Author: Louise

Today has brought back a couple of memories and thought I’d share them for today’s ‘Throwback Thursday’ post (which I’m going to try to do more often!)…

Before tonight’s rehearsal with Orfila, we went to dinner with a few friends that we were in ‘A Christmas Carol’ with back in December. It was very lovely to catch up and talk about projects that we all have coming up in 2014. As we were sitting there… Abi turned to me and said “Lou, isn’t that you singing?!??”… And… It was… The restaurant were playing my first album, ‘Piece of The Puzzle’, which was released in 2008…!!?! Time has flown by since I recorded my first album and so many incredible things have happened since then – 2014 is definitely going to be an exciting year… That’s all I can say right now!

‘Piece of the Puzzle’ has been mentioned a few times this week, so I thought I’d share a link to the spotify playlist too:

Spotlify Link – Piece of the Puzzle

Another ‘Throwback-Thursday’ moment was when we found this picture of me and Abi being little – just as close then as we are now! I remember she was such a cute little baby! Love her so much.

So……. Another VERY full day complete! I’m so used to being a full-time-busy-bee now. My days are 100% full of music/songwriting, being creative and completely getting into productive activities/projects that I have going on this year… And I wouldn’t have it any other way – I feel very lucky and extremely grateful to be able to spend my days doing all these awesome things!

Louise xx

So, we have finally been able to share some exciting news!!!

“Things may have seemed all quiet on the Orfila front over the festive period but we are now pleased to announce that we have been booked to play two prestigious venues in LONDON in the next two months! We’ll be playing at Paradise in West London on Sunday 16th of February and at The Camden Enterprise on Friday 21st of March! Both gigs are in the evening, stage times will be confirmed nearer the events. It would mean a lot to us if anyone could make either show! Entry to The Paradise is free and tickets for The Enterprise are £6 available from:

http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/the-francesco-fonte-band-orfila–support-tickets/101867”

As well as being in the studio finishing our album in Birmingham, putting together everything for the release and still writing lots of new material, we are SO excited to be gigging in London over the next few months! One of our goals for 2014 was to gig in London and we feel so lucky that we’ve managed to achieve it!

If you haven’t already, please head over to our Facebook page for all updates and other exciting announcements that we have coming up! www.facebook.com/OrfilaMusic

Thank you,

Louise xx

Woke up to the news that music-legend Phil Everly has passed away. Very sad news, but he leaves behind years of success and great music. Solo and as part of the Everly Brothers, he was fantastic!

I remember, when I was little, I used to dance around the living room to his song ‘Louise’. My dad had (and still has) it on vinyl, which would tend to be on repeat for anything up to an hour – A) because I was convinced he was singing to me, and B) because I thought that if I sang and danced hard enough, my parents might realise that I genuinely loved him and invite him to my birthday parties, as I seem to have requested every year since I first heard him sing!

Rest in peace, Phil Everly,

Lots of love,

The Strange Girl xx

Phil Everly – Louise

Orfila had a brilliant 2013, here are some of our favourite moments:

Very excited for this year! Follow us on twitter and Facebook for more info and announcements that we have coming up!

Facebook
@orfilamusic

Louise xx

This is one of my favourite quotes. I’m bringing it into 2014 with me so I thought I’d share it with you:

“A new year is a time to remember both our triumphs and our missteps, our promises made and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt because that is what new years is all about- getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And stop worrying about ‘what if’ and start embracing what would be. So when that ball drops at midnight and it will drop, let’s remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight, but all year long…”

Happy new year everybody!!

Louise xx

…Where to start??!

This year, I’ve seen and experienced so many amazing things. There have been some unexpected challenges that have been a test of strength… and I cannot express how grateful I am to the people in my life for keeping me strong and for making this year what it was. All the crazy things I make you do, all the adventures I make you endure with me, the whole me-being-crazy-busy but you not giving up on me just because of that…. thank you so much to everyone who stood by my side, even when I didn’t deserve it. I owe you a lot, and I always will.

Music has always been a HUGE part of my life, but this year, things have started to escalate and we (Abi, Matt and I) have been SO lucky. The opportunities that have come our way have been incredible. It’s all been leading us to even bigger and better things that we now have planned for 2014. Our album isn’t far off finished and we are so, so, so excited!

I would like to wish you all the best for 2014… I hope that no matter what happens, you’ll stay positive, achieve all the things you want to, surround yourself with people you love and people who love you for who you are.

Louise xx

So, yet another Christmas has been celebrated…! It’s crazy! To think it all began months ago when we were sat in a restaurant in London and they started playing Christmas songs and we were saying how far away Christmas was… It’s mad how quickly it comes around!

Christmas is so special to us Orfs, as I’m sure it is to you too. It’s a time for family and close friends to share special moments and make some very special memories that will be treasured forever.

We have our own traditions at Christmas and have celebrated it in the exact same way every single year since I can remember. I am pretty sure it will be the same until the first of us, either Matt, Abi or I, gets married and decides it’s time to create a Christmas with our own little people!

Christmas has always been magical since I can remember. The whole build up… writing letters to Santa Claus, school Christmas musicals back in the day, choosing and purchasing a Christmas jumper, playing all the classic Christmas songs, doing Christmas gigs (as of the last 7/8 years), putting the decorations up (the sparkly lights are always my favourite part), going to Christmas parties, going to see all the Christmas lights, buying presents, wrapping the presents, seeing family that I haven’t seen all year, going to church, eating lots of yummy food… The list goes on and on! It really is the most wonderful time of the year!!!

Santa was good to the Orfs again this year. Between us we got a banjo, a new guitar, an accordion and a cajón (percussion box!)… We are so lucky and so so so grateful! This year there is going to be even more musical-madness!

I hope you all had a lovely time!

Louise xx

Well, this week has been incredible! I have been in a production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ as the Ghost of Christmas Past… And I LOVED every single second of it! The music, the script, story, cast, crew, scenery, audiences were all amazing and I feel truly blessed to have been involved in such a magical show! The story is so lovely and the music is beautifully written by Alan Menken, who wrote the music for my favourite Disney film, ‘Beauty And The Beast’!! So, with that and the fact that it’s all about Christmas, it was a very pretty and magical production – a pleasure to be a part of!

The whole experience has been one to remember and I am extremely proud of my friends and family who were also involved. Oh, the many laughs we had both onstage and offstage!! I’ll treasure the memories, always.

Also, a huge thank you to everybody who came along to support this show, it’s really appreciated!

I took SO many pictures but here are just a few snapshots of the musical-madness:

Although it’s sad that the show run has now ended, I am really looking forward to the next few weeks! It’s all going to be VERY musical, very Christmassy and very magical! I will be posting blogs about what I get up to… As always, there’s going to be lots of gigs, recording, writing and also many Christmas-related happenings taking place so I will be taking plenty of pictures!

Louise xx