NEW YEAR 2005 NEWSLETTER

A happy New Year to all subscribers. You might think that you're suffering from a New Year's Eve delusional hangover, receiving a second Self Tort newsletter in a matter of weeks, but it is really happening.

I thought I would take the chance to remind you of the upcoming Mortdale Hotel gig next Friday 7 January, 2005 starting at 8pm.

I also have a short and unplugged gig at the Bat and Ball Hotel, at Moore Park on Tuesday 11 January, 2005. The Songwriting Society of Australia of which I am a member, has joined forces with a couple of other songwriting societies to provide more opportunities for songwriters to perform live. The night starts at 7pm and each artist performs 3 songs. I don't know what time I start, but believe that at this stage I am slotted in as the second act.

If any of you are looking for something to do on the night please drop in and have a listen. I will be performing with just an acoustic guitar. At the present time I am thinking of performing Hardie's Men, a song that I don't think any subscribers would have heard called 'Tonight' and am tossing up what other song to add to the list. I am trying to get as much practice in an acoustic setting as I can as I believe that in terms of my original material that is probably the best way of getting exposure.

Also, just a reminder that if you get the chance, visit www.mp3.com.au/selftort and have a listen to the full versions of the studio recorded material. I logged the new material on 21 December and checked today for the first time. Although it might seem like small beer to you guys, I was stoked to see that I have hit the top 100 of the mp3.com artist's 'pop/rock chart'. Individually the new songs have charted as follows:

I Hate Homework - No 4 in the 'Children's Music' Chart with 'Fight Fight Fight' at No 9 and 'Naughty Wall' at 13 in the same chart. I should point out that this chart is a relatively narrow genre, with only some 80 'children's songs' available. But nonetheless, even in such a small pond it was nice to see 'I Hate Homework' at number 4 on its first week.

A real surprise for me was that 'Get It Right This Time' had entered the 'Country Chart' at 174 in its first week. As you can imagine, this genre has far more entried than the 'Children's Music' - I stopped counting after 10000.

Even better news was that 'Hardie's Men' had entered the 'Country Rock' chart at number 12 (there are about 400 uploaded in this genre) and had also reached 147 in the overall 'Country Chart'.

'Light the Flame' had entered at No 25 in the 'Funk' chart.

The charts were published as at 28 December so the songs had only been on the site for a week.

Now all of this may well mean absolutely nothing. But, previously, my best chart rating as an artist was in the mid 900s and I used to be pleased to see the individual songs get into the hundreds rather than the 1000s. In addition, the stats show that of those who have listened to my material on the site, approximately 50% have also downloaded the songs which I would like to think is a good sign.

Thanks to any subscribers who have visited the mp3.com.au site to listen.

If you haven't been there, please go to the site, have a listen to the full versions and download any of the material there. I believe that good charting on the site can be beneficial to an artist, in that you are more likely to be highlighted if you are higher up the list. Tell your friends and relatives as well.

Have a great 2005.

Self TORt

aka Brian Ralston

(or vice versa)