Large Tour
/17.03.08

After another triumphant and emotional return for My Life Story at Christmas we are pleased to announce Jake's first UK tour for 8 years.

Accompanied by pianist Toni Krause, expect some tall stories, new songs and acoustic versions of a few My Life Story favourites.

Funded by our Investor Angels the tour supports the official release of Jake's debut acoustic album:

'WRITTEN LARGE' out on 17th March.

It can be purchased from all good stockists, however you can order it from the Exilophone Records online shop right now.
It comes shrinkwrapped in a beautifully packaged digipack with a die-cut aperture on front panel and a fold out booklet.




/BUY NOW
Exilophone Records/Shellshock Cat: Ei075

Jake's silver quill still runneth over, so if you would like him to sign your purchase email /Helen with your request.

Here are the dates with links to advance tickets where available. All these venues are pretty small so best order in advance:

Thurs 20 March - BATH
Porter Cellar Bar
15 George Street BA1 2QS
With Special Guests Richard and Audrey Riley. DJ: Nick Evans
ADMISSION FREE
/VENUE INFO

Tues 25 March - WOLVERHAMPTON
Little Civic
North Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1RQ
With guests TBA
/BUY NOW

Wed 26 March - LEEDS
The Cardigan Arms
Kirkstall Road, Leeds, LS4 2HQ
With guests TBA
/BUY NOW

Thurs 27 March - MANCHESTER
TV21
10 Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1DH
With guest: Vinny Perculiar
/BUY NOW

Friday 28 March - MIDDLESBOROUGH
The Kids Are Solid Gold @ The Knights Club
3 Southfield Road,Middlesbrough, TS1 3BX
With guest: Suzanne Elizabeth Marron
/BUY NOW

Sun 30 March - SOUTHEND
Riga Music Bar
228 London Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 7JG
With guests
/BUY NOW

Mon 31 March - PORTSMOUTH
The Cellars At Eastney
56 Cromwell Road, Eastney, Southsea, Hampshire, PO4 9RN
With guests TBA
/BUY NOW

Tue 1 April - SHREWSBURY
Cancelled

Wed 2 April - BRIGHTON
Jooglebury Playhouse
14 - 17 Manchester Street, Brighton, BN2 1TF
With guest Chris Simmons
/BUY NOW

Fri 4 April - ST ALBANS
The Horn
Victoria St, St Albans, AL1 3TE
With guests Efflux
Call ticketweb 08700 600 100
/BUY NOW / VENUE INFO

/New Album Out Now
/25.01.08

We are pleased to announce that Jake has just completed his fantastic new acoustic album entitled Written Large.



/BUY NOW
Exilophone Records/Shellshock Cat: Ei075
Jake said:
"There's something old, new, borrowed and blue in there with all 3 My Life Story albums and both ExileInside long players represented alongside 3 new titles".

"The intention of the record is to strip back the arrangements of many songs I have recorded over the past 15 years, and get the essential spirit of the song out there".

The album will be released into the shops on 17th March 2008, however it is available to buy NOW exclusively via mail order from our online store.

Your order will cost you just £11.99 inc postage and packing in UK, only slightly more outside UK (Go / here for details).

The full track listing is:

1. Butterfly Wings
2. Hurt You
3. Claret
4. Written Large
5. Antiques
6. One More Time
7. Exile Inside
8. You Can't Uneat The Apple
9. Sunday Tongue
10. Neverland
11.The Waiting Room
12. Under The Ice

/The Final Countdown
/07.12.07

London Shepherds Bush Empire
Thursday 13th December 2007

We're in the final week and counting the days before My Life Story return to the capital for one last time with their 13 strong army of sassy strings, foxy horns and horny foxes.

The band have no future plans for any futher shows, so this will be a great opportunity to catch them, maybe even for the last time!

If last year's packed out reunion shows are anything to go by, this guarantees to be a fantastic night, promising high kicking
favourites as well as some new solo material from Jake.

Jake on stage 8pm
My Life Story on stage 9pm
Curfew 11pm

Some of the ticket agencies below have sold out of standing tickets, so if you want to boogie get your tickets this weekend before they sell out.

SBE Box Office: 0870 771 2000
/Ticketweb
/See Tickets
/Ticketmaster

Buy tickets in person from The Islington Academy Box Office,
12pm-4pm Monday-Saturday. Doors 7pm.

Jake said: It's great feeling the big stage under your feet again and catching up with band and crew and everyone who has been involved over the years, the backstage area will resemble a drunken office party!

The energy between the band and the audience last year was phenomenal and we're looking forward to repeating that again.
Prior to the main event, I will also be presenting some of the new material I've been working on with pianist Toni Krause. This is a great opportunity to air my new stuff to an audience familiar with My Life Story.

/JS Brighton show
/04.09.07

The Hanbury Club
Tuesday 25th September 2007
83 St Georges Road, Kemp Town, Brighton, BN2 1EF

As Part of the Brighton Live festival, Jake will be hosting a night of acoustic balladry accompanied by pianist Toni Krause and the odd string musician. This is a warm up for his acoustic set at the MLS Xmas extravaganza. For the bill he’s picked two of the most exciting and original acts to come out of Brighton this year; the drama tinged fablesmiths Bitter Ruin and the unique vocal haunting of WAIL. And it’s free admission! More info on this amazing venue /here.

/Megaphone Theology CD UK Release
/14.05.07

Megaphone Theology - MLS B Sides & Rarities is out now. A high kicking collection of 40 My Life Story gems spread over two themed Cd’s.

CD1 - Going Out features up-tempo and experimental tracks and previously unheard demos.

CD2 - Staying In contains classic ballads including I Love You Like Gala and the never released Grieve. Accompanied with extensive sleeve notes from Jake, MT is the fourth release on Exilophone Records and is available in stores throughout the UK from today. Or buy now from /Store.

/New JS Website Launched
/14.05.07

Welcome to the new site, after much deliberation we decided that life would be a lot easier if we put all of Jake's projects under one roof.
Since the refomation of My Life Story for the occasional sparkling shindig, the continuing dark and brooding studio project ExileInside and now the announcement of his first Solo album, a single point of reference seemed obvious.
We will be adding regular updates throught the year and improving the shopping cart which now accepts PayPal payments as well as Credit Cards.
The new solo album will be a collection of MLS,EI and new songs recorded with piano,voice and the occasional string instrument and will be available at the MLS Xmas extravaganza.