Rock Regeneration

Dorset-based, musical band of over 40 musicians, Mischa & His Merry Men, have just released three charity singles, collectively called ‘Songs for Karen’. The singles are dedicated to the loving memory of Mischa’s mother-in-law who died unexpectedly in her 50s in March 2021 – devastatingly too soon, especially heart-breaking as she helped so many others in her life, leaving a big void for all those around her.

These three songs were recorded for Karen’s funeral a few days after she passed, with Mischa and his wife Roxie Weston-Green using these songs to help them deal with their grief and give a meaningful legacy to the life of Karen.

About Each track

Raising money for Teddy20 & Teddy Rocks Festival – A zero admin (no-one gets paid / all money raised goes to the grassroots cause) charity which the Merry Many and Karen have helped support over the last few years. The fantastic work they do supporting children with cancer and their families is magnificent and life-changing for so many young lives. This song features the very best of the Merry collective including horns and strings, This also included those who played at the church for Mischa and Roxie’s wedding – Emma Waas on violin, Chris Payn on keys and one of the earliest Merry Men, Roland, on cello.

The artwork was done by our in-band #MerryMaiden Eleanor Pasco.

Written by Mischa Weston-Green
Produced by Chris Payn
Recorded by Chris Payn, Ben Jones & Hangover Hill
Mastered by Hangover Hill

Mischa Weston-Green – acoustic guitar & vocals
Chris Payn – keyboards, electric guitars & backing vox
Roland Palmer – cello
Harry Basset – trumpet
Krzysztof Szablicki – trumpet
Ben Jones – bass
Jamie Smith – drums

This song is raising money for The Dorset Children’s Foundation – a charity which the Merry Many and Karen have helped support over the last few years. The fantastic work they do to support disabled children and their families is exceptional and literally changes lives – it’s a huge honour to dedicate this song to this wonderful charity.

This song was originally written about insomnia and being awake with the birds on a summer’s morning, although it remained unfinished until Mischa lost his Grandfather, and mentor, Luke, over the pandemic. It wasn’t until Karen passed, the same weekend it was recorded, that the song was finished, adding the Golden Days sentiment, in her memory.

The birds that feature in the song were recorded at #MerryHQ at specific and sacred times over Easter 2021, during Karen’s passing. They are the same birds that influenced the creation of the song and sung in harmony for Karen, on this recording. It was also #MerryMaiden Roxie’s first time singing with the band, doing a duet with her husband, Mischa. The artwork was done by our in-band #MerryMaiden Eleanor Pasco with the photo taken by Mischa.

Written by Mischa Weston-Green
Produced by Chris Payn
Recorded by Chris Payn
Mastered by Hangover Hill

Mischa Weston-Green – acoustic guitar & vocals
Roxanne Weston-Green – backing vocals
Chris Payn – keyboards & percussion
Roland Palmer – cello
Emma Waas – violin
Harry Fausing Smith – violin
Henry Rankin – violin
Birds – Melodies at MerryHQ on Easter 2021 with the outro recorded “rising up with the sun” on Easter Sunday morning.

Merry Maiden, Roxie, whilst not known as a singer, found the strength to record this version of Amazing Grace to make her mum proud and show how much she loved her. The artwork was done by the talented @oniroi_atlier (Instagram), with the original drawing being delivered from the USA in time for the funeral, to sit on the coffin. It takes elements of Karen’s jewellery and the yellow butterfly represents the huge butterfly that visited our garden while recording Songs for Karen and was the colour of one of Karen’s favourite outfits. This butterfly stayed with us for around a week and during that time we’d lit a candle to mark her passing and to give her light into the next dimension – when the candle finally went out, the butterfly also disappeared.

This song is raising money for The Boo Charity, a zero admin charity which the Merry Many and Karen have helped support over the last few years. The work they do for children in Africa is outstanding and we’ve seen first-hand how many individual people this charity helps giving opportunities to.

Written by John Newton
Produced by Chris Payn
Recorded by Chris Payn
Mastered by Hangover Hill

Roxanne Weston-Green – vocals
Chris Payn – keyboards & percussion

The tracks are raising money for three Dorset-based charities:
Teddy20/Teddy Rocks Festival: https://www.teddy20.org & https://teddyrocks.co.uk
The Dorset Children’s Foundation: https://thedcf.org
The Boo Charity: https://www.boo-charity.org.uk

All charities for whom Mischa and Roxie volunteer and help raise money for them.

The tracks are being released through Bandcamp only as it’s the best way to keep track of the money raised for each cause. Purchase the tracks here:

Hits For Kids
Golden Days
Amazing Grace

Links
https://www.facebook.com/MischasMerryMen
https://www.mischaandhismerrymen.co.uk
https://mischaandhismerrymen.bandcamp.com