February 18, 2020
February 2020 Album
- “Things Fall” – vocal and drum tracking
- “Saving Face” – guide vocal tracking
Blog
This is a simple record of the various creative projects I’m working on. It’s mainly for my own reference but you are, of course, welcome to read along. Subscribe
February 17, 2020
February 2020 Album
- “What You Don’t Know”
- Recorded bass and drums this morning (MIDI)
- Rachael recorded her vocal at home and sent it over. Wow!
- Then she came by to record her spoken parts for the story it goes with. (pictured)
- “Sandalwood Geminis”
- Greg sent over first draft of vocals. We exchanged notes. More to come.
Abortion: The Musical
- And now I’m off to the reconvening of the cast for the next iteration of this show.
February 16, 2020
February 2020 Album
- “Saving Face”
- Final song structure written. Recorded acoustic guitar track.
- Sent to DonnCherie to practice.
- “Things Fall From The Sky All The Time”
- Started recording backing track.
- Hope to record drums tomorrow.
February 15, 2020
February 2020 Album
- “Let The Pain Begin”
- First song is recorded and mixed!
- Jenna Emerson came by and laid down the sweetest vocal. Played around with a few takes then nailed it on the last one.
- Nate Venet arrived with his accordion just as Jenna was packing up.
- First point of order, accordions are cool. He had to open his up to tighten some loose pieces and he showed me the inner workings of it. If you ever get the chance to take the tour of the inside of an accordion, ya gotta.
February 13, 2020
February 2020 Album
- Early morning session
- Mixing on “Geminis.” Want to have the drum mix dialed in for the next few tunes that will need drums.
- Recorded basic/guide piano track for “Things Fall”
- “What You Don’t Know”
- Rachael came back this evening to learn the song and find the right key. Went from c minir to g minor. Thank goodness for MiDI.
- These Are Not My People
- Sketch gang met up. We did read through of a bunch including two of mine. One landed solidly. The other was too short, too rushed. Needs more lines.
February 12, 2020
I was brainstorming about how and when I might release this album’s worth of songs in, perhaps, segments or somehow as a podcast (more on that concept if it comes to be) when I had a startling realizing. How had it never crossed my mind that the RPM Challenge only says I have to write and record an album in one month but never said anything about how, or even if, I have to release it.
This has started a change in my brain for the better. A clearer perspective and an easier frame of mind are taking shape. I’m still overwhelmed and mildly obsessed but I’m not anxious. That change in my mood really is everything.
As I said, more details on this train of thought to come.
As for the actual work, I laid down a little guitar track for the jam Chris and I did last night.
February 11, 2020
February 2020 Album
- Made first proposed track list.
- It includes a few hypothetical songs – places where a song could go and what the title of it might be.
- I also figured out where song intros and outros would extend under spoken sections.
- With this clear plan, I can start schedule when this and that basic track needs to be done and when I need to schedule the musicians.
- Lyricists
- E-mailing with David and Greg about two different songs that need lyrics. Now that I know exactly where in the album/stories the songs will sit, I was able to give them real direction for the words.
- Jammed with Chris Cheney
- We recorded some bass and drum grooves. I now have to figure out what to do with them. I have some ideas.
February 10, 2020
February 2020 Album
- Recorded guitar for “Let The Pain Begin” but it took HOURS.
- I lost perspective quickly. It was bound to happen being who I am. I waited too long to take breaks and step away from it. But I’m also glad I stuck with it and got the right take (and even the wrong ones).
- I’m glad I saved all the takes because the best one turned out to be one from earlier in the evening that I originally thought wasn’t so great.