JUNEAUREVOIR, cello compositions, all instrumental, is available for pre-order.
Redwood Summer, rock cello, layered vocals, drums guitar the whole deal, a mix of rock and classical and folk (sort of) is ready for you.
Pre-order with a credit card here.
They’ll be at your door by or shortly after 9/9/9.
The first best thought when finishing an album (or two) is that revelation that a big project was indeed taken on and finished.
It takes a while. A lot of hours. I mean, you can do an album project in 2 weeks or 2 years. It could be the same music. It could be the same end product more or less. There is no end to the tinkering that can be done. The layering, the “perfecting”.
It’s like any big project. Starts as an idea, takes its mutations, many different hangups, lots of different things to learn, and then, finally, after that final push it becomes a reality. It’s important to remember the process.
When you record and mix your own stuff, it’s a bit different than handing it over to an engineer to finish off.
That’s where a good amount of critical feedback is good, from yourself mainly. I am stubborn, but that’s not why I don’t like to hear about the flaws until after I’m done. I do get feedback though, and lots of good ideas from friends. But as far as the “artistic” influence, I try to stay true to my instincts. On the other hand, sometimes your ears can’t hear it anymore. I’ve had a huge amount of feedback from my girlfriend and good friends and family on these albums. Volumes too loud or not loud enough, ideas on how to introduce a new part of the song, inspiration for the concept… sometimes I just needed someone to listen to it so I could watch their face during certain parts of songs.
Redwood Summer and Juneaurevoir came about as a concept. They both were about getting down to my more straight forward roots musically. Do what comes naturally, don’t over think it. Why haven’t I recorded an all cello instrumental album yet? I mean, it’s fun, it’s rewarding, and it can be enjoyed by a huge spectrum of people. And with the rootsy sound of Redwood Summer, it harkens back to my earliest albums: no self-censorship, no attempts at adhering to a certain sound per se, just songs straight up.
In retrospect Redwood Summer is very pop oriented, in the sense that most of the songs have a traditional verse chorus verse chorus bridge chorus format. I always thought that would sound formulaic, and it is formulaic, but you can’t tell, that’s not what I listen for anyways. All my favorite popular music has that going on, and, yes, it’s trite, it’s been done before, but it sounds good.
In retrospect Juneaurevoir could be more ‘perfect’. I have been nice and open to the different tones and sounds. I didn’t use much in terms of effects, but I had thought I would use no effects whatsoever, like a recording of chamber music. I don’t have written versions of the songs even. Someday I’ll do that. This is the first in what I hope is a long string of cello albums.
Anyways, after mixing for 80+ hours the past couple weeks after work, I am struck by how big every ‘little’ project is.
But getting it done feels amazing. It makes it all worth it. I’m just waiting for a call and then they get mastered, and then I don’t get (have) to work on them any more…!
You can pre-order them now. They’ll be at itunes in September, and CDs will be available 9/9/9.
Thanks for stopping by!
If you don’t care about recording in the slightest, this post is not for you. However, if you have fretted over getting the right tone on stringed instruments to the point of nervous breakdown, here is my point of view if it helps…
I don’t believe I really got to the gist of what I was trying to get at the other day about mixing cello… I got into how I record. Which is cool, but diverted.
Point is: when mixing cello, one thing I always need to hear more and more of are the big bass tones, the ones I hear when playing, from my angle to the instrument. What happens in mixing the cello, at least for me, is you turn up everything in that 150-300 range so that you get that “big” sound.
If you are an engineer you are laughing at me, but honestly that took a long time to figure out. Basically, for this new album Juneaurevoir, I have realized that bringing down the whooompy range of 150-300 allows it to come out clean and clear on car stereos, cheap headphones etc… what everyone who hears your music will listen to it on.
I wouldn’t cut it down to low though to tell the truth, and I tend to keep that un-hearable range in 60hz or so up at zero, just in case it creates a nice resonance. May be wrong, but I do it.
Also, with the highs, I have always had such cheap mics that by default I roll off the top end of the spectrum. I don’t turn it up now, per se, but I am stoked to hear that sound of the resin flaking off the bow as it moves across. I like the airy bow sound, as mentioned before!
Anyways, by bringing down those whompy mid-tones a fair amount I’m able to “successfully” (in the ear of the beholder) layer 6, 8, 16 tracks of cello.
First and foremost, the show on the 10th with Chuck Ragan was incredible. Thank you to all my friends and family who made it out, some of whom drove 3 hours one way to be there! I know they came for Chuck and not me, but that’s cool. Just kidding… thank you!!!
Seriously that show was a big highlight for me personally and musically and it re-invigorated my sense of… possibility.
Along those lines, a few changes are coming to this site:
Two New Albums
Redwood Summer and Juneaurevoir are coming. Really. I swear. September.
Re-design
Working on a redesign, to be launched very soon. Ideally it will make everyone’s lives just that much better. And it will be cool. Still will be a blog.
Blog Re-tuning
Part of the redesign for me is that I kind of resent that I can’t let it all flow, I constantly censor some of my content in the sense that currently the blog is the first thing many people who don’t yet know my music see. I’d like for the music to be there in their faces first.
Also, I’m into this idea of useful content. You’ll see what I mean when I get it up here 😉
I am insanely inspired to do more with videos, bootlegs, demos and general media. More on the blog.
Touring Australia & New Zealand
September. More details to come. But it’s set.
Yes. So. Stay tuned. I apologize for a lack of content flow, my lives (I meant that) have been very very busy. But I’ll make it up to ya’.