Rehearsals :)

Ryan speaking in "drums" to Jay

Rehearsals have begun
My drummer, Ryan Socrates, was recommended to me by Jason (Jay) the bassist. The both of them play in a killer jazz trio. Last week, I went to see them play at Le Brew House close to the South Side Works and they were spectacular. I couldn't stop moving to the groove. This was anything BUT elevator music...they were doing Stevie Wonder covers, Beatles covers, and even some original pieces. What's even better is they don't just play Jazz. They're great all-around musicians, which is why I'm so glad to have found them.

REHEARSAL SPACE!

I was lucky to find a drummer who not only plays like a fiend, but has a nice big rehearsal space to work out all the musical details without feeling like we're waking up all of Shadyside.

Ryan as access to a really interesting rehearsal space in the North Side near the casino. Ryan and his girlfriend, who share the space as fellow percussionists, just got the place and are doings some major renovations. 

My first meeting with both Ryan and Jay 

was frequently interrupted by the sound of the loud heating system, which was working full-force to keep our fingers from freezing. You can't really tell, but the snow was coming down in giant flakes just outside that window. We had just laid down a few pieces of carpeting to cover the concrete floor that was still wet with soapy water. I cannot wait to see what the space will look like once it's done being cleaned and painted. Lisa was brushing away the whole time we played. What a trooper.

...and here I thought cool-looking practice spaces only existed in expensive music videos and fairytales. --you know, like Repunzel? She could really shred on the electric guitar... she was in a hair band. i think.

The Bassist

I had first meeting with my album new bassist this week. I met with Jason upon recommendation from a number of other artists and studio engineers. I have to say I was quite impressed with his skills. After a few initial run-throughs and an exchange of thoughts, he already seemed to know exactly what I was going for with my album sound.

He plays upright bass (like you see in traditional jazz or classical music) as well as electric bass, which means I’ll have plenty of options when it comes to what sort of sound I want for each song. The most exciting thing about “Jay”, though, is his ability to feel a song out from start to finish, then move toward crafting the song so that the whole thing flows just right.

When I first got into this music business, I was only familiar with the guitar—its facility and sounds. Being strictly a guitar and voice performer, I never realized how important the bass was to a song. I never really listened to a song that closely, or with good enough speakers, to really appreciate the art of the bass and the effect it has on a song. I now have a pretty good understanding of its power.

In a more metaphorical way of describing it, the bass line is much like the wind. 

The wind is usually always around in some capacity, able to drive a sailboat across the water with seeming ease. It’s not an overbearing force, but it’s a deep, driving force. So unless you’re in a sailboat, you REALLY only notice the breeze when the wind changes direction or you hit a storm. If a bassist steps up and plays a crazy solo, it’s very noticeable and quite monumental to hear. On the other end of the spectrum, you have those times where there is no wind at all, like when you’re in the eye of a storm (kinda eerie). It’s at those times that you finally notice the wind, or notice its absence, rather.

I’m looking forward to working with this guy. He seems to really have a handle on his craft, as well as a true passion for making music the BEST it can be. 

As a singer-songwriter, one of the things I hear most frequently in conversation with people outside the business is,
"Singer-songwriter? cool! So does that mean you record things all day long?"
That question is actually very loaded questions, because after they ask it, I usually feel obligated to pull out my "list of things I do as a singer-songwriter", which is enumerates a multitude of tasks including booking shows, negotiating, marketing, promoting, and singing (of course!).
Though I won't outline every single one of those jobs I have on my to-do list, I've created this blog to give my you--Kickstarter backers(my fans, friends, family, and new-found-friends!)--a peak into the long process I have and will be going through to make my album a reality.

Though I'll be sending out the Kickstarter Project Update Emails, they will be short. THIS place is where you'll get ALL the details: the lowdown--the thoughts of the man behind the curtain. I'll have some cool pictures and stuff as well that will only be on this blog, so you get the insider's exclusive! :)

Feel free to share this blog with anyone you think would be interested in seeing how an album is made these days.

The moment I hit my goal, I KNEW that I could do this! With 150 backers behind me--with your support, generosity, curiosity, and excitement, I am ready to make this album the best thing that's ever come out of me.

Ciao for now,

-The Acoustic Crooner