Hello!
I’ve decided to release a few flute pieces (and a short harp cover) on bandcamp! You can download them all for free or, if you really like them, can name your price! Just click below to have a listen and download!
Let me know what you think in the comments! 🙂
*To the tune of “When I’m Cleanin’ Windows” by George Formby.
Now I go killin’ zombies to keep m’self alive
Wandering round the suburbs with me handy MP5
Now it’s a job that don’t suit me
But zombie killer you would be
If you could see the hell I see
When I’m killin’ zombies
Armageddon’s just a blast!
If only virus worked that fast
The things I do to save me arse
When I’m killin’ zombies
In my profession I’ll work hard
But I’ll never stop
I’ll kill these blasted zombies
Until I’ve had me lot
The zombie bride, she looks divine
The groom escaped her just in time
A wedding’s just a battle line
When I’m killin’ zombies
The living dead just want your brains
Don’t care for your cash or chains
The streets run red until it rains
When I’m killin’ zombies
The virus claimed this camera guy
Who ate the brains of Stephen Fry
Who knew the dead could quote QI?
When I’m killin’ zombies
In my profession I’ll work hard
But I’ll never stop
I’ll kill these blasted zombies
Until I’ve had me lot
Undead walking side by side
Arms outstretched and eyes all wide
There’s no emotion left inside
When I’m killin’ zombies
—— Instrumental ——
This living nightmare ain’t no fun
I’d never leave without my gun
Won’t stop until the battle’s won
When I’m killin’ zombies
My comrade clutches his behind
Got bitten on his… never mind
Natural selection isn’t kind
When I’m killin’ zombies
In my profession I’ll work hard
But I’ll never stop
I’ll kill these blasted zombies
Until I’ve had me lot
A zombie staggers down the street
One head shot and that guy’s dead meat
I’ll shoot ‘em back until I’m beat
When I’m killin’ zombies
When I’m killin’ zombies
——————————
Lyrics to “When I’m Killin’ Zombies” ©Hannah Sterry 2013. All rights reserved.
Some people write love songs. I write about the zombie apocalypse. Fair’s fair.
This is a silly little song I wrote a little while ago after my friend suggested writing something about penguins. It’s recorded, but I want to record the vocals again – I’m not quite happy with them yet!
Ba-da-da-daa, da-da-daa…
They’re coloured black and white,
Don’t mind the cold at all,
They eat members of schools,
But they’re not cannibals.
(Oh yeah, yeah, yeah!)
They’re always dressed in tails
And huddle up for heat.
They’re used to icy gales
And mate on icy sheets.
(Ooh yeah! *silly voice*)
Penguin! Penguin! Penguin!
Get back in the sea!
You’re a bird that can’t fly.
When the ice melts you’ll die.
Don’t breathe fishy breath on me!
They like to live in guano,
But don’t think it’s the slums.
They don’t like mecchano,
‘Cos they’ve got no thumbs.
(I’ve got opposable ones.)
With breeds like macaroni
You might think they’re tasty,
But the Emperor penguin
Banned penguin pastries.
(So there!)
Penguin! Penguin! Penguin!
Get back in the sea!
You’re a bird that can’t fly.
When the ice melts you’ll die.
Don’t breathe fishy breath on me!
(Or I’ll have you for tea)!
—————————————————
All lyrics copyright of Hannah Sterry.
Enjoy! x
This arrived in my inbox today! Liz and Katy chose to write one of their #bespokeballads about me! 😀
https://twitter.com/bespokeoffers/status/336583259070803968
I jokingly asked for one of the #bespokeballads a few days ago, but didn’t expect anything, so I was delighted (and amused) today when I found they’d written a song for me. They made me giggle!
Hold the front page, stop press!
Hannah’s got a story in the South West.
Sterry’s really growing Plymouth Art more.
It’s a smelly faux pas mis-typing Dartmoor!
You may think she’s only a reportist,
Look a little closer she’s a sweet jazz flautist.
We didn’t bring a flute, didn’t think we oughta,
But the flute’s really only a sideways recorder.
[Recorder Solo]
Quick, Stop The Press!
There’s a budding flower!
Another huge story on #devonhour!
Pawprints on the bed; inconsiderate cat!
While Sterry’s getting merry on the #spiritchat!
Harp Solo!
If you’re all wiped out from making animation,
It doesn’t even need to be an occasion,
If four of you want some razzmatazz,
There’s a five course meal with cocktails and jazz!
Katy and Liz are on twitter too, so they’d probably love a few follows and comments. Let them know what you think!
Katy’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/katyschutte
Liz’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizpeterscomedy
Thanks for reading and hope you’re as amused as I am! 😀
Hello!
I am now “Plymouth’s top jazz flautist” according to twitter. I know this because I am probably the only jazz flautist in the whole of South Devon (with the exception of my dad, who often prefers to play saxophone).
This post is a bit of everything – music I’ve recorded, pictures from the past year’s worth of gigs and news of gigs to come and some lovely testimonials from people I’ve played for – I hope you’ll enjoy it and feel free to ask me anything you like in the comments!
Over the past year I’ve been lucky enough to play lots of gigs with a great little gypsy swing band called Hamer & Isaacs. I met them, by chance, at a blues night at a pub where a mutual friend had invited us both along. I thought they were pretty cool and took a particular liking to one of them (that’s a different story) and since then I’ve stood in whenever one of the others can’t make it!
After playing with the band a fair bit, a few of them spotted my Sterry Cartoons creations on facebook and asked whether I’d like to design them an ‘art deco’ logo. I thought it’d be good fun to have a go (having not attempted logo design before) and this is what I came up with (see right).
All of this led to some really wonderful testimonials from people I’ve met through the band:
“As a professional musician for nearly four decades, I have been very impressed by Hannah Sterry’s contribution to our gypsy swing band as a deputy flautist over the last few months. She has deputised at short notice for both our lead guitarist and swing violinist, not easy roles to fill, and I have been awed by her levels of competence and creativity. Her improvisational techniques display an intuitive flair and inspiration well beyond her years, and she exhibits the stage presence expected in a seasoned veteran. I would heartily endorse her as a flautist to any potential employers, whether in the fields of jazz, rock or classical music.” ~ Julian Isaacs of Hamer & Isaacs Gypsy Swing Band
“[Hannah] is a brilliant musician and I love working with her in the gypsy swing band. Her flute solos inspire me to up my game!” ~ Melanie Scullion B.A Hons.P.G Cert. P.G Dip.Perf. Professional violinist, violist and peripatetic music teacher.
I’ve haven’t been playing jazz and designing logos the entire time though. Whenever I’ve had a few hours free, I’ve been working on a few of my own musical side projects! Most recently I’ve been doing a bit of recording with my little sister (she’s ridiculously cool, but you can’t take her anywhere). 😛
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you might have heard it before, but here’s a little bit of chilled out flute music I recorded as an earlier side project (it’s not jazz, but it’s cool and floaty)!
P.S. If you like any of my music, you can download it for FREE on bandcamp. Just click the link above. If you really like it and want me to make more music, you can donate however much or little as you like with the “name-your-price” button and you’ll get a gigantic smile and thanks from me!
Anyway, I’ve just been told that dinner’s on the table, so I’d better go, but I hope you’re enjoying the story so far and I’ll leave you with a few pictures from the last year and adates of my upcoming gigs! Hope to meet some of you at some point and as always, if you want to ask me anything, or have any great music recommendations, I’d love to hear from you in the comments! 😀
TOMORROW/FRIDAY (18th May)
Hamer & Isaacs gypsy swing band feat. Hannah Sterry will be playing in the Leaping Salmon, Horrabridge from 9pm.
BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY (27th May)
Ansa Back will be playing at Bigbury Golf Club from 4pm.
JUNE-SEPTEMBER
The Sterrys will be playing every Tuesday evening at The Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove for their Summer Music Nights. Feel free to come and join us, enjoy a cocktail on the terrace and take in one of the most Mediterranean views that the South Hams can offer!
Thanks all,
Hannah 🙂
The Boyfriend Song
Do you mind conversations about zombie ninja pirates?
How about debates about the newest things in science?
Do you like Monty Python? Are you musical at all?
Can you manage to be lewd without losing your class at all?
Because…
I’d like a boyfriend please!
I’d like a boyfriend please!
It’s mostly for great company and not those birds and bees,
So I’d like a boyfriend please!
(Y’know, if it’s not too much trouble)
Are you fussy about food?
Are you considerate or rude?
Do you like cats (no, not for dinner)?
Are you taller? Fatter? Thinner?
(Could you possibly put up with my ridiculous ideas?)
Do you think this drawing’s great?
What kinds of people do you hate?
Are you kind and are you stable?
Are your hands above the table?
Because…
I’d like a boyfriend please!
I’d like a boyfriend please!
I’m obviously too fussy, but I’d like one that’s a tease.
Yep, I’d like a boyfriend please!
(Or maybe I’m closing my mind too much)
I shouldn’t be so picky about gender.
But instincts have a stranglehold on me.
It shouldn’t be my fate, to pro-cre-ate;
There are already too many fish in the sea.
Anyway…
If we’re going to be so ridiculously politically correct about it…
Might as well include everybody…
I’d like a girlfriend please!
I’d like a girlfriend please!
And if you’re unsure, it doesn’t matter anymore.
Leave judgements and criticisms at the door.
You could be hetero- or homo-
It’s no problem; I’m no phobe- Oh.
I just have one more thing to say:
Though, theoretically, I’ve no preference,
Logic didn’t get the reference.
So… I’d still probably like a boyfriend please.
(Apply now with your CVs.)
———————————————————
I feel I should point out that I have a lovely boyfriend (and a ridiculous sense of humour), so please don’t take this seriously – it’s just a bit of fun! This is a poem/song I’d forgotten about and unearthed as I was trying to clear up the mess of files on my computer with names like “idea”, “another thing” and “messing about”.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this post anyway! Let me know what you think in the comments!
Hello! Hannah here!
I’m currently taking requests for harp covers and will be recording and uploading the results to youtube! I’m happy to attempt absolutely anything… well, anything possible (things like “Flight of the Bumble Bee” might be a bit of a bother). Requests for folk, heavy metal, jazz and pop are all welcome – I’ll try them all!
Feel free to request flute pieces too – If you want to hear a cool jazz version of “God Save the Queen”, or a Jethro-Tull-style rendition of Adiemus, I’ll do it – Make these suggestions as crazy and wacky as you like!
Can’t wait to hear what you come up with! Just leave a comment or send me a tweet: @Hannah Sterry
I’ve had this tune sitting on my hard drive for a while now, but haven’t known what to do with it, so I thought I might as well post it and then anyone can have a listen if they feel like it.
I’m a bit of a cynical flautist, so I really really enjoyed improvising on this big dark tune. All of it is my work, it’s just that the flute part was the most fun to play. The photo above is mine too and is called “Hope at Sunset”.
This is just a little idea for a jazz tune. I’ll embed a better video once I’ve recorded it properly, but for now, here’s some real, rough-around-the-edges music:
Let me know if you like the sketch. I still don’t know whether uploading at this stage is a good idea. Most music isn’t seen at this sketchy, made-up-on-the-spot stage.
On another note, does anyone else look like a crazy fool when they’re playing piano? I seem to rock, grin madly and occasionally headbang (all unintentionally).
Hannah Sterry 